Crack the Fat-Loss Code: Outsmart Your Metabolism and Conquer the Diet Plateau

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It's science, no it's magic, no it's Science, no it's Magic. Well, actually it is science...but it feels like Magic.

I'd already lost 60 pounds, using exercise and some basic nutrition, before my personal trainer turned me on to this plan. It had taken me about a year and a half to lose that initial chunk of weight, I had kept it off for about three years, and I was incredibly proud of what I had accomplished. The problem was, I was still kinda lumpy, and I couldn't get off the plateau I was on. I just couldn't get get any thinner.

Enter the plan found in this easy, smart book.

In about three months, 20 more pounds came off, and I was -- I can't tell you how thrilled I am to write this word -- THIN, and incredibly fit (I'm running marathons, and dancing WELL in hip-hop classes -- and I'm a male in my late forties!)

So, why did this plan work for me, when others hadn't?

First of all, this book is so cleanly and clearly written, that my fears of being overwhelmed by it (as I'd been by other diet books) were wiped out in the 20 seconds it took me to glance at a few pages. It's simple, it's fun, and it's even inspiring!

Secondly, it motivates on three different levels.
1) You can skip the science, and just do the plan -- every day is clearly mapped out -- and Magic occurs.
2) You can use the cutting-edge science (I swear, it's not daunting, it's just fun) to understand why you're doing what you're doing. Once I understood what affects my body, and why, I became even more enthusiastic about sticking to the plan. It actually became easier and more fun.
3) The stories -- and pictures -- of people who have accomplished so much on this plan, got me even more involved in it. I felt their stories, and I wanted to be one of them.

I've heard people say that the diet that works is the one you stick with. That's true, but this book goes one step further, because it actually changes the way your body, your machine, works. And believe me, you will be so excited when you discover that your machine, when properly primed, is a Formula One Racing Car, instead of the lumpy old minivan you thought it was. Join me in hip-hop class, and find out.

Wendy's Plan Really Works.

Wendy's tenets:
1. Protect and Support Muscle
2. Level Blood Sugar
3. Create and Energy Deficit
4. Produce Heat
5. Manipulate Energy Stores

I purchased and read Wendy's book in the same night. I was hungry for a way to eat right and lose weight! I knew that it had to exist. As an ex-athlete (figure skater), 5' 9 and 173 pounds, I have seen women my age (43) keep the weight off but I couldn't understand why I was having the problem. I skated 4 times a week, took lots of walks and I was even doing occasional Pilates. By my calculations I was working out more than most of the thinner women that I knew. What was going on.

Almost immediately "Crack the Fat Loss Code" explained that I was eating incorrectly. It was obvious that I was eating a diet of carb-laden packaged foods. Even though they said "all-natural", "organic", "low-fat" and I paid more for them at the health food store, when I checked the carb count, I realized....I was a carb-junkie. According to Wendy's plan it seemed, I was never giving my blood sugar a chance to level out before constantly fueling up with more carbs and sugar. Not to mention the days of eating virtually nothing, only to overeat for days afterwards.

After a week of following Wendy's book, and 8 weeks in her Nutrition Boot Camp (which is the same plan of her book but she explains exercise and supplementation); I went from 173 to 161. My body fat index dropped from 26.5% to 21.5%. I also lost 4 ½ inches in my waist and 3 ½ inches in my chest.

What makes Wendy's plan different from others; (I tried most every of the other big ones including Vegan) there are no completely off limit foods; you eat carbs most every day; I never felt hungry not even once; and it is extremely simple to follow once you learn the code letters and create your little tracking sheets.

I still have trouble believing all the food I am supposed to eat and that I'm never starving myself. This was the most important aspect of this plan for me--as a skater I had to have fuel. I also have an extremely complex, thought intensive job where I have to remember and recall mass amounts of information every minute. Eating like a true athlete (which is how I describe Wendy's plan) has shown me exactly how my body works, stores, and uses fuel and when and how exactly to cheat.

For anyone trying to lose large or even small amounts of fat, you are wasting valuable time. Start using Wendy's plan right away. I also strongly suggest one of Wendy's remote boot camp programs; which I understand you can join from anywhere. This lady knows her stuff; down to the exact science.

I picked this book up because I was hoping to learn more about how to construct an effective carb cycling diet. Unfortunately, the author cycles between having her devotees tell you how wonderful she is, telling you how great her diet is, and telling you almost nothing about her wonderful life-long diet.

As another reviewer pointed out, the sample menus are almost useless. And every day's meal plan includes a meal of nothing but cottage cheese. (Yuk!) There is no guidance about how many grams of carb, protein, fat and calories to use for each type of day and meal, which is what you'd need to know to make up your own food plan. The author's recipes are, well, let's just say, she isn't a foodie. Am I really supposed to eat a "lifelong diet" where twice a day I have to eat cottage cheese and a protein shake?

There is also no acknowledgment that a 300 lb 60 year old woman with severe diabetes would need to eat a different daily diet than a 120 lb 25 year old woman looking to put on some more muscle. The sample diets discriminate only between males and females.

The book claims to give guidance for people with diabetes but doesn't, except to suggest eating less fruit. At the same time, the author urges people to eat white rice every day. Does she have any clue what white rice does to blood sugar?

Her explanations of nutritional science are garbled and often wrong. She really has no clue about how low carb dieting works, and warns it is unhealthy, when many of us who have eaten low carb for many years (self-included) know this is not true.

Disappointing. We really could use a book written by someone with real nutritional credentials (her credentials are the made up kind used by gym trainers) who could explain to us the latest thinking on how to use carb cycling to break stalls. But this book isn't it.

UPDATE (7/2008)! Still at it, folks, and still dropping. A little slower now and after a round of nasty, nasty steroids with the associated water weight gain. I STILL love the flexibility (and wine) on this plan. Especially with my hectic and varied work schedule, travel, client lunches, entertaining and gosh knows what else.

THIS PLAN IS NOT LOW CARB nor HIGH PROTIEN. It's BALANCED eating. You do have a lot of choices. Be creative, folks. Wendy is not a dictator here to run your life. Learn to use the plan to make decisions. Take responsibility for yourself - THIS IS KEY to any program. She's providing the map for your journey. Rock on and enjoy the rest of the trip. (BTW - I am down about 40 in 5 months. 14 more months until the wedding!)

Original post: (2/2008) If you're reading this, you might be like me... a diet pro. I've tried them all. Classes, mail order, As Seen on TV, in a bottle, pill or shot. I've tried everything but surgery. Won't go there.

My upcoming wedding and a not so great physical at 41 years old finally prompted me to take the diet attempts I had been playing with seriously. My cholesterol and blood pressure were creeping up. Hello, diabetes! I can see you hiding around the corner. Getting scared? I was.

Wendy Chant has put together a program that satisfies my two biggest "lifestyle" issues. It must MAKE SENSE and it must FIT INTO my crazy schedule. This program does both remarkably well. I eat real food when and where I want. Even 7-11 can supply me my afternoon snack if I am in a bind! I admit, I have to plan a tad more in the morning but that was what I was looking for: a program for life. New habits, new knowledge, new results. I understand how my body relates to food for the first time. I can feel how a bad choice makes me feel sluggish. And, I can revel in the newfound energy I have!


While the program had a few "day plans" to learn, I keep a small 3X4" blank notebook in my purse with my plan and results. (Guys, it would fit in your pocket!) It's all I need to record and remind me of my plan. At the end of the day, I don't feel deprived. There are PLENTY of carbs on this diet. And I'll not spoil the two-times-a-week surprise... OK, I will. Two nights a week after 3 PM, you can eat what you'd like. Anything. Cake, pizza, beer, wine, spaghetti and meatballs. (Just not all at the same sitting! :-) I rarely crave anything for too long. I just schedule that pepperoni pizza night and a movie with popcorn for a Saturday night. Or, the craving just melts away. In my first run through of the eight week program, I am on track to lose about 22 pounds. Not bad for a 41 year old, rather sedentary woman! (I haven't even added the exercise in yet. Looking forward to those results.)

So, if you're not interested in "Crack the Fat Loss Code", the last book that you'll ever need for heath and knowledge about how your body uses and NEEDS food, call me. I'll ship you the stacks of books I no longer need!

After going through this book extensively and finding mostly jabberwocky, I felt compelled to write a review in order to save readers their time and money.

Let's start with what is promised in the Book Description (copied and pasted):
"LOSE UP TO 25 POUNDS IN 8 WEEKS AND KEEP IT OFF!"

We'll move on to what is actually stated in the book, Appendix A, pg 265:
"Let's face it: when all is said and done, this is a book about losing fat. Notice I didn't say 'losing pounds' or 'losing weight.' I said losing fat."

That's one of the few honest, if contradictory statements in this book. It really is not about losing weight, though I have no doubt some people will lose some weight (short-term) if they follow it completely. That's because of:

A: Week 1, which severely limits carbohydrates and thus creates a 'whoosh' of water loss, and;
B: Weeks 2-8, which severely limits calories. Yes, on 'cheat' days you can eat anything, as long as you don't eat much - or in the author's words "don't stuff yourself."

Point "A" is why most of the readers following the diet and posting on the book's forums repeatedly write that they lost weight "the first week, but nothing or not much afterward." Had those same posters followed the proven way to lose pounds and inches: high fat, moderate protein and low carb consumption - they would have continued to lose weight and inches week after week after week, without having to follow some cockamaimie up/down scheme that is ultimately doomed to fail. And by ultimately fail, I mean that as soon as someone can no longer tolerate a low fat, relatively low calorie diet, they will not only gain back their lost weight, they'll add to it.

Let's move on to the very bad science that stands behind this book. The author states that:
(pg. 28) "Studies have shown that too much saturated fat in the diet raises the cholesterol level in the bloodstream." In fact, studies have shown the exact opposite, and that:

1: Saturated fat, when combined with low carb consumption, creates the very best lipid profiles of all. It's especially good at dramatically lowering triglycerides, which is one of the only two lipid markers that matter for assessing heart disease risk. The lower Triglycerides, the better. It also improves the other marker - HDL - and raises it dramatically.
2: Elevated cholesterol has NOTHING WHATEVER to do with heart disease.
3: For women older than 50, elevated cholesterol levels means they will have a higher life span, and much lower mortality figures than their sisters with 'good' cholesterol readings.

Saturated fat does many good things for the body. To learn what and how, read a far more valuable book than this twaddle; a real owner's manual, if you will: Gary Taubes' seminal work: "Good Calories, Bad Calories." And of course, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick's "The Great Cholesterol Con" - both available on Amazon.

Chant then moves on to:
(pg. 31): "Despite the prevalence of 'low carb' diets---and the way they are perceived as successful by many short-term dieters---carbohydrates are actually vital to the human body."

Hmm. "PERCEIVED as successful?" How about: Have been proven successful by every single study that has tried hard to prove them unsuccessful. As with the Israeli study, published in July in the New England Journal of Medicine, and many, many others.
--"short-term dieters?" How about the tens of thousands of people who, rather than diet, simply follow a low carb way of eating for a lifetime. A lifetime, that is, of being slim, healthy, fit and decidedly not fat.
-- "carbohydrates are vital to the human body?" How about not needed at ALL. There are entire civilizations that live on a diet of 80-90% fat with the balance of nutrient being provided by protein - who, by the way, have some of the lowest rates of stroke, heart disease, obesity and diabetes in the world.

(pg 31): "The body chooses carbohydrates for energy because they digest first and most easily."

Duh. That's why they are BAD. Whether you're eating multi-grain bread or a squishy slice of wonderloaf, the body has precisely ONE reaction upon consumption: it sees it all as sugar. Which raises blood sugar levels. Which summons up insulin, which promptly stores all that 'quick energy' as fat. Adipose fat - the very worst kind. Eat that carb with some fat (fast food, for example, or even the fat Chant feels is 'good' -- but which is actually bad), and the fat storage goes from bad to worse. But that is precisely the nutritional advice she gives the reader, week after deplorable week.

(pg 32): By manipulating all of the macronutrients in our macro-patterning program, particularly carbohydrates, we train your body to use fat and the carbohydrates we eat for energy instead of shuttling them off to the fat stores immediately..."

Dear Ms. Chant: Evolution called, and wants its pancreas back.

I suggest that instead of spouting sheer nonsense, like believing that eight weeks of 'training the body' can override the last, oh, few million years or so of human development, you take a few elemental bio-chem classes to learn under what conditions insulin is created by the pancreas, and how it is *invariably* used, your 'training' not withstanding.

Wendy Chant's bottom line, after promising WEIGHT loss and making readers wander though a maze of 264 imprecise and unclear pages of charts, initials and bizarre instructions -- delivers on page 265 only the info that the previous tome wasn't about weight loss at all. The bottom line of this review is that there is a wealth of real information out there about how the body works vis-a-vis weight and fat loss that will deliver real long-term success --- and while I hope this review's readers find it --- this book ain't it.

I've been fat since I was 3 and morbidly obese for as long as I can remember. As every overweight person has, I've gone the route of Weight Watchers, TOPS, LA Weight Loss, Overeaters Anonymous, support groups, therapy, hypnosis, shots and pills (over the counter and prescribed), and whatever else made sense at the moment. I always hit a plateau and quit.

My background is in nutrition, serving in many healthcare facilities, so I figured that Wendy wouldn't have anything to offer that I didn't already know. Wendy's nutritional & medical science information blew me away. My college education and years of experience taught me about the nutritional values of food. Wendy taught me how the body actually uses nutrition and how to "train" the body to find the fat and get rid of it.

I started the program in May 2007 and have lost 65 pounds so far. Wendy inspires me and I was excited when I read her book. It is written exactly how she teaches her course, in plain language with fascinating facts and a little bit of fun thrown in. It all makes sense and it is doable. I'm not going to lie and say that you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want. There is no "miracle diet". Wendy works her patterns so that you can enjoy your life. There was no suffering during the holidays or even on my 15 night cruise. I have no regrets with what I ate or didn't eat.

The people in the book are real; I know some of them. The pictures are not the fake stick the belly out and look miserable "before" pictures with suck the belly in and look thrilled "after" pictures. I'm a "between" now and looking forward to being slim and Forever Fit.

This is my fourth copy of the book. Why so many? Because whenever someone starts asking me what I've been doing, they get so excited, that they end up wanting the book. I believe in this so strongly, that I give my copy away so they can start reading that day....

I've been following the Crack the Fat Loss Code plan since January 9th, 2008. I've lost 41 lbs and haven't felt like I've been dieting at all. A few reviewers feel that the plan promotes cottage cheese and protein shakes too much... but it really doesn't. The food plans are guidelines. There are substitution options that allow you to customize your day's food intake within the framework of the patterning.

This is also the first time I've been told WHY to change my habits because of how foods interact with my body. Diets I have tried in the past just tell me to do something, but don't explain why. Understanding why helps in my motivation and in making this a lifestyle change, not a diet.

Exercise.... I exercise, but I apply exercise to the food plan. There is no exercise in the book because you need to change food intake habits first. Once you've developed your new habits through several weeks of the program, exercise should be added. Don't worry that there isn't a whole section of recommended exercises... when the time comes, just get out there an move. As your body improves, you'll want to add intensity, weight training etc.

I too have tried MANY "diets" or plans. This is a lifestyle change and it works. You'll have more energy, steady weight loss and feel GREAT! Plus you're using food you can get anywhere or eat out. In 12 weeks on this plan, I lost 22.3 lbs! So excited Wendy got this book published to touch many lives! Stop the yo-yo dieting, this lifestyle works and you'll feel great to boot!

My husband both started this diet. We are in week 3... yes, we both lost weight. I lost 10, hubby 12. and several inches off our waist. The only thing is that are NO good recipe's, and its way too complicated... not written in an easy to understand format... I find myself sitting up at night trying to figure out what we need to eat the next day... its too hard to follow. I'll probably switch to something easier at this point.

This is the most amazing program you will ever be on! Believe me, I've tried them all several times...including counting all those points day after day!!! I've been overweight my entire life. I joined Wendy's program last November. I lost 30 pounds and 21 inches the first eight weeks. I've now lost almost 50 pounds and several more inches. The fat just melts away so fast I can hardly keep up with it! I try on clothes that I haven't worn in a few years thinking that I'll get into them soon and they're already too big..imagine that!

The turning point for me was when my doctor wrote a prescription for Vitorin because my cholesterol levels were off the chart. My cholesterol has been getting worse for several years until finally I really was in danger. Having a family history of stroke and heart disease, I decided right then that I HAD to do something about my health and I was sure not going to take those pills. In addition to the high cholesterol I was pre-diabetic and could never keep my thyroid medication regulated.

I have GREAT NEWS! I had blood tests done after only four months on this plan and my cholesterol levels have all improved. Most importantly, my triglycerides (the fat in your blood that forms plaque and causes stroke and heart disease) are NORMAL for the first time in three years. My triglycerides dropped an AMAZING 88 points!!! Total cholesterol has dropped 52 points and the LDL dropped 40 points. I still have a little way to go to have all normal values, but I'm out of the "danger zone". My glucose is normal..no longer pre-diabetic and my thyroid hormone level is perfect, exactly in the middle where it should be. I'm looking forward to my next doctor's appointment in July (can't believe that) when my all of my cholesterol values will be normal.

I will forever be grateful to Wendy for showing me the way to "crack the code". I could never thank Wendy and Rachel enough for their constant encouragement and motivation. It's like nothing I've experienced before. I've added them both to my list of mentors and inspirations in my life! I know that once I reach my goal I will remain ForeverFit! I can't imagine living any other way.

So what are you waiting for? Do something for YOURSELF for a change. Buy this book. It just might save your life. I know it saved mine!

Wendy does an excellent and far better than average job with explaining the metabolic processes, and the book is definitely worth a read just for that part. She's absolutely on the money, for the most part, about the nutrition needs of our bodies.

However, I find her nutritional plan, the basic method called 'carbcycling', to be way over-rated and far too complicated for the average person. Her fitness plan as well. There is another book which will teach you how to retrain your body to burn fat rather than store it without doing mental yoga to carb cycle. I'll get to that book in a minute.

Here is what I would suggest: borrow Wendy's book from your library to read about how the metabolic processes work, and if you are convinced that you want to follow a carb cycling plan such as she suggests, then Google 'carb cycling' and you will find plenty of free resources out there.

A better plan for nutrition, in my opinion, is following something like the Weight Watchers Core Program (NOT the Flex plan!), which, again, the basics can be found via a Google search. (Trust me, you will be surprised at the guidelines for their CORE Plan, NOT the Flex plan!)

A far more excellent fitness plan is to purchase the book The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution: The Slow Motion Exercise That Will Change Your Body in 30 Minutes a Week 'The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution: The Slow Motion Exercise That Will Change Your Body in 30 Minutes a Week" by Frederick Hahn. Hahn's book wins hands down on the fitness plan!!

However, I do disagree with the nutritional plan in the back of Hahn's book, a very low carb plan by the authors of the book 'Protein Power,' Drs. Eades. But the fitness plan cannot be beat, AND YES YOU GET FAR BETTER FITNESS FOLLOWING HAHN'S FITNESS PLAN 30 MINUTES ~~PER WEEK~~ (NOT day!) than Wendy's fitness recommendations, which is basically the over-preached "exercise your brains out" approach. As Hahn explains so well, 2 hours a day of aerobic exercise increases your ~~endurance~~ but not necessarily your FITNESS level.

And Hahn's explanation in the beginning of his book flows nicely with what you learn in Wendy's book about metabolism and how to retrain the body to burn fat and not store it! Wendy's explanation of the metabolic processes goes hand in hand with Hahn's brief review of it, and forms the basis of Hahn's fitness plan. Both of these two books fall short on the nutritional aspect, however, in my opinion. Any nutritional plan that relies on protein powders (both plans), cheeseburgers (in the Eades' plan), fake sugar (in Wendy's plan), and other "frankenfoods", and eliminates some of the greatest nutrition in the world, such as legumes, in my opinion, falls far short of the mark!

So, read Wendy's book (the first part) for the best and most clearly written and easily understandable explanation of the metabolic processes and what needs to happen to switch on your fat burning, buy Hahn's book for the fitness and the HOW to switch on your fat burning, and follow a sound, balanced nutritional plan such as the WW Core Plan, and you will be well on your way to fabulous health and fitness!

I am currently five weeks through the plan. In five weeks, I have lost 10 pounds. I am not the kind of person who loses weight easily. I have had insulin resistance, and may still have it to some degree. I lost 10 pounds prior to starting this diet and it took me a year. I do not "diet" well and find that sticking to planned meals is very difficult. At the beginning of this I was at the very top of my "acceptable weight range," and I want to lose another 20 pounds or so. Despite my difficulty with general dieting, I have found that sticking to the carb counts listed has been pretty easy. I have only gone slightly over a few times. The "carb cycling" part of the diet gets five stars.

The actual meal plans and details of this book get one star. This book was tedious to read and the nutritional information is sketchy at best. The plans are not laid out in a clear manner, and they are very restrictive. There are little mandatory commands of the diet, like "you must eat a cup of broccoli every day," which are mentioned one time in the whole book, and not included in the meal plans themselves. Was it too much trouble to just lay everything out in weekly plans, like in other diet books? I've read MANY diet books, and this is by far the least clear plan I've ever read.

The limited plans that are given are not realistic for someone wanting to learn life-long eating habits. Nor are they nutritionally sound according to the most recent research coming from people who are learning to be skeptical of the whole "lipid hypothesis." The author is fat-phobic and the meal plans feature protein shakes at least once a day. Who wants to eat shakes for the rest of their lives? Who even has access to a blender throughout the day? The meal plans also have a lot of egg whites, instead of just using whole eggs. This is like what body-builders would eat, and I do NOT want to look like a body builder. Toned and slim is far different from that look. Oddly, the book does not include anything about exercise recommendations other than vague references.

I ignored the meal plans and recipes and just kept to the carb counts listed. I have even been very bad, and on the "unlimited carb days," I've been eating more like you could eat on a "cheat day." It's kept me motivated, and since I've still been losing about two pounds a week that way, without being hungry, I'm very happy.

Since the carb-cyling has worked for me, I really wanted to give the book five stars...but since I'm only following about three pages of the book, I have to attribute my success to my own plan that I made using the carb recommendations, and not to a bizarre eating plan that involves a lot of eggs whites and protein shakes. Yech.

Crack the Fat-Loss Code is a book that everyone should read if you are serious about understanding the real science behind good nutrition and lasting weight loss. I am someone who wants to know why and how something works and not just go blindly into a program. This book explains it all. Plus it is very motivating, inspiring and the plan is easy to follow.

You will learn how to plan meals, what to eat and when to eat, plus the science behind it to totally understand the fat loss code! You can enjoy all food groups, eating out at restaurants and social events, and still lose weight. I have followed this plan, lost weight and feel great in all aspects. It really works! You are taught a lifestyle to enjoy for life, not just a diet plan for the moment.

Wendy Chant is a very energetic and passionate person who knows the code, lives the code and wants to share with all. Don't waste anymore time with countless other plans, as this one really works! It is amazing how you can overcome weight plateaus, gain strength and energy at any age. Your body will respond when you learn the code and you will love the results!

I am so glad I checked this book out from the library. What a chaotic mess! Most pages are filled with fluff to make a simple concept bulky enough to create a book. It is difficult to read, not because of speaking over the readers head with pompous vocabulary, but because it is horribly edited and visually difficult to read because of it's physical layout on the page.

And the recipes are WAY WAY WAY off on nutritional value! One recipe claims nutritional value of trace protein, 14 grams of fat, and 3 grams of carbs per serving, but when put into a trusted nutrition site, the nutritional values are actually 16g of protein, 14 grams of fat and 60 grams of carbs!!! That is a drastic miscalculation that could hurt a diabetic following closely to a medical plan.

While the basic concept of mixing up your carb grams throughout the week to keep your body on its toes sounds good, there is no science behind it, at least that this book can present in a clear, concise manner. And it is relatively common knowledge that having a varied diet is healthy.

In the Kindle format this book was a waste of my hard earned dollars. Much of the book is unreadable on the Kindle.

If you are looking for a lifestyle change -- not a diet -- this is for you. Wendy teaches you the why behind it and it's so easy to do, even when traveling, you can stay on the plan. It's not a quick fix, you do have to work at it but it's flexible and it works. Vacations -- you can still take them and not gain any weight. This is the first program that I have been able to ever sustain this long -- I lost 20 pounds and have kept them off for almost 2 years. I still follow the program but I don't even have to think about what I'm doing now -- its become second nature and I love it and how it makes me feel. It is well worth the investment in this program!

This book is in a format that is easy to read and understand. Wendy talks to you in such a way that you really understand what she is saying and it makes sense. Read it and learn how to crack the fat loss code forever!

IMHO...I did not find this book to be helpful and do not recommend it. It is not comprehensive enough and I was left with many questions after reading it several times. I tried the plan for 6 days but just couldn't make it to the 7th day of the 1st week. Maybe because I'm down to my "last 10 lbs" but I didn't really lose anything, either (about 1 lb). I did try emailing Wendy Chant's customer service team through her website with one of my questions but all I got was the auto-reply saying they received my email and would be in touch soon. That was over a week ago. It's good premise that MAYBE works but it's not very thoroughly explained and there are no resources for you to turn to for clarification/guidance.

I can not begin to say enough good about Wendy, her book and her bootcamp. I was one of those that had tried everything....to always fail. After being introduced to Wendy I am now on my way to a much healthier and happy lifestyle. I am now in control not the food controling me. The biggest change for me was actually learning to eat and not to graze all night. I would go all day and not eat until I got home and then watch out.....nothing was safe!

Learning the food plans, understanding the science of the body and the right way to eat has changed my life. I am a planner and this concept is perfect for me and my personality. I only wish I had known about Wendy sooner. We,in the Orlando area are the lucky ones to have Wendy here to be our personal coach. Now everyone can have what we have, but by purchasing her book you can still get the same amazing results we are having. I am 21 pounds down in just 7 weeks....with even less and less of me in the future!

My previous weight loss journey had been full of many obstacles and excuses. I for the first time believe I can accomplish my goals and be successful. I continue to have my moments of doubt (old myths die hard) but I can truly say I believe in Wendy and always remember her mantra "stay true to the plan and it will work". I am staying true to the plan and most of all to me. Thanks Wendy!

This book is poorly written. The author constantly uses analogies to cars, and gasoline. It gets to be laborious to read -- I'd rather read facts, and correct terminology. It is insulting to my intelligence. The format of the book is hard to read -- the diets are at the back of the book, but you have to search in the middle for recipes and search again elsewhere to find the the substitute lists. The book will tell you a recipe is on a certain page, and it's really several pages away. It is very unorganized!


Also, the nutritional values are way wrong on several recipes. For instance, the recipe for crepes (which are horrible!) states 20 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat and 15-25 grams of Carbs. Well, the protein powder alone has 20-23 grams of protein. The oatmeal has another 4 grams of protein, and the 4 eggs have another 20 or so grams of protein. That's over double what the author states! The oatmeal also has 2 grams of fat, and surely the egg yolk has a little fat...again double the author's stated 1 gram of fat.

The before-and-after shots of her clients are also insulting to my intelligence! She has a before/after shot of one woman...and she's a size 4 before and a size 4 after! Another man has lost several pounds, and totally firmed up his body. But....the muscle didnt come from this diet, it came from him lifting weights and working out.

Another thing----since you must excercise (and honestly should with any diet plan), the author doesnt tell you WHEN you should eat for ideal performance. This is very important if you lift weights or do intensive cardio. You need energy to lift weights, so you need to know WHEN to eat. I'm surprised the author, who is a former bodybuilder, totally omitted this type of information!

Lastly, this diet did not work for me. I do feel like I'm eating healthier than I was before, but I'm not losing any weight or fat. In fact, in 3 weeks, I've only lost 5 pounds. I'm following it very closely. And, the 1st 2 whole weeks of the diet I didnt even have a bowel movement -- I had to buy laxatives. That's not healthy!

Save your money. Find another diet. This book is horrible. I've heard the "idiot proof diet" online works well, maybe I'll try that.

I actually heard of this book on my about.com stop smoking forum. I had quit smoking a year ago and gained 35 pounds. It was mentioned and I looked it up, read the reviews, went to Wendy's site in Florida, and ordered the book. I also am 52 and have gone through menopause. What intrigued me was 1) it claimed to work through plateus and keep metabolism high and 2) it made so much sense. I wouldn't have to sacrifice my health to lose weight some crazy way. It had been decades since i had been on a diet, and I cringed to start anything rigid. That was 6 weeks ago and 15 pounds. I found the forum immediately and my husband and I both have lost lots of weight, but even more, inches and sizes. I have not been hungry, in fact, sometimes I need to eat more often. There are cheat days and high carb days built in, and I've just trusted, and it has worked amazingly. Everyone notices and I am down 2 sizes. By being on the forum, I see this is working for everyone, even petite people that only want to lose 10 pounds. It gives me constant and smooth energy because I'm putting good things in my body every 3-4 hours. It is also the most forgiving diet. I messed up halloween night, and the next morning I had lost 2.5 more pounds. Because it is real and not a gimmick it is away to eat forever. Anybody could live their life eating this way and be satisfied. It also is not rigid. It teaches how to combine foods, to usually eat "clean carbs" before 3pm, except on cheat days, where nothing is forbidden (even alcohol!). Wendy even takes the time to try and answer our questions, but we're getting better and better at answering our own. Now that her book has hit best seller and been mentioned on Oprah, it will revolutionize weight loss. A slim body is available to anyone now. It also does not cost a lot of money and allows us to be quite creative. but the best thing is how healthy it is. my skin is clear, I'm happy and energized. I can't say enough!!!
Lani McWilliams

The book says "this is not a diet" well...not only is it a DIET, it is one of the most strict and confusing diets I've ever attempted. I simply did not have the time to eat the specific foods on the specific days at the specific times that this diet book recommends....life is short, I don't want to spend it doing this....

I tell everyone that asks me what I did to look so good about Crack the Fat Loss Code. This is absolutely the only plan that has EVER worked for me! Along with most of you, I have tried every diet on the planet with no long term success and this truly is the real deal. The science behind how our bodies work is fascinating and once you read the book you will never look at food and eating the same way again! I started on the plan 1 1/2 years ago, lost 16 lbs. in 8 weeks and have kept it off because it is a lifestyle, not a diet. Wendy's passion for teaching us all how to outsmart our bodies and get the fat off is a gift you don't want to miss.

This is a plan that REALLY WORKS in so many ways - weitht loss, fat loss, muscle building, metabolism increase, improved cholesteral, improved blood pressure, reduced hot flashes, and best of all - improved self image! At least, all of these wonderful changes occured when I went on the 'Forever Fit' plan. Other positive things about this book: it is totally doable from your kitchen, the grocery store, restaurants and vacations; your whole family can benefit (at least from a health standpoint) by following the plan with you; and physically you will feel wonderful. Like all regime changes, there will be some discipline involved but you should never feel hungry and soon you lose your sugar and other unhealthy cravings. For the price of the book, you can lose (except weight and fat!).

I love this way of eating (WOE)! I'm currently finishing up my 2nd round of the 8 week cycle, I'm down 25lbs (effortlessly), and numerous inches. There is science behind this WOE and it works. I have never felt better and have lost the FAT while enjoying my favorite foods.

I will be honest the first week is difficult, but oh so worth it. I lost all my cravings. The following weeks were a piece of cake and when i got to my Carb Up day I ate my pizza and enjoyed my pasta and didn't stuff. My daughter had her 4th bday the following week and I was able to stop at 1 piece of cake! I normally would have finished that cake off by the next morning. This WOE is so liberating it is scary.

My advice for anyone thinking of doing this program:
1. Follow WEEK 1 exactly and use those protein shakes to help with those sweet cravings
2. Drink YOUR WATER
3. Exercise
4. Eat at least every 4 hours
5. Throw out your scale and use those jeans (we all have them in the back of our closet - you know the ones) I'm finally in mine again!
6. ENJOY It - I'm having a blast and enjoying everything I put in my mouth and if you really want something a Carb Up day is only a few days away!

Thank you Wendy Chant! You have given me my LIFE Back. Give it 8 weeks - what have you got to lose, but inches?!

Finally a way of eating that works!!! We bought the book first, and the video came next. My husband was very interested in the video, after losing 8lbs the first week. He was a big help, with helping me keep the days straight, after watching the video. He would have never sat and read the book (to busy you know). We are on week 10 and are still going down on the scale, yeehaa!!! This new way of eating works for us. It does take planning and commitment, but it is working for us, cause we eat all the foods we have always loved, on the days they are allowed, and that is doable.

As a health care professional, I am always looking for ways to encourage my patients and their decisions for healthly lifestyle changes. This book is easy to understand and the plan is easy to implement. I have recommended it to several patients already and all of them are very excited about it! You don't starve. You don't go hungry. You just eat healthy! It doesn't get any better than that!!!

Brilliant! Wendy Chant has actually cracked the fat loss code! I never before thought or cared about how the body works during my many years of struggling with weight. (But I should have!) All I wanted was for the pounds to go away. After reading this book though, I now understand how the body uses and stores energy, how to keep your metabolism reved up with natural foods and exercises that won't kill you - AND, loose the fat! "My" unwanted pounds are actually coming off faster and in better balance than ever before!

In this book, Wendy gives detailed, step-by-step instructions on how "anybody" can be successful in fat loss if you are willing to follow the plan. Each day is outlined for you so there is no guess work - though Wendy does give you many food-choices! Easy to read, easy to follow, and easy to implement. Wendy's a great coach. "Crack the Fat Loss Code" makes sense ... and, IT WORKS!

The editor of this book should have been fired. It is filled with inconsistencies and missing information. It's shocking that it would be published in this condition, but I guess it still sells. Nevertheless, if you can figure out what to eat (and what not to eat) by following the guidelines for each phase of this "eating plan" (she does not use the word, "diet"), you will find success. HOWEVER, this is no miracle diet as others have claimed and you will not lose 25 pounds in 8 weeks unless you are starting this program as morbidly obese. I lost 7 pounds in the first week and by the end of 8 weeks I had lost a total of 8 pounds. I followed the plan pretty much to the letter. My exercise was light--just a daily walk of about 20 minutes. The meals are what I would describe as tolerable--nobody will mistake Wendy Chant for a gourmet chef that's for sure. Her "breakfast crepes" taste like cardboard with saccharine. I will give this 8-week cycle another try and amp up the exercise next time. All in all, not a bad diet (very hard for me to lose any weight), but don't expect miracles and except for a handful of "cheat days," you will forfeit delicious foods for a couple of months.

I absolutely love this program. I bought this book and have completed the first 7 days, which is the only 'diet' part of the program. You have to follow the first week instructions very rigidly, by purposely counting like she explains in the book, but the best part is after you complete this week, you never, ever have to repeat it. I love that part.

I retired from the military over 10 years ago, and in that time, I have gained 60 lbs. I have tried everything, absolutely everything, to try and reduce my weight to no avail. Actually, the more I tried to lose, the more I gained, hence the 60 lbs creeped up and won't go away.

I am only in Week 2, in the first cycle, I have lost 10 lbs. Although I know this loss will flucuate some due to adding back in the carbs; I am psyched b/c I have never lost that much on anything I have tried. I feel great!

Wendy gives you a lifestyle eating plan, and she doesn't 'dump' you once the weight is gone. It's an 8-week program broken into cycles, and after the program ends, you can either repeat (if you have more weight to lose), or stay on the maintenance plan and live your life healthy.

The food is sooo easy. No matter what lifestyle you live, you can find food anywhere to satisfy your body without compromising.

I strongly recommend that you purchase this book, read it through and start the program, and get your life back once and for all.

While in the military, I was a certified trainer and in that time, I have never had a weight problem. Once I retired, the weight came with a vengenance! Since I enjoyed being fit for 20 years; this weight gain has totally messed up my life. I just started this program, but I am certain that this program is the key and I know that these lbs will be history very soon.

Thank you Wendy Chant for this book, I am very, very grateful!

The information in the book makes total sense, however it's just not realistic for certain people to follow. I started the program and although the first 5 days delivered results I could not continue on the diet and had to quit. It gave me horrible headaches and I was nauseous all of the time. Just the thought of eating the few things that I could have made me sick. After 5 horrible days of it I had to concede defeat, but I did lose 8 pounds. If you have ever survived the Atkins Diet, then you can do this diet. The first week is like Atkins, but after that it seems that it will get better. My only complaint about the book is that Wendy does not give many meal idea's. Some people can figure all of that out for themselves, but other's need suggestions to be sure that what they are eating is on the plan. I am one of those people who really could use some additional meal plans and recipe's.

Crack the Fat-Loss Code is a good, solid, no-nonsense book that goes into some of the nutritional program designed by Wendy Chant. Wendy knows her subject and is blessed with an ability to explain to others how the body works and why the plan is optimal. I have been fortunate enough to participate in her Nutrition Boot Camp as well as having the book as a resource and have had wonderful results. More importantly, THIS is a way of life that I can live with~forever.

The food plan is not restrictive, it is chock full of "God given" foods... you know, the ones that are naturally found on the earth...it is up to each individual to create menus of their own liking. *Aren't there millions of recipes out there already??*

I have read a truckload of diet books, been on most of them, and had short term success with one or two... never in my life could I visualize what a "lifestyle change" would look like on me. Now I know.

Crack the Fat-Loss Code book is the first easy read and the most comprehensive Life Style book published to date. It is a program that is fool proof for all ages. It leaves no questions unanswered in conquering a "new you"! It is the best tool for all to read and apply to ones' self. The results are just amazing and so easy to follow. You will not regret purchasing this book and enjoying the rewards that this "tool" book has to offer.

I read the book from cover to cover and thought it was unneccesarily complicated even in the beginning. I feel that the author could have made it more user friendly with regard to chapter and menu organization. I am sure that it makes sense in her mind but for the reader who wants a lifestlye change; simplicity is best.

I decided to start the first week because a menu was provided for all seven days. No thinking. Then when I started to shop for Week Two I realized after alot of page turning that the menu provided for Week Two is really for Week Three. If the premise of this diet is to follow Macro patterning you have to follow the pattern correctly.

I wrote the author about the confusion. What to start next? CC BB etc,. BBCC, Got a prompt email saying that my request would be answered but over forty-eight hours later, and still no reply or support.

It's not the end of the world but it's annoying and could have been provided. The reader has to make sure, really sure that they read the heading so they are not doing planner B, C or D in other cycles. It could easily happen.

I will say the recipes provided are tasty. Not sure if I will continue at this point? If I do continue through week eight I will write again to revise my review.

I've lost 5 pounds. I came to this diet from another lower carb plan, so didn't have a lot of water weight to lose.

Yes, the sample foods in the meal plans are boring and unimaginative and were never going to happen for me. But instead, I took the allowed foods and created my own Week 1 meal plan. Most of us eat the same things from week to week, so I picked a couple of breakfasts, a snack list to choose from on the spur, a lunch & dinner basic plan (only the protein varied) and so on. My days included no cottage cheese meals and no protein shakes - and even so I was following the program.

A typical week 1 day looked like this for me -

Meal 1 - egg & egg white omelet with sauteed mushrooms & spinach in olive oil, topped with some very sharp cheddar cheese, coffee with cream

Meal 2 - about 12 almonds

Meal 3 - a big romaine leaf lettuce salad with a combo of olive oil/ranch dressing (I'm not an olive oil/vinagrette girl so kept 1 TBSP ranch) with diced cucumbers, spinach, and topped with delicious buffalo chicken breast strips (homemade w/o breading and browned in skillet sprayed with olive oil),

Meal 4 - celery with homemade ranch dip OR cheese & sliced turkey wrapped in romaine lettuce leaf and stuffed with other veggies

Meal 5 - coated fish with ground flaxseed and browned in 1-2 tsp canola, brocc or asparagus or the like topped with a tsp of butter and a pinch of cheese, and a green salad topped with the above dressing

Meal 6 - low fat cheese stick or my fave sunflower seeds (3 carbs worth).


I kept my carbs well within her limits for the first week (no carb counting after week 1) and my average intakes were 103 gm protein, 12 gms net carbs, 85 gms fat. Yes, it's VERY high in fat the first week but that's normal for a very low carb program - too much protein will overwhelm the body so the difference has to come from somewhere. The fat intake gets scaled back after week 1 when carbs get reintroduced.

I can't review the program past week 1, but will try to come back and update. The meal plans and recipes don't concern me at all because I enjoy making up my own meals, but if you are a person who wants a detailed plan to follow exactly, you'll be disappointed.

This is a great way of eating! My metabolism is cranked up and the pounds are coming off. I'm not hungry either. She makes a lot of sense. Only concern is that she doesn't explain well how dairy products and fruit fit in.

This is a wonderful book. I have been on the eight week plan three full weeks and have lost 12 pounds. More important I feel great, have lots of energy and do not crave sweets or carbs. The first week is a struggle but the rest is easy. I highly recommend this book for the over 40 gals who can't seem to drop any weight.

If you're a logical, discilined person, this is a lifestyle for you! In 8-weeks, I dropped 11 pounds, 7% of my body fat and nearly 14 inches. No exercise really, just through manipulating my diet -- and I didn't feel deprived. Wendy has worked in to her plan 2 days where you get to indulge in all of your favorite things. AND YOU STILL DROP THE WEIGHT! Get this book, and if you can, get to her Nutrition Boot Camp classes in the Orlando area. She will help you with the skills to take control of your health in this age of a frighteningly depleted food chain. Good luck!

I saw an article about the diet in a Woman's magazine, and so I ordered the book. I received the book 4 days ago and have been reading and re-reading the book.

There are definite discrepancies between the magazine article's example food plan and what is stated in the book. For example, yogurt was part of the 1st week meal plan in the article; however yogurt is not listed as an "approved" food for the first week.

The book also references areas on a web site. The only web site mentioned in the book is in the reference section of the book. I do not find items mentioned in the book on the web site. Many of the pages on the web site still appear to be under construction.

I would like to see more recipes and example meals. I would like to be able to ask questions to the community of people who have successfully followed this plan. This is day 2 of the deplete for me. Onward...

Awesome! I've tried them all, and this is great. Easy to follow. You do need to prepare your food for the day, but I'm in my 6th day and have lost 7 pounds. That speaks for itself.

I have tried every plan diet out there and this is the one that truly works if you have been carrying around belly fat. I am so amazed at how well it works and how fast you see your belly disappear. You don't feel like you are dieting and you can eat anything.
I will do this plan for life and highly recommend this book.

Great book, the method for losing weight is so simple. My wife and I are doing great so far. I would highly recommended it

Norm A

Crack the Fat Loss Code is a great book, easy to read and very educational. I highly recommend the program Forever Fit that they teach you about. This program is sensible, something anyone can live with even diabetics and above all it works. I am now on my forth week of the program and feel great have dropped 13 lbs. Good health is the most important thing and in the process you will regain your energy and get rid of extra fat once and for all. I am so excited about this plan, give it a try, you have nothing to loose except extra weight and poor health. Linda Milroy

Absolutely perfect. I am down 12 pounds in week four and can have pizza and subs and pasta after week three, the perfect diet. Any plan that I can have my favorite foods twice a week and still lose weight is awesome. The only negative thing is my shorts are literally falling off me from inches lost.
Deb

This has been an amazing Journey for me. I start week 3 of the 8 week program tomorrow and so far I have lost 9 pounds (most within the first) As others have said the first week is tough but it gets easier after that. I have felt a lot better eating this way and not eating all the processed foods I used to eat before finding this WOE (Way of eating) Its just an all around good plan to try. I recommend it to anyone looking to lose weight and feel better about themselves.

The book drills into your thoughts that it is not a diet, it is a lifestyle change, that is certainly true. I read the book but did not even attempt the program. It seemed very restrictive to me and those type of plans never work in the long term.

Wendy teaches you how to overcome weight loss plateaus when trying to loose weight. I exercised, I walked, I used various diet plans but got no where. Wendy teaches you how to get there. I finally understand how to plan my meals. I eat plenty, I'm not hungry all the time and I'm still loosing weight! Wendy's energy and enthusiasm is contagious.
Get the book.
Go to the class!
I am soo glad that I did.
Thanks Wendy!

As a personal trainer, I have read dozens of "diet" books and seen the successes - and more often - failures of all of them. Several of my clients began using this guide and find that it works into their lifestyle and they haven't felt deprived of foods they like. I've purchased copies for others to try and will update this review as results come in.

All "diet" plans can be tedious to follow and this one is no exception. If you won't stay with it for at least six months, you will waste your time and money. Once you start cheating, you're done for!

In my experience, the best way to insure success is by keeping a journal. A pad of paper in your pocket is all it takes and you MUST write down everything you put in your mouth. As they say, if you bite it - write it. The idea is to make you think as you're making the decision - so writing it down later doesn't help. I tell clients to write it down before they put it in their mouth - even one chip! Good luck.

I have been following this plan since July 2008. I have lost 37lbs to date. This program works and is DO-ABLE! I have gone off and on it very successfully. I lost about 8lbs in July, then went off it the entire month of August (several vacations, etc). Started it again in September - November. Off again a few weeks around the holidays. Total of 37lbs so far. With the cheat day and high-carb days it is really easy to stick to. The first 2 weeks are rough -but after that, it is great! Highly recommend it. When you read it, you can see the logical sense in how it works.

If people would approach their weight loss like Gil Grissom on an episode of CSI, then perhaps they'd be a lot more successful at shaking the weight than they are. Finding the clues that lead to fat loss, applying those facts, and continually following the evidence can insure nothing but the best results humanly possible. That's what author Wendy Chant has set out to do with this book.

Through voracious scientific research, she has examined what it takes to burn fat and has developed a tested "code" for making it happen no matter who you are. Interestingly, the primary fuel source for energy that also brings about fat-burning is not carbohydrate--it's fat! Chant is a big fan of what's known as carb-cycling and suggests a series of four specific plans tailored to your particular goal. It's an intensive eight-week program that then transforms into your permanent lifestyle choice.

The best part about this new diet book is how encouraging Chant is throughout. She says to put away the negative thoughts about how you look and feel and just enjoy the life and the body you've been given. The changes that need to happen will happen if you commit to working the plan as best as you can. With special guidance all along the way and even some great recipes to make it work for you, this may be the clue you need that will unlock your own fat-loss code!

Have been on this program starting week 3 and lost 11 lbs. Amazing how good green beans taste now and not even hungry having to force myself to eat. At first the diet was a little confusing because I did not want to read the information and than went back and read it. This is an eating program that will be my new life change because I am not depriving myself of anything. Have never felt better. Thanks to Wendy for this great life change.

This weight loss plan got a lot of press in a popular magazine recently. I was looking for a carb cycling plan and this one seemed to fit my needs. However the book has too many inconsistencies and contradictions for such a specifically structured plan.

Wendy Chant is a trainer and nutrition coach and I can see with her personal guidance this plan would be great but the book is way to vague and leaves too many questions about whole food groups. The book desperately needs editing and revisions. I don't recommend this book as it is now.

This book is excellent! I've been following this weight loss plan and learning how to change my eating habits. It makes great sense and I'm dropping the weight easily.....I'm NOT STARVING!!!!!

This book contains good information and for 3 wks I have lost pounds and inches. However, without my daughter's help, it would have been too hard to follow. Over the years, I have read through and followed many diet books. The organization of this book stinks.

There were several good tips in the book- like alternating carb days, however, I found the menu planning very boring. I love to cook & make new dishes & this is not for folks like me. For example, broccoli used to be one of my favorite vegetables but how can you eat the same thing day after day as is required. Yuck. I quit after week two.

This book is very difficult to follow. If I had a chef and personal trainer, this book would be wonderful. I actually like how you can have carb days; however, I do not live in a perfect world.

I am a working mother that works full-time (different hours) and has a son that is a picky eater that I pick up late from daycare.

There are too many rules to follow and even with the day-to-day planner you still have to plan a lot. And the food is expensive.

I tried reading the book twice and found it difficult to follow. I really do wish I could have mastered it because I really need to lose the weight and I was looking forward to following this diet.

I have tried every diet and read many books and articles about dieting. This book is working for me because it tells you specifically what to do and how to eat to lose weight but more importantly, it gives you the scientific information as to why our bodies fight losing weight. This book makes total sense to me and I would recommend it to anyone out there who isn't looking for gimmicks but want the cold, hard facts about dieting!

Like so many I've been on this diet and that diet. Getting really good information that is usable and friendly to the frustrated dieter is always a tough deal. Wendy knows, Wendy understands the dilemma. Read her first one, "Crack..." and then "Conquer..." The diet, the "lifestyle" is pretty easy to do when you understand what happens with what you eat and how your body uses and stores what you eat. I personally realized that what I put in my mouth is very important if I want to be around for and with my grand kids. What's your goal and what's your purpose for losing weight? Decide and then take your life more seriously. Good Luck!

I bought this book on the word of several friends who have been heavy all their lives and lost copious amounts of weight on the program and have kept it off. I gained a great deal of weight after the age of forty and after being 132 pounds, size 6 for all my adult life. After discovering I had hypothyroid disease and getting that regulated, I began a quest to lose the weight I'd gained. I tried Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem, but hated the prepackaged food and sameness of the diet.

My one criticism is that the book is not easy to follow, so I took it one chapter at a time rather than trying to read the whole book at once. That works well. I follow it chapter by chapter as I progress through the weeks. I LOVE this program as it doesn't revolve arounnd the same eating pattern every day. And if I have a bad day or two, I simply carb down for four days and start week two again.

While there are not a diversity of recipes, I like most of the ones in the book (can't stand the egg cheeseburger, however) and have come up with several of my own.

Like most programs, it works if you work it.

I would like to say Wendy's diet is amazing and would definitely recommend it to anyone trying to lose weight or becoming a better eater. I have lost a total of 17lbs! And I have become more conscious of the way I eat and what I eat! I do have my cheat days when they come back and haunt me but I get right back on Wendy and it all works out again!!

I thought this was a very good diet book. I used it to lose 15 pounds and keep them off. I like the fact that the meal plans are very specific, and personally I love the shakes. I used to eat ice cream almost every day, and when I was following the diet I was able to cut it out completely because the shakes were a nice substitute. Even now, I only eat ice cream once a week, and I have shakes for the rest of the week. My only problems are that it's not quite as easy as Wendy says--you have to read it very carefully--and there are a couple of proofreading mistakes in the text!

Wendy is truly a magnificent woman. Both of my parents went to her boot camp classes. In return they lost an enormous amount of weight. My dad was weighing at 300 pounds and lost about 50 pounds in a matter of months. My mother didn't need to loose as much weight, but the diet not only shed a few pounds, but she lost cellulite as well! The way the diet is set up is pure science. Wendy has found a way to help people configure their metabolism to fit their needs. Your must buy the book and try it out yourself. It may seem a little strict at first, but when you see that your eating more and loosing weight at the same time you will be jumping up and down with excitement!

I have tried many diets before. This isn't a diet, it's a way of eating. (Wendy Chant's words)
There is so much to say about this WOE that is good. I am losing weight, and best of all, my energy is seriously improved.
The other factor that I really like is that just by following the guidelines, I'm (almost unconsciously) training my body to crave a different kind of eating.
My Sugar Monster altar-ego is suddenly tamed.
It's a good and healthy method, folks. I hope that if you're teetering on the fence, but tired by all the plans you've tried, you'll give it a shot.
CONS: There are a few minor details which aren't answered completely, but there is excellent help available online. Oh, yeah, and the first week is like bootcamp for your body...it's hard because it's so different. But the PRO side of the first week is that it really works to start defining your body's wants.

Unless you are willing to devote all of your eating to a strict schedule this book will be hard to follow. I think it would be helpful if there was a website that went with the book that you could print daily menus from. It is low carb then no carb then high carb. For me it was too much to keep track of.

The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is because the editing could have been better...but the content as a whole is amazing. I'm on the end of my sixth week following this plan and am no longer a slave to the scale, no longer controlled by food. I lost 80 pounds following very low carb, very low calorie diet....had some health issues from the calories being so low and then spent a year gaining and losing the same 10 pounds...I would do low carb, then binge on carbs, and repeated that cycle for a year. When I read an article about this, I bought the book the next day and am so happy I did. The plan works and it's one you can eat on the rest of your life....various stages to lose weight and then a maintenance guide...nothing crazy about it and it incorporates exercise. I highly recommend this book.

This book is a hard read, but does make sense. We will see if the process works.

Just love "breaking the code" It is fairly easy to follow and uses Food alternatives easily found.

I love this book!
I am on week 4, I have lost weight and not only that, lots of inches!
I really feel like this is a way of life NOT A DIET!!
I have learned so much!
Like many of you reading this, I have tried everything and failed because diets DON'T work...this is not a diet, it is a new way of eating sensibly! Hey, what plan says you can still have wine and chocolate??? this one does!
You will love it! check it out!!

This is a valuable read. If followed strictly... it will train your
body to perfect eating habits.

i have tried every diet known to man/God. this is easier than most - time will tell.

An excellent book. The diet works well. Lost 10 lbs in week 1 and about a lb a week after that.
I found reading and following the book confusing once you get into the actual diet because you have to bounce back and fourth to follow the menus.
Aside from that I have recommended the book to many people.

Thank you Wendy for a well written guide to losing that stubborn fat!! I have panhypopituitarism (severe endocrine deficiencies)and although even with your plan I'm losing slowly, at least I'm losing! I am so happy to finally have found a plan that works for me, and I know what I can and can't have on which days! Absolutely love the two carb up days when I can have the things I love and look forward to them. I can't say thank you enough!

Initialy this book was annoyingly repetitive but it did become helpful and most importantly I lost the pounds and inches I was aimimg for

This diet is the best one I have tried. It is straight forward and in 2 weeks I lost 10 pounds. i have been stable since then. I plan to go back to week one to restart again to get down a few more pounds.

I love this book and eating plan! I have been on the plan for 4 weeks and have seen a significate change in my body and have reduced my fat content. The program is easy to follow and makes total sense. It does not restrict to much and allow you to eat normal food. It does not require eating yogart, cucumbers and peanut butter which most diet plans insist on. The reciepes included in the book are great.

This is a life time eating plan not a diet!! With exercise I am having great results.

this book is one of the greatest books i have read on lossing weight ever.if people are looking for answer to weight lose this is it.

This book is great, it has helped me so much and it was a good price! I have been working out and losing weight for about 6 months, but had hit a plateau, and this book has lots of good information on how to get past that, so I'm glad I ordered it.

I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to lose fat sanely and sensibly. I'm not vastly overweight, but would like to lose 20 pounds, and I lost 5 pounds the first week eating 4 and 5 meals a day. The first week is lo-carb, and after that the other weeks are carb-cycling, and the author goes into the whys and wherefores of this system. Works for me!

I've been a life long diet junky and most of this information in the book was stuff I already knew but not in the pattern it was in. I'm going to give it a shot and hope for the best.

The plan outlined in the "Crack the Fat-Loss Code" book really works. It is such an easy lifestyle change and Wendy and her staff at ForeverFit are the best!

The book got here in good time and in exelent condition. The review is exelent. The book's title is Crack the Fat.

I've read many "weight loss" type books and found this one to be a valuable addition. Along with providing the background and the reasons that many "diets" are ineffective there are (a few) recipes and some helpful checklists and logs to use.

Many diet books are about 50% recipes that I'd never even try. The book's recipes are quite doable and the few I've tried are quite tasty. Also the "basic pantry" setup is a good resource so you always have the necessary ingredients on hand and aren't tempted to polish off a bag of chips (if heaven forbid you allow them in the house...)

This book is great! It's something I feel I can do for the rest of my life! It's so clear and easy to do. I've already lost weight and can't wait to lose more.

Read about this book in First magazine[ with testimonials of people who have lost weight using it] so I ordered the book thru Amazon. In the current climate of low and no carb diets, this is about carb cycling to teach your body to use fat for energy. She explains that the body gets energy 1st from food; 2nd from glycogen stored in the muscles, because it's more easily available than the 3rd source which is fat. You only do 1 virtually no carb week to rid the body of most of the glycogen. Then you cycle through low, medium and high carb days, so the body doesn't go into "starvation" mode,lower metabolism & refuse to burn fat - which it does when it thinks there won't be more easy energy coming any time soon. What the author says makes sense, and she backs it up with science that she outlines in the bibliography. It's a little repetitive, but I think she really wants you to get it and it's pretty easy reading. Since I haven't started I can't tell you yet if it works. What I liked about it is that she says most diets plateau around 8 weeks, and there are also physical reasons why your body makes it difficult to stay on a diet. And I thought it was just weak willpower!!! If this really works, it gives a way to still eat those popular "no good" foods once in a while, WITH PERMISSION, and still succeed at losing weight or keeping it off.
I also liked that she seems knowlegeable about quality of food and discourages chemical sweeteners, and gives a little education about differences & health properties of types of fats/oils.

I found this book to be fascinating and to really make sense to me. I have been following Wendy's plan for the past 4 weeks and my results have been very good so far.

I have been trying for years to find a diet that I could actually live with. This has been the one I've been looking for. I don't have to count calories, points or carbs. I don't have to spend lots of time cooking. I can go out for meals and not feel guilty. This is so good I'm giving the books as gifts to my daughters who are excited about my weight loss and increase in energy. I lost 10 lbs in the first week.

Love the book! I lost ten pounds in two weeks! That is even with my carb up days and pretty much eating what I want. I haven't followed the plan exactly, mainly because of the holidays. She recommends not eating pies or cake during the first eight weeks, but with birthdays and other holidays, I have cheated a little and I am still down ten pounds. I think this is definitely something that I live with the rest of my life!

Very well explained. Step by step. I will recommend to any one who wants to lose weight.

I ordered Crack the Fat-Loss Code to learn the ins and outs of losing weight for good. I think I'm on the right track.

I am a weight watchers person and have plateaued for the last four years. By following this plan within the weight watchers point system, my weight loss has started again. It feels so good to be down 10 pounds in the last month.

This is the first in a series of two books that helped me to make an informed decision about changing my lifestyle.

I really like this program and everything that Wendy says makes so much sense on how to trick your metabolism into high gear. I have not lost an extreme amount of weight but I have dropped inches and my body fat % is dropping very quickly. I only had 10lbs to lose so dropping the fat and inches means more to me than the weight itself. I highly recommend picking up this book and giving Wendy a chance.

The book is very good. Ordering, processing of order, and receipt of this book were all handled in an excellent manner.

This is a sound and sensible approach to weight-loss. The first week is not easy, but if you stick to it, you will be rewarded. Because of circumstances beyond my control, I could not finish the 8 weeks, but will start over after the Holidays.

Wendy Chants has created a "Bible" that explains the physiological reason we are all struggling with our weight in a logical manner that we can all identify with. The plan is simple and very do-able. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a weight issue!

this is an excellent guide for weight loss - my daughter and I lost 10 lbs within the 1st 2 weeks - it is an easy guide to follow; however you have to make a committment to change the way you eat

This book was recommended by a popular magazine and that's why I bought it. I found the diet similar to the low carb diet but with a lot more restrictions. The diet has a very strict regiman and you have to be committed to loosing weight before following it precisely.

I am so pleased with the condition and the timeliness of the product purchased. I will definitely do business with this seller again!

I received this product in a timely manner and it was in excellent shape. I would order again from this site.