Customer Review(s)
Customer Rating: 
Summary: beautiful book; not a reasonable diet
Comment: Okay, I give her kudos for a beautiful, magazine-type book. And I LOVE her show, but was sorely disappointed in Gillian's diet recommendations. I should have known by what I've seen on her show, but Gillian's diet is really nothing more than a close match to a macrobiotic diet. She recommends lots of beans, rice, veggies and very little fat & animal protein. She will allow some meats in the beginning stages, but encourages you to cut those out as soon as possible. I am sure anyone following this diet will have success in the short run, even an advancement in health due to cutting out processed foods & sugars and increasing nutrient-dense foods. However I don't know if this diet holds enough protein nor cholesterol/fat for most people. Some do very well on a vegan diet, but most do not. Plus, the rigidity of the diet would probably make it impossible to adhere to long-term and could possibly trigger a diet/binge disorder (or worse).
For an example, I'm including her Day 6 menu suggestion.
Bfast: 2 c warm water w/ lemon; 1 c dandelion tea; smoothie with 3 plums, 3 nectarines; 3 pears.
Snack: ripe banana
Lunch: yellow pea soup with avocado & broccoli salad (recipes included)
snack: 4 endive leaves with hummus & tomatoes
dinner: mighty mung bean casserole (recipe included)
Some days she does allow tuna steak but could you live off of the above, really LIVE, long term? If the answer is no, then look elsewhere. The only truely workable diet is one that you can adhere to for life.
Customer Rating: Summary: Too soon
Comment: I think being a virgin nutrition enthusiast, this book was too intense for me. My husband and I followed the plan for 2 weeks, including the 2 day detox. I felt as though I was eating a lot of beans, soup and salad (although the yellow split-pea soup was very good). I am a big fan of Gillian's show "You Are What You Eat", which is what prompted me to purchase this book, and I have learned some things. In fact, this book is the reason I check food labels now for additives and fillers and I love her lists at the beginning of her book for her favorite detox produce, meats, fish, condiments, etc. I even make smoothies now (a great way to incorporate your fruit in-take for the day)! For me, though, I felt limited by the menu and I think I need more meat and starches in the plan. I am going to look for a plan that takes more baby steps and then come back to this book.
Customer Rating: Summary: Be Prepared
Comment: THE BAD:
1. I live in a large City (Chicago) with every kind of store you can think of and I still had a hard time finding some of the ingredients used in the recipies. So you spend a lot of time shopping.
2. You will spend a lot of time chopping and cooking. If you hold down a job, you must be very organized.
3. The cost of most of the ingredients (organic) are very expensive. But the cost goes down once you get stocked on the staples, but is still more than I usually spend.
THE GOOD:
1. Most of the recipies are very good to great. (a few are not).
2. You will enjoy eating a variety of different tastes.
3. You will never be hungry. (I have a hard time eating all the food).
4. You will feel more energized and healthy.
5. Best of all , you will lose weight even if you are a postmenopausal woman like me. I lost 12lbs in 25 days.
This is the way I will eat for the rest of my life. I have never said that with any other diet or way of eating before now, and like most of you, I've tried everything.
