Fit For Life

Dangrous book.
Most educated people understand about healthy living and good organic balanced diet. Taking care of yourself, eating healthy, avoid processed food, eat more plant based diet, be active and exercise are the base of science based Medicine and what most doctors recommend to prevent disease.
Creating false hopes and disseminating false "alternative" facts is irresponsible.
Telling desperate cancer patients that diet heals them and avoid medical treatment is criminal.
Creating and repeating false facts and pseudoscience and telling "oh this has been proven and reaserched" is outright Wrong.
This books feed on frustration and fear of the sick and create a dangrous mindset.
I would not recomend this to my worst enemy.

I just wrote a review of "How to Lower Your Fat Thermostat," which contradicts "Fit For Life" in many ways, but both books offer methods that worked for me when I was following them. I tended to stick with the "Fit For Life" basics most of my life since trying this way back, at least 20 years ago now. Most of them work for me. BUT...two issues with this approach. One is, they argue that any supplements are treated by the body as waste matter (any "concentrated" food is bad, they say). But each time I tried to stick to this approach, I eventually went back to including supplements and felt way better with them than without them. In fact, I'm "addicted" to some, like vitamin C, feel rotten without it. Second issue is that all watery foods like these eventually leave me feeling too un-full, and I go into periods of overeating very concentrated foods... so like almost all diets, there is a yo-yo effect.

I first adopted this book AND eating plan in my 20s, back in the late 1970s, when the first edition came out. I was so healthy, so high energy, not an ounce of fat on me, AND no cravings. I ate very little each day because my body just did not need as much. The food you are allergic to is the stuff you crave, and the food you eat on this diet is NOT the kind of stuff most people have reactions to...I followed this diet method until I got pregnant in my late 30s and then morning sickness had me craving things I hadn't eaten in YEARS to combat my nausea: so it was huge breakfasts with pancakes and eggs and hashbrowns and Cokes to drink and there went my health and high energy and slim body....Then there was an earthquake and my life got "shook up" again, and I never did get back on track, but I have recently re-purchased the book (the original one was given away long ago) and am beginning again. I did note over the years that this plan seems to have been "adopted" by others and passed off as their own, such as a certain ditzy blonde actress popular in the 60s and 70s who does indeed still look GREAT, but has made a fortune off re-packaging this diet plan and calling it her own. AT any rate, I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book, and the simple healthy eating plan it introduces. It is the ONLY one that actually works. I have several friends who have followed it and had the same results I have, and who rave about it. GET THE BOOK. THEN FOLLOW THE PLAN. In two weeks, the cravings and your old lifestyle will be a thing of the past and you can start enjoying the benefits.

Sure, this book is dated and the some of the material may not be proven to be fact, but like all nutrition books the reader is going to incorporate into their lives what works for them and ignore the rest. The recommendations it makes aren't at all that extreme...there's nothing here that's going to hurt you..and in my experience they work. I have no idea what some of the other reviewers are freaking out about, eating more fruits and vegetables? whats so dangerous about that?? and nowhere does this book say you have to be a vegetarian/vegan either. And as for the food combining thing, I have no idea whether or not the "science" behind it is sound or not, but I do know it eliminates my heartburn which I otherwise have every day.

25 years ago my great aunt was sitting in her living room with a copy of this book. Her brother, who had hovered at 400 pounds all of his adult life, came across a copy the year before and by incorporating the author's ideas, lost over 150 pounds. I never met him but as a teenager who had struggled with my weight, I was intrigued. I bought both the hardcover and the book on cassette versions and devoured them.

It was an easy psychology toward eating. No calorie counting - more food combining. I modified the concepts in the book to fit my own lifestyle - vegetarian, which the book is not. I have kept my weight consistently in check for 25 years now. My 68 year old mother adapted to the concepts of the book the same time I did (she was in her 40's then), and just two years ago she went to the doctor for the first time in 20 years - a mandatory physical for work. Her doctor ran a battery of tests: EKG, stress tests, etc... then he ran them all again after asking her a mile of questions about her diet and lifestyle. Finally the young doctor came and slumped in his chair. Shaking his head, he said: "I can't figure it out. All of your tests keep coming back with the results of a 38 year old." What did you say you do?

I can't say enough positive things about this book!

I originally followed fit for life in the mid 80s to the mid 90s when the book first came out. I wish I had never stopped following it because I know I would be healthy today if I had stuck with it (It's easy to follow and I didn't feel like I was missing anything. I was young and stupid and caved to pressure from my sig other who didn't approve.)

My childhood family was big on giant chunks of meat and healthy portions of pasta and potatoes --and I was always starving for energy. I hated sports because I had no stamina. One day, when I was high school aged, I told my mom that I was going to follow Fit for Life and I really had to fight her hard. Her concerns were valid given that she was feeding me the way she had learned was healthy.

When I was following the fit for life plan, I had oodles of energy, but after going back to a standard american diet I no longer had that energy, have had gi issues, and today I am twice the person I should be.

Over the years my family has tried different diets like Atkins (my skin felt like rubber, I felt really thick and gross, and I actually gained ten pounds in two weeks) and through all that I kept saying "you know, when I was on fit for life I had so much energy..."

I highly recommend this plan not as a diet but as a "way of eating." While it may not be evidence based, and you should include multivitamins, I can't remember a way of eating that made me feel stronger or healthier. That's proof enough for me.

When I first bought this book on its original publication, it was mainly because it was the first place I found agreement with some principles I had been taught just a few years earlier. The information on food combining, when to eat, the challenges to some very inaccurate American "healthy diet" recommendations and other principles were all familiar and confirming. What was so exciting and still valuable to me with this book is its absolute treasure trove of wonderful recipes!

Personally, I do not understand the diet deficiency comments made here. Nature's well grown foods contain the nutrients we need and are the best assimilated by our bodies. Source checks and as much locally grown items are needed and worth the effort to ascertain. Dietary supplements are advantageous due to our diminishing air and soil conditions, but some here seem to suggest you need to jump over to the junk zone to pick up some needed things. Meat is questionable for many reasons, as well as dairy, but one must decide those issues personally - and how they are grown and processed. However, it is still a good argument to me that the elephant is a vegetarian, along with other hardy species examples. I have chosen to moderate meat and dairy intake, but definitely serve them to my guests who are accustomed to those items. What is so great about the recipes in this book is that they are optimized examples of both meat and vegetable varieties that everyone finds delectable.

Again, as the Diamonds are gourmet cooks, their preparation methods and combination of herbs and seasonings with their recipes put them at the top of the tasty healthy diet fare as far as I am concerned. Everyone to whom I serve the Curried (roasted) Chicken Salad wants the recipe. It was and still is so great to have delicious recipes, well combined, as well as nutritionally sound. Their introduction to me of the seasoning "Spike" has been a most welcome flavor aid, I find especially with potatoes. This program remains to me today the best healthy eating plan, along with the most delicious healthful recipes on record. Some can be a bit labor intensive, but all are well worth the adapting and the effort.

I threw the books away after a few pages of nothing but rantings of "how great I am" by the author. They may have gotten me to buy some books but I will not read them or pass them on,... they are only fit for the burn barrel.At least they can produce some heat to cook my steak.

I lived on this diet - mostly - for several years in the early 1990's and it was the healthiest time of my life. My cholesterol dropped to 176. It had not been under 225 in decades (now I'm no longer strictly on the diet, but on Lipitor, that works too, but side effects?).

Funny thing is, that prior to adopting this diet, my diet was already superb by modern standards. Fish, skinless chicken, low-fat, lots of vegetables and fruits,(which I happen to love), and low-fat dairy.

Oh yeah, I had forgotten: are you sitting down? I had acid stomach since I was in my teens. Lived on Rolaids. This diet cured that. Gee the more I write about it, the more I wonder why I let myself drift away. Ack, I remember now: business travel and airplane meals. (No wonder I blocked the memory out...). Back then, airports did not have the relatively fine food choices they do now (at least most major hubs do, except Dulles C&D).

Cutting out most dairy - just that one act - left me feeling much healthier. The rationale the authors claim in the book for doing that makes me gag, it seems so simple-minded and dumb, but the action worked.

One of the rules is don't take the rules as absolutes, by the way. Don't drive yourself crazy with it.

I'm thinking of buying the updated edition (Kindle so I'll always have it on my PC with me) and gravitate back to the diet. My own variation of it of course.

Art

I got this book from a friend and being a health conscious individual read it in a few hours. This book has everything you need to know about the way we eat foods, process the foods we eat and what foods are most beneficial to keep your weight down. I have tried many ways of eating. I tried Atkins and got gout soon after, as well as feeling like I would pass out for the first ten days. I lost 50lbs in four months on Atkins but it wasn't worth getting gout!
I tried eating raw fruits and vegetables for 30 days to see how it effected my weight and health after I saw the movie 30 days raw. Man was I surprised. I lost 30lbs in one month. I had tons of energy, only needed 4 hours of sleep a night and my blood pressure went from 180/110 to 120/63 in two weeks. My gout disappeared. My vision improved. I quit eating meat, and pretty much anything white. No pasta no bread no dairy no processed food. My body healed itself. This way of eating isn't easy at first and you may feel the effects of your body detoxifying but I'm telling you- you get used to it. You can eat as MUCH fruit as you want. I was making chopped salads with honey coated on them which taste fantastic for dinner and pretty much drinking fruit blended with honey and occasionally some kale or spinach thrown in. This book has the facts you need to know to about foods and what certain foods do to your body and how your fat is burned by your body process. It's not a raw food book but the information is very pro fruits and vegetables. I thought Vegetarians were idiots until I tried it for myself. Natural foods do heal us, my blood pressure and gout problems are gone because I eat this way. Without prescription medicine! When you think about it an ape or gorilla eats very low amounts of protein unless they get it from insects. They don't eat pasta, bread, or dairy either. Were very close to them. Why are we having health problems? What we eat. Period.

I'm sort of reviewing three FIT FOR LIFE books as a set. I always thought the best name for the Diamonds would be the Lovelias their books gave me such a good vibe - I really got immense value out of all of them in the series until she got divorced and went back to the sloppy average Joe American diet. I was disappointed, I miss her contributions. I hope, as I review, I'm not reviewing books that have secret propaganda in them, which seems to be the trend these days - write a book about love, really about hate, write a book on kindness - ends up to be some subversive message by some corporate jerk, write a book about vegan love and it's really a meat industry ad paid for by predators. Except for their name, which smacks of subversive code, I didn't notice it if it was, though. Guess I'm a little on edge these days and sick of the politics. In any case, Marilyn is a REALLY good cook. There are vegan recipes in these books that I STILL use after many years. Harvey seems educated, knowledgeable, a great critical thinker about our eating habits. Points that they raised that really inspired me and turned my mind around for the better:

Why is it, if we need to eat meat to get certain vitamins, and need to drink milk/eat dairy, for calcium, as the powers at the top of this pyramid scheme of predation insist - then why is it that the cows themselves don't have to eat meat to get calcium, or the vitamins necessary for life? Not just cows, but horses, rabbits, all kinds of herbivores and even a bear - the Panda Bear - with the digestive system of a carnivore eats solely bamboo and lives a long life. Many primates survive almost entirely off of plant life and fruit - and they are huge and powerful - along with elephants and many other living things. The whole book challenges the meat industry and takes a stand for the renewal of our bodies - and I believe also our heart muscle, which needs to love and I believe is intimately connected to our food choices. I think the natural world is designed by people who made a huge mistake - predation, which is cruel on so many levels - and they really don't want people like Marilyn to stay married to the idea of the Food For Life movement - the reason - we may figure out the bio-tech creators are not gods. They are just people playing predator games in a Jurassic Park environment for cruel entertainment. As well as the lots of money they make - as slavery did - from the great suffering of the unloved creatures in the meat industry and predation scheme. Also the health issue, which seems to be connected to many things, especially love, which we all need to survive. A lot of these issues were covered in the FIT FOR LIFE series.

These books sort of introduced me to the revolutionary concept of a high water content diet - that is, lots of nourishing fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, etc.... It changed everything for me in terms of enjoying my food, eating a variety of interesting foods, and really eating good food. I was told for many years I looked very young for my age and no one could guess my age, I think in large part to the way I was eating and living.

Some things I haven't applied, which I wish I did, were some of the gentle sun bathing techniques Marilyn recommends for health, the daily sunshine, exercise, breathing and meditation for moods. I keep trying and when I'm in trouble health, or mood-wise, I review and reassess what my body needs. She also mentioned massage and touch which people need, and I really respect that, because I know my body needs these things. I am trying to apply self-care after going through recent prolonged high stress and grief, and the self-massage helped me quite a bit (in one day!) with my back. Also, it helped a little with depression and anger.

She mentions the necessity of love, which I know, so well we need, because when everything goes right with your body and you're taking care of things, if you don't have love, it can all go away, even with all the pieces in place. Babies without love and touch - can die. To find out one day you're not loved is the most devastating thing, you need to nourish yourself if no one else will, or does, I can literally see when some people are not loving or loved, their bodies in pain. I am renewing some of these principles now in a time of crises, hoping for an improvement in my declining health - I believe caused largely by stress and unhappiness. The thing about all the techniques they recommend, is they are simple, good, things that work.

If I had one thing to add I would add it's important to learn about our world - science, politics, moral and emotional strength, avoiding predators, self-protection, technology, taking care of finances, and how to navigate carefully in a dangerous world without stress, etc..., I guess you can gather that knowledge elsewhere. I do believe it effects your health, however, because it's necessary for survival and missing out can cause pain. I think it would improve all our health also if we got more centered on laws for human and animal rights also. Heart-centered, gentle and assertive critical thinking, politics, science and technology are especially a necessity and effect you in profound ways. The basics are here though. Harvey has great knowledge to share, and Marilyn also with her integrated plan for health. So yeah, learning every day I would add - good for you.

Recipes I still use;

The smoothie recipes which are a staple now for us. A thick homemade fruit milkshake watching a movie, or when thinking about fast food really is more enjoyable than the original. Using cashews in sauces and in smoothies makes them thicker and I use the technique a lot in my cooking now. I looooove, her "eggnog" (nutmeg is the secret ingredient) smoothie recipe and I drink it whenever I get a craving for something really thick and creamy.

Almond milk and all the nut milks - which I don't use as often these days, replacing it with soy milk (I did adjust some of the principles a little, and don't listen to every small detail of the plan - for instance, I still do fruit in the morning, but don't bother with other food combining, mostly because I don't eat any dairy (the true milk of human kindness is not consuming it!), and I don't eat meat so don't need to do it with most of my other food, found it didn't make a difference. I do add fruit to some main course dishes and do cook it occasionally, so it's not always raw, or high water content. I still feel I get enough of that so it all works in harmony.) So though I don't use the nut milks like I used to, I like having these recipes on hand, because I like the taste of almond milk a lot. I used the almond meal after straining for facials etc... and it was an enjoyable process. Almond milk tastes fresh and actually tastes better in a smoothie to me, but the boxed almond or soy is more convenient and better in a few recipes. If I need my own nut milk, in a crunch I can always make my own which is handy.

Goodwiches which are one of my all time faves, I do many tortilla variations. I think these turned out to be my favorite recipe in the books. A lot of her sandwich recipes are really good.

I tweaked some of the recipes and made them my own, but got my base recipes from her, like baked beans etc... My mother loves her potato slices baked in the oven with spice, again the smoothies, always a big hit and many others, like the Tuna-less salad recipe, I forget what it's called.... I make it off by heart now, but it's a tofu-tuna spread. Sometimes I add little diced apples or slivered almonds - very good. Tomato burgers, pasta dishes... all good.

She recommends products to substitute for standard fair, I still use like Vegennaise instead of Mayonnaise which I immediately liked better (not hype, really is good.)

One thing I had trouble adjusting to was the time spent preparing good food compared to the packaged stuff we used to get, got a food processor and learned a few handy tricks, goes easy and solved the problem. I can't imagine eating tasteless crap anymore. I sometimes do the thing people recommend and meditate while preparing food and it's good sometimes, I do it according to my mood and time. Cooking is kind of fun to me now, I've got into a rhythm, I make a sauce and keep it on hand... prepare dishes in a sort of harmonious kind of way, psort of have learned to relax while cooking, so the enjoyment of prep is part of the process. It's got a homestyle vibe to it that I like.

All in all, very nourishing, encouraging, loving books. Marilyn's Cookbook is the first book I'll buy when I have my own kitchen and will probably be in my book collection for a lifetime. The first two little paperbacks also have delicious ideas/recipes within.

In short, high water content food, lots of fruits, veggies, grains, nuts, healthy pastas, breads etc,.... sunshine, love, massage, exercise, joy, breathing techniques and meditation, a lot covered here, and all goodies. Whenever I think of these books, I think of home, and good, clean, fresh and delicious meals.

One August morning in 1988 I got off a bus on (I think) Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles. I was on vacation, and it was a beautiful day. But I felt lousy, lacking energy and feeling generally sluggish. What's more, I'd had a "good" breakfast -- eggs & toast. After finding myself on Wilshire Boulevard, I noticed a Crown Books & thought, there must be something here to help me. I picked up a copy of FIT FOR LIFE, the first one. Where I came from it wasn't easy to get avocadoes, let alone distilled water, which was only used in irons. But for the next three weeks I was able to give it a try. I shopped at the Erewhon health food store, I remember. I adhered strictly to the Diamonds' regimen -- not following every meal instruction, but not infringing the rules either. I returned to my native country, and about four weeks after buying the book, I noticed that my pants were falling off me. I was perplexed for a while, because losing weight wasn't in my calculations. I just wanted to feel good. But after a bit the penny dropped, as had the fifteen pounds that I could obviously afford to lose (along with my pants, which I couldn't). By the way, I also felt a hell of a lot better.

It may or may not be that the Diamonds get carried away at times. They would not recommend diet alone for the treatment of cancer or a broken leg. Use your common sense. I have not remained fully true to the program over the years but as they recommend, do what you can.

great information, but a bit dated now since I first read when this first edition was published. All concepts still apply, but recipes need updating and the average well-informed consumer on nutrition and healthy eating will find they want more. I'm sure the Diamond's more recent publications will satisfy very adequately.

If you are looking to lose weight & get healthy, you have just found the book that will guide you to your success. I first followed this book 17 years ago. I lost 40 lbs in 4 months & never felt better. I had the energy of someone years younger.
The Diamond's may not have a perfect system, but, it's leaps & bounds beyond whatever is next in place.
Then, after many years of being slim & healthy, I got lazy, fell off the plan & gained my 40 lbs. back. Where did I go for help ? Right back to my old "Fit for Life" book that was sitting on the shelf.
I am now 10 days into the plan & starting to really see & feel the benefits of "Fit For LIfe", AGAIN !
I thank Harvey & Marilyn Diamond a second time ! Jim Langston, Oregon

How do I reconcile the potentially harmful pseduo-science and theory in this book, with the excellent food plan that is helping me loose pounds, while improving my nutrition?

Here's the deal, based on the diet plan proposed in this book:

I've cut out almost all dairy(except 1% milk in my coffee and greek yogurt), and also most other processed foods and drink products (including way-too-much pasta, cereal, non-healthy bread servings).

I'm eating more greens and dark fruits/berries of all varieties, so I know that my intake of balanced vitamins and minerals has improved by a long shot. I feel way less fatigued at the end of the day, and don't feel like I need to lie down after every meal. I actually enjoy what I am eating, and do not miss the gross crap I used to eat. Now when I see a McD's ad on TV, it makes me sort of queezy.

How can any of this be bad?

It really all comes down to common sense about what "fuel" humans are built to function best on, vs. the garbage we have been suckered into settling for, pushed by corporations with huge marketing budgets and expensive test kitchens.

Of course, who doesn't like cheap, soft, rich, creamy, and/or fake-sweet food of unlimited and overly-convenient variety? I do. But I woke up and realized it was killing me - overweight, bad knees (from carrying the extra weight), yo-yo diets, being tired all the time, high blood presure, high cholesterol, repeated sinus infections, poor sleep, thinning hair, the list goes on and on.

This book helped me break my bad habits like no other diet book or plan was able to do, and it's a life/nutrition style I'll be able (and want) to stick to over time. I knew enough to easily see that most of the pseudo-science theory in the first section of the book is nothing but a crock, but like other reviewers, I took what was beneficial and used it to my benefit.

You should do the same, and if you can find a used copy somewhere, even better.

I just finished reading this book and I am recommending it to all my friends, especially those who have physical problems, especially cancer.
When one mentions cancer, people are more horrified by it than by heart disease, though the latest is leading the statistics as far as deaths. Why? Because of the treatment: when one talks about cancer, people immediatly get horrifying images of chemotherapy treatments, losing one's hair, radiation, and so on. I never believed that the current medical approach to cancer (not to mention other ilnesses) was the right one, nor that it was a real solution. After all, as Mr. Diamon says in this book "noone can be poisoned back to health".
I met few people though who were afraid of cancer the way I was before reading this book. After having a case of breast cancer happening in my family, every time I had pain somewhere was for me a great scare, and I was afraid I might have cancer in the body part that was hurting. I know, silly, but cancer is scary and no one so far has come up with a solution. Or better, no one had, until Mr. Diamond wrote this book. He says we should concentrate on prevention, for all diseases, not on cure! And he's right. In this book he explain how to prevent and reverse disease. You need this data, everyone does. And thanks to him, I am not so afraid of cancer anymore, as I know I am preventing it and if it would occur I could cure it without going through the nightmare (for the patient), money making (for the pharma industry) treatments advised by the medical community.

I did this diet YEARS ago, and let me tell you; it worked. I didn't drop weight real fast, but it was easy, and I felt great. After a few weeks, I found I was sleeping well all night, and BOUNDING out of bed in the morning. After about 6 months, I had dropped 30 pounds.
Nowdays, I have chosen to add more restrictions to my diet (gluten free, sugar free and only GOOD fats) but you can still eat by the "food combining" ideals. Plus the fact you eat fruit ALWAYS ALONE really helps. Even if you don't add the restrictions that I have chosen, you will still feel great and have energy. Yep; a great way to eat.

This is a very good book to get an understanding on how the digestive system works in simple layman's language. The book tells how it is best to eat within an eight hour span while the body focuses on the digesting process. Then the next eight hours the system focuses on assimilating. The last eight hours of the day the body focuses on eliminating. People usually eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks at night using up sixteen hours and never fully getting to the eliminating cycle. Stored toxins are unhealthy for you. The book also talks about proper food combining. Proteins need acid enzymes; carbohydrates need alkaline enzymes. If you eat the two together they cancel each other out and you end up with no food valve from what you ate. Vegetables go with anything. This book makes common sense. It's a life style way of eating, not a diet.

Fit for Life

I would personally like it to be known that I am not a book reader by any means. In fact the only books I have ever read were that of the funny pages in the newspaper. Now I have been trying to loose weight and feel better about myself for over 2 years. I have tried almost every weight loss plan out there, and stuck to them but they never did as they promised. Then a girlfriend of mine lent me this book and I was shocked at what I read
and how much sense it all made to me. I started to do the simple things it taught me within 2 days of reading it and by the end of the first week I had lost over 6 pounds!!! Not only did I loose weight but FELT SO MUCH BETTER ABOUT MYSELF!!! I have stuck to this book and read it over and over every day at lunch and on my work breaks and and am continuing to feel better and keep loosing unwanted weight! A very Powerful Book, and full of so much knowledge! I am so Thankful to Harvey and Marilyn Diamond for their Beautiful Contribution to society an

Read it, live it and understand the digestive system.

Lost a few pounds following this system, but it should be noted that this is a starting place not a bible. This book is also aimed a folks who live a sedentary lifestyle, you will be too skinny following this book if you workout more than 5 days a week.

I WENT FROM 33% BODY FAT DOWN TO 12% IN JUST UNDER 3 MONTHS!!!! MY BEST FRIEND & I DECIDED TO TRY THIS BOOK OUT WHILE STARTING A STRENGTH TRAINING PROGRAM TO GET OUR BODIES TONE. The meals were flavorful and creative. Now, everybody has a food or veggie they won't eat or think is gross and for a pickie eater like me, those veggies were in there, but I tried,(like mom always told you to do)and liked. Greatchen and I went to the Gym 6days a week. It wasn't overkill! We would do 30 minutes a day of cardiovascular & abdominal exercise. Out of those 6 days we would strength train 3 days. Low to moderate weight with more reps. Sunday was a day of rest. I lost weight and built muscle. I didn't use my weight as a guide. It went from 125# to 118#. The true test was when I had my body fat tested! Also I bought a pair of cheap panty hose and tried them on. All women know-they dig in at the waist and hurt. I was so happy when I realized they weren't doing that!!!!!! I have never looked or felt better in my life. Try it with an fitness program. Remember- ask your doc 1st.

This book is one of the most interesting books I've ever read. It works wonder but I don't think it's a right way for skinnies as one reader has said. Prabably other ways of eating might be a better answer to skinny people wanting a detox. On the other hand, it's worth thinking that people in the old days (no matter where in the world they lived) managed to survive without that food combination and aged no less than 80 years. I also wonder how the Eskimos, Scandinavians and those living in temperate climate find fresh (and watery in such harsh weather!) food all year round? Doesn't it make more sense to eat what's available during that season? Living in Thailand makes it easy for me to eat mostly fresh or lightly cooked food because you need watery food when it's hot 365 days a year. But when I eat tropical fruits and veggies in the US, I'm sick. This happens every time. So I personally believe that some principles and recipes in Fit For Life is correct only when you live in tropical regions.

This book changed my life. It was the first health book I ever read, and to find so much vital data, explained so simply and down-to-Earth was truly amazing. The book really explains how you can improve your overall health by making a few simple changes in your eating habits, and believe me, if you are willing to try, you will be too pleased to go back to your old habits! The best part is that you can do this whethere you are a stay-at-home-mom or a busy executive, the changes are so simple that you can make them even if you are always in a hurry or if you eat out most of the time. And what will you get? More energy, like A LOT MORE, and a better functioning immune system, for starters. I am 25 years old and very healthy, but this book still helped me change my life for the better, so I am sure a lot of people who have more physical problems can be helped by reading and applying the principles in this book, too!

In the late 80's I'd gained some weight when I moved to another state, away from friends and family. I guess this could be called my "freshman fifteen". After many months of sadness and unhealthy choices, I moved back to my hometown. I don't remember how I found this book, but I started reading it and following the plan. I saw and felt results immediately. I had tons of energy and pounds were coming off. I religiously followed the plan for about 3 or 4 months until I had lost all the excess weight, and I was feeling amazing! I learned to make better choices regarding my eating and overall health. Now and again when I need to loose those 4 pounds after the holidays, I turn to the fruit until noon concept... Yep, I'm doing it now.

I started on this diet 18 months ago and boy, what a difference.

I am sharper, brighter, more alive, better at my work, more energetic, can eat as much as I like, suffer no ill health or pain and discomfort...I could go on all day but I think you get the idea. This book is not a diet fad, it is a life changer.

You may think that a book talking about fresh fruit and vegetables, air, water, sunshine and exercise is just common sense. Well you would be right, it is. Unfortunately with all the different opinions we receive from doctors, health advisers and food companies it is easy to get confused about what we should eat.

I would suggest trying this diet for 10 days and see how you feel. I suspect you will notice an improvement in well being very quickly and any way the money you spend on the book will be paid back by a lower grocery bill (fresh produce is cheaper than cooked or processed). What have you got to lose?

After a few months of following the principles in Fit for Life, I would strongly recommend reading Fit for Life II by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond.

Well done Harvey and Marilyn Diamond for having the courage to speak the truth, and thank you.

CANT PUT IT DOWN... THIS BOOK MAKES YOU DRIVE HOME FASTER JUST SO YOU CAN READ MORE. A definite must read and they really exposes all the crap stuff that is in our food but backs it up with facts..its SUCH AN AWESOME BOOK. I ordered all his books and now even their cookbook and ive been following this eating way for a month (yes, not long) but i will tell you that ive lost the last 10 smoking pounds i gained a year ago and i feel so great. My stomach isnt bloated and i dont feel heavy plus i've helped some of my friends to learn about food through reading their book. These people are incredible. Harvey writes so you can really relate since he's so down to earth and right to the point on things. Please do your body a favor and read all his books. They truly are life changing. FIVE STARS isnt nearly enough!

This is a great book with Harvey at times unleashing his full venom at the medical profession, food industry and fellow dieticians. He is speaking up for the truth and I happen to believe him. Why? Because I have tested and followed the Fit for Life principles myself and they work.

However before reading this book (which I call Fit for Life III), I would advise buying and following the principles laid out in the first two books i.e. Fit for Life and Fit for Life II. They are easier to read, gentler (probably because they were written in partnership with Marilyn!) and cover the essential dietary/lifestyle principles you need to follow.

Good luck and God bless.

I have read this book and incorporated the methods in it into my life, and after one month, I am starting to feel better than I have in years.

I have started to lose weight that I have not been able to get off for years.. I have more energy. My shoulder and back don't hurt that much any more. My fat lumps are basically disintegrating. I feel I have found the answer to being healthy again and I am so excited!

That is why I want to share with you the invaluable knowledge I have gained from this book, and I would like to tell you my story. . .

Contained between the pages of this book is the truth about the food we eat and what the effects of it are on our bodies. It is written in such a way that anyone can understand the process in which digestion takes place and how what we put into our bodies is so very important for it to operate and feel good.

I am 46 years old and the mother of three children, ages 20, 16, and 12. I have been struggling with my weight and other health issues for some time. Basically, I have gained, over the course of 20 years, close to about 60 pounds of fat on my 5' 9" frame. To look at me you might not think I was overweight because of my height, but oh, let me tell you, I have been feeling it in different ways.

Right after my third child was born 12 years ago, I noticed a lump on my abdomen. Needless to say, I freaked out because I thought it was cancer. My ob/gyn looked at it and told me that it was a benign fatty lump and was nothing to worry about. I felt relieved but still got a second opinion from another doctor who also said that it was a benign fatty lump and that it was harmless.

I guess they were right because it never brought me any pain or disease although it bothered me that it was there when I would feel it. I mean, it was only the circumference of a nickel, but who wants a lump on their belly?

Well, after one month of incorporating the "eat more living food than dead food", I am so excited and happy to report that the lump is no where to be found! Every time I feel for it, it's just not there.

Get this book, read it, and follow it's principles and you will become healthier and happy that you did.

It's a bit old... and sometimes it comes across very 70's-ish...

But there is NO other book out there as good as this one.

Start with the premise that your current, modern eating habits are the primary problem with your weight.

Therefore, living a healthier lifestyle will let you lead a better, healthier life AND you'll loose weight at the same time.

All this written in an easy to read format.

Okay, let's cut through all the BS here! If you're like most, you've read several other weight loss books. And you've probably gotten mixed information! Aktins says to eliminate carbs and eat meat. The next says it's okay to mix, so long as you do so proportionally to the energy value calculated per gram of blahblahblah.

THIS book does the ONE thing you want a health and nutrition book to do: MAKE COMMON SENSE! There's no higher recommendation I can give it beyond the fact that, when you read it, you nod your head and think "yeah. That makes sense!"

A MuSt ReAd for anyone. Period!

I am writing a very favorable review regarding this book. I have read the original "Fit for Life" and "Fit for Life II" and I must say this book in combination with the original Fit for Life is a complete guide to the prevention of cancer and disease. Where it appears that most of the medical community is consumed with curing cancer and disease AFTER it happens it is refreshing to see someone concentrating on how to prevent it from EVER happening.
The chapters on the 7 stages of disease and the explanation of the lymph node system are easy to understand. I always liked the way Mr. Diamond's books read as if he is sitting there in the room with you and explaining it personally. His excitement and passion for this subject can be felt as you read and the analogies he uses are wonderful in making sense of complex subject.
Please don't think of this as simply a diet book. If you only followed some of the principles some of the time I'll bet the majority of the population would be 100% better off than they are right now. I like the fact that he advocates using it as much as possible and when you can rather than forcing an all or nothing situation. Yes you can lose weight and have more energy than you ever thought possible following these principles. But, even if you never lost an ounce, the feeling of being able to participate in preventing disease in you body as opposed to sitting back and feeling a helpless victim as to when and if it may or may not ever hit you is empowering.
It could very well be the best $...you ever spend.

This books represents the ultimate health and nutritional program-- a life changer as some reviewers have pointed out. By eating nothing but fresh fruits and juices until noon has changed my life around for the better.

I used to have a good well-balanced diet; but in the morning I would stick to a hearty breakfast, including carbohydrates and two cups of coffee. As a result, my energy would decrease in the afternoon.

It was hard to get rid of the morning coffee, though. I still feel a little drowsy in the morning because of the coffee absence.

From noon on, however, after a twenty-minute-siesta, my energy level sores throughout the day.

I still have most food in moderation, including coffee. I just try to avoid mixing flesh with carbohydrates.

Apart from this, I agree with reviewers that claim this diet may be inadequate to some people. Thus, if you are a diabetic or prone to it--consult a physician before starting this program. The Diamonds themselves alert people to drink their morning juices slowly to avoid rapid increase in their sugar levels.

I was not feeling very well when I ordered this book: tired, depressed, muscle aches....I was feeling really old at 42! Well after reading the book and following the plan outlined in the book, I'm starting to feel much better! Muscle aches have diminished greatly...I have A LOT more energy...and I feel like the dark cloud that was following me around has dissipated! And I'm really only following the food plan for breakfast and lunch...I can't wait to see how I feel when I can convert to doing it full-time!!

I have read both "Fit For Life" I and II, and am now enjoying a much healthier and happier life than ever before. Having life long poor health, I never imagined the impact that a properly funcitioning body could have on not only my physical health, but on my mental and spiritual health. The principles of "Fit For Life" have completely changed my way of thinking about health, food, nutrition, and the food companies. I have learned about proper food combining, fresh raw vegetable nutrients, the importance of nutrient balance, and the lack of value in processed food. I now enjoy fully tasting food, craving nutritious living food, and very importantly, NOT being hungry all the time! There will always be those that try to discredit something honest, informative, and benefical to the people (you and me) that they, the discrediters look at as mainly a source of profit, through half thruths, paid of reserchers, and just plain lies. "Fit For Life", "earns their keep" by providing accurate useable information, the "where, when, and how", and most importantly, the TRUTH. Thank you to the Diamonds.

If you want to know the TRUTH about health, food, nutrition, and the food giants, read this book. I was born with poor health and have suffered with it all of my 42 years of life. Or I should say, until I started living by the basic principles of "Living Health" several months ago. I have tried diets, doctors, and just about everything else one can imagine, and nothing did anything, but make things worse. The principles of "Living Health" in combination with another great book, "Eat Right 4 Your Type", have changed my life. After experimenting a little with the two books, I have lost 25 pounds in 3 weeks, my eyesight is clearing up, my joints feel 10 times better, my acne is 90% gone, and I feel almost as strong as I did when I was 18! I will add that I eat a small amount of meat (fish, chicken, and liver), lots of fresh, including raw, veggies (especially Kale, Broccoli,Celery, and lettace), and fruit for breakfast. These changes weren't easy for a "Southerner", but I feel great, and finally have good health due mostly to this wonderful book. Thank you to the Diamonds.

I borrowed the fit for life book from a friend and although I did not follow their particular diet I followed the principle. It does work. I also told a friend about it and told her to try it for 1 week to see if it would work for her and she was convinced. I also exercised everyday which is a big aid in losing weight. Although I have been off of it for a while I plan to start following it again. I still ate all my favorite foods but was careful as to what to put together and at what time of day. If I wanted something sweet then I would eat something sweet but only in moderation. All diets do not work for everyone but this one worked for me. I still say do whatever works for that individual. But regardless of what you do please do some form of exercise.

This is a great book with Harvey at times unleashing his full venom at the medical profession, food industry and fellow dieticians. He is speaking up for the truth and I happen to believe him. Why? Because I have tested and followed the Fit for Life principles myself and they work.

However before reading this book (which I call Fit for Life III), I would advise buying and following the principles laid out in the first two books i.e. Fit for Life and Fit for Life II. They are easier to read, gentler (probably because they were written in partnership with Marilyn!) and cover the essential dietary/lifestyle principles you need to follow.

Good luck and God bless.

I have read this book and incorporated the methods in it into my life, and after one month, I am starting to feel better than I have in years.

I have started to lose weight that I have not been able to get off for years.. I have more energy. My shoulder and back don't hurt that much any more. My fat lumps are basically disintegrating. I feel I have found the answer to being healthy again and I am so excited!

That is why I want to share with you the invaluable knowledge I have gained from this book, and I would like to tell you my story. . .

Contained between the pages of this book is the truth about the food we eat and what the effects of it are on our bodies. It is written in such a way that anyone can understand the process in which digestion takes place and how what we put into our bodies is so very important for it to operate and feel good.

I am 46 years old and the mother of three children, ages 20, 16, and 12. I have been struggling with my weight and other health issues for some time. Basically, I have gained, over the course of 20 years, close to about 60 pounds of fat on my 5' 9" frame. To look at me you might not think I was overweight because of my height, but oh, let me tell you, I have been feeling it in different ways.

Right after my third child was born 12 years ago, I noticed a lump on my abdomen. Needless to say, I freaked out because I thought it was cancer. My ob/gyn looked at it and told me that it was a benign fatty lump and was nothing to worry about. I felt relieved but still got a second opinion from another doctor who also said that it was a benign fatty lump and that it was harmless.

I guess they were right because it never brought me any pain or disease although it bothered me that it was there when I would feel it. I mean, it was only the circumference of a nickel, but who wants a lump on their belly?

Well, after one month of incorporating the "eat more living food than dead food", I am so excited and happy to report that the lump is no where to be found! Every time I feel for it, it's just not there.

Get this book, read it, and follow it's principles and you will become healthier and happy that you did.

It's a bit old... and sometimes it comes across very 70's-ish...

But there is NO other book out there as good as this one.

Start with the premise that your current, modern eating habits are the primary problem with your weight.

Therefore, living a healthier lifestyle will let you lead a better, healthier life AND you'll loose weight at the same time.

All this written in an easy to read format.

Okay, let's cut through all the BS here! If you're like most, you've read several other weight loss books. And you've probably gotten mixed information! Aktins says to eliminate carbs and eat meat. The next says it's okay to mix, so long as you do so proportionally to the energy value calculated per gram of blahblahblah.

THIS book does the ONE thing you want a health and nutrition book to do: MAKE COMMON SENSE! There's no higher recommendation I can give it beyond the fact that, when you read it, you nod your head and think "yeah. That makes sense!"

A MuSt ReAd for anyone. Period!

I am writing a very favorable review regarding this book. I have read the original "Fit for Life" and "Fit for Life II" and I must say this book in combination with the original Fit for Life is a complete guide to the prevention of cancer and disease. Where it appears that most of the medical community is consumed with curing cancer and disease AFTER it happens it is refreshing to see someone concentrating on how to prevent it from EVER happening.
The chapters on the 7 stages of disease and the explanation of the lymph node system are easy to understand. I always liked the way Mr. Diamond's books read as if he is sitting there in the room with you and explaining it personally. His excitement and passion for this subject can be felt as you read and the analogies he uses are wonderful in making sense of complex subject.
Please don't think of this as simply a diet book. If you only followed some of the principles some of the time I'll bet the majority of the population would be 100% better off than they are right now. I like the fact that he advocates using it as much as possible and when you can rather than forcing an all or nothing situation. Yes you can lose weight and have more energy than you ever thought possible following these principles. But, even if you never lost an ounce, the feeling of being able to participate in preventing disease in you body as opposed to sitting back and feeling a helpless victim as to when and if it may or may not ever hit you is empowering.
It could very well be the best $...you ever spend.

This books represents the ultimate health and nutritional program-- a life changer as some reviewers have pointed out. By eating nothing but fresh fruits and juices until noon has changed my life around for the better.

I used to have a good well-balanced diet; but in the morning I would stick to a hearty breakfast, including carbohydrates and two cups of coffee. As a result, my energy would decrease in the afternoon.

It was hard to get rid of the morning coffee, though. I still feel a little drowsy in the morning because of the coffee absence.

From noon on, however, after a twenty-minute-siesta, my energy level sores throughout the day.

I still have most food in moderation, including coffee. I just try to avoid mixing flesh with carbohydrates.

Apart from this, I agree with reviewers that claim this diet may be inadequate to some people. Thus, if you are a diabetic or prone to it--consult a physician before starting this program. The Diamonds themselves alert people to drink their morning juices slowly to avoid rapid increase in their sugar levels.

I was not feeling very well when I ordered this book: tired, depressed, muscle aches....I was feeling really old at 42! Well after reading the book and following the plan outlined in the book, I'm starting to feel much better! Muscle aches have diminished greatly...I have A LOT more energy...and I feel like the dark cloud that was following me around has dissipated! And I'm really only following the food plan for breakfast and lunch...I can't wait to see how I feel when I can convert to doing it full-time!!

I have read both "Fit For Life" I and II, and am now enjoying a much healthier and happier life than ever before. Having life long poor health, I never imagined the impact that a properly funcitioning body could have on not only my physical health, but on my mental and spiritual health. The principles of "Fit For Life" have completely changed my way of thinking about health, food, nutrition, and the food companies. I have learned about proper food combining, fresh raw vegetable nutrients, the importance of nutrient balance, and the lack of value in processed food. I now enjoy fully tasting food, craving nutritious living food, and very importantly, NOT being hungry all the time! There will always be those that try to discredit something honest, informative, and benefical to the people (you and me) that they, the discrediters look at as mainly a source of profit, through half thruths, paid of reserchers, and just plain lies. "Fit For Life", "earns their keep" by providing accurate useable information, the "where, when, and how", and most importantly, the TRUTH. Thank you to the Diamonds.

If you want to know the TRUTH about health, food, nutrition, and the food giants, read this book. I was born with poor health and have suffered with it all of my 42 years of life. Or I should say, until I started living by the basic principles of "Living Health" several months ago. I have tried diets, doctors, and just about everything else one can imagine, and nothing did anything, but make things worse. The principles of "Living Health" in combination with another great book, "Eat Right 4 Your Type", have changed my life. After experimenting a little with the two books, I have lost 25 pounds in 3 weeks, my eyesight is clearing up, my joints feel 10 times better, my acne is 90% gone, and I feel almost as strong as I did when I was 18! I will add that I eat a small amount of meat (fish, chicken, and liver), lots of fresh, including raw, veggies (especially Kale, Broccoli,Celery, and lettace), and fruit for breakfast. These changes weren't easy for a "Southerner", but I feel great, and finally have good health due mostly to this wonderful book. Thank you to the Diamonds.

I borrowed the fit for life book from a friend and although I did not follow their particular diet I followed the principle. It does work. I also told a friend about it and told her to try it for 1 week to see if it would work for her and she was convinced. I also exercised everyday which is a big aid in losing weight. Although I have been off of it for a while I plan to start following it again. I still ate all my favorite foods but was careful as to what to put together and at what time of day. If I wanted something sweet then I would eat something sweet but only in moderation. All diets do not work for everyone but this one worked for me. I still say do whatever works for that individual. But regardless of what you do please do some form of exercise.

My family has enjoyed learning about how the food we eat affects us, mind you there is some repetitive discussion as you read, but the principles are simple and easy. We all agree with the fruit for breakfast plan, because its easy and because you can eat as much of it as you want (without overdoing it), you don't go hungry. Lunch feels light, and so does dinner. (We are hispanic so its been fun following the recipes in the book to learn a "different" way of cooking). I just like that fact that its not some crazy diet, it's just a healthier way of eating that's easy to remember.

Although this book was written in 1985, gush that's already 25 years ago - it is still the best nutrition book for the western life style that has ever been written. I'm a health professional and have since reviewed many other publication since that date and have not found any that ever surpassed these coherent nutritional guidelines, short of more extreme special application diets (such as e.g. The Enzyme Factor by Dr. Hiromi Shinya).

The only proviso that should be made is with respect to the recommendation of drinking only 'distilled' water (page 44); "Fit For Life" was written long before the knowledge of ionized water was known to the West (Kangen Water as mentioned by Dr. Shinya, or 'miracle water' as they call it in Japan). Therefore the recommendation of drinking only 'distilled' water has since been superceded as the healing effects from detoxification with ionized water has become known and proven.

"Fit For Life" will change your way of understanding nutrition in a very logical way - it is not extreme and even vegetarians may benefit from applying its recommendations.

My brother who was a "health nut" pushed this book on me when it first came out. I was reluctant but took the time to read each chapter and became more enthralled with the broad knowledge that the Diamonds possessed on nutrition and its history. I was especially shocked to read of the history of fluoridation in our water supplies and what it actually consisted of. Thank you Diamonds and thank you, Brother for exposing me to this great book and realizing too that there's nothing "nutty" about someone wanting to be healthy.

Paul Harris
Author, "Diary From the Dome, Reflections on Fear and Privilege During Katrina"

I began Fit For Life in March of 2006 and all I can say is wow. The author's time tested methods of food combining give the reader a whole new way of living. This is not a casual diet plan, it truly is a new way of living each day, in a healthy and balanced way. Any person who seriously wants to permanently detoxify the body should consider this plan. When food is combined in the proper way, the body ceases to struggle with itself. I no longer feel tired through out the day, and I find I need less sleep alltogether. A good friend of mine has been doing Fit For Life for over 20 years and I am thankfull he introduced me to it. I don't think i could ever go back to eating improperly. Try this way of eating for one month, you won't go back.

As one of many searching for yet another way to get a grip on eating habits, I found this book to be the brightest and most get-up-and-go books I've ever read. Harvey Diamond writes in a manner clear enough for all to understand, and also delves a little into the intricacies of how our bodies work. I've put the Natural Hygiene principles to work and have seen and felt some wonderful changes in myself. Highly recommended to all, not just those looking to lose weight. I use this book as a yardstick with which I compare other diet books and nothing else has come close. Read it! Read it! It's exciting

Fit for Life was all the rage in the late 80's. I admit that much of the advice works for the short term. While I cannot support the anti-meat campaign that it endorses, I found that most of the advice works. I have tried the food combining and it does keep one more mentally alert. I admire that Harvey and Marilyn Diamond were not afraid about criticizing current eating habits, such eating dairy and raw fish (sushi). This book might not be for the serious athlete, but it has some good information. Good food for thought if you want to feel better.

Doug Setter, Bsc.
Author of Stomach Flattening and One Less Victim: A Prevention Guide

Reading Fit for Life in 1996 saved my life. In just one day of following the diet I overcame six and a half years of depression and anxiety attacks.
I eat a 100% raw food diet. And I've studied nutrtion extensively. Even before I was a raw foodist. In fact I teach people all around the world about the raw food diet or something similar to Natural Hygiene on my websites and through my lectures.
Where I believe the other reviewer is incorrect is his assumption as to why the reason for the weight loss. I lost weight on this diet while eating massive amounts of fruit, plus vegetables, seeds and nuts. I ate the same amount of calories or more than before. In one month I lost 15 pounds. Weight loss was not even a goal of mine.
In fact at one point in I switched my raw diet to be about 80% calories from raw fatty foods and I stayed at my same weight. I still ate as much as I wanted and never was hungry. It's the cooking and the processing that makes people gain weight.
I've discovered that the amount of calories is not the key issue. In fact I made sure to eat plenty of fruit because I wanted to have enough energy throughout the day.
On this kind of diet you have to eat more weight by volume because raw foods have lots of water in them. But at first you also need to maintain the same amount of calories. That means you have to stretch your stomach because you are used eating foods that are dehydrated and very concentrated in calories.
But once your body has cleaned up inside your body will start to operate more efficiently. Then you won't need to consume as many calories.
The reason so many people are overweight is because the cooked and processed foods they eat are toxic and not natural to the human diet. Our bodies are very intelligent and store toxins away from our vital organs in our fat cells.
So most people are not just gaining fat but gaining toxins. When you eat raw fruits and vegetables in properly combined fashions you won't be storing those toxins. Then your body will start to detoxify and you will naturally lose weight.
I've met hundreds of people who went on this diet and every single one of them lost weight. It works 100% of the time. I have yet to meet an obese 100% raw foodist. Fit for Life doesn't necessarily recommend going 100% raw, but I lost weight even without doing it all the way.
This is a great book with many studies referenced. It helps people with scientific thinking to question their current thinking on nutrition.
I don't think every piece of information in the book is completely true. But it is mostly on the right track. You have to read many books on raw food nutrition and speak with people who have done it to get a more complete picture. Fit for Life 2 is also an excellent book.

I have been following the "Fit for Life" principles since March of 1991. Before then I would have five good days a year and 360 bad ones. My stomach ached all the time. As long as I follow the basic guidelines, my stomach NEVER aches. I lost 26 lbs in 13 weeks back then and have kept it off. Harvey Diamond's current book adds a new and different layer to this style of eating. If you notice, all the unfavorable reviews come from people who have never tried food combining. They all say "Where is the evidence? My doctor says its BS. etc." Show me one person that has tried this way of eating and did not feel better. Back in 1992 when I had been a follower for about a year, a well meaning friend sent me a review of the diet from The Harvard Medical Letter that said it was a bunch of bull. Their doctors and scientists said this didn't make any sense to them. I laughed when I saw it because once again, not one doctor or scientist said he/she was on it for a while and didn't see any positive results. This happens all the time. Just look at some of the reviews for this book on this website. A few weeks ago, my wife told me of a summer intern that works with her had taken a day off to go to the doctor to see what was wrong with his stomach. He had pain almost all the time. I told her to tell him to call me. I spoke to him for 10 minutes, highlighted the principles and told him he would see results in a few days. I spoke with him five days later and he told me he had had no pain at all since he started this. My biggest problem is getting people to listen. They tell me it sounds interesting and then some of them go check with their doctor who tells them not to waste their time. Meanwhile I am 53 years years old and do not take one prescription medicine. My father died at 66 from diabetes, heart disease and psoriasis. I wish he was around so I could relate to him what I now know. It's not too late for you. Open your eyes and believe, because what I'm telling you is absolutely the truth...

This book is on of the best books on health that I have read. I have lost 25 pounds and have more evergy than I have ever had following the principles.
I think that everyone must keep in mind is that this book was written over ten years ago. Don't scrutinize every word that is said, but just step back and see the see the whole picture. When you do and start implenting the principles, you will become healthier, leaner and filled with vibrant energy. I agree with all of the concepts expect the one about not needing nutritional supplements. Maybe ten years ago, but today it's a necessity.

I bought this book 10 months back. Although it made great sense, I did not do anything until my weight and size of the waiste started bothering me. Although I am a vegetarian and do workout for 1 hour, 5 days a week, inches from my waste and pounds from my body were not coming down.
Then on August 31, 1999 I decided to start the program mentioned in the book. Today is the thirteenth day, and I have lost ten pounds, and one inch from my waiste. I have never felt more energetic.
It works, BIG TIME!!! Thanks Diamonds!

I was on this plan several years ago. I lost a lot of weight. My skin cleared up - I gained so much energy I could have bottled it. I was complimented on my appearance many, many times. Didn't take long to get there, either. Not only that, following the plan is effortless and highly adaptable to various weather patterns and lifestyles.

Several years later as I'm writing this post - I find myself overweight, lethargic, not feeling that great about myself at all. Needless to say, I haven't received many compliments in quite a while.

I've come back out here to repurchase the book - not that I need it to know how to properly combine my food. The Internet is full of information. No, this is the book that got me started, and I want to review it while circling back to a food combining lifestyle for life!

I picked up this book in 1984. It was the first time I ever had a problem with being over weight (30 lbs at that time).

I'm the kind of person who can never really stick with anything if it doesn't work quick. But the one thing I could stick with was the fruit until noon. When I saw the pounds falling off at warp speed, I kept increasing the fruit until later in the day. I mean once you start seeing the scale start dropping, you are inspired to keep going. to me the headaches sucked but the weight loss was worth it.

The longer I could eat the fruit during the day the more weight I lost. I would usually lose 7lbs in a week just following the principals of the moring regimine and the lunches and trying to behave at dinner. (BUT AT THAT TIME i ALSO DRANK ALCOHOL LIKE A FISH AND IT STILL WORKDED)

I could never really stick with the evening meals. It was just too restrictive for me, for long periods of time. I just love my meat an dairy products.

anyway, I've lost a lot of weigh each time I went on this way of eating. Now over 20 years later, I am convinced, if I do nothing else but eat the fruit during the day as long as I can stand it, (like I used to) and make sure I get 2/3 veggies and 1/3 "hard" food at each meal, I'll be able to take it off again.

I give it five stars for quick wonderful weight loss, but I would never consider staying on it for years at a time retrictively. I would however, stick witht the food combining to the best of my ability for the rest of my life.

Oh, and by the way when I would drop 30lbs at a time, I ALWASY CHEATED a LOT.

So, tomorrow after all these years, I'm coming back to something that actually works to get the weight off. There's just something about those fruits and meal proportions that works beyond belife.

Still, I believe after you get the weight off, it's time to start eating "normally" which is also quite healty.

thanks to the diamonds!

I suffered from bloatedness for as long as 15 years. After two miscarriages and finally the birth of my son, I was completely depleted of energy. I also put on some weight. After reading Fit for Life, I tried out the principles and to my amazement I find energy returning to me just two days after I started the diamonds method of eating. It has been one week and I no longer feel so bloated. However I am not able to have my bowel movement for four days. Before this I had daily bowel movement. Can anyone explain this to me?

I read this books about 15 years ago when I suffered from stomach problems. Everything I ate seemed to upset my stomach (I was not aware of probiotics, etc.) I think my problem stemmed from too much antibiotics in my late teens. However, after learning food combining, my food was able to digest properly, and as a bonus, I've been able to keep my weight normal during and after pregnancies. (I'm in my early 50's now so I need a little more than proper food combining now though). I just wanted to say that its been a blessing for me.

Diamond credits the Life Science/Natural Hygiene movement for much of his ideas, and he presents a good compromise to keep from scaring people off, but the -real- program awaits just around the corner: fresh, whole, ripe, raw, organic fruits and vegetables,(mostly fruits). The complexites of food combining can be passed over by simply eating only one food per meal. A note to those who had problems: The biggest problem with eating fruit meals is that novices, (so used to cooked, high -caloric density foods), don't comprehend what -large- quantities of fruit should be eaten to maintain weight and energy. You can't just eat a banana or two for lunch unless it's for serious weight loss; premier raw fooder Doctor Doug Graham will eat as many as eighteen bananas after a workout, and he's the leanest, healthiest 50-something-year-old ever.

Every time I've actually applied the principles in Fit for Life consistently, my energy level has improved dramatically. I think the authors make a strong case for the elimination of meat and dairy from the diet as these foods are ultimately energy sappers. Also, the idea of only consuming fruit or fruit juice in the morning is an excellent one. Try the advice in this book for yourself!

I have read all of Harvey Diamond's books. They have changed my life for the best. The eating directives are now helping my husband who has heart problems. There is no conflict between Harvey Diamond's book and Marilyn Diamond's book if you read carefully. Marilyn discusses eating foods somewhat differently, but concludes that these eating habits are based on errors made with food that are less harmful than errors of total neglect. All the same they are errors and reflect positively on the Fit For Life Diet.

I am a person of an analytic nature. After someone gave me this book for XMAS, I was intrigued, b/c this person was so overtaken by this book and it wasn't a NEW book, it had been out for over a decade, yet she still praised its efforts. I began reading its pages..thinking..first of all, there is no wonder one would lose weight on this diet..b/c..basically you're being a good eater! I mean, come on, no dairy, please avoid the sodas, don't eat nasty pork, and the idea of hygiene..Okay. But after traversing through the pages, something hit home. What hit home especially, as you might find out was the information relating to our consumption of dairy products. Call it hind-sight basis or call it what you may, but I've always felt some unnatural connection with drinking or consuming products from another animal that were created for their nurturing of their young, aka MILK! I could go on...I definitely suggest you read this book, if not for the very least to try it out for a week, to see the difference in your body, or at the very best to see a philanthropist's perspective on how we, as humans, were evolved to digest food and what the interpretation of how food is digested in our system affects our body. Please email me with ideas and/or thoughts..GO GET IT! Tks, Victoria ([email protected])

First off, regarding the anonymous comment claiming this book is pseudo-science: The commenter CLEARLY did not try out any of the the suggestions put forth in this book, because it doesn't take more than about a month of practicing the Fit for Life philosophy before you notice enough benefit from doing so that you'd never go back to your old ways without regret. I've been practicing by the philosophy of this book for 2, going on 3, years now, and I've NEVER been healthier. This coming to you from someone who has been quite keen on diet and exercise for many years prior to reading this book. I thought I already was as healthy as can be. I've trained under professional weight-lifting trainers, practiced yoga, and done cardiovascular exercise throughout my adult life, along with eating healthy, and yet reading this book has STILL caused me to reap better health than I've ever had before! This is also coming from someone who did not use this book to "lose weight" -- which so many people think is the only important factor of health. I've never been overweight - and indeed I gained 20 pounds of solid muscle while practicing the precepts of this book! (And working out, of course -- which is part of the Fit for Life mentality).
After practicing the eating habits recommended by this book, I find I now have more energy, get out of bed easier in the morning, have a better disposition, improved digestion, less gas, and my bowel movements have never been so healthy. (As odd as that may sound, it's a very important thing.)
The focus of this book is on how improperly combining your food will lead to digestive disorders and drain your energy you could otherwise be using. In addition, improperly combining foods you eat in a single meal slowly poisons your body over the years. The authors lay forth why this occurs -- WHICH IS NOT PSEUDO-SCIENCE, AND I HAVE VERIFIED EACH OF THESE FACTS BY READING PHYSIOLOGY BOOKS SINCE. (I went looking shortly after reading this book -- the claims were so shocking that I just had to know if they were true). The authors also lay out clear and simple means of understanding how to combine foods properly without suffering such unwanted results. If you try these methods, you will IMMEDIATELY feel the difference. I have many friends who have solved major digestive issues by living the Fit for Life mentality. But it's much more than even just good for digestion. I honestly feel just aweful (physically) on days when I break the rules for proper food combining. Throughout my whole life I had many "off" days when I just felt no good, but never figured that there was such a correlation between what foods I ate together in a single meal, and my feeling no good that day. But now I clearly recognize the correlation. The evidence of this book is clear once you practice the philosophy set forth.
But if you're one of those people who just read about great ideas that you never try out for yourself, you sure aren't going to get anything from this book, or any other. (That line is just for you, Mr. PseudoScience.)
;)
This book is an excellent book I highly recommend to all my loved family and friends. This book should be read by anyone seeking better health, of any age. If you have your children read this book, they will likely benefit throughout their entire lives from it.
The only things you need to know about the book in advance are:
* There is a corrected mistake which is later addressed in one of the following books, regarding the healthiness of sunlight (The book was written in the mid-eighties where we were just beginning to come to scientific conclusions regarding the increasing risk to skin cancer due to the deterioration of our atmosphere...)
and...
* That the book was marketed towards people who want to lose weight, because that was the only thing back then selling health books, but it's soooooooo much more than just being about losing weight. It's packed with enlightening information that will change the way you look at things forever.
This book is a paradigm shift of knowledge and practice of living, eating, and hygeine. It will push your brain to new places. I'm not kidding. Every single friend of mine who has read the book has reaped great benefits from it. And they all look at things differently now.

The Diamonds wrote this book in the 80's (also known as Living Health) and it is has stood the test of time. I purchased this book after reading their first book, Fit for Life. I can recommend these Fit for Life books for anyone who is seeking more energy, cure from illness, lower weight, improved health and also, spiritual awareness.

Don't worry the book is religion free. However a side effect of following the principles is that after several months you should start to experience positive spiritual insights and foresights.

This awareness has also been experienced by friends of mine who have followed the principles plus Harvey Diamond (he writes about it briefly in his book Fit for Life A New Beginning), James Redfield (The Celestine Prophecy) and Mahatma Gandhi (The Story of My Experiments with Truth).

Special note 1: Keep away at all costs from Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil or Fat (it takes 3 days to pass through my system and absolutely saps me of energy in the process - it is a hidden killer from the unscrupulous food industry and can do as much harm as heroin).

Special note 2: Keep away from mobile phones unless used with a Bluetooth headset (when I was on the phone for over an hour a day the radiation from my mobile phone sapped me of energy, sometimes for days until I added the Bluetooth).

Special note 3: If you are a smoker, I would strongly recommend Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking. It will set you free.

Good luck and God bless.

When I was around 13, I bought and read Suzanne Somers' book, "Suzanne Somers' Eat Great, Lose Weight", and figured this could be a good weight loss method, and this was when I really bought into the whole science behind proper food combining. So I took Suzanne's advice and tried her methods, with good results. So I had proved to myself that it works, you see I've had ulcers in my stomach since I was a child, and this was because of how I treated my body. Combining my foods had worsened this x100, so the method of proper food combining had been a Godsend. However, I was not always successful, due to my issues with overeating(and strong desire to combine for pleasure reasons). Fast foward, and at this point I'm 14, and my mother said she wasn't going to keep watching me do this, she told me I need to either stick to it or quit, so despite her lack of belief in me, I went 2 years without even a grain of sugar, I combined properly(for the most part) the whole time, and never slipped once.

Fit For Life, authored by Harvey and Marylin Diamond, is based upon proper eating habits. More than likely everyone you know, and everyone I know, combines their foods not only because this is custom, but also because it's what their doctors recommend. Here in Canada we have the "Canada Food Guide", and on it there is a graph that features all of the basic food groups that they claim everyone needs to partake in for optimal health. They say you should eat a lot of dairy products for calcium, when, if you look at the allergy rates, you are safer getting your calcium from vegetables and high quality supplements. That and these days, our foods are so depleted in nutrients that we, at least in my personal opinion, need to take supplements to fill the gap.

I've had a lot of doctors in my lifetime, and most of them have similar opinions, and none of them agree with Fit For Life. However, do not think that eating this way is the only possible way of being a healthy person. I know of many healthy people who do combine their foods. That said, you can be healther than those people if you do combine your foods properly. Proper food combination is a very simple science, anyone can pick up the book and learn exactly what to do, no sweat. Here is a small list of the main parts of the program I adhere to.

1. Eat acids and starches at separate meals. Acids neutralize the alkaline required for starch digestion. You don't want indigestion, and you certainly don't want the food to ferment in your stomach.

2. Eat proteins and carbohydrates at separate meals. Proteins require acid for digestion.

3. Eat only one kind of protein at a meal.

4. Eat fruits and proteins at separate meals.

5. Do not consume cooked fruits or juices. It's straight acid, the fruit is dead, it's one of the worst things you could do to your body.

6. Eat only fruit until noon.

This is essentially the part of the science that I adhere to, there are some heavier requirements that I just can't handle. Like not putting melon with my other fruits, melon combines with almost no other foods, but I make it an acception. I also make the acception of putting say, butter with meats and poultry, this is an issue of two different acids. It is important, and I may try to incorporate this for the future.

But essentially, doing this program, and provided I do not over do the flesh and fat consumption, my ulcers always, without fail, shrink and do not bother me. I don't take antacids, I don't need that stuff, and you shouldn't either! We're the only species on earth that has to run to the medicine cabinet in desperate pain after every meal. Now why is that? I believe it's a number of things. Firstly, it's overloading your system, not just combining, but overeating, because you can combine properly but overeat to the point where yes you will be sick. You do not want to overload your body with meat on a constant basis, small portions make a world of difference. Personally I eat fruit in the morning and daytime, and then have either a flesh or carb meal for supper. And that's it. This way, I keep my calories down, and I don't overload my body during the daytime, because eating fruit alone all day requires such little processing in the system, it's a cleanser. I cannot stress enough the fact that fruit is the most important and essential food you could possibly put into your body. It's not flesh products, and it's not even vegetables(although these are extremely important), it's fruit. It's apples, it's oranges, it's grapes and kiwi's, and melons, and cherries. And I'm not talking about cooked juice, that dead weight, I'm talking about real fresh fruits that contain water that is even more important than the water that comes out of your purified supply.

For every philosophy, for every science, there is a skeptic, there is a critic. Let me tell you, I was one of the biggest critics of this way of eating, do you know why? Because I was ignorant, I shot my mouth off before even reading about it. Yes it may sound like quackery to anyone who has never heard of it, but I don't ask you to believe me, just take two weeks of your valuable time and life and devote it to the principles of proper food combining, and prove it to yourself.

My one recommendation is that you ease yourself into this, do not think you can do it all at once, I learned that lesson the hard way. The other thing is that, while Fit For Life advocates vegetarianism as the best choice for optimal bodily health, it also says God bless you if you go the opposite route. I know for myself, I want to eat meat and poultry, so I do. And Fit For Life doesn't tell me I'm not allowed or that I can't be healthy this way, because it's all about moderation within the basic guidelines. If you do go vegetarian, just know that not eating meat does not mean you'll be healthy, because I know some very sickly vegetarians. They consume so much crap every day, pop, chips, candy, that's junk. Eat fruits and vegetables, you can live off of that, and you'd be the healther person for it.

Fit For Life is a book worth owning, it isn't expensive, and it contains priceless information about a great way of eating, a way of eating that promotes optimal bodily function and "living health". This book is a straight dose of common sense, and absolutely everyone I know of who has used the program has done well on it. It is informative and well written, there is personality injected into every chapter, and you should go out and spend $10 on this and Fit For Life II, the sequel to Fit For Life, for next level "living health" options and information.

Simply put, there isn't a book I'd recommend more.

I first went on FFL way back in the mid-1980s and experienced amazing weight-loss and well-being for several years. However, I eventually, became side tracked and returned to my previous way of eating and not only regained all the weight but extra, as well. Well, I have now restarted once again on this lifestyle and already feel so much better. 5-stars? I'd give this book 10-stars if it was possible.

From wikipedia (and if that isn't good enough, see the wiki page's footnotes):

Health experts and science writers have dismissed the book as quackery.

Harvey Diamond's competence to write about nutrition has been contested because his doctoral degree came from the American College of Life Science, a non-accredited correspondence school founded in 1982 by T.C. Fry, a high-school dropout. FFL's personalized diet program has been criticized for providing a "Clinical Manual" that is heavily infused with alternative medicine claims about how the body works, which are scientifically inaccurate and not accepted by conventional medicine.

Despite the fact that FFL web site mentioned "clinical trials", the principles and benefits of FFL diet are not supported by scholarly research, and some of the claims have actually been directly refuted by scientific research. For example, a dissociated diet as that advertised by FFL is no more effective for weight loss than a calorie-restricted diet.

Thanks to this book I have developed a great respect for foods and their proper consumption. I am eating more fruits and vegetables than ever. I still eat chicken (rarely) and fish. Meats are no longer appealing to me. Thanks to this book and Marilu Henner's "The 30 day total health make over" I have gotten back in shape at the age of 36 and after having 3 children. I feel very strong, healthy and energetic. I love it when people who haven't seen me for a while open their eyes wide and ask me how I lost so much weight (20 pounds, all I needed to lose). These two books have changed my eating habits forever. The concepts are presented in a way that is easy to understand and that makes sense.

I was 260# 40" waist and could not lose weight, Doctors offered to operate on ym stomach as the only solution they could come up with. My back hurt constantly I was always hungry yet I still gained. I was about to graduate to a 42", then I discovered this book. In 9 months following these recommendations I was under 200#'s. After a year I was 185, wore size 32 pants and had more energy than I ever dreamed of. I saw my doctor in the grocery store 14 months after I started. He did not recognize me. I told him who I was, and he congratulated me on the success of my surgery. I laughed at him and said I did the Fit for Life method. "Oh," he replied, "That doesn't work."
Folks, this works if you follow it. Naysayers like to nit pick the terminology, but it based on common sense and logic, plus did I forget to mention that it works. I did this 12 years ago and I still weigh under 190 and wear size 32 pants. It works so fast you will not believe it. For one period when I was really strict I lost a pound every other day. I even cheated a lot, and still lost weight. I have more energy, feel stronger, and can outrun several people who have said that FFL is nonsense. All I can do is laught at theie close minded ingnorance. If you have tried it all to no avail, buy this book today.

I've read the book and have been following the "Fit For Life" plan for 3 weeks now. After just one day I realized how much "junk food" I was feeding my body. I must have said "NO" to 5 different things the first day that I normally would have eaten, and I believe it is paying off. I get on my treadmill for 30 minutes each day after work, and I actually look forward to it because I'm not tired after work! What also helped was I bought a small 13" TV and placed it in front of the treadmill so I could no longer use the excuse that I was missing my show.
Meal planning wasn't so difficult. Fruit and salad throughout the day, and if I want meat or any protein, I just make sure I eat it for dinner with vegetables and a salad, but no bread. If I choose to finish the day with a salad in a pita, or stir fried veggies, I wind up with a bonus day!
I would really like the food combining chart they mention in the book, for more suggestions. Does anyone out there know where I can get one? I'm not sure if I should trust the address in the back of the book, my book was quite old.

This book contains a lot of very useful information concerning eating a well balanced diet in combinations that are readily assimilated by the body. I enjoyed reading this book because it is light and humorous and yet contains a lot of very useful information. I immediately followed the recommendations suggested by R, Diamond in his book and was amazed at the changes my body went through after only a short time of following its guidelines.

The book "Fit For Life" was, indeed, an eye opener.

One thing that the average reviewer and reader has to keep in mind is that any book, regardless of who wrote it, and how many degrees he or she has under their belt, is simply opinion. Opinion, based on research and scientific studies perhaps, but still only the author's opinion.

And, for some reviewers to condemn the book for it's "only fruit before noon" approach, and the author's personal views on food combining is ludicrous.

These authors aren't trying to start a new diet revolution, they're simply stating the facts, opinions that are in large part based on years of research, careful study, and other author's opinions.

And, in the process, you would be blind if you came away without your eyes being opened to the truth about how your body and its organs work, what's involved in digestion, and, once again, how the FDA, the government and the media lies to the public.

I may not agree with absolutely everything they say, but that's not the author's intention anyway. They don't expect you to follow the system like a robot and they never indicated that the only way the "Fit For Life" health plan would work, or benefit you, for that matter, is if you adhered to it like glue.

They are simply offering guidelines that should be followed to live a healthier, longer, non-obese life.

Maybe if more people did follow it by the book, the obesity rate in this country would drop in half. And why would that be a bad thing?

All in all, a very informative book that will definitely keep me thinking the next time I sit down to a four course meal, a hamburger, or even a glass of milk.

This book makes you want to try their plan just to see what all the hype is about. And, from reading most of it in one day, I personally don't understand why it could fail.

I will definitely be buying more books from these authors, and I highly recommend "Fit For Life" to anyone who wants to become healthier, have more energy, and eat good food.

I remember reading this book for the first time back in the early 1990's. It is a good book and, if you simply pick and choose the main theme - eating a lot of fruit and some vegetables, you will loose weight. I don't agree (and have never agreed with some of the theories outlined); but do agree with the 'suckling up to a cow' part. I really limit my milk intake to 'just enough' to keep my bones and teeth intact! Fresh fruit is one of the darling natural foods placed on this earth.

This book is overall good. I've probably read it twice in the last 15 years and was recently thinking about it again - thus, my visit to this site. I'm amazed at the folks that still follow this in spite of the smear campaign that was lanched against Diamond many years back. This book is really 'Californian' at heart and does tend to reek of Yuppies in 'Benzes and Bimmers - but, hey, it works and beats eating Steak, eggs, cheese, and pork rinds 3x a day for ever (aka Atkins)!

Not a 5 star read. I gave 4 stars because even if you just do the fruit/veg thing, walk a little, and mix in some common sense you'll get healthy.

My nephew and his friends and I have been following the Fit for Life philosohphy for two months and find that they have dropped 15 to 25 pounds. I have followed the philosophy for one month and have dropped fifteen pounds. I was following the South Beach Diet and find eating the live foods agrees with me more. I have more energy than before. My joints are feeling better. My entire body is more alive it seems.

I have recommended this book to many others in the hopes that they too will feel better.

I absolutely loved the book. I never knew anything about the natural cleansing of the body. I read the book and followed it and it made sense with great results. Not only did I accomplish my goal of weight loss but also the added benfits of clear skin and eyes. I felt cleansed inside and out. I can only imagine the toxins that must have been building up in my system over the years. Now I have a new and improved healthier me!

From wikipedia (and if that isn't good enough, see the wiki page's footnotes):

Health experts and science writers have dismissed the book as quackery.

Harvey Diamond's competence to write about nutrition has been contested because his doctoral degree came from the American College of Life Science, a non-accredited correspondence school founded in 1982 by T.C. Fry, a high-school dropout. FFL's personalized diet program has been criticized for providing a "Clinical Manual" that is heavily infused with alternative medicine claims about how the body works, which are scientifically inaccurate and not accepted by conventional medicine.

Despite the fact that FFL web site mentioned "clinical trials", the principles and benefits of FFL diet are not supported by scholarly research, and some of the claims have actually been directly refuted by scientific research. For example, a dissociated diet as that advertised by FFL is no more effective for weight loss than a calorie-restricted diet.

Thanks to this book I have developed a great respect for foods and their proper consumption. I am eating more fruits and vegetables than ever. I still eat chicken (rarely) and fish. Meats are no longer appealing to me. Thanks to this book and Marilu Henner's "The 30 day total health make over" I have gotten back in shape at the age of 36 and after having 3 children. I feel very strong, healthy and energetic. I love it when people who haven't seen me for a while open their eyes wide and ask me how I lost so much weight (20 pounds, all I needed to lose). These two books have changed my eating habits forever. The concepts are presented in a way that is easy to understand and that makes sense.

I was 260# 40" waist and could not lose weight, Doctors offered to operate on ym stomach as the only solution they could come up with. My back hurt constantly I was always hungry yet I still gained. I was about to graduate to a 42", then I discovered this book. In 9 months following these recommendations I was under 200#'s. After a year I was 185, wore size 32 pants and had more energy than I ever dreamed of. I saw my doctor in the grocery store 14 months after I started. He did not recognize me. I told him who I was, and he congratulated me on the success of my surgery. I laughed at him and said I did the Fit for Life method. "Oh," he replied, "That doesn't work."
Folks, this works if you follow it. Naysayers like to nit pick the terminology, but it based on common sense and logic, plus did I forget to mention that it works. I did this 12 years ago and I still weigh under 190 and wear size 32 pants. It works so fast you will not believe it. For one period when I was really strict I lost a pound every other day. I even cheated a lot, and still lost weight. I have more energy, feel stronger, and can outrun several people who have said that FFL is nonsense. All I can do is laught at theie close minded ingnorance. If you have tried it all to no avail, buy this book today.

It would seem that the folks writing bad reviews have never tried the directives of the book. You will lose weight, and your energy level will go through the roof. The only downside is it's very tough to eat according to the book in today's society other than your own kitchen.

I've read the book and have been following the "Fit For Life" plan for 3 weeks now. After just one day I realized how much "junk food" I was feeding my body. I must have said "NO" to 5 different things the first day that I normally would have eaten, and I believe it is paying off. I get on my treadmill for 30 minutes each day after work, and I actually look forward to it because I'm not tired after work! What also helped was I bought a small 13" TV and placed it in front of the treadmill so I could no longer use the excuse that I was missing my show.
Meal planning wasn't so difficult. Fruit and salad throughout the day, and if I want meat or any protein, I just make sure I eat it for dinner with vegetables and a salad, but no bread. If I choose to finish the day with a salad in a pita, or stir fried veggies, I wind up with a bonus day!
I would really like the food combining chart they mention in the book, for more suggestions. Does anyone out there know where I can get one? I'm not sure if I should trust the address in the back of the book, my book was quite old.

This book contains a lot of very useful information concerning eating a well balanced diet in combinations that are readily assimilated by the body. I enjoyed reading this book because it is light and humorous and yet contains a lot of very useful information. I immediately followed the recommendations suggested by R, Diamond in his book and was amazed at the changes my body went through after only a short time of following its guidelines.

The book "Fit For Life" was, indeed, an eye opener.

One thing that the average reviewer and reader has to keep in mind is that any book, regardless of who wrote it, and how many degrees he or she has under their belt, is simply opinion. Opinion, based on research and scientific studies perhaps, but still only the author's opinion.

And, for some reviewers to condemn the book for it's "only fruit before noon" approach, and the author's personal views on food combining is ludicrous.

These authors aren't trying to start a new diet revolution, they're simply stating the facts, opinions that are in large part based on years of research, careful study, and other author's opinions.

And, in the process, you would be blind if you came away without your eyes being opened to the truth about how your body and its organs work, what's involved in digestion, and, once again, how the FDA, the government and the media lies to the public.

I may not agree with absolutely everything they say, but that's not the author's intention anyway. They don't expect you to follow the system like a robot and they never indicated that the only way the "Fit For Life" health plan would work, or benefit you, for that matter, is if you adhered to it like glue.

They are simply offering guidelines that should be followed to live a healthier, longer, non-obese life.

Maybe if more people did follow it by the book, the obesity rate in this country would drop in half. And why would that be a bad thing?

All in all, a very informative book that will definitely keep me thinking the next time I sit down to a four course meal, a hamburger, or even a glass of milk.

This book makes you want to try their plan just to see what all the hype is about. And, from reading most of it in one day, I personally don't understand why it could fail.

I will definitely be buying more books from these authors, and I highly recommend "Fit For Life" to anyone who wants to become healthier, have more energy, and eat good food.

I remember reading this book for the first time back in the early 1990's. It is a good book and, if you simply pick and choose the main theme - eating a lot of fruit and some vegetables, you will loose weight. I don't agree (and have never agreed with some of the theories outlined); but do agree with the 'suckling up to a cow' part. I really limit my milk intake to 'just enough' to keep my bones and teeth intact! Fresh fruit is one of the darling natural foods placed on this earth.

This book is overall good. I've probably read it twice in the last 15 years and was recently thinking about it again - thus, my visit to this site. I'm amazed at the folks that still follow this in spite of the smear campaign that was lanched against Diamond many years back. This book is really 'Californian' at heart and does tend to reek of Yuppies in 'Benzes and Bimmers - but, hey, it works and beats eating Steak, eggs, cheese, and pork rinds 3x a day for ever (aka Atkins)!

Not a 5 star read. I gave 4 stars because even if you just do the fruit/veg thing, walk a little, and mix in some common sense you'll get healthy.

My nephew and his friends and I have been following the Fit for Life philosohphy for two months and find that they have dropped 15 to 25 pounds. I have followed the philosophy for one month and have dropped fifteen pounds. I was following the South Beach Diet and find eating the live foods agrees with me more. I have more energy than before. My joints are feeling better. My entire body is more alive it seems.

I have recommended this book to many others in the hopes that they too will feel better.

I absolutely loved the book. I never knew anything about the natural cleansing of the body. I read the book and followed it and it made sense with great results. Not only did I accomplish my goal of weight loss but also the added benfits of clear skin and eyes. I felt cleansed inside and out. I can only imagine the toxins that must have been building up in my system over the years. Now I have a new and improved healthier me!

I started eating the Fit For Life way after I had my first baby in 1985. I had that last 10 pounds that would not budge, despite eating well and nursing her for 8 months. I bought the book, enjoyed reading it, started the method and the pounds melted away.
This food is good - try the recipes! Try Marilyn Diamond's "American Vegetarian Cookbook" - those recipes are great!
I occasionally eat chicken, fish, and sometimes beef! Who can resist a hamburger just off the grill? Not me. Just skip the bun, eat them with veggies, save the carbs for another meal. Sometimes I cheat, but so what? Birthday parties happen, and I'm going to enjoy! :) If you eat this way 90% of the time, your health will be terrific.
I'm now in my mid 40's (that baby of mine is now 18) and my blood pressure and cholesterol numbers are low.

This method of eating has stood the test of time for me. I love the salad dressing recipes, almond milk and food combos as much as ever! Try the grapefruit juice salad dressing. Sounds wierd, tastes great!
This is by far the healthiest eating plan out there!

I read this book three and a half years ago and it has made such a difference in my family's life. A total skeptic when I started, the more I read the book, the more sense it made. I gradually started properly combining my meals and was amazed at how much better I felt. Much more energy and it was impossible not to lose weight. I lost 15 pounds and have kept 10 off, even after the birth of another baby. I food combine about 70% of the time. My husband and kids love to eat this way too! I'd highly recommend it as a long term healthy way of life.

There are many who criticize this book for not being accurate in regard to science. Perhaps to some degree this is true, but the fact is that eating more fruits and veggies is awesome for you. Its hard to argue with the results. Nuts and whole grains are proven to be good for digestion and have antioxident properties.
I do find it difficult to follow the diet when I am eating out with others, but it is doable. The food combining is questionable but it does seem to make you feel better and food seems to digest quicker using the techniques.
I lost a great deal of weight when following this books recommendations.

Please don't let mainstream detractors who are steeped in the ways of medicine and other failure-ridden institutions dissuade you from reading this life-saving book. It was written from the standpoint of common sense and self-evident truths, which naturally does not always align with the effluvia that is forthcoming from what passes for "science" these days, since the latter is hopelessly corrupted by commercial and other financial interests. The answers lie in our deep and ancient history as living creatures on this planet. It simply has to be true that nature set it up for living beings to be able to heal from disease and injury on their own, as long as the cause of said disease or injury is removed. Therefore, removal of cause is the only way to true healing. This blatantly obvious fact is not acknowledged by medicine and is, in fact, venomously opposed by that quarter for the simple reason that if everyone accepted it, medicine would no longer exist. Harvey Diamond will tell you how to remove the causes of your physical ills. He's done all the footwork for you, all you need to do is learn from him and put what you learn into practice. The sooner you do, the sooner you will start enjoying your life again. I've been following his principles for almost 5 years and I have reached a level of health and vitality I never imagined possible (for more info please visit [...]

You are what you eat! Taking lightly? Give your body rest after you eat, because during nightly hours it is preoccupied by absorption of the goodies you put down there, while you sleep. Do you need a big "breaking the fast"? Heck no! When you awake, your body is still in the absorption mood of nutrients and needs fasting. But no: Then there comes down bacon, eggs, milk, and all, saucages and gravy, and the body in its wisdom says: "Hey we better store this for a rainy day!" You wonder why you have a problem with obesity? Read the book, girl! Read the book, man!
Trampolining is a good way of rebounding to stimulate brain and all. Here is to your health, Gerborg

This book, assembled by a husband and wife team with no credentials _I_ can find in the book, is a load of poorly thought-out half-truths and some comments that border on irresponsibility. There's far too much to correct here, but a few gross misconceptions are the following: citrus fruits are not basic. They are acidic. Hence, citric and ascorbic acid. Finding "basic" or "acidic" foods is pretty pointless in the first place, as stomach juices are such strong acid it doesn't matter, and bases can harm as well (lye?). Also, protein does not leech calcium from bones. This is based on a study done in the 80's using protein _extracts_. They were, incidentally, reconstituted with milk - a calcium rich substance. This explains the increased urinary excretion.

since the time i read Fit for Life, I have been able to to put it into practice. But of course i do no follow it as a rule. The absence of meat and milk does not agree with my lifestyle and i have noticed instant hairfall and nail chipping when i remove these from my diet.
Also it is not practical for me to obtain fresh juice for myself all the time and thus land up drinking the concentrated fresh juice which is sugar free.
I have lost about 10 pounds by following the book at random for the past 2 months. But I do follow the "only fruits and juice until noon" theory. I am also excersicing moderately and it has worked for me.
I would like to E-mail Mr. Harvey with so many queries. whose gonna guide me? I would like to know if what i follow is valid. Whom can i ask questions regarding various foods not mentioned in the book. Also i want to know if the pace of weight loss is slow or normal.Will u guys at the store help me or will someone reading this pls enlighten me with Mr. Diamonds e-mail address if you have one.

I would give it zero if i could. this book jump started a bout of anorexia that took years of my life and thousands of dollars to conquer.
However I am grateful to have been through it and come through the other side better of than had i not experienced that struggle.
Do not follow this book's advice, especially if there is any possibility of becoming obsessive about it.

Although this book is rather old the practical dietary guidance is more than relevant today. It is oriented towards becoming a vegetarian or vegan which is the healthiest diet, in my opinion. The views are and arguments are explained very well and back-up with information.

Combine this with a good raw vegan cookbook ('Raw' is great) and you will be on the path to health. For thos practicing qigong, you won't get full benefit without changing to a meat-free diet.

I have tried many diets, this so far is the only one I can say works. I origanally went on it to fit into a bathing suit, I have since gained back 40lbs because I did not stick to proper food combining. Let me tell you if you follow it it works. Don't make the mistake I made. If you can make it past the first two weeks of detoxing you can stick with it. The book is very easy to understand and there is not extra expenses involved. You do not need to be able to eat all kinds of food that you would not normally go out and buy. Make it the way you like to eat and don't stress over it. The fact that I sleep better on this program, and I seem to have unlimited patiece with everything is difficult to denie. Even my family thinks I am a better more active person. I have owned this book since 1994. And I would lend it to anyone. Even when I was not on the program I still used to book for quick pick me ups.
good luck.

Great book, it really changed my way of eating and I saw the results, which are great... it educates your way of eating and it's actually not difficult once you get used to it.
Nowadays, and after several years I keep on doing about 60-70% of what the book teaches and I'm still happy of the results.

I learned that the body has a time to digest and eliminate. I really liked the part about milk, I tell people that "Milk does not do a body good". I had known about food combining by reading Norman Walker. I agree 100% of what is being said by both Diamond's. People who don't agree are just ignorant! Keep up the good work.

Short and sweet. I have now kept the weight off for twelve years and I attribute it to the fact that this book is about lifestyle not diet. Fit for life is a great system and plan to change the way you eat and live, to maintain a VERY healthy lifestyle without sacrafice of the food you like. If you are someone who is looking to have a life changing experiance and move on to a healthy and prosperus life then this is the nutrition book for you.

Since I have been on this diet, all the cravings for junk food have gone. I was someone who lived for sugar and now I do not want any of it. I use to crave coffee in the morning as well but realized I didn't want that wired up feeling

I have read this book back in 1995. I tried to adhere to the principles of the right food combination .Also with my excersise I have lost 12# in 2 months . I felt great about myself and my health. However, I have Questions.... I started having problems with acids. I was put on Zantac. I was wondering if it was because I overate on fruits ? In the book Harvey mentions that even acidic fruits are neutralized in the stomack and lose their acidicy. Is there any new reasearch on it? Also I have two more Q's. First how does Harvey feel about the sun exposure ... since it is a big issue nowadays. Also supplements. I've heard that he promotes them in his new cancer book. Please let me get in touch with the author regarding those issues. I remain a faithful believer...yet I ask for some updates......

Fit for Life changed my life. The information in this book appealed to my common sense. Fit for Life explained the interworkings of our biological disgestive body cycles and made me aware of how our bodiess react or counter-react to every thing we eat.
I've adopted the "fruit in the morning regime" ten years ago and cannot imagine going back to full course breakfast way of eating. Although I sometimes struggle with the proper food consumption, I am constant with the fruit consumption.
I've told countless numbers of people about this change in eating habits and probably should be on the payroll. But it feels great to be able to shed light on such a commonplace problems as obesity, digestive problems, etc.
I look and feel better because of Fit for Life. I am definitely a believer.

These Diamonds may have a few good notions, which they must have stumbled over by luck. They certainly are not qualified to judge anything with any sort of scientific judgement. As a result, they should not be trusted. Perhaps the most egregious example is Mr. Diamond's definition of an enzyme: he says an enzyme is the essence of an atom or molecule in a living system, that is has no substance. Any high school biology student knows enzymes are large proteins that catalyze reactions, they are well known and frequently synthesized. Do you really want to take advice from some kook who thinks enzymes are the ghosts of atoms and molecules?

The attitude of the negative reviewers on this book just amazes me. My take on this is simple.... LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! You ask ten different doctors their opinion on a particular subject and you will likely get 10 DIFFERENT answers. Some reviewers dispute the science of food combining... do yourself a favor; eat a traditional meal of steak with potato and veggies and notice how lethargic you feel aftewards. The next day eat just a steak and veggie dinner and miraculously notice how you DONT feel lethargic. Now "food combine" for a week and notice your energy level go through the roof and the pounds melt away. Continue for a few more months and notice how you are feeling better than you have your whole life and wait a minute... you have not been sick like everyone else in your family or your co-workers at work. It amazes me that 95% of the reviewers who have actually had the open mind to try the principles and the fortitude to make it through the first few days report that they have never felt better and say things like "it changed my life".... yet the cynics say "ya but, it is not scientifically proven".

All I can say to the people reading these reviews trying to decide whether or not to read this book is as the author says "don't take my word on it, try it out and listen to your body". Some people take this information and run with it to various degree's; some turn into a strict vegan, others (most) like myself, continue to eat meat just in proper combinations.

In ending let me just say that my lifestyle (i.e. eating habits) is not all that radical. I just follow a few basic principles; nothing but fruit until noon (75% of the time), don't eat proteins w/starches (75% of my meals) & no dairy products (I have pizza / ice cream a few times per month) and only eat sweets maybe once a week. As a result, I'm in great shape, I live an energetic life and am NEVER sick.

A hundred years from now we may find out that this book is not 100% accurate, but for now it comes a lot darn closer than any "credited" nutritionist or MD can come up with.

Give it a whirl and see for yourself.

After reading Fit For Life, you'll understand that there's more to health than simply knowing WHAT to eat, there's also the when, why and how...Fit for life gives you great insights into understanding the whole picture. I recommend it highly to anyone whom I consult as well as in my own "Vegan Journey Roadmap" on my site.

I first read this book two years ago, and my wife and I tried the principals laid out within. What a difference!

My wife had been suffering from post-natal depression for a couple of years, but after following the fruit only between breakfast and lunch part of the book, we BOTH started to feel much more 'alive'! Within a couple of months her depression has completely gone, and I've got my old-wife back! (Although I'm not sure that's completely good - teehee!).

I'm an ex-bodybuilder, and as anyone who is also the same can tell you, without a good diet and regular exercise after stopping something like body-building, the pounds will pile on rather easily!

Are there any points about this book that I don't agree with? Sure there are, like not eating bread! I can't resist a fresh warm loaf or French stick straight from the local bakers, but it's not like I eat it all the time!

The best part about this book was that I couldn't put it down! It was just speaking out to me so much that I just had to divulge and devour it (not literally).

Two years on, I'm reading it again, as I've become a bit lazy recently and not followed the fruit only in the AM diet. This really does work and it all makes perfect sense!

Oh, and I gave up drinking milk two years ago and don't miss it a bit. The necessary nutrients for hair and nails can also be found in nuts and other foods. Reading about what milk does to the body absolutely horrified me but made perfect sense!

I reccommend anyone looking to lose weight, shape-up, have more energy in the daytime, sleep better at night-time and an overall better and more positive attitude, to read this book!

And save yourself a fortune in expensive supplements that often don't work!

I have all the Fit For Life books and am very glad that someone pointed them out to me. I started with the original FFL, then fell off the wagon, no fault of the book, as with most diets it just happened. This latest book though is a real eye-opener to the way we treat our bodies and what we can do to change that. The mono-diet makes perfect sense to me and I have decided to give it a shot for the sake of my health and fitness.

A life saver..thats how I would like to start my review on Mr.Diamond's book. Its informative and it alows you to control your life once again..I did try the monodieting for 3 days and found it be great! And I m surprised bc I dont lose wt fast..I m one of those ppl who can gain a pound just by thinking of food! I felt lighter and more energetic after only 3 days!!This book carries the solutions to whole lot of problems we face in our daily lives from depression to obesity.Ppl will be doing themselves the biggest favour if they follow its principles and live their lives the way nature intended them to.
Good luck!

I got this book at the recommendation of my chiropractor who has more of a weight problem than I do, but I was more interested in getting healthy - getting off my Prevacid, controlling hypoglycemia etc. Well, I've been on it 4 days. I am off my Prevacid for the first time in over 8 years. Yeah! HOWEVER, I cannot eat fruit until noon then stop. An hour after lunch, my blood sugar dropped so badly that today I ate a half a peach on the way out the door because I was feeling so poorly. By the time I got to town (to get more fruit) a half hour later, I was weaving all over the road, could not walk a straight line, forgot where I was, and didn't know how to shut off the engine of my car. If you have hypoglycemia, this will not cure you as the author claims. It will make you worse and dangerously so. I'm going on with the plan, but I have to make adjustments. Like, I have to eat fruit all day long, not just in the morning. I could not wait to buy fruit. I stopped and got a candy bar because I knew it would work. I was feeling so bad that for the moment, I said "Screw It!". I believe had I not eaten that candy bar, I would have passed out. I have had hypoglycemia for years but have never felt as close to passing out as I did today. Each of the 4 days, I have had blood sugar problems and have made adjustments each day to try to diminish my symptoms, and I haven't gotten it right yet. I think if you don't have hypoglycemia, this might be great, but I do. What I like about it is that I love everything I get to eat and I'm getting to eat some things that I always avoided before thinking I would get fat from them. If you live far from town and fresh fruit and vegetables aren't easy to come by, it's going to be really tough to stick with this. Fresh fruit and vegetables stay fresh for a very short period of time so if you can't easily get more, it's really hard. I grow some of my own but don't have the space for everything and it's only seasonal. It is pretty extreme in that you are discouraged from eating anything that isn't "organic" and organic is expensive, too expensive for the average person. It is expensive to eat healthy which is why America is fat. It's also inconvenient to eat healthy. You can always find a candy bar no matter where you are, but you can't always find a piece of fruit. If you have chronic constipation, this should cure you. I thought the theories sounded pretty believable and I don't know how much of the current "scientific studies" that are being carried on are believable either. Probably depends on who's footing the bill. The book says you can contact Marilyn at her web site. I tried and it is getting some kind of overhaul. It has a photo of her with a man who I assume is her significant other and she looks 5 years younger than she did when this book was first published 20 years ago! I'm just assuming that she is still on the plan. For that reason alone, I gotta give this plan a good try. She looks fabulous.

It was just over 9 years a ago when I got ahold of Fit For Life just by chance. I began to read and couldn't put it down. It made made sense. This book is so informative, thought-provoking, useful and applicable that I just have to write and express my thanks to the authors. I have been a vegetarian ever since and love it. Thanks to this book, I know my chance of developing cancers and disease has been greatly reduced if not eliminated due to the change in my dietary and excercise habits. I hope someday that schools and universities use the book that has teaches folks to use thier inborn sixth sense: common sense. Thank you Marilyn and Harvey Diamond.

Fit for Life is much more than a diet book. Imagine something so powerful that unprecedented weight loss is a mere side effect. Our bodies beg to be healthy. Fit for Life will show you how to open the gates. How to ALLOW your body to do what it already knows. The Diamonds did not invent this knowledge, its been around for a very long time. The Diamonds simply brought it to the public, easily accessible and easy to understand. If I were reborn and could learn only one thing, I would pick this book without any hesitation. Practice with diligence and you'll never look back. And incidentally, I too lost weight...20 lbs in one month.

I read the book, and totally agree with the whole 'fruit and fruit juice only' before noon, but I find some of the basics of the whole diet undesireable. Two years ago when I lived in London I joined a 'healthier eating' club whose principles were based on not mixing proteins and carbohydrates at any meals for a whole day. In other words, one day just carbs, the next just proteins. That still left room for a lot of variety, and you don't have to give up meat! Also, avoid sugar and fats where you can - don't cook with oil (use cooking spray), don't put butter or margarine on your sandwhich, and curb your dairy intake to a small glass of milk and an ounce of cheese for the whole day. On my carb only days I would typically have 2 slices of wheat toast with marmite (yeast extract spread) with orange juice for bkfst; a baked potato with baked beans and cheese for lunch; and a large bowl of pasta with sauce made from fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic and peppers. I would eat at least 3 servings of fruit throughout the day. On protein days - fruit for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch, and steak (grilled) with steamed veggies for dinner. I allowed myself one treat every day - one small chocolate bar, or a glass of wine with dinner. I lost 15lbs in a month, and I felt good. I still ate french fries, I just made them in the oven with fat free cooking spray. I never went without any nutrients, I was allowed to drink as much water as I wanted, and I was never hungry!! That worked for me, and I plan to do it again - starting tomorrow!

Read this13 years ago when I was 22 and my life changed forever. First time out with the program lost 30 lbs. Had a baby in 1988 and put on 65 lbs. Took it all off with this program. Had some life traumas and slipped back into my wicked ways for some number of years. But I NEVER ever, ever ate any kind of meat again (not chicken or fish either). I became a true-blue vegetarian, gave up smoking forever - and when I started to get out of control always came running back to the Diamond's for nurtuing and self-love. I am now back and faithful. I really want more info though, it's 1999 they must have a web-site, right??

When I was younger and had chronic fatigue syndrome, I followed this book to the T and I got better. I think what made me get better was all the fruit and vegetables I was eating when following this book. It encourages that most of your plate be covered in high-water-content foods and that's good for you. These are whole, non-processed foods.

What isn't so great about this book is that the information about food-combining is not true. Our stomachs aren't so weak that they can't eat cooked tomato, for example, or that they can't process fruit and other foods at the same time. Cooked tomato, like spaghetti sauce, is in fact an incredibly healthy food- something that you should eat often. If you eat the Fit for Life way for too long, I think you would become deficient in some very important nutrients. For example, oats or whole grains in the morning gives you a good, slowly-digested carb high that fruit alone can't give. Fruit WITH the oats is a better breakfast. Also, most people, athletes, pregnant women, children need dairy products, and organic dairy doesn't have the toxins found in other dairy. Instead of eliminating dairy, buy organic dairy. If I were you I'd research nutrition a lot more before following this book for too long. I've found two books very helpful lately: Superfoods Healthstyle, and The Triple Whammy Cure. They helped me feel a lot healthier.

I'm glad to finally know what I should have known my whole life! The Diamonds have put in a nutshell nutritional information that should've been taught in school. I have much more energy now and a better outlook mentally. I can tell that my digestive system is running much more smoothly and I know that I'm giving my body the best fuel it could have to deal with the barrage of toxins it's subjected to daily. I've just started Fit for Life II and am really enjoying it, too! It's much more than a sequel and well worth buying.

The negative reviews seem to be all the same and don't seem to have tried it and maybe even haven't read it. There's nothing unhealthy about eating fruit in the morning. Eating anything you want after noon is hardly a fad diet. The book just suggests eating things separately like a big steak and greens rather than adding a bunch of fillers like potatoes. It suggests eating all the starches you want but just not with the steak as it complicates the digestion process. I like to eat that way anyway. Give me more meat and less potatoes any day! The book suggests exercise. That's not a fad. It's just common sense. The book suggests not drinking coffee. If you eat fruit, you can really pound the coffee and still come out feeling good. I like Fast Food Friday's more than most but eating more sensibly is nothing but a positive. If you are a runner or some other athlete and have plateaued, you should consider their suggestions. You won't hit the wall so easy if you eat the fruit.

I have all the Fit For Life books and am very glad that someone pointed them out to me. I started with the original FFL, then fell off the wagon, no fault of the book, as with most diets it just happened. This latest book though is a real eye-opener to the way we treat our bodies and what we can do to change that. The mono-diet makes perfect sense to me and I have decided to give it a shot for the sake of my health and fitness.

A life saver..thats how I would like to start my review on Mr.Diamond's book. Its informative and it alows you to control your life once again..I did try the monodieting for 3 days and found it be great! And I m surprised bc I dont lose wt fast..I m one of those ppl who can gain a pound just by thinking of food! I felt lighter and more energetic after only 3 days!!This book carries the solutions to whole lot of problems we face in our daily lives from depression to obesity.Ppl will be doing themselves the biggest favour if they follow its principles and live their lives the way nature intended them to.
Good luck!

I got this book at the recommendation of my chiropractor who has more of a weight problem than I do, but I was more interested in getting healthy - getting off my Prevacid, controlling hypoglycemia etc. Well, I've been on it 4 days. I am off my Prevacid for the first time in over 8 years. Yeah! HOWEVER, I cannot eat fruit until noon then stop. An hour after lunch, my blood sugar dropped so badly that today I ate a half a peach on the way out the door because I was feeling so poorly. By the time I got to town (to get more fruit) a half hour later, I was weaving all over the road, could not walk a straight line, forgot where I was, and didn't know how to shut off the engine of my car. If you have hypoglycemia, this will not cure you as the author claims. It will make you worse and dangerously so. I'm going on with the plan, but I have to make adjustments. Like, I have to eat fruit all day long, not just in the morning. I could not wait to buy fruit. I stopped and got a candy bar because I knew it would work. I was feeling so bad that for the moment, I said "Screw It!". I believe had I not eaten that candy bar, I would have passed out. I have had hypoglycemia for years but have never felt as close to passing out as I did today. Each of the 4 days, I have had blood sugar problems and have made adjustments each day to try to diminish my symptoms, and I haven't gotten it right yet. I think if you don't have hypoglycemia, this might be great, but I do. What I like about it is that I love everything I get to eat and I'm getting to eat some things that I always avoided before thinking I would get fat from them. If you live far from town and fresh fruit and vegetables aren't easy to come by, it's going to be really tough to stick with this. Fresh fruit and vegetables stay fresh for a very short period of time so if you can't easily get more, it's really hard. I grow some of my own but don't have the space for everything and it's only seasonal. It is pretty extreme in that you are discouraged from eating anything that isn't "organic" and organic is expensive, too expensive for the average person. It is expensive to eat healthy which is why America is fat. It's also inconvenient to eat healthy. You can always find a candy bar no matter where you are, but you can't always find a piece of fruit. If you have chronic constipation, this should cure you. I thought the theories sounded pretty believable and I don't know how much of the current "scientific studies" that are being carried on are believable either. Probably depends on who's footing the bill. The book says you can contact Marilyn at her web site. I tried and it is getting some kind of overhaul. It has a photo of her with a man who I assume is her significant other and she looks 5 years younger than she did when this book was first published 20 years ago! I'm just assuming that she is still on the plan. For that reason alone, I gotta give this plan a good try. She looks fabulous.

It was just over 9 years a ago when I got ahold of Fit For Life just by chance. I began to read and couldn't put it down. It made made sense. This book is so informative, thought-provoking, useful and applicable that I just have to write and express my thanks to the authors. I have been a vegetarian ever since and love it. Thanks to this book, I know my chance of developing cancers and disease has been greatly reduced if not eliminated due to the change in my dietary and excercise habits. I hope someday that schools and universities use the book that has teaches folks to use thier inborn sixth sense: common sense. Thank you Marilyn and Harvey Diamond.

I began the fit for life series with this book and much of what it said I grew very excited about and purchased the fit for life and the princibles in that book changed my life. This book however covers the basic priciples in fit for life and then moves on to introduce other priciples to better our health over-all. Alot of these aren't always easy to implement. Like sleeping with an open window, great if your in California and a chilly night only requires an extra blanket in much colder climates I don't beleive waking with ice on your walls overly healthy, as happens to me! I also have a problem with no soap or toothpaste, maybe being clean within helps but we live in a polluted environment. The book can be very interesting though and I'm sure there are those who may benefit in it's message. The explanations of additives I found facinating. There are also recipes included in this book which are good. Just not as good as the first in my opinion.

For those out there who seek a sensible, logical answer to the question, "Why is eating properly so difficult to understand and practice?", this book will provide all the information, support and explantions you could ever want or need. I have searched for years to find the proper lifelong eating habits. I've lost weight, gained weight, and stagnated in a foray of poor eating habits. The Diamonds not only explain why their Fit for Life plan works, but support the plan with recipes and advice--all in a straight forward, common sense and sometimes amusing manner. If you seek health and happiness, this is the one book you should read. It will change your life

Fit for Life is much more than a diet book. Imagine something so powerful that unprecedented weight loss is a mere side effect. Our bodies beg to be healthy. Fit for Life will show you how to open the gates. How to ALLOW your body to do what it already knows. The Diamonds did not invent this knowledge, its been around for a very long time. The Diamonds simply brought it to the public, easily accessible and easy to understand. If I were reborn and could learn only one thing, I would pick this book without any hesitation. Practice with diligence and you'll never look back. And incidentally, I too lost weight...20 lbs in one month.

I read the book, and totally agree with the whole 'fruit and fruit juice only' before noon, but I find some of the basics of the whole diet undesireable. Two years ago when I lived in London I joined a 'healthier eating' club whose principles were based on not mixing proteins and carbohydrates at any meals for a whole day. In other words, one day just carbs, the next just proteins. That still left room for a lot of variety, and you don't have to give up meat! Also, avoid sugar and fats where you can - don't cook with oil (use cooking spray), don't put butter or margarine on your sandwhich, and curb your dairy intake to a small glass of milk and an ounce of cheese for the whole day. On my carb only days I would typically have 2 slices of wheat toast with marmite (yeast extract spread) with orange juice for bkfst; a baked potato with baked beans and cheese for lunch; and a large bowl of pasta with sauce made from fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic and peppers. I would eat at least 3 servings of fruit throughout the day. On protein days - fruit for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch, and steak (grilled) with steamed veggies for dinner. I allowed myself one treat every day - one small chocolate bar, or a glass of wine with dinner. I lost 15lbs in a month, and I felt good. I still ate french fries, I just made them in the oven with fat free cooking spray. I never went without any nutrients, I was allowed to drink as much water as I wanted, and I was never hungry!! That worked for me, and I plan to do it again - starting tomorrow!

Read this13 years ago when I was 22 and my life changed forever. First time out with the program lost 30 lbs. Had a baby in 1988 and put on 65 lbs. Took it all off with this program. Had some life traumas and slipped back into my wicked ways for some number of years. But I NEVER ever, ever ate any kind of meat again (not chicken or fish either). I became a true-blue vegetarian, gave up smoking forever - and when I started to get out of control always came running back to the Diamond's for nurtuing and self-love. I am now back and faithful. I really want more info though, it's 1999 they must have a web-site, right??

When I was younger and had chronic fatigue syndrome, I followed this book to the T and I got better. I think what made me get better was all the fruit and vegetables I was eating when following this book. It encourages that most of your plate be covered in high-water-content foods and that's good for you. These are whole, non-processed foods.

What isn't so great about this book is that the information about food-combining is not true. Our stomachs aren't so weak that they can't eat cooked tomato, for example, or that they can't process fruit and other foods at the same time. Cooked tomato, like spaghetti sauce, is in fact an incredibly healthy food- something that you should eat often. If you eat the Fit for Life way for too long, I think you would become deficient in some very important nutrients. For example, oats or whole grains in the morning gives you a good, slowly-digested carb high that fruit alone can't give. Fruit WITH the oats is a better breakfast. Also, most people, athletes, pregnant women, children need dairy products, and organic dairy doesn't have the toxins found in other dairy. Instead of eliminating dairy, buy organic dairy. If I were you I'd research nutrition a lot more before following this book for too long. I've found two books very helpful lately: Superfoods Healthstyle, and The Triple Whammy Cure. They helped me feel a lot healthier.

I'm glad to finally know what I should have known my whole life! The Diamonds have put in a nutshell nutritional information that should've been taught in school. I have much more energy now and a better outlook mentally. I can tell that my digestive system is running much more smoothly and I know that I'm giving my body the best fuel it could have to deal with the barrage of toxins it's subjected to daily. I've just started Fit for Life II and am really enjoying it, too! It's much more than a sequel and well worth buying.

The negative reviews seem to be all the same and don't seem to have tried it and maybe even haven't read it. There's nothing unhealthy about eating fruit in the morning. Eating anything you want after noon is hardly a fad diet. The book just suggests eating things separately like a big steak and greens rather than adding a bunch of fillers like potatoes. It suggests eating all the starches you want but just not with the steak as it complicates the digestion process. I like to eat that way anyway. Give me more meat and less potatoes any day! The book suggests exercise. That's not a fad. It's just common sense. The book suggests not drinking coffee. If you eat fruit, you can really pound the coffee and still come out feeling good. I like Fast Food Friday's more than most but eating more sensibly is nothing but a positive. If you are a runner or some other athlete and have plateaued, you should consider their suggestions. You won't hit the wall so easy if you eat the fruit.

I had tried all types of diets, all failed till I tried this book back in 1993. The first time I followed the plan I lost 30 pounds and kept it off until I switched back to my old style of eating. Now I am back on the book and I have lost 13 pounds in one month, 1.5 inches from my waist. I feel great and have energy. Even though I did not follow the plan exact every day, it still works, (DQ Blizzard is my weakness). For anyone who has weight to lose and tired of failing, give this book a try for one month, you will lose weight!

I read the book when it first came out. Then, I had a hard time adhering to the principles set forth. Time and experience have brought me back full circle. When I started reading this book again I was amazed at how much I had grown and how the principles seemed do-able and the recipes sounded delicious. I am still struggling with food combinations. At the moment I am hoping to find somene out there who can help me out with questions I still have about the book.

THis is the best of all thier books. THe details are just perfect for someone who is applying these changes to his life.
I hope they release new books, with new and very detailed advice.
I believe, the phase of convincing the people of harmful food habits, is way gone. We are at a phase, where we want to do something about it. Just give us the details how. The positive energy from this book is superb. THe effect it has had on my families life, and my peers is astounding. I highly recommend it.

The theory that one should eat seventy- percent of water-rich foods, that one should eat only fruit and fruit juice from the time one wakes to twelve at noon, that one should not 'combine processed foods of different kinds, not combine proteins with carbohydrates, but eat one protein dish or one carbohydrate dish separately, that one should not eat either a big breakfast or very late at night, that one should concentrate one's eating between twelve noon and eight , and that one should understand that water- rich fresh fruit is the healthiest food in the world, and the one 'Early Man ' subsisted on- all this sounds sensible enough. The fact that this book and diet have sold millions is also a kind of argument for it, though many diets which have long since been junked have sold millions.
I think that we will try this, and perhaps report the results.
And this as I wonder how long I will be able to resist the great combos made with my favorite, most delicious, most basic food, good old staff of life, bread.

I remember how I discovered the Diamonds' books. It's was in the mid 1980's and I was watching the Merv Griffin Show. I was about 18 years old at the time. Harvey and his wife were on the show doing P.R. for their new book, Fit For life. As I listened to them, and saw their happiness and health and excitement, I felt a positive feeling about what they were saying. Something just clicked in my heart and I new it was something I should check into. At that time, I was always tired, out of shape, eating the Standard American Diet (which initials by the way are SAD) I knew that I needed something, and this was it. I was so excited. The very next day I got their book and read it cover to cover 3 times and highlighted parts that I wanted to remember. For about 6 years, I practiced the Diamonds' Methods. I stopped eating meat and dairy products, and threw out all of my white flower products and ate whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, Basically a vegetarian diet. Reading the Diamonds book was the catalyst that drove me deeper into a natural way of living. My whole life changed because of the Diamonds book, and for that I am eternally grateful. I started going to health food stores, making new healthy friends, reading books on natural living. Now, you have to remember, this was back in 1985 or so. Back then the fitness craze and "health food" was not as big as it is now. Many people back then thought health food people were "nuts". However, I didn't care, I felt like I had discovered something that nobody else new, and I was enlightened. For 6 years I lived the natural hygiene way. I also joined a gym and began working out 5 days a week ( mostly aerobic type exercises, I new nothing about weights then) . I made sure I combined my protein and starches correctly, ate my food at the right times of the days. Got plenty of rest. I held strict to the plan. During the first year, my energy level went totally through the roof. I felt better, My thinking wasn't as foggy, I wasn't tired, I had no depression, I slept well, and for the first time I looked younger than my age. I continued eating that way for about 6 years, until I was 24 years old. During that 6 year period when I was following the Diamonds books and eating a natural hygiene diet, here is what I experienced....
During the first 2 years, I felt great, I lost all my excess body fat, and was very thin. Looking back now, I was way too thin. My height is 6'2" tall, and I was 145lbs at my lowest. I was pretty skinny and had no muscle tone. (however, I wasn't working out with weights. I was doing heavy cardio workouts, and not taking in extra calories to make up for it)
I realized that eating the natural way, required ALLOT of work because I had to prepare my own natural meals. During the 3rd year living the natural hygiene way, my life took a drastic stressful turn. ( life and job related things) so I no longer had time to really devote to making proper meals, I was not eating a variety of vegetarian meals, I would opt for whatever was the quickest. (Usually whole wheat pasta and vegetables.) So during that 3rd year on the natural hygiene diet, I began to feel tried and fatigued around the middle of the day. I was underweight, was lacking energy, and probably was not getting the proper nutrition that I needed. BUT let me say that looking back, it was NOT because of the natural hygiene diet. It WAS because I was not paying attention to making sure I was getting a variety of healthy foods in my diet. I wasn't eating enough calories to sustain myself. Eating a vegetarian diet or Natural hygiene diet, REQUIRES you to take the time and focus yourself on getting a variety of fresh wholesome foods in your diet. If you don't have the time, or the interest to do this, you will surly fail and not get proper nutrition. You will then probably make the mistake of blaming it on the Diamonds book or Natural Hygiene. The results work only as good as the effort you put into it. THIS is what I have found out looking back after 16 years. If I had taken the time to make sure my diet consisted of a variety of fresh natural foods, I would probably have had a different result during the 3rd year on the diet.
After the 3rd or 4th year on natural hygiene diet, I discovered body building. I needed to gain muscle and quality weight. I was just way too thin. So I started to incorporate fish in my vegetarian diet and eating soy protein shakes for extra protein and calories. I started to re-focus my energy on my diet and preparing healthy meals again. My weight started to increase back to a normal body weight, and I started to gain muscle. (however I was now working out with weights) During around the 5th and 6th year, I was about 24 years old or so then, I started to incorporate free-range, natural chicken into my vegetarian diet, along with the fish. BUT I continued to combine my proteins and starches correctly. Well, I filled out with allot of good muscle and stayed slim. I continued this way for the next 6 years. When I reached 30 years old, I had pretty much moved away from the Diamonds methods. However I am eternally grateful for them leading me into the path of natural living, health food, and health and fitness. I am blessed by Harvey and his wife and owe thanks to them. they truly inspired me 16 years ago, to get off my duff, and do something about my life. Finding and reading the Diamonds book, Fit for Life, changed my life for the better. Even though I don't practice their principals now, I still remember their teachings and the down-to-earth wisdom that they gave me.
So anyway, now I am 34 years old. I eat a diet very high in vegetables and fruit and whole grains, with some fish and chicken and protein powders. I work out about 5 days a week at a local gym. I am still 6'2" tall, but now weigh about 205 lbs. of lean muscle. People still think I am 22 years old! I don't look my age or feel my age. I am a health and fitness enthusiast and will be for the rest of my life. ( thanks to that little push by the Diamonds 16 years ago.) Health and fitness is in my life forever.
So in conclusion, living naturally and healthfully is a gift from God. I am telling you this from experience. If the Diamonds book does nothing more than jump start your life into the world of natural living, health and fitness, then It has done it's job. Nothing is more rewarding than feeling good, and looking good for the rest of your life. I am now trying to lower my meat consumption and increase my vegtables and fruits and still get all the high quality protien that I need for working out. With some education and work I can do it. Just remember...your health results can only equal the amount of effort you put into your lifestyle. I still remember the wisdom the Diamonds taught me 16 years ago.
God bless to all of those who help others by educating us with their knowledge and wisdom of health and fitness. These people brining us closer to a world of healthy living and happiness.

This book was placed at my home for over 2 years but just realised to read it recently. At once, I was amazed and deeply attracted by what this book tells me. I read this over and over and tried to follow their guides. Though I can only implement the recipes for breakfast and lunch, I losted 5 pounds and feel my health much better than before. It really changed my life and view in eating. Now, I am reading other articles from the Diamonds and related books. I HIGHLY recommend this book to those who seek for a healthy life!

If your serious about living life to the fullest then Harvey & Marilyn Diamond's book is a must. It is not easy to follow at first and it will sit on the shelf for sometime but you will come back to it time and time again. In studying how to be healthy you will see why "Fit For Life II" is the next best book to own and use

I first read this book a few years ago. Right away its message resonated with me. I recently ordered 2 copies from the store to replace the 1 I loaned to someone and didn't get back. Now I have 1 for myself and 1 to loan.
As a Christian, I believe that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I want to take the very best care of this temple while I have it.
I have adopted the principles of FFL and as a bonus lost 20 lbs. and have kept it off. I also do a long fast twice a year.

I followed the Fit for Life regimen and successfully lost a great deal of weight with it. I also did feel more energetic while following it.

However, any research done into the pseudo-scientific claims that serve as this diet's underpinnings reveal the "science" to be largely bogus.

That being said, I think there is some validity to the idea that the way we combine our foods does have an impact on our energy levels. If you follow this diet for a week or so, you will notice that by combining foods as described, the lethargy that typically follows after eating a meal is non-existent.

I've found this diet an effective way of losing weight, but I don't think it's necessary to eat like this all the time.

This book is a godsend. I find it hilarious that some of the reviews on here are so much the other way. This book is just plain old common sense and anyone that has a problem with that is just way too uptight. I lost 35 lbs on this program(in 6 months), and had I not gotten pregnant I probably would have kept going! I initially started the program for just that, fertility reasons. Anyone out there struggling with fertility needs to read this. It doesn't address it in anyway, but trust me, it helps. Read this along with Fern Reiss "Fertility Diet" and I bet you'll find yourself pregnant in no time.

O... i m a great BA fan, he always says this book is good and that's why i read it.
It's true the suggestions are cool and useful, however, i still some how disagree with the idea of not eating carbohydrates and proteins at the same time. As a Chinese, we always eat Tofu and rice at the same time. So according to this book, it's a WRONG combination.( Tofu contains Protein, Rice's "pure" carbohydrates ) Personally just think that it's NO BIG DEAL.
Afterall, the book is nice to read, at least i follow the natural body cycle it mentions. Since i m of a normal weight range, i couldn't lose any lbs! :( That's bad... afterall, I M HEALTHIER!

After buying this book as a gift, I went back to my 1985 edition to review the diet. After several days on the diet, it was like a light had come on.....more energetic, and with more mental clarity. The "Four Week Example of Fitness Lifestyle" with menus for each day do include several chicken, fish, meat, and at least one dish with rice. I would try to follow the suggested menu for each day as the authors have tried to balance the diet. I do have one major concern: a friend who isn't on this diet was recently hospitalized with a blood clot and had to go on blood thinner. She was told to remove greens, lettuce, etc., from her diet due to Vitamin K (increases blood clotting). (Since "Fit for Life" uses considerable greens, etc., I'm concerned about possible complications.) The "Fit for Life Shopping List" does include grains and Legumes (beans) and the Energy Salad can include a 1/2 up of beans if desired, but from my quick examination of the remaining days I see few or no meals of grains and beans combined. The "American Vegetarian Cookbook from the Fit for Life Kitchen" by Marilyn Diamond seems to be a more broad based diet. So, is the program in "Fit for Life" more for short term cleansing (detox), or a long term diet? You'll have to evaluate the diet carefully.

Exactly what I expected and the programme is very effective. Although the first few days were a little difficult, I have found the changes to my body shape profound. Fluid retention down about 80%, weight loss to date (2 weeks) is around 12lbs, no more cravings or hunger pangs and I feel very healthy. This is an effective way of eating pure, wholesome, fresh food and wakes you up to the defunct nutritional crap we shove down our throats every day. I hope I can continue to make it work for me over the coming weeks, one day at a time! Well worth the purchase.

This is a great plan that can easily be accomplished in everyday life. I have never felt like I was on a "Diet". I do not agree with some of the plan's ideas (such as limiting water intake) but for the most part everything makes sense. I also like that it is easy to follow for those of us that are vegetarian. I have lost 10lbs in about 8 days (I attend the gym daily as well..). I am so glad to have finally found a plan to help me lose the last few pounds! I would suggest this to anyone looking for a healthy new plan for life, not just for weight loss.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with the general recommendations of this book: eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and stay away from animal fats, the concept of food combining has absolutely no base in science. The (not educated in nutrition or other health fields) authors' main argument for food combining is that some foods need acidic conditions to digest and others basic conditions and you shouldn't mix these two, otherwise the stomach/digestive system will get confused and bloated. In (simplified) truth, acidic digestion happens in the stomach and basic digestion happens in the intestine. The enzymes used to break down proteins and carbohydratess in the stomach prefer acidic conditions and the enzymes used to break down fats and some proteins in the intestines prefer basic conditions. Mixing these types of foods is just fine, which is we are all still alive and (mostly) unbloated.
However, if you are looking to lose weight and need a "plan" this one will probably work and as it emphasizes plant products it is probably a healthier way of eating than many other fad diets.

I was very impress by Fit for Life 1 and 2. It did change my life completely and I have to admit, I feel much better since then. I also now spend hours at the supermarket or health shop buying my food. Great way of living.

HELLO, IVE JUST STARTED DOING THE INFO IN THIS BOOK"FIT FOR LIFE", I FEEL GOOD AND IM MUCH MORE ACTIVE. I WAS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY OVER WEIGHT AND DEPRESSION AND WITH ALL THIS I WAS ONLY DOING MY RUGBY PRACTICES AND THAT WAS ALL. ONCE I STARTED TO CHANGE MY LIFE STYLE I STARTED GOING TO THE GYM, I WANTED TO SEE MY FRIENDS AND I HAD THIS LOVELY ENERGY DURING THE HOLE DAY. THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT AS IVE CUT OUT DAIRY PRODUCTS AND IM GETTIN THE CALCIUM FROM SESAME SEEDS, IS THAT ENOUGH? I KNOW VEGETABLES AND FRUITS ALSO CONTAIN SOME CALCIUM BUT I KNOW ITS NOT ENOUGH. PLEASE HELP BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO SUFFER FROM OSTEOPOROSIS WHEN IM OLDER.

I got halfway through the book and was very impressed... I overlooked the things that didn't sound right, because I wanted to believe it all. While it may have some value, before you invest too much energy in it make sure you read the reviews by doctors at the "health care reality check" website. hcrc.org. They start "This foolish diet book, which sold over one million copies, shows how a weight loss program founded on unscientific concepts can be a huge commercial success." the store will be doing it's customers a great dis-service if it does not publish this as it took me a great deal of time to find a credible, qualified reference that reviewed the book properly.

I first went on FFL in 1989 and loved it. I lost 30 pounds with very little effort, had tons of energy and wish I never got off track. Over the years I have regained the lost weight and then some. I am trying to follow FFL but am not sure if I am not succeeding because of less than perfect days, or if it does not work so well during menopause. Has anyone else had a similar problem? Overall I think the program is great. You just have to think about what you can have and not what you cannot.

Upon researching this topic, I found that the information in this book is completely bogus. The base premise is that eating foods in certain combinations will help your lose weight and get fit. This is utterly unscientific claptrap. If it works, it's by pure coincidence (e.g., it helps you reduce your caloric intake). It's sad to see the overall high review score of this book, knowing that people will see that and purchase it.

Rather than buy and read this book, do yourself a favor and get familiar with current science. Eating a sensible diet that cuts way back on sugar and doing consistent exercise, particularly strength training, will help most people. Starving yourself by eating low calorie over a longer term will reduce your metabolic rate and cause your body to adjust to that caloric level, so that's a bad idea. Doing a gung-ho exercise program is a good way to get injured and/or ramp up your hunger levels, so it's better to aim for something that you'll stick to, that you can do without big risk of injury (such as walking). Personally, I prefer ultra-low carb combined with fasting, and lifting very heavy weights very slowly (so as to eliminate injury risk from acceleration forces), and only once per week. See:

Power of 10: The Once-A-Week Slow Motion Fitness Revolution (Harperresource Book)
and
Body by Science: A Research Based Program for Strength Training, Body building, and Complete Fitness in 12 Minutes a Week.

However, everyone is different and no one way is correct. Even flawed plans can lead people to success (as the reviews here show). Still there's much better information out there than this.

This book isn't worth the money or worth reading. I guess they thought people were 3 years old and their first time reading. Everyone knows to eat fruit and veggies. too much information that was already said in other books.

im only 3\4 through is book,all of the information provided makes complete sense..we are more genetically designed to eat fruits and veges than we are to rip into an animal .there seems to me to be great logic in this theory.this book delivers very good sound info ,and very well backed up in research..if you go for a period of eating no red meat then dive into nice juicy steak,im not saying it doesnt taste great,however,the next day when you goto releive yourself it really doesnt smell to good.this is in fact,rotting meat just sitting there poisoning our systems.SOCIETY has proved time and time again that it has the power to make us beleive what it wants us too.the aquisitions,witch hunts ,RELIGION,sexuality,to name a few.all of these were beleifs that were instilled at birth by parents who in turn were told by society what is RIGHT+WRONG. it does therefore make sense that our eating habits instilled in us could very well be wrong for us .really consider the info in this book....

JCoomes, I have studied human health, nutrition, exercise, etc. and have bodybuild for almost 12 years (I am 25). I used to think such as you, also receiving and for a short time buying into what the traditional, mainstream education indoctination system presents as truth as far as the reductionism/minutae studying of physiology, anatomy, nutrition, kinesiology, etc. For instance the Second Law of Thermodynamics doesn't 100% apply to energy intake and expenditure, when it comes to the dynamic, living, human body. I for over 10 years used to believe in the "calorie theory" myself, as well as the need to make sure my food intake provided me with the balanced amount of micro and macro nutrients. Tell me, does every other creature on the entire Earth carry a Pocket Food Table Guide and calculator before every meal?? People like you are illogical at best, and lethal at worst.

Also, remember, complete protein is any fruit and vegetable (8 essentials) or nut; not just animal products which have all 21-22 amino acids (keep in mind there was ONE study in the 1940's using rats, which require 10 essential amino acids through diet, were they until this day, have extrapolated that animal products are the BEST source for "complete protein"... this is a direct contradiction to the ESTABLISHMENT's OWN STUDIES and proof that humans only require 8 essential aminos!!!!!... ALSO, a bomb calorimeter in no logical or realisitical way represents food combustion/energy utilization of food in the human body; too many factors are omitted, including optimal sunshine (enzyme activation and various nutrients being synthesized, plus hormaone regulation), optimal breathing (without enough oxygen, food/calorie utilization is hindered and greatly reduced); clean, pure water; optimal rest/sleep; toxin-free body; optimal and proper exercise; etc etc etc etc etc. I could go on and on. I have read over 100 different books on human health, preformance, nutrition, exercise, etc., literally thousands of articles (journal and otherwise), dozens of in depth conversations and seminars with intellectual giants, and most importantly, have anecdotal and empiral proof to the contrary of what SLU or any other college/university indoctrinate people with; also to the contrary of the 130 or so medical schools, which teaching nothing of health, but only pathology and toxicology, and not so coincidentally are funded by the Big Pharma companies etc.

I could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on with PROOF crushing what schools, dieticians, MD's, etc say.... you get the idea...

I bought this book without knowing anything about it and I grew to love it. It is the MOST useful book I have ever bought. I'm losing weight and soon I'll look my best. My nails are not chipping anymore and are growing stronger. My hair is getting thicker. My acne is almost gone. I forgot the pains I had with every period. I feel great and I am happier than ever. My husband loves these chages in me and started to eat according to the proper food combining principle. My parents live in another country and do not speak English. Guess what. I'm translating this book for them. This should tell you something.

This book is awesome! It really opens your eyes to the lies that we've learned in school and the media. My fiance really enjoyed it too! He's changed his eating habits since reading this book. It is a must have! You'll lose weight and have so much energy. The information the author reveals is mind blowing. I recommend it to anyone who is tired of all these diet fads.

This book is so inspiring! I have only started the program for a few days now and I can honestly say after the first day alone I felt so much energy! I really feel this program will keep me on the right track. I have recommended this book to everyone I know because I can not stop talking about it! You will not be disappointed with this book.

Loved this book - it helped to change my life - AND my dress size. I recommend it very highly. Balanced, honest, sensible diet that really works. If you have tried all the diets, and believe me, I have - this is the one that will stick.

I have to admit I thought it was just another fad - but it really is "for life."

In this very interesting book I would be pleased to find some information regarding the fruits in a baby's diet as well. I would like to ask Mr. Diamond the appropriate age for a baby to start eating (or drinking) fresh fruits. Since human beings are frugivorous creatures as stated in the book, can we start giving small amounts of fruit/fruit juice to a baby during the lactation period.

This book has brought a new way of living for my husband and I. I was having trouble with my pregnancy, but as soon as I started Fit for Life, my pregnancy has been great. I have so much energy and my husband can notice a big difference in the way he feels too. This book is worth reading. Just try it and you will be amazed at the results. I am!

I really enjoy this book. I follow their advise and l lost 10 pounds in two weeks. I feel more healty and with more energy. I'm going to keep going with this new way of eating. I hope I can lose more weight later. I'm planning to buy all the books about this new way of eating.

I read this book a number of years ago and it has changed my life. I was not suffering from being overweight but from acne. A can't believe how much it has helped me. Before reading the book I had tried everything and I mean everything. If you have acne or know of a child suffering with acne,this book will help.

I read the original book, what can I say, if a person can't follow this simple program and change there life, then maybe they should think about some kind of therapy. If one has the ability to be honest with self, success is in the bag. I am in the best shape since high school, even the youngsters have time keeping up with me, I am 40 !!!

I bought this book for an English class. It was a required reading and this book is so quack doctory it's ridiculous. Don't bother with it. The facts he does use are either outdated or twisted to prove his point.

When this is followed within the parameters of the program, it works like a charm - stick to it - no heartburn - don't stick to it - heartburn - simple as that. No gimmicks really - food is digested cleaner, quicker, doesn't go bad in your stomach - I was absolutely dumbfounded it worked so completely.

I loved this book and keep searching for more from the authors. I followed the plan (more or less) for 6 weeks and lost 8 pounds. I have more energy and feel better than I ever have felt.Just think if I left out the more or less where I could go with this! It just makes sense when you think about it.

I read Fit For Life whilst on holiday, and before I returned home to make a start on the concepts, I already felt deep down that it was right right right... Here I am 6 months later with energy and vitality that I thought I had lost in my teens. Thankyou Harvey and Marilyn - i.o.u.

On the Fit for Life eating plan, more than 3/4 of your diet will be fuits and vegetatbles. Almost anyone will lose weight by eating a high-veggie, high fiber diet.

On the Fit for Life eating plan you will eat protein at some meals and complex carbs at other meals, but never protein and starches together. This is an interesting trick to reduce your caloric intake while feeling less deprived. You can eat a juicy steak without the potatoes. You can eat the fresh baked bread but can't make a turkey sandwich. This trick effectively reduces your calories by a half.

The authors launch into some detailed explanations as to why one shouldn't eat proteins and carbs together. This is all psuedoscience garbage. The stomach has no sensor that detects the pH of the food you've ingested and then sends different digestive fluids accordingly. Not to mention that veggies and fruits ARE carbs. The diet doesn't work because of food combining -- it works because of lowered caloric intake.

I found this book somewhere and thought the recipes looked interesting. I ate according to the Fit for Life plan for about four months. I am a 5'9" female and went from 165 lbs to 140 lbs, although I started a daily workout regime at about the same time. In retrospect, I became a little too thin.

Eating nothing but fruit before noon did NOT work for me. I was shaky and foggy headed from 10 am until lunch time. This part of the plan is a blood sugar nightmare. I also spent way too much time obsessing about food while I was on this diet (has it been three hours? can I eat again?). No one should be this hungry. I stopped following the plan more than two years ago, but have continued to eat large quantities of fruits and veggies. I often make meals that are protein or starches but not both. I eat a real breakfast now. I stuck with the workout regimen and weigh a healthy, normal, 150 lbs and I feel better (and stronger) than I did while on the Fit for Life plan. And I can concentrate on things other than food.

This book has some worthwhile recipes to increase your veggie intake, and can kick start some healthy eating habits. But the benefits of food combining can also be achieved with portion control. As written, the Food for Life plan is too drastic, and is possibly dangerous over the long haul. The science behind it is junk.

The book had alot of interesting facts about combining food which has made it alot easier for myself to eat the right foods at the right and feel great. The book is very straight forward and I sure have learnt alot fom it.

I tried this diet a few years ago and started to get bad headaches the second day. I stopped the diet the 5th day with a loss of 5lbs. Not too bad, but the headaches weren't worth it. I Lost my original book and have ordered a new one. I think the detox was too much for my body. I smoked at the time and I'm sure that had a lot to do with it. I believe if I include the 6 food groups in the plan this time it will work better. It's a good book, it just needs a little help.

10 years ago, I lost 50 lbs. after learning the the basic concepts in Fit for Life. I kept it off for 2 years and got off the program. I am now returning to what I know is a successful and common sense approach to loosing weight and feeling more energetic.

Sorry, this is such garbage.
BUT some people have great success with this book and what it advises. And I mean great success, and it has a cult following, so there must be some value in it.
Many of their conclusions are wrong. Just plain wrong.
For a start, some humans HAVE to eat meat, some humans are primarily carnivorous. And others are very much vegetarian - that is their genetic makeup.
I am sick of people concluding from their own physical makeup that ALL humans are one or the other, most are a mixture. For you personally, try to find what works for you.
Example of their stupid conclusions: "humans should not eat meat, because meat eating creatures like dogs, cats, lions etc.. have high acid content in their stomach, and humans don't". Well, derrr those animals don't just eat meat, they eat BONE and SINEW. Might I remind the authors that many purely vegetarian animals they admire so much like the cows have multiple stomachs ?
So apart from "the world should be vegetarian" nonsense that insults you .... like I said, some people have great great success with this book. But don't buy into their reasonings ....

This book provides you with a hands on approach to changing the way you live. From exercise to food, these authors have the perfect combination. The book also offer knowledge on the way food works with your body. A true wake up call!!

I found this book life changing; it is a practical view on the basic function of eating. I did not use the diet plan that is provided but just the basic idea, I will use for the rest of my life, and it has helped me start to locate ways to improve my health.

The second book is more holistic and should not be overlooked.

The book is written from a fanatical point of view, but it should not discourage you, as it is useful and truthful.

I too read and practiced Fit for Life several years ago, and found myself losing much weight quickly-too quickly. I now know I lost lean body mass because I was not assimilating enough protein and fat to rebuild cells so the building materials were being taken from existing muscle. This book, although seductive in its mantra of returning to a totally natural state, is not based upon any science at all. None of the theories propogated by the Diamonds concerning food combining have any CLINICAL basis in fact, and a high-school level understanding of human physioliogy and cellular transport blows holes in their reasoning. This is a diet which consumes all of your time and energy, and leaves you either fat and bloated from consuming food willy-nilly out of frustration, or skeletal and weak from insufficient amounts of protein.

This book will teach you to eat to live - not to live to eat. The way to combine foods illustrated in the book really works. The weight will MELT off of you - on average 8 to 10 pounds per week until your body obtains it's perfect size. The read is easy and fun and in words that everyone can understand. I'd like to thank the Diamonds for changing my life!

I got halfway through "Fit Fot Life" and was very impressed... I overlooked the things that didn't sound right, because I wanted to believe it all. While it may have some value, before you invest too much energy in it make sure you read the reviews by doctors at the "health care reality check" website. hcrc.org. They start "This foolish diet book, which sold over one million copies, shows how a weight loss program founded on unscientific concepts can be a huge commercial success." the store will be doing it's customers a great dis-service if it does not publish this as it took me a great deal of time to find a credible, qualified reference that reviewed the book properly.

After scrolling through the customer reviews, my greatest surprise was the large number that were favorable. I'd ascribe that to gullibility - or possibly the power of suggestion. I say this because the authors' "scientific" assertions about how the body functions and the how foods are digested are laughable at best. Perhaps the unaccredited shool where Harvey Diamond earned his PHD in nutritional science stopped doing medical research after the 15th century. My own experience with this diet (yes, I was gullible enough myself to give it a try a few years ago) was quite different from those I see in some of the other reviews. I seemed to be hungry most of the time, and I finally gave it up after I began to feel weak and light-headed.
I believe that a vegetarian diet or diets including meat can be healthy. But if you want to know about diets, listen to somebody who knows what they're talking about - not these quacks.

It was a nice book to read. I red it in dutch. You can follow the program easely. Some thing are realy strange. Don't have milk and meat. That's not so easy. I hope to lost weight with the book. I have some questions. Is there anybody how can anser my questions?