Which book should I start with?

[LMobus]

Hi there! I am new to this forum. My doctor has recommended that I do the Protein Power way. He said to pick up the book, but I see there are many, so I'm wondering which one provides the most up-to-date info, guidelines, etc.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Lisa

[Mitra]

Welcome, Lisa :). It's good to hear that doctors are starting to recommend PP :cool:. The two books with the most complete information are Protein Power and Protein Power Life Plan. They both describe Protein Power and the reasons why it works. Protein Power was the original description of the plan, and PPLP has some more recent information, but misses a bit of the background. If you just want the quickest, easiest way to get started, then you could try The 30-Day Low-Carb Diet Solution.

While you're waiting, you could read the article.

[LMobus]

Hi Mitra,

Is the 30-Day something that continues after the 30 days or only meant for 30 days? I'm grateful for the info you provided, just still not sure which to buy. I'm not really into a lot of technical info, just want to start strong and get into some of understanding of the program.

Do either of the PP or PPLP books have recipes?

Lisa

Welcome, Lisa :). It's good to hear that doctors are starting to recommend PP :cool:. The two books with the most complete information are Protein Power and Protein Power Life Plan. They both describe Protein Power and the reasons why it works. Protein Power was the original description of the plan, and PPLP has some more recent information, but misses a bit of the background. If you just want the quickest, easiest way to get started, then you could try The 30-Day Low-Carb Diet Solution.

While you're waiting, you could read the article.

[Mitra]

The PP book has recipes, PPLP just has menu suggestions. The 30-Day book gives recipes, as well as a sort of generic menu plan, and detailed menu suggestions for 30 days: that consists of 24 days of corrective level menus, and one week of transitional menus. You can stay as long as you need to at the corrective level - until your weight, or whatever it was that caused your doctor to suggest PP, is under control.

PP and PPLP both suggest that you eat less than a certain number of grams of carbohydrate, and at least a certain number of grams of protein. The 30-day book talks in terms of S, M, L etc servings - and tells you how much that means for various kinds of food. Some people find that approach easier, whereas those who like to make up menus from lots of smaller ingredients can find the numbers give them more confidence. The 30-day book just has the basics of the reasoning behind the plan, whereas the other two books have a lot more information - it's just a question of whether you're the sort of person who needs to know all the whys and wherefores, or who just needs to know enough to get the job done :).

I'm sure lots of others will be along with their views. Being a bookoholic myself, I bought them all :o .

[Missy]

LMobus...I was like you too in the beginning....and confused on all the choices. In my opinion PPLifeplan is really a good place to start. Although it looks like it's overwhelming, it's such a thorough book that once you appreciate what this plan does you'll realise that you go back and "pick up" information out of it that you read but didn't completely understand the first time and go "WOW! They really know what they are talking about!

Eventually, I was so IMPRESSED with their theories that I went ahead and bought them all! :D I think the Eades's have really thought it out and made a book for all levels of beginners. Quick or informative, the bottom line is that it's all the same. I real "lifetime" plan.

By the way, Welcome to our board, one most AWESOME thing that the book doesn't have going for it, but that you found it, is having THIS support board to lean on and learn from at your fingertips IF you wish. They, the moderators, are simply awesome! If you don't understand something, just ask, and someone will quickly come by and get you squared up.

[LMobus]

Hi Missy & Mitra,

Thank you for your advice!

I think I'll pick up the PPLP and the 30D books. My doctor also recommended Fran McCullough's book Low Car Cooking, so I'm going to get that as well.

I was wondering if you would mind sharing a little more info on how you started... first meals you tried, what you ate first thing in the morning, etc.

Lisa

[Mitra]

I had cottage cheese with a few berries (usually raspberries or blueberries) for breakfast for about a year before I got bored and branched out. For lunch I'd have some meat - chicken or tuna, or leftover cold meat from dinner - with salad (green or tomatoes, with olives, artichoke hearts, nuts, seeds - whatever took my fancy to brighten it up, and with olive oil salad dressing). Dinner would generally be some kind of meat or fish with a vegetable - butter or olive oil on the vegetable. I always had a glass of wine with dinner, though most people don't. I'd sometimes have another salad with dinner, sometimes 1/2 oz cheese after it. Often I'd have a snack somewhere in the day, too - a low carb cracker with almond butter or pate or cheese - that sort of thing.

One of the things I like about PP is that it's very flexible - you don't have to eat or avoid specific foods, just make sure you get enough protein and not too many carbs.

Don't forget to look at the recipes on this forum, too.

[Missy]

Part of the fun for me, was the discovery of what I COULD have....and then build from there.

One of my favorite dinners is chicken tenders made fajita style...with all the good veggies, onions, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes and I usually make me some guacamole and have a bit of sour cream. JUST like you can get at the resturant, minus the flour tortilla's. I don't miss them...and I get to have alot of chicken tenders...because I personally, in my situation (weight/height) get to have alot of protein.

I then began copying off low carb recipes and have a stack of them. I enjoy trying things if they sounded good...and write on the recipe if it was a keeper or not!

This was a site that I have gathered ALOT of good recipes from..and lots of helpful information:

http://users3.ev1.net/~fontlady/index.html

[Bangs]

Lisa, thank you for asking this question. I only have the older Protein Power book and was wondering if I was missing anything critical. I'm very happy with the plan as it was written then but always willing to learn.

[LMobus]

Hi again! Thanks to all for your advice and feedback!

I picked up PP yesterday and found it definitely a technical read, so I am going to trade it in for the PPLP book.

I'm just getting started and feel motivated, but not sure what to start with. I don't want to throw away everything in my cabinets (live by myself and I'm on a budget), so I am starting my days trying to stay away from 'bad carbs' but not tossing everything out (guess I'm easing into it).

My doctor just started me on Vitamin D drop supplements 2 nights ago and I had a reaction to those, so I have to cut back the dosage. Yesterday, I started water pills (I have hyperinsulinism and a side effect of the syndrome is water retention). Until I get in better health from eating, I'll be using the water pills. I lost 9 lbs between yesterday morning and this morning (no kidding... just should have seen my face this morning!) I don't want to gain it all back, although I know it is mainly water, I want to use the opportunity to keep my weight loss and better health going.

Thanks for being here! I am enjoying reading forum posts of people who are using PP guidelines and are celebrating success and sharing their tips and stories.

Lisa

[Belfrybat]

Both PP and PPLP have their good and not-so-good points. For a clear description of the program I prefer PP as it gives the nuts and bolts (including menus and recipes) rather straighforwardly. PPLP is great for a better understanding of nutrition, but I don't feel it gives as good an overview of the plan. Actually, even though I am a veteran PP'er, I found the description of the plan a bit confusing with the three types of eating plus the levels.

I agree with Janet that for a quick start without a lot of science, the 30 Day Plan is good. Then when you are hooked on the plan, you can read up on the science.

9 lbs. in one day? You must have really had a lot of retained water. Please do be careful to monitor your meds closely as you might not need the diuretics if you stick close to the plan. Also I would recommend taking extra potassium and magnesium until your body adjusts to low carb. I use Nu-Salt and Morton's Lite Salt to make sure my potassium levels stay up there.

[Nean]

Welcome! And you're in the right place if you want to control your insulin levels and loose that water retention. Belfrybat is right - be careful! If you are on enough diuretic to take off 9# in a day, you will be at risk of dehydrating if you start very low carbing. Probably a gradual ease-in is a good thing.

In PP there are only one or two tables of information that I earmarked for multiple use. In PPLP there are probably 7-10 pages of table format information that I refer back to frequently. I've never seen the 30 day plan, but both my PP books are science heavy. That's really what I like about the Eades' work. I'm tired of fad diet books that can't refer back to more than maybe one study to show that they know what they are talking about. Don't worry about the Hedonist - Purist thing. Start Hedonist, get healthier, then worry about organic, no grain etc.

[Gortok]

In addition to the PP recommendations, I'd have to say that both of Loren Cordain's paleo eating books are nice because they're pretty easy reading and have recipes in the back.

Paleo Diet and Paleo Diet for Athletes

Neanderthin has some recipes, too, but that's an incredibly strict diet. Cordain at least lets you cheat. :P

These books all cover the same basic diet ideas as the PP ones.

[joanneb608]

Hi LMobus and welcome!

The PPlifeplan book has some good tweaks in the supplement department, and I like following those suggestions. I would start taking at least a multivitamin and if and then you can afford it, add in the alpha lipoic acid, CoQ10, and maybe some fish oil, and definitely some magnesium and potassium. I think they all help your body's processing of the food you're eating.

I own all 3 of the books too, but I agree that the 30 day might be easiest for you to begin with. But the other 2 are VERY MUCH worth reading.

Jump in any time with any questions!

[Mitra]

These books all cover the same basic diet ideas as the PP ones.

I don't have these books, but Cordain (not sure about Audette), while broadly in agreement with the Eadeses, doesn't agree with them about saturated fat.

[Belfrybat]

Audette (Neanderthin) echews any fats except meat based and, as a concession, olive oil, so I would imagine he is in complete agreement with the Eades about saturated fat. His philosophy is to eat as though you ran naked and had only a stick to "process" meat. In other words, if it can't be eaten raw or in it's natural state, don't eat it.