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The rapid fat loss manual by Lyle McDonald has become quite popular on the internet so I decided to do a little review and put in my 2 cents. As the title says “Rapid Fat Loss Manual”, he was right if he thought the book was about losing weight quickly.
The book is more or less about crash diets to lose weight and lose fat. This can be very unhealthy, both physiologically and psychologically, and I’m glad Lyle warns readers of him early in the book. If it weren’t for the fact that he continually warns against crash diets as a long-term fat loss plan throughout the book, I would have thought the book dangerously misleading.
His goal with this book is to teach his readers how to crash diet in a way that does not adversely affect the health of the dieter. I like the fact that it talks about the difference between weight loss and fat loss, since it seems like everyone is obsessed with losing weight without realizing that weight loss doesn’t always translate to fat loss. . Depending on how that weight is lost, it can consist of loss of fat, water, or muscle tissue. And none of the latter leads to a more attractive look.
The theory behind the book is based on a “modified protein-sparing fast” recommended by surgeons for patients who needed to lose weight quickly before surgery. Surprisingly, the manual has some good advice on how to stick to such a strict diet. No danger. He advises against strenuous exercise until you’re eating normally again, and if you haven’t been exercising all along, he advises not to start an exercise routine until after completing the diet. These crash diets can be very stressful on the body and therefore strenuous work of any kind is contraindicated.
On multiple occasions, he reminds the reader that a crash diet must be done exactly as described in the book and that one should not, under any circumstances, stay on a crash diet for long periods of time due to the negative health implications of do it. Something I found respectable was that he discussed the “recovery” or “yo-yo” effect that these crash diets can have. Most “crash diet” type book authors don’t normally do this.
So it seems that many people regain the weight soon after going off these types of diets. In the book, Lyle discusses ways to transition back to a more normal eating style while maintaining your lost fat and weight.
All things considered, I think it’s a good read, but when it comes down to it. The best fat loss program is one that is sustainable over the long term and one that actually allows you to feel not only good about your body but also on the inside. The Rapid Fat Loss Manual is not that program.
Having said that, it is a good read and for those who need this type of resource (athletes who need to gain weight, ladies who want to lose weight before a wedding) and are willing to do it right, this is a good book.
I must say, though proceed with caution. Most people are interested in the quick fix at the expense of their health. People who don’t exercise moderation and follow Lyle’s guidelines in The Rapid Fat Loss Manual could end up in rough waters when it comes to their health.