No one knows the struggle of dieting and weight loss better than Suzanne Somers. Through experimentation and countless consultations with physicians, she lays out a fool proof plan on how to eat great food and still lose weight.

Somersizing, coined by actress Suzanne Somers, is not a new concept. She has been a pioneer in the health, fitness, and beauty industry for over twenty years. Her tireless efforts to educate women, in particular, are admirable.

Written in 1996, Eat Great, Lose Weight is timeless. Suzanne began her quest to learn more about food combining after a trip to France. While there, she had eaten some cherries after dinner and was admonished by her host not to eat fruit after eating dinner because it upsets the digestive tract. Sure enough, she got terrible indigestion that night. During digestion, your body releases certain enzymes to break down different types of foods. When it is overtasked in breaking down opposing combinations, the digestion process slows considerable, causing an upset tummy.

From that fateful night in France, Suzanne vowed to learn all that she could about food combining and how to eat properly. She wanted to avoid the unpleasantness of an upset digestive tract, keep her weight under control, and all while not sacrificing flavor.

The plan is a lifestyle change, not a diet. She emphasizes that eating fats are good, and skipping meals is bad. The plan is divided into two stages: Level One is the weight loss portion and Level Two is the maintenance portion.

The rules are fairly simple, but may require a little planning:

1. Eliminate the Funky Foods
2. Eat fruits alone, on an empty stomach
3. Eat proteins and fats with veggies
4. Eat carbs with veggies, but no fats
5. Do not combine proteins/fats with carbs
6. Wait 3 hours between meals if switching from protein/fats to carbs
7. Never skip a meal

Suzanne also discusses moving your body. You do not need to join a gym. Do fun, simple things like stretching, walking, and playing tag with the kids. Engaging in living life activities will keep your body healthy, your brain active, and your heart happy.

When I first began investigating the concept of Somersizing in 1995, my goal was to lose weight. It was a fairly easy program to implement and to put my family on as well. They never knew the difference in the meals I prepared. I did not feel deprived in any way.

The results surprised me: I stopped gaining weight. This was key. Even though I didn't lose any weight, I hadn't gained more weight. Given the direction I was going, this was definitely a positive. The second thing that happened was the acid reflux that had plagued me, disappeared.

Suzanne Somers' Eat Great, Lose Weight helped me get on the right track in becoming healthy and fit. I no longer strictly adhere to the program, but what I learned, I remember and I consider when preparing meals for the day. Once you have reached Level 2, you can experiment with how much imbalance your body can handle. For example, my personal gauge is the reappearance of acid reflux. When that happens, I know I need to move back into Level 1 until I have rebalanced my system. You might have your doubts, but I don't think you can go wrong in learning a little about proper food combining.

For purposes of this review, I purchased a copy of the book using my own funds. If you would also like to purchase Suzanne Somers' Eat Great, Lose Weight, do click onto the Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk links below.

US:


UK: Eat Great, Lose Weight

Are you a hardcore Somersizer? Hop on over to the forums and tell us what worked and what didn't work for you.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and the articles I write are intended to increase your knowledge about the subject. It's always a good idea to check with your personal doctor before changing your diet.