The One One One Diet: The Simple 1:1:1 Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss Hardcover – December 24, 2013

It is rare that I am wowed by a new diet or fitness book these days. As a long-time fitness enthusiast, Boston marathoner, certified sports and exercise nutritionist, and certified Food for Life cooking instructor, I am a prolific reader of all things health, wellness, diet, nutrition, and exercise, and most books in this genre seem to have one (or more) of the following problems: (1) they are based on the flavor of the day and not on trusted science; (2) they represent short-term band-aids to lifelong issues - "get your best body in 90 (or 30, or 60) days"; (3) they focus on one aspect of a healthy lifestyle (such as diet or exercise or diet and exercise but not your mind and emotions); and/or (4) they do not provide a practical guide for healthy living that can be incorporated into your own lifestyle and adapted to your own preferences. The One One One Diet (although the name makes it sound like another trendy diet fad) miraculously avoids these common diet book pitfalls, and I give it 5 glowing stars for its nutritional soundness, simplicity, and lifestyle friendliness.The basis of the diet - which is actually tauted as a lifelong nutrition plan and not a short-term diet - is that you eat frequently throughout the day (3 meals, 2 snacks) to keep your blood sugar stable and your hunger at bay. Each meal should be balanced with a serving each of protein, carbs, and fats. Nonstarchy veggies are "free" foods that can bulk up any meal in terms of volume and nutrients. Snacks have the same calculus except that meat and grain servings (if any) served as snacks should be cut in 1/2. And that's it. No macronutrients are off limits. No food is a no-no. You can drink wine. Or eat chocolate. But in moderation and in balance. There are no complicated meal plans (although the book does include some great meal ideas and tasty recipes). If you follow the Paleo diet, you can use 1:1:1. If you are vegetarian (or vegan), you can use 1:1:1. If you are lactose (or gluten, or peanut, or soy) intolerant, you can use 1:1:1. It is clear from the content of this book that the author, Rania Batayneh, who is a nutritionist with a Masters in Public Health, knows her nutrition science and perhaps more importantly, knows how to apply that science to make it work for each person's unique personality and lifestyle.To provide a holistic view of weight loss and healthy living, The One One One Diet also addresses how to incorporate a balanced exercise plan into your lifestyle (i.e., cardio, strength and flexibility), and suggests multiple options depending upon your schedule and preferences. The book also discusses handling stress and emotional eating, two common triggers for falling off the diet and fitness wagon, and provides ideas for how to incorporate 1:1:1 when eating out at various types of restaurants. There are many testimonials from her clients throughout the book, and they seem genuine (and realistic - we're not talking losing 50 pounds in one month; we're talking about sustainable and healthy weight loss and long-term weight maintenance). I have hundreds of diet books in my library, and if I had to recommend only one to someone, it would be this one.

Ok. First of all, I had heard about this type of eating from a friend. She said, "Just eat 1 carb, 1 protein, and 1 fat at every meal. It sounded good to me and I tried to do it, not know there was a book and a plan for this. After praying, I found out about this book and the plan. I bought the book, read it and voila!--it is the best plan I have ever seen. It all makes sense. It is easy to follow. When I eat the way Rania instructs, I am not hungry.I don't have to count calories, all I have to do is remember those three components. She give examples of how to eat everyday meals and how to eat out in restaurants, fast food joints, and buffets. I have been doing this for 6 days. I have lost 4 pounds. You have to buy the book. I downloaded to my PC and my smartphone's Kindle application. You have to read the book to get the full understanding of how this eating plan works. It is not a trend, it is not a fad, it is healthy and easy to follow. I will try to keep everyone up on my progress.UPDATE 8/13/14: So far I have lost 2 more pounds. This is after eating out at a buffet and a restaurant. That is a total of 7 pounds in 8 days. I know the loss will slow down soon, but this plan works for me.

This plan is easy to follow and doesn't require that you buy "special foods" or change the type of foods that you eat. I like the fact that I can still eat! A lot of plans want you to change so drastically that you either become so discouraged or you're starving! This book is in language I can understand. While I've had some trouble staying focused (all my own issue - not the book), I'm able to pick up from where I left off.

I like the principal of the diet, but still found it confusing to follow. I wasn't sure about eating foods that have dual roles (both fat and protein) and how much to consume. Also, choosing to eat either a bread or fruit for one carb when I like fruit with my cereal made this diet somewhat difficult to follow. There are some good recipes, and helpful weight loss tips. This is a healthy diet, and would be a good option for someone who wants to incorporate a more even balance in their major nutrient groups. However, I would follow her recommendation to sign up and pay for the $25 initial phone consultation fee in order to get the most out of this book.