ELSON MD HAAS | CAMERON STAUTH
1 I lost 15 lbs!
I have a slow thyroid and NOTHING could help me lose the 15lbs I gained because of it. I always looked 'puffy' in the face, and legs. My blood pressure was high as was my cholesterol. I exercised everyday and still no change. I didn't overeat either.
This book helped me find a resource to do the proper lab testing (ELISA/ACT) test to see what foods I was reacting to. I also had a fantastic doctor who agreed to draw my blood for this test and he was curious to see what they would find.
Lo and behold when I got my results back I was shocked! Everything that I showed a sensitivity to (from mild to severe) were all the things I LOVED and CRAVED to eat on a daily/weekly basis. In order for me to lose weight, I had to cut these foods from my diet. They were causing inflammation which is linked to the host of health problems I was having, including my slow thyroid.
I elimated the 'NO' foods and the weight came off so easily. Not overnight, but steadly. I didn't have to weigh food, count calories or do anything complicated - I just had to stay away from the foods I had sensitivity to. THAT was the hard part, to give up things I was used to eating all the time. But since I knew what I couldn't have, I realized there was still a bunch of stuff I "COULD" have!
You can very well do the diet without the lab testing, but it takes some willpower and journaling and I just didn't have the resolve to do that. I wanted to know NOW.
When I went back to my doctor he was amazed. The puffy look in my face and legs was gone. Blood pressure and cholesterol was great! Best of all my food cravings was gone. He was glad that he didn't have to put me on meds.
Best thing for me was all the compliments. I also felt much more calm instead of anxious all the time.
I think for those on the fence about this book, do an internet search on 'inflammation' symptoms. If you have the diseases/health problems associated with inflammation AND you are overweight and nothing works...this just might be your answer. It was mine!
2 False Fat Diet
I didn't lose a whole lot of pounds, but many inches. My husband did actually lose a fair amount of weight. That is incidental, however to how much better we feel and what we learned about foods that "don't agree with" us. We now do Haas' program once or twice a year and are so happy we found this book.
3 This Does Work
I tried this diet out about 2 years ago. I thought that it might be good for people to see a review that has some experience behind it. One of my comments about diets was always, how long will it work.
I have lost 60 pounds by following the guidelines of this plan. It works amazingly well. There are different ways to get started according to the book--you can do a fast or an elimination. I elected to do a 3 day fast and detox that way. After that I went into the elimination phase and then introduced new foods after that. I figured out what was causing me the most trouble and tried to eliminate those foods. I have not been religious about following this forever, but stick close to what works from me. That's also how Dr. Haas presents things as well. No plan is going to work all the time if you don't allow some flexibility.
I would also recommend combining this with an exercise plan. Walking is easy and putting together a plan isn't too hard.
This plan will work and you will see immediate results. I took measurements week after week and was surprised. The results are the reinforcement and you won't miss the chocolate after that.
The only drawback is if you like to go out to eat. It can be hard to find things that are good and fit in the plan. Best bets were ethnic foods and, of course, vegetarian entrees.
4 I've tried every diet - this one works!!!
By following this eating plan I have lost 20lbs in 3 months and have discovered I was not able to lose weight probably because I am sensitive to dairy. I have cut dairy from my diet and the lbs are melting off and I know I will lose the rest of the 35 lbs I have been trying to lose for 3 years, since my daughter was born. This is more than a diet it is a lifestyle change and I highly suggest trying it.
5 The Truth about False Fat
As a nutritionist, I have recommended this truly insightful book to many of my clients. Some are just trying to get off a plateau or just get rid of those last 10 or so stubborn pounds. Any of my clients just can't reduce their weight without a lot of hard work; a lot harder than they should have to do. When we work at eliminating the 7 items Dr. Haas suggests, BINGO! we so often find that they were allergic to at least one of these items. Now their body can release the extra fluid their cells are holding and they can begin to see the results of their new, healthy lifestyle. Definitely one of the nutritional books I recommend. Any of Dr. Haas' books are well worth the investment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
6 What a difference!!
A co-worker loaned me the book to look at. It seemed interesting so I tried the elimination diet for a week. Within 3 days the swelling in my hands and feet was gone and with in 10 days I was off Alegra D. All this in the middle of alergy season! In 6 weeks I dropped 30 pounds, blood presure is 110/70 and for the first time in years I am sleeping thought the night! My doc is happy with my health and so am I.
7 GREAT book!
I have been touting this book to EVERY one I know...but especially the women. Dr. Haas explains SO much with regard to some of the difficulties we all deal with and have assumed were "just the way things are". It's NOT just the way things are! You CAN get rid of those "extra pounds"...you CAN have more energy again...you CAN minimize the aches and pains, pangs and twinges that seem to have accumulated over the years. It's all in the FOOD! My husband had been eating antacids like candy for over a year and refused to go to a doctor. I was terrified that he had stomach cancer or something of the sort. I read 'The False Fat Diet', put us both on the limited ellimination diet for a week and discovered that sugar was his "culprit" food. We BOTH lost 10 pounds, he has not had to take an antacid since AND we both have our energy back! I recommend this book to ANY one suffering from lack of energy, physical discomforts, difficulty with focusing, etc.
THANK YOU, Dr. Haas for putting it all so simply! You're AWESOME!
8 This food plan really works!
After another nasty six week bout with colitis and inflammatory bowel problems, I was sick, nauseous,crampy, bloated and depressed. Sounds awful, doesn't it? Believe me,it was! After my gastroenterologist performed a colonoscopy and declared my system clear, I was still so bloated in my stomach and abdomen that I couldn't sleep or wear any of my clothes. I cried from the pain. My husband saw an article in a magazine about Dr.Haas' False Fat diet and suggested I try it. I was skeptical, yet desperate for relief. For the first time in months,I feel good! After one week, I lost 7 lbs. and 6 1/2 inches of bloat around my midsection. I plan to continue the diet and add foods back that I had eliminated, but I expect to learn so much more about my digestion, nutrition and food sensitivites by following Dr. Haas' suggestions. The plan is FOR REAL and I am so happy I tried it!
9 False Fat Diet
This book is ok for a neophyte. I found the information to be old hat and nothing new. I also believe that this diet is very difficult to follow, check this book out at the library before you buy it. It is a good reference for food allergies and if one is more disciplined than I, it could be a lifesaver.
10 The False Fat Diet Works
This book is very informative and really explains that many of our weight problems are attributed to the consumption of processed, unnatural foods. This food consumption causes us to gain actual fat and carry false fat which makes a person look 10 - 20 pounds heavier than they actually are. Dr. Haas explains how to find out if you suffer from false fat and how to lose it. Also, he provides guidance on what foods we should eat.
Many of his eating principles are comparable with principles of the low carb diet phenomenon which is eating whole unprocessed carbohydrates with lean proteins. If you follow the recommendations in this book, you will lose false fat, real fat and minimize or eliminate many ailments we suffer with daily such as sinus problems, gas, bloating and even migraines. The book explains that many of the additives in foods cause problems in the body which manifests in these various ailments.
I got this book less than a month ago and I've lost 5 lbs already and feel really great. I highly recommend this book.
11 Milk, thy name is "Enemy".
For some time, I had been dropping weight, trying to imporve my health, etc., yet I still didn't feel quite right. It seemed that certain foods were giving me grief, but I wasn't sure which ones were to blame. My sister--who has worked in the health field for close to two decades--suggested I take a look at this book. Trusting her opinion, I did, and I'm all the better for it. It was an easy read and Haas' system helped me pinpoint the specific types of food that caused me the most trouble. Knowing the identity of the culprits, I quickly banned them from my kitchen without an ounce of regret. All said, the book offers a clear method to improve your diet and your health. Even better, you don't have to starve yourself as some crackpot crash diets request. It's all about knowing what to eat and what not to eat. Simple.
12 Milk, thy name is "Enemy".
For some time, I had been dropping weight, trying to improve my health, etc., yet I still didn't feel quite right. It seemed that certain foods were giving me grief, but I wasn't sure which ones were to blame. My sister--who has worked in the health field for close to two decades--suggested I take a look at this book. Trusting her opinion, I did, and I'm all the better for it. It was an easy read and Haas' system helped me pinpoint the specific types of food that caused me the most trouble. Knowing the identity of the culprits, I quickly banned them from my kitchen without an ounce of regret. All said, the book offers a clear method to improve your diet and your health. Even better, you don't have to starve yourself as some crackpot crash diets request. It's all about knowing what to eat and what not to eat. Simple.
13 The Truth About Obesity and Psychosomatic Ailments
This book saved my life. I have asthma and became very ill during the winter. My chest cold was turning into pneumonia. I chose to deal with my illness through holistic remedies. While I was at the health food store discussing my life-threatening illness with the clerk, another customer overheard our conversation. She advised me to detox before doing anything else. My savior advised me to read this book, "False Fat Diet" immediately. I read this book from cover-to-cover and I followed the directions to the letter. After one week of juicing, I watched the fat on my body melt away. I went on to follow the the non-allergen diet and have since conformed to this diet with ease. This book also contains several menus to follow, as well as recipes. What is great about Dr. Haas' allergen theory is that it works. In this book, the author also addresses issues such as asthma, PMS, fibromyalgia as well as others. This book is a very serious contribution to society and I highly recommend it.
14 Sorely Needed a Good Editor
I bought this book after listening to the author being interviewed on New Dimensions Radio. He is very knowledgeable about helping people discover their own keys to good health. Unfortunately, this book presents the material badly.
Here's the premise. Most of us have reactions to certain foods -- not severe enough to close our throats or break us out in hives, but enough to cause nasal congestion, low energy, 10 pounds of water retention ("false fat"), and other undesirable side effects. With his program, you spend the first week eating from a very small group of foods that are usually non-reactive. If all goes well, after a few days your reactivity symptoms go away so you feel great. The second week you begin reintroducing foods into your diet, one at a time, and observe whether your symptoms return. In this way, you identify the foods you need to avoid in order to feel your best. It's a great idea, simple and elegant.
One of the strengths of the program is that you get to customize it to meet your meeds. For example, you get to choose from among four different options for Week 1, ranging in severity from a juice fast to a diet that only restricts the most commonly troublesome foods. He also includes sample menus for the first week.
My main complaint throughout is a surprising lack of guidelines to help you figure out how to apply it in real life. For example, the author warns that food sensitivities can develop from eating the same food too frequently, but he fails to say what to do if a sensitivity develops during your juice fast, as happened with me. Well, obviously, I need to avoid carrots for a while, but should I switch to another strict diet, such as an apple fast for the rest of the week (the stricter diets yield the more dramatic results), or should I assume that my body develops food sensitivities easily, and therefore go with more variety? I don't know. The author also mentions that the juice fast induces the body's starvation response, and therefore you need to start off eating less when you begin eating again, in order to avoid rebound weight gain. How much to eat on the first day after the fast, and how many days to ramp up to normal-sized portions? We are left to guess. Dr. Haas tells us that we need to nutritionally support the colon and liver during the first week, and gives lists of vitamin/mineral supplements which will do that. Then three pages later (after I had already made my shopping list), he tells us that not all of those supplements are necessary for each person, and gives a shorter list of those that he typically prescribes. Again, no information on how to determine whether you need some of those additional supplements.
Some of the material is confusing and/or conflicting. For example, sugar is said to be one of the worst seven -- something to avoid the first week even on the least restrictive diet. Yet his sample menus include maple syrup. Are we to understand that only white sugar is reactive? Or that maple syrup is okay because it's relatively unprocessed? Or that the quantity is too small to make any difference? I don't believe any of these, and he doesn't say. My guess is that the author personally has no problem with maple syrup, and included it without thinking. He should have at least put a disclaimer on it.
One more thing. The second week of his program, Dr. Haas calls the False Fat week. This is strange because the "false fat" (water retention) subsides during the *first* week. The other items I've mentioned can be explained by an inability to organize his thoughts, but this? It defies explanation.
This book may help you reach your goals if you're willing to deal with its shortcomings. If I were the editor, though, this material would have been an early draft.
15 Does what you eat make you LOOK fat?
My sister used to comment that wheat made her stomach bloat up. Turns out she's right, according to author Haas. Wheat is something many people are sensitive to, and it can make you retain water and swell up.
While this book is no substitute for a fitness and weight loss plan, it is VERY helpful to conquer the funny things that can happen, like when your pants suddenly are tight in ONE day (you know what I mean) or when you feel inexplicably tired and heavy after certain foods. Or when you go to a weigh-in at your diet club or gym and the scale is showing you lost no weight or even gained weight, yet you have been disciplined in your efforts.
I don't see how anyone who is concerned about weight and nutrition could not benefit from this book. Excellent!
16 The False Fat Diet
I have never recomended a book more than this one, I tell all my friends about it! I have regained my health only because of the powerful information in this book. After four months of being swollen from head to toe (which caused severe body aches, fatigue, and powerful headaches) seeing several doctors and specialists, having more tests run than I care to remember, all with no results, it was this book that changed everything. In just three months I now feel great, have abundent energy, no longer slave to addictions of sweets or coffee, have lost 26 pounds, and all the swelling! I also haven't had the typical monthly mood swings or cramping (first time ever) and have had the best sleep in my memory (which also seems to have improved)! Haas's common sense approach to food and food sensitivities changed my life. This one book combined several other ideas that seemed incomplete on health and diets into one comprehensive plan with different levels that can meet the needs of anyone--it put the pieces together in a way that made real sense. I used to believe that I could eat anything with no problems...I was unaware that I was sensitive to foods that I ate and drank almost every day. Cleansing the toxins from my body and elimitating the sensitivities from my diet was the incredibly simple answer that all the other doctors couldn't find. Read and use this book you too could improve your health, loose the bloating that sensitivites cause, and feel great!
17 Not really a diet book -- an incredible health book
After suffering from severe bloating and edema in my extremities for over 4 years, I had finally resigned myself to the fact that I was just getting older and my body was going through changes--I was just going to have to get over it. Only then did a nurse-practitioner (in Dr. Haas' office) mention that my symptoms were common to those suffering from food allergies.
What an epiphany!
After a year of getting to the bottom of my allergies (I wasn't as diligent as I could have been), at the age of 44 I feel better and more vibrant than I was at 30! The weight loss is only a wonderful side-effect, although I have gone from 140lbs, back to my normal weight of 115. What is remarkable is the boost to my energy level, greater stability in my moods, and a confidence level that had eroded over time.
I followed the plan in the book, although the book was not yet published. I have since read this book, and it explains so much of what I experienced -- both before and after. This should be a must read for anyone interested in well-being.
Yes, the book is a bit afternoon-talk-show-ish in its approach. Forgive it and hear the message -- you won't be disappointed!
18 This Book Really Helps
This book really helped me get rid of my low blood sugar and lessen my pms problems. The best thing about it is that it is personalized to your particular body. I had been eating a lot of bread for fiber only to discover that wheat was one of the foods my body has a problem with!
19 normal at last
This is not just another diet book. It is a true "health book". I have tried many times over the years to combine a "healthy" diet and exercise as a catalyst for weight loss, never having any success. When I saw this book I was very skeptical, however I gave it a glance and what I saw made sense. After reading the entire book I was cautiuosly optimistic. Boy am I glad I did it. I am just about done with the first phase of the diet and have lost ten pounds. My bowel movements are normal again for the first time in 20 yrs. Pain from my "tennis elbow" is becoming less acute. This is the first diet that has ever worked for me.
J.H.
20 Conversion of a real skeptic
As a woman of 55, through menopause for some time, and with ailments like phlebitis, osteoarthritis, fybromyalgia, severe obesity and on blood thinners for more than a year now I want to tell you that this book has me believing that things can change...really change.
The information in this book incouraged me to "run the pain gauntlet" by discontinuing my pain medication, for at least a while, until the Detoxification phase of this program was done. I also discontinued taking my allergy medication (this one scared me) and I am utterly amazed. Of course it is not a panacea, but I am functioning and working with the pain I still do have without medication and the level of pain is already LESS with no medication, than it was WITH medication. Allergies (stuffy nose and chronic bronchitis all the time) are gone, at least for now. This book, came to my attention and I thought, "Yeah another diet...big deal." I am so glad I didn't stop there! I am not far into the elimination phase (through the detox) and I will be sticking with the "Total Elimination" choice until I have lost a good portion of the weight I carry (was 280, now already down by more than 20 pounds in just two weeks). Best thing about this plan is that it is JUST FOR YOU. You find out what foods you react to and eliminate them, then you eat what you can, within your plan type, and go from there. The supplements he recommends were my saving grace. Without them, the detox phase might have been unbearable! In fact I started without them and got some pretty bad night leg cramps. As soon as I added the water (he recommends a lot and I was not drinking enough) and the supliments, no more cramps and to my amazement the cravings were much more manageable! With the supliments, and SIBERIAN GINSENG TEA in the morning (my personal choice for am tea) I was much better than the first couple of days and the detox phase was definately easier to stick to with them than without.
If you are at your whit's end and have given up on ever being thinner and healthier than you are, especially if you have physical problems causing you pain like arthritis etc. I encourage you to try one more time, or at the very least, read the book so you know first hand what you are passing up. This one will make anybody healthier who gives it a real shot!
21 What a difference 2 weeks makes!
This book is one of the best I've ever read on diet. It takes some planning and discipline to follow the elimination diet (I chose the sensitive seven plan) but it is well worth the effort. I have lost just 7 pounds in two weeks but the difference in my body is amazing. Clothes that were a bit snug before I started are literally too big around the waist now. Craving for sweets is (nearly) gone, anxiety level is MUCH lower, blood pressure has decreased and energy level is soaring. The vitamin and supplement plans could put a big hole in the budget so I've scaled those back and recommend buying the smallest size available for most as they can change from week to week as you move through the program.
22 Great concept, but I'm having a hard time
This diet is really wonderful, but I'm having a very hard time sticking with it. Perhaps it's easier when you've seen an allergist and you know exactly what you're allergic too. I have so many unanswered questions. This is week three and I finally have an appointment with an allergist next week. When I am being pure on the total elimination diet I literally feel like every day is Christmas, so I'm sure that there is something to this. My seasonal allergies are much better already. I lost a few pounds, but drank wine over the weekend and gained it all back. I don't know if life without Robert Mondavi is possible for me! I also find it extremely difficult being the head chef in my household and having to cook separately each night. I do however, suggest this book wholeheartedly -- but I suggest getting an allergy test first. If there is anyone out there that's got a hang of this diet, please email me, thanks.
23 False Fat Diet - trying it out
Well, yet another diet book but I think this one has some good ideas - at least that I have found useful. Finding out what food sensitivities and allergies for an individual are addressed in this book by trying one of 5 types of elimination diets and then one-by-one re-introducing the foods you regularly eat. The books covers what are the most reactive and least reactive foods and how eating reactive foods can hold extra weight and cause many health problems. It certainly is a book to check out if you are at a loss about some health/weight related issues. I'm in the second phase of my 21 days of the diet and feeling good so far.
24 Best book on hows, whys and dealing with food allergies
I've read hundreds of books on healthy eating. The False Fat Diet offers the best explanations on how food allergies affect the body, inside and out, and how to deal with them practically. I especially like the alternatives offered in each section. The advice is direct and easy to follow.
After 15 years of dealing with PMS, the authors have provided the first complete explanation of how food allergies, hormones and immune system all figure in. I suspected this for years, but could find no health practioner to put the pieces together for me.
The only think I don't like about the book is the title, but I understand in world of publishing it's diet books that sell. However, this is really a book about getting down to the nitty gritty of chronic health problems. The simple, down-to-earth approach outlined in The False Fat Diet is a winner.
25 An excellent resource for changing your life...
I am using this book, in conjunction with "Eat Right For Your Type" by Dr. Peter D'Adamo, and seeing wonderful results! The premise is simple: certain foods make certain people's bodies react in ways which cause them to gain and retain weight. Some of these reactions are food allergies, some are food sensitivities. If you determine which foods cause reactions for your particular body, and stop eating them, you'll be amazed at what happens!
I am following these two programs (they go together very well) under the supervision of my doctor. I have stopped eating wheat/gluten products and dairy, and having done so am quite pleased with the results. In only two weeks I have lost six pounds and 2% of my body fat (I have a scale which measures both). My clothes are much looser (I should have measured myself before starting), a long term health issue is clearing up and going away, and I feel terrific!
I will note that I did not do the juice fast part of the elimination diet suggested in this book as one of the ways to determine food sensitivites. As someone with hypoglycemia, and having tried juice fasts before and had problems, I knew that was not the right route for me. But I did use the "Sensitive Seven Elimination Diet", and have had great results!
If you're willing to make some real changes in your eating habits, in exchange for real and measurable changes in your life, don't hesitate, buy this book. It's full of great information which can help you lose the weight you're hoping to.
26 A revolutionary idea for dealing with stubborn weight gain..
This is a really interesting book. I began reading it just as I started working with a holistic doctor here where I live. Many of the things she suggested are things Haas mentions in his book.
I've been following a food elimination diet for over a week now, and am amazed at how my food cravings (especially those for sugar and chocolate) have gone away. This is not an easy process to follow, I'll warn you of that up front.
To start with, the elimination diet has you giving up what he calls the Sensitive Seven: Most Commonly Reactive Foods: Dairy, Wheat, Corn, Sugar, Soy, Eggs, Peanuts. Cutting those seven things out of a diet is very hard to do without some real planning and committment. But once you do so, the benefits are tremendous. Problems that had been plaguing me for years have gone away, simply by cutting out all gluten (wheat and other gluten-containing grains) and dairy out of my diet.
I do suggest that you follow this, or any major diet change, under the supervision of a doctor. The most stringent elimination diet Haas recommends is five or more days of juice fasting, which is fine for some people, but would be difficult for people with blood sugar issues like diabetes or hypoglycemia. So check with your doc first.
That being said, the advice in this book is, for the most part, excellent, and sure to help those who are dealing with food sensitivities and allergies which keep them from losing weight.
27 A Blessing!
I'm at the other end of the continuum: early 50s, overweight, raging eczema, chronic sleeping problems, &c. Eternally questing for some "fix," I happened upon Dr. Haas' book, ordered it & the rest is incredible. In ONE WEEK on the Elimination Diet I lost 10 lbs (NO food cravings), eczema healed, have boundless energy & am sleeping! Eliminate the reactive foods (clearly presented) and heal. "Don't think of eliminating foods as deprivation, but as POWER!" Finally, a lifestyle change I can DO--and live with. I recommend this book unreservedly. Try it.
28 What a Relief !
Thanks to Mr. Haas, I have been enlightened to a new, moreproductive lifestyle. I no longer feel sluggish, bloated orfrustrated due to my body image. Having a B.S. in Exercise Science along with being a certified personal trainer and aerobic instructor, I am daily in an industry where I have to look,feel, and perform at my best. Until reading "The False Fat Diet", I felt that I was stuck in a physical dilemma that could not be corrected. Although my body fat only measured 7% and I was extremely active, my abdominal region always looked as if I was 8 - 9 months pregnant. After trying the elimination diet process he suggests, I now look and feel like I am a fitness leader again. I no longer look like someone who has swallowed a hot air balloon, just waiting for it to pop! My deepest gratitude goes out to Dr. Haas for the knowledge and information he has incorporated into his new book. He is my "Angel of Mercy" ! END
