Preventive Care Through Home Testing

As a mother, I'm very conservative when it comes to my kids' health. A friend recommended I take a look at Dr. Gordin's book, and I'm glad she did! There are many easy to use tests that are useful for everybody adults and kids. Now I feel like I can take a more active role in my family's health!

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The Biggest Loser: The Weight Loss Program to Transform Your Body, Health, and Life--Adapted from NB

If you really like the show and can't wait for each new segment to air, you'll also want a copy of the book. It reveals more about the contestents and their struggles.

If you want a specific diet and exercise program that reflects what the contestents went through, you may or may not find that here. I say "may" because it wasn't uncommon for those on the show to do 3 hours of exercise a day (sometimes more) to achieve the kind of weight loss that showed on the scale each week.

Are YOU up to that kind of challenge? If you are, you can take the info in this book and go for the burn. If not, you can still follow the plan and lose weight but be aware that you may not see the same dramatic weight loss as the contestents on the show without exerting maximum effort.

I really enjoyed reading this book and actually like it BETTER than the show (and I confess I really didn't like the show much with its humiliating climax, where one contestent would be voted off the show per week). Within the context of a book, the personal stories are engaging and much of the book is inspirational, just the type of material that might compel you to stick to your exercise and diet plan.

There is plenty of useful info here although I can't say it hasn't been covered in other books. What sets this one apart are the personal accounts and I can never get enough of those. When someone starts at 300 pounds plus and manages to get to goal weight, it becomes pretty clear that nearly anyone can get there, with enough willpower and motivation. This book could be one more motivational aid.

'The Biggest Loser' book is filled with stimulating stories of personal triumph over weight from the popular television show's contestants.

If you're one of the millions of fans of the hit NBC television reality weight loss show "The Biggest Loser," then undoubtedly you have become personally acquainted with names like Ryan, Kelly, Mo, Dave, and Drea from Season One as well as Matt, Dr. Jeff, Suzanne, and Suzy from Season Two, just to name a few.

You probably feel like you know these people intimately because you have watched them work so very hard on your television sets each week to tackle a commond problem -what to do about their obesity. Their commitment to doing something positive and permanent about their weight is indeed inspiring and educational for a home viewing audience, two-thirds of whom have a weight problem of their own that they need to deal with and don't know what to do about it.

That's where The Biggest Loser book steps in. This book is based on the popular television show and allows you to read more about the contestants from the show to learn how they have been able to be victorious over their battle of the bulge while also communicating important principles to apply in your own life to help get that fat monkey off your own back for good.

The Biggest Loser is a beautifully crafted book full of colorful pictures, personal stories from cast members, advice from the show's trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, a thorough explanation of "The Biggest Loser" diet plan, a 12-week exercise routine, scrumptuous recipes including personal favorites from the contestants, motivational remarks from those who went through the most dramatic weight loss change, and the secret tips about how to make weight loss and healthy eating a permanent part of your life.

Cheering you on to become the "biggest loser" that you can possibly be, The Biggest Loser book asks the simple question, "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the body you want -slender, toned, fit, and healthy -and have it for life?" Who among us who has struggled with weight loss would respond back with anything but a thunderous YEAH BABY?!!! This dream can become a reality when the steps outlined in The Biggest Loser book are applied.

Read about the struggles that each contestant had with weight prior to their television experience and how "The Biggest Loser" show literally changed their lives forever. As someone who has lost over 180 pounds, I can certainly relate with their stories of heartache and frustration about what to do about being overweight. It's not a fun experience and you just feel so hopeless. But once you read The Biggest Loser, you will find that while it won't be an easy road to restore your health, there is definitely a way to rise to the occasion and gain victory over weight problems once and for all!

There's a unique section in The Biggest Loser book called "From Reasons to Resolutions" which will get you to visualize and think about why you want to lose weight and what will happen if and when weight loss occurs. Getting your mind in the right frame of reference will get you started off right and make your eventual success that much more likely to happen.

In a nutshell, "The Biggest Loser" diet consists of limiting your caloric intake to seven times your body weight. For example, when I weighed 410 pounds in January 2004, I could eat 2,870 calories according to this plan. At my current body weight of 225, that number of calories per day drops down to 1,575, which is probably a little bit less than what I consume on my low-carb lifestyle but not too far off. There's a creative "4-3-2-1 Biggest Loser Pyramid" which shows you which foods you should eat and in what quanties, including fruits and vegetables, proteins, whole grains, and "extras." Guess which one you eat the least of?

You also are encouraged to drink lots of water, use artificial sweeteners sparingly, eat 4-6 planned meals, portion-size your foods to avoid overeating, read labels like a hawk (there even a neat "translation" guide to help you figure out what certain terms mean on a nutrition label), and steer clear from certain appetite-stimulating foods. It's all explained in great detail in The Biggest Loser book.

I really enjoyed the "Take A Cue" blurbs at the bottom of the pages which feature oneor two-sentence words of wisdom from the cast of "The Biggest Loser." You really feel like they're talking directly to you and rooting for you as you turn page after page of The Biggest Loser book. I also was attracted to the recipes section towards the back of the book, which included some excellent low-carb ones including Dave's chicken salad, Ryan's portabello pizza, Suzanne's grilled salmon burgers, and Drea's turkey wrap. My mouth is watering just thinking about all these delicious recipes.

As a 180+ pound low-carb weight loss success story I don't personally adhere to all of the advice provided in The Biggest Loser book, but I am encouraged to see many of the contestants giving superb advice to would-be losers: stay away from sugar, get more water consumption, eat often enough to ward off hunger, skip the dinner bread and eat a salad first at a restaurant, replace television watching with exercise (except to watch "The Biggest Loser," of course!), eat healthy carbs found in fruits and vegetables, and much more. You can really learn a lot about good basic habits that you can incorporate to make weight control a long-term part of your life.

There is also a section in the book which urges local communities to conduct their own "Biggest Loser" challenges to help people deal with this very real problem. They include step-by-step instructions about how to organize it and replicate what so many have seen on television, including stunts and races to give the contestants an incentive to continue on. Applying these recommendations will make your local "Biggest Loser" challenge a huge success.

A special "where are they now" section gives an update on all 26 contestants who became winners by becoming big losers thanks to "The Biggest Loser." You will be amazed by how far these contestants have come and how their lives have been literally turned upside down for the better. I can relate and hope and pray many will be uplifted and have a fire lit within them to lose weight and keep it off for good after reading The Biggest Loser.

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I really wanted to love this book... but it seems as if the producers rushed it to print. There are very little before/after photos... and very little in-depth profiles of the contestants. All you get is blurbs from them... and a recipe, which may/may not be their creation. The caloric recommendations... 1050 kcal for people below 150 pounds... are too low...especially for the amount of exercise prescribed. Rarely these days do any experts advise going below 1400 kcal for an active woman, with 1200 be the absolute minimum. Even with such minimal caloric requirements, no mention is made of vitamin supplementation. In the recipe section, they often refer to agave nectar/syrup... yet they do nothing to explain it, its benefits, or where to buy it. (It's a low-GI sweetener from a plant in Mexico.) All-in-all, disappointing.

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I actually read this book and Jillian Michaels book Winning By Losing. I think this book is interesting and fun because it does give you insights into the contestants and their trials and tribulations. I do agree that as far as nutrition plans go The Biggest Loser book is slightly lacking. If you are looking for a weight loss plan, Jillian's book is definately the best choice. Although the Biggest Loser book is not the most informative, as a fan of the show I enjoyed the read.

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I liked this book because I enjoy watching the show. I admire and respect all those contestants/dieters who go through all that "struggle and hard work" to lose weight and feel better about themselves.

Personally, I feel that reading the book is not motivation enough for people who are tremendously overweight. They need the one-on-one like the wonderful people on the TV show receive.

So if you're thinking of buying this book to lose weight, save your money. However, if you just want to hear more about the show and the participants, you may want to have this book.

I liked it ... but didn't loooooooove it.

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The Herbal Medicine Cabinet: Preparing Natural Remedies at Home

This book is exactly what I was looking for. As a student of altenative medicine, this will be a great addition to my "health library". There is a check list for one's herbal first aid kit/medicine cabinet, very concise and easy to follow directions, a little history of the herbs, a list of ailments and what to use. The ingredients for the most part are easy to get your hands on and if you can't seem to find what you are looking for--there is an extensive resource guide that includes everything Debra St Claire has discussed in the book! Lip balms, salves, deodorants, mouth washes, baby products---you name it and you will most likely find it in this book. If I were to choose one book to start me on the path to health altenatives, this would be the one I would choose. Five star? No. How about a six!

Debra St. Claire (formerly Debra Nuzzi) did a series of videos with a book inside of it that was the basis for this book. Ms. St. Claire expanded the material and has made a very easy to understand and accessible book for both the beginner and advanced medicine maker. I had the pleasure of seeing Debra at Herfest a couple of years ago, and she is a fantastic teacher! This book is certainly something every herbalist or anyone interested in natural healing should own.

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I am a clinical herbalist of over 20 years experience and I have recommended it for years to beginning herbalists. I find this to be one of the best texts for learning how to make tinctures, syrups, lozenges, lip balms, salves, and other preparations. Debra St. Claire uses easy to find ingredients, takes you step by step through preparation and gives you good solid recipes. She shows you how to do the tincture math so that your preparations don't mold. (If you intend to pour vodka over mint or lemon balm leaves you better know how much water is in the leaves! And if you want to get the resins out of St.John's Wort, you better have access to high alcohol like Everclear or Baccardi 151.)

This is the ultimate, hands-on herbal and will either be sufficient for family treatment or stand as a first step for people who want to learn western herbalism. I also suggest it for Chinese herbology students who don't learn all of the hands on techniques outside of decoction. Well worth the money.

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Heal yourself, know how to manage your own health & wellness issues, get off the big pharma teat, assert personal health freedom with this most excellent instruction manual, an essential volume for your wellness DIY library, resource center.

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This is a good book for herbal medicine. Came ahead of time and was very informative. Good all-around book for anyone who is interested in herbal medicine.

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Take That Nursing Home and Shove It!: How to Secure an Independent Future for Yourself and Your Love

There's no getting around aging. Until somebody finds a magic potion or fountain of youth, we all need to know what Susan's powerful book explores; we all need to prepare, not deny, the facts of aging. This book offers pathways to crisis-avoidance and preparation. There are lots of hucksters and charlatans who will gladly take our money and fail to perform if we fail to manage the process and procrastinate until we are managing a crisis instead. Thought provoking, factual, and highly personal. Read this book!

A brilliant book by a a recognized authority on the subject. A "must read" by anyone seeking a place of respite for him/herself or a beloved family member. It delineates the criteria by which the reader can ensure that a loved one will be treated safely and with compassion in a warm and nourishing environment.

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Information in this book is important for all who are or will be getting older to know. Don't think of a nursing home as a sweet, kind place where residents sit around playing games and laughing. Susan Geffen knows her field, and we would be wise to be informed.

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It gets right to the point. I have had a year of experience with assisted living facilities, nursing homes and hospitals and her advice hits right on.

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The information in this book is invaluable...written with intelligence and wit, so that all readers will enjoy learning just as I have. With gratitude and appreciation for Susan's heartfelt contribution to making a difference in the lives of parents and children alike....and showing me a way to help continue my Mother's and my own life with dignity and grace. I now feel confident to make heartfelt and better choices....and "SHOVE" all that will not serve me!!!!

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Classic Sourdoughs: A Home Baker's Handbook

This book really is for the home baker who doesn't have the special ovens and tools of the artisans like Daniel Leader's Bread Alone or Nancy Singleton"s La Brea Bakery. Ed Wood's book gives instructions that can be used with any sourdough starter although I have produced far better sourdoughs with his starters than any I captured myself. There isn't a baker's yeast recipe in the entire book. If you're a novice baker or an old hand, you can learn a lot about sourdoughs from this book.

This is the only book I have found that really tells how to make sourdough bread the right way without having to use yeast. The book gives explicit instructions from the moment the starter comes from the refrigerator until the finished loaf leaves the pan. The step by step methods tell how to produce an active starter every time so the bread always rises well.

Each recipe gives different options for length of proofing cycles using different proofing temperatures. I was never able to control the temperature during proofing until I read the description for making an inexpensive proofing box described in the book. It made all the difference between success and failure.

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I began following this author quite a while ago including reading ealier books because there wasn't that much information about baking sourdough bread. He has simplified the directions a little but I was never successful with his directions until I took a course at King Arthur and discovered that baking sourdoughs isn't all that complicated. Now I make naturally leavened bread almost every week. I finally trashed the silly "proof box" that Mr. Wood recommends. I occasionally dip into this book to try the recipes and I'm pretty sure some of them have significant errors (the SF sourdough turns out more like a ciabatta because either the flour or water measurments are wrong). If you want a really good book on bread baking check out "Bread A Baker's Book of Techniques and Recipes" by Jeffrey Hamelman. It has lots of good sourdough recipes based on solid baking formulas.

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The thing I liked best about Dr. Wood's new book was the section on doing sourdoughs in bread machines. For the last 10 years I've been totally frustrated trying to get a decent sourdough out of a machine. Now, I'm turning out a perfect sourdough with the sourness I really like and the loaf comes out with that open texture with all the big holes of a real San Francisco sourdough.

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I have used the recipes in this book and they work pretty well with the Sourdough starter from King Arthur Flour I then purchased some starters from Ed Wood and followed the instructions in the book. When they did not revive (they came dried) his basic reply was "tough" even though they claim you will get a refund. Since the book is an infomercial for his starters I would think they would be a little more friendly!!

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The 36-Hour Day, fifth edition: The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzhei

When my father developed dementia some years ago, I didn't know what to do at first. This book proved to be a big help for my family and me, and now I'd like to be of some small help to you.

Dementia doesn't strike out of the blue. It builds up over a period of years, and in the beginning there is an understandable tendency to consider a loved one's unusual behavior to be just another sign of aging. However, when Alzheimer's or other dementias are at play, sooner or later you may well find yourself in need of some help when trying to deal with your loved one's needs. Indeed, until you understand more about Alzheimer's you may not fully appreciate the struggles your loved one is dealing with. It is a very scary thing to gradually lose some of your important mental capabilities, and there is a resulting tendency among those with dementia to either act out or to withdraw from normal family communications.

Here's your chance. If you even suspect Alzheimer's or another dementia (they are not necessarily the same), I strongly recommend that you get this book and read it. It will help you to better:

1. understand what your loved one is going through.

2. deal with the behavioral issues associated with Alzheimer's.

3. find medical help.

4. find additional Alzheimer's and dementia information from a number of helpful organizations.

5. discover support groups.

6. save a lot of time (when you are a caregiver for someone with dementia, time is usually in very short supply--hence, the title of the book).

7. evaluate financial possibilities.

8. understand that you are most definitely not alone in your dealing with dementia's effects.

This book is written by experienced authorities in the field, and it is easy enough to read for those without medical backgrounds. It is the likely all-time best-seller in its field for a reason.

I wish I had bought this book as soon as my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. My father has received very little information from my mother's doctors on what to expect as her disease progresses and more importantly, how to deal with these issues. When I received the book, I looked up her latest problem in the index, dizziness, and turned right to an informative section that helped clarify what's going on with my mom. The bathing sections are helpful for understanding and thus coping with those issues. I appreciate the depth of topics and detail for symptoms that Alzheimer's patients can have; I am also grateful for the huge emphasis on respite care for the caregiver. This gives my siblings and me another avenue of discussion in getting help for my dad, who like many spouses has his own health issues.

My only problem with the current hardback edition is the text size it's a small font and closely spaced. I would hope that future revisions would enlarge the print a bit, especially since this book is generally going to be read by adults who appreciate a little larger print.

Overall I highly recommend it I've been flipping between this book and the Mayo Clinic book on Alzheimer's, and while they both have excellent information, I feel that this book is the better one for detailed information on the myriad little things that crop up with care of a loved one with Alzheimer's disease.

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As a caregiver of an elderly Alzheimers patient, this book was a life saver. I had so many questions that doctors and neurologists just didn't explain. If you suspect that you will be a caregiver, this book is an essential for your library.

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I really have to strongly recommend this book it came highly recommened to me and this new edition is exactly what my family was looking for. Our Mom was diagnosed with alzheimer's and we have searched everywhere for information, and I own several books to help me understand this challenging disease. This is the go-to guide for caregiving, it is clear and gives a realistic perspective on what we can expect. Between the support groups at our memory clinic, and another book that also was just released on alzheimers treatment and prevention by Dr. Isaacson, I feel that I am now well-equipped with information and feel better about what lies ahead of us. Kudos to Dr. Mace and Dr. Rabens.

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My dad had Alzheimer's Disease, and was getting much. He was in a different state, and my mom had taken care of him until she could not any longer. The stories I heard about my dad, and they were off the chart, I decided to get some information about this disease. Most people say this is about the best book out there to read on Alzheimer Disease. I had to leave sooner than expected, because he had a turn for the worse,so I looked through the book as much as possible to be a little prepared when I did see him. I did not make it in time...my father died the morning I was leaving. I had just received the book in time to read, but had to leave earlier than I thought, so really couldn't read it as close as I wanted to. I took care of him for a year in my home before he got very bad. I do think anyone with family or friends with this disease should be sure and read this book. It has a lot of things that you can really do wrong around a person with the disease, and things you can do that really help you understand "why" they are doing the things that they do. My father did things that if he knew he did....it would have made him sick. My father was one of the kindest persons I have every known. But, with this disease....behavior will change. Take time and order this book to help understand what they are going through, and what you yourself can do to take of of "You"! Great book.

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The Comfort of Home: A Complete Guide for Caregivers

The Midwest Book Review (April 2007) writes: Now in a newly and substantially revised and expanded third edition, "The Comfort of Home: A Complete Guide For Caregivers" continues to earn its reputation as the 'bible' for providing home caregivers to aged, ill or handicapped loved ones with a thoroughly 'user friendly' illustrated guide that covers everything necessary from daily living tasks to preparations for hospice care, to making funeral arrangements. This is a complete and superbly organized, 216-page, comprehensive 'how to manual that will help the caregiver to develop their skills, expertise, and confidence, which will in turn enhance their peace of mind with respect to the quality of life for the person they are caring for. [Vogel's Bookshelf The Midwest Book Review, April 2007]

This book is very useful and user friendly. Filled with a wealth of information. I would highly recomend to someone who has an elderly parent. It gives important info for where to go for help and how to plan.

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Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (8/07)

I was really impressed with the comprehensive material in this 3rd edition of "The Comfort of Home." As a Social Worker in a previous life, this would have been the book that I would have given to individuals who were considering becoming a primary caregiver. Nothing has been left out in this very well-written guide that a person needs to consider when undertaking this process.

"The Comfort of Home" is set up so that it can be read from beginning to end, or as a reference guide that a person can look up specifics. Oftentimes, taking on the task of a caregiver seems completely overwhelming. Meyer helps break the tasks down into manageable steps that include tips, questions that need to be asked and additional resources to follow up with. The author begins the book by helping the reader decide if home care is an option for them to consider. Her approach is honest and guilt-free for the person making this decision. Following this process, a person needs to decide what level of care is needed and whether this can be provided at home. I really thought that the section on paying for care through Medicare, Medicare part D, Medigap and the many other types of benefits was easy to follow.

As a proponent of long-term planning, I especially liked the section for setting up a care plan. Following these suggestions will make it easy to have someone step in as a temporary caregiver to give the primary caregiver a break, reporting to medical staff and in helping the caregiver not to make mistakes. Being a caregiver can be exhausting and keeping records on the patient, especially with important medication schedules. There are so many chapters that cover every aspect of a person's life such as exercise, diet, nutrition, special challenges and daily activities. Each area is thoughtfully addressed and ends with other available resources in dealing with that area.

The author does an excellent job throughout "The Comfort of Home" in reminding the caregiver to take care of themselves. She even includes a whole section on how to avoid burnout and ends with dealing with funeral arrangements and the grieving process. I would highly recommend this guide to anyone who is considering becoming a caregiver.

Book received free of charge.

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This book has everything you would need to know about caregiving, from bathing to nutrition to toileting and everything in between. Highly recommended.

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I desperately needed help preparing to care for my dad in my home. I began by gathering information. Did a lot of internet reading. Read from caring.com, signed up for newsletters from an eldercare specialist lawyer, studied my dad's specific health challenges...but still needed help. If I could have had only one resource, this would be the one I'd choose. It's an organized and genuinely practical guide that I now recommend to others.

The 2nd most helpful book I found was, "They're YOUR Parents, Too!"...VERY helpful if you have siblings involved. Helps you understand some of the most unexpected ways sibling relationships can become suddenly stressed beyond recognition when an elderly parent needs care. It's pretty tough being a fulltime caregiver and finding yourself suddenly "under attack" from a sibling that you assumed would be fully supportive and sympathetic of your situation!

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