The Complete Guide to Fasting

Like finding the light switch.

Wow.

Just. Wow.

I'd tried the 5-2 diet but it didn't work out for me. Now I understand why. Since reading this book I've developed the confidence to manage my hunger and now it's gone from a banging drum to a gentle tap.

I shed a stone in a month and I feel great. This is so blooming easy - and obvious. I'll update this review in six months and tell you if I managed to keep the weight off.

58 people found this helpful

Fantastic

Any additional comments?

I'm very interested in this whole fasting concept. My GP highly recommends anything to do with Michael Mosleys idea of the 5:2 diet that's what lead me to this book. I've listened to this audio book twice now and found I missed information the first time so a second time is useful. I'm 35 years old and have 5 children. I had up until a few years ago a very busy home life as well as job, but then I became very ill. I could never lose weight. When I was in my teens I weighed next to nothing, I had a very slim figure and ate the world. Then late teens I noticed that changing as was diagnosed with an under active thyroid. To date this is still not managed as it's either a little under or extremely under. So for 20 years I've quite possibly been on every diet gimmick and well you name it I've been there and done that. The only success I've ever has is on the 5:2. But I only lost 1lb is a week. I need to lose 7 stone so I need better results. This book has given me better understanding of fasting for longer! What to expect what to look out for and what actually is happening inside my body.
I will update this review as I start my fasting today. I have no set time frame in mind, I just want to see how long my body takes to reach the different stages! I also have MS and two types of arthritis- I've cleared fasting with my doctors. I had to point them towards this book as they at first looked at me like I was insane.
I do very highly recommend this audio book though regardless of whatever results I get. It's super clear, explains dr language in English and he's someone who's been through it all. So he knows exactly what fasting is, not just the science.

23 people found this helpful

My solution to the ‘annoying voice’

As others have already noted - the reader does an excellent job of mimicking computer generated speech. I couldn’t stand it past the intro, so I used the audible app and set the speed to 1.25 and was able to get through the whole book without too much trouble.

I found the information valuable and will be putting the advice into practice. A great companion to the Obesity Code.

16 people found this helpful

Reversing My Diabetes

Would you listen to The Complete Guide to Fasting again? Why?
This guide to fasting is full of excellent content for anyone looking towards fasting to step up their level of health.

I bought this book because was very recently diagnosed with diabetes type ll. I've been following the guidelines laid down in this book and I'm amazed at how it has affected my blood sugar level. I will continue to use the information in this book to reverse my diabetes and I would recommend it to everyone who owns a physical body and wishes to live a longer, healthier life.

30 people found this helpful

Wow

As someone who is constantly eating to maintain muscle and strength i was sceptical of the idea of fasting this book has convinced me - Part of a good health regime needs to incorporate fasting. The book is persuasive arguments for fasting and very informative regarding the science behind the process in its varying forms.
Slight downside... i found the readers voice quite annoying at times.... sorry.

14 people found this helpful

Exceptionally annoying voice

What did you like best about The Complete Guide to Fasting? What did you like least?

For anyone British who likes to feel superior to Americans this is an essential buy. The format is exceptionally repetitive. The same thing is said in slightly different language repeatedly, as if sledgehammering the same thing over and over and over again, to someone of simple intellect. There are a lot of success stories interrupting the technical information, with a constant "Fasting Allstars!" subtitle to it in the narrator's sing songy voice before launching into some personal account of success and thanks. This whole format is that of a repetitive pep talk. You actually get far better and clearer information from Fung's website interviews. He sounds professional, erudite and has a pleasant voice, unlike the celebrity Fat to Thin narrator he chose to 'write' this book with, who narrates this book and makes it exceptionally annoying and grating as an Audible book.

What could Jimmy Moore and Dr. Jason Fung have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Employ someone with a pleasant voice who is semi literate to narrate. The voice is irritating and ugly and makes it hard to listen to as its so grating, and the pronunciation of certain words are laughably ignorant and illiterate.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I thought the voice was a computer at first, it is that stilted, harshly nasal and with words spaced out with massive regular gaps as if he needs to think carefully before pronouncing EVERY- SINGLE- WORD. But I realised it was a real person after a certain amount of pronunciation errors surfaced. Being famous for losing weight doesnt mean you have the voice to carry a 7 hour book. It should have been narrated by an actor or by Fung.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No.

35 people found this helpful

A life changing book

Reading the book and listening to Dr Fung on YouTube has given me the confidence to attempt successive five day firsts followed by two days of eating.Without the insight provided by the book I would have found it very difficult to attempt such a feat.
Many of the insights are counter intuitive and contrary to cultural norms. Muscle mass isn’t reduced during fasting. Metabolism increases rather than decreases. Autophagy provides considerable health benefits. For me this is becoming a life changing event.

8 people found this helpful

Excellent book on fasting for health

I have read a little on fasting but this book really clarified it for me. Well written and clearly read, ideal for anyone interested in fasting for health, weight loss or diabetes.

I really liked the way it answered all those niggly questions I had. Thank you for writing it!

6 people found this helpful

Interesting concept and persuasive

It’s a very interesting concept. The authors spend the first few chapters explaining the concept of fasting and its benefits which was compelling. As the book progresses there’s a lot of repetition and, being a physician, a lack of trial evidence. They do discuss some studies such as the Framingham studies but I feel when claiming the benefits of something long thought to be unhealthy (which may well be a myth) quite so strongly, more evidence is required to reinforce their claims.
Occasionally it became akin to preaching and, after listening to 7 hours of the benefits of fasting they then discuss at the end the risks and when to consult doctors which, in the timeframes suggested are often not possible for a U.K. audience.

I look forward to researching more primary literature on fasting and to reading/listening to Dr Fung’s lectures.

Overall an interesting introduction to the concept of fasting and recommended for this reason but when advising significant lifestyle changes I would like to see more research evidence than much of the anecdotal work quoted from the IDM programme.

5 people found this helpful

Very useful

The subject has been covered elsewhere but not as well as this. Very comprehensive. Well researched and well presented.

11 people found this helpful