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6-Day Body Makeover

About.com Rating 1 Star Rating
User Rating 5 Star Rating (1 Review) Write a review

By , About.com Guide

Updated June 13, 2011

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The Bottom Line

Though some of the diet information is sound, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone based on the dubious weight loss promises (up to 10 inches in 6 days), the questionable breathing techniques he claims will help you burn fat and his outdated, often myth-based exercise advice. He includes no scientific evidence for any of his advice and almost no information on strength training. This diet would be very hard to follow for more than 6 days.
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Pros

  • None

Cons

  • Diet is very structured, requires 6 meals a day and may be hard to follow
  • Exercise advice is questionable and not based on science or fact
  • Almost no information or encouragement to include strength training
  • Weight loss claims are dubious, promising up to 10 inches lost in 6 days
  • No scientific bases for his 'Abdominal Breathing Technique' that allegedly aids fat burning

Description

  • This 6-day diet and exercise program claims you'll lose up to 10 pounds in 6 days
  • The diet is based on body type, providing a 6-day meal plan with no dairy or fat for men and women
  • The exercise program is at least 5 days of low-intensity cardio for up to 60 minutes

Guide Review - 6-Day Body Makeover

In his book, '6-day Body Makeover' Michael Thurmond offers a diet and exercise program that promises you'll drop a size in just 6 days. The diet is based on body type, though there's no scientific evidence that different body types require differnet diets, and his diet tips (choosing good carbs, lean protein and vegetables) are reasonable except for his advice to cut out dairy products and most fats. He also says to drink 12 glasses of water a day (have fun in the bathroom!) though, again, there's no science behind these recommendations. The eating plans include 6 days worth of meals and snacks for both men and women. For exercise, Thurmond recommends low-intensity exercise, stating: "the harder you workout, the less fat you burn." The 'fat burning zone' myth was debunked years ago and he provides no scientific basis for this advice. He even includes exercises you should avoid such as the elliptical trainer and kickboxing because they're too intense, something that might turn off people who enjoy these activities. He also claims you can "breathe yourself thin" with his Abdominal Breathing Technique to tone your stomach and help you burn more fat, another questionable claim with no scientific basis. There's almost no information about strength training, a key component for fat loss. Overall, this book makes questionable weight loss claims as well as exercise advice that is not based on science or fact. Reader beware!
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User Reviews

 5 out of 5
Are you serious??, Member Pupstermum

This is the one and only ""diet"" that has ever, EVER worked for me in my lifetime. It's best to start it during a low event season (please don't try to start 2 days before Thanksgiving). Yes, it's structured, but that ""structure"" gives way soon afterwards when you can begin to expand your palate. It's completely based on REAL foods that we should all be eating in the FIRST place, but somehow forgot to do. Lean meat (for me, as a B, that's chicken, fish, shellfish, etc.), vegetables, some fruits, but PLENTY of everything. My only complaint was keeping up with all the eating. And, I can say unequivocably, I lost 1 lb per day for 30 straight days. And I hadn't yet started the exercise portion. Drink lots of water? That's a bad thing?? This review was really for the birds.

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