by Dolvett Quince
I’m one of those people who watches weight loss shows like The Biggest Loser while holding a pint of ice cream or a plate of cookies. I also read a lot of diet and healthy eating books and while I don’t adhere to all of the information, a lot of it seeps into my brain somehow. Nowadays there are so many books on the market that the advice can seem to be repetitive. The 3-1-2-1 Diet sets itself apart by emphasizing the word “cheat” as a way of letting you know that the focus is making it as accessible in a real life setting.
The main premise is to “eat clean” for 3 days, cheat for 1 day, clean eating for 2 days, and then cheat for 1 day. Eating clean is basically choosing foods in their natural, unprocessed state: fruits, vegetables, proteins. Nothing out of a box or from a fast food outlet. Easy, peasy. It takes some planning, but really this is good common sense to follow. Quince includes shopping lists, money-saving tips, and options for vegetarians and vegans (which is all but ignored in most diet books). Meal plans and recipes are included along with instructions on how to eat on your cheat days. There is even a maintenance plan to follow after you’ve reached your goal.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a Biggest Loser trainer’s book without a section on exercise. Although he’s beautiful to look at, I would have preferred seeing someone other than Quince demonstrating the moves, just for some variety. I read this book last fall and while revisiting it to write this review, I’ve decided that I like it better than I originally thought. It’s one of the most comprehensive diet books that I’ve seen and would be really helpful to anyone who wants to lose pounds or just adopt a healthier way of living.
