A few weeks ago, I wrote a review of The Maker's Diet by Jordan S. Rubin. This is billed as "the 40-day health experience that will change your life forever." I have to say that I am very enthusiastic.

Yes, I can say that the past forty 42 days have been a successful experience. Mark and I plan to continue this health plan. It's really not anything we haven't already known and practiced to varying degrees over the years. I admit that I've allowed myself to eat things that I know are not good for my body. After a while, the mind and body becomes addicted the wrong foods--they become the "comfort foods."



I have been dieting off and on for the past year plus. I gained weight during the winter of 2003/04 while we attended Charis Bible College in Colorado Springs. I began a rigid exercise program and restricted my intake. This helped a lot. I lost enough weight that I was again able to wear my wedding ring. However, after we moved to Oklahoma, my exercise program changed as I could no longer go to the gym. Walking a couple of miles here and there just didn't do it. My stress levels had zoomed and I did eat more of the comfort foods than were good for me. So I regained a goodly portion of the weight I'd shed during the summer.

I determined that I had to do something before it got away from me. I didn't want to outgrow my "fat jean" again. I had read The Maker's Diet in 2004. It seemed to be a balanced diet. But I just couldn't make myself do it. In March of 2005, I was blessed to be able to attend a conference at which Dr. Rubin was a speaker. This spurred me to re-read the book, taking a serious look at the dietary requirements.

Mark was enthusiastic because the fruits during the first 14 days were primarily berries which he enjoys. We already purchase organic produce as much as possible. We rarely eat pork or shellfish. One premise is that food should be as close to nature as possible. The main adjustment was cutting out the sugar. One doesn't realize how much sugar one eats in processed foods or commercially made foods; it's easy to get out of the habit of cooking from scratch when ready made foods are so available. The other gotcha in addition to sugars is the elimination of fried foods. That's another bad habit that those of us from the South have.

Having determined to change our dietary habits, we stopped at the local health food store and then began The Maker's Diet on Friday, April 29, 2005.

In my review, I told a little bit about our experiences on The Maker's Diet. It really isn't hard as long as one gets out of the mindset of "fast food." One can eat all one wants of the allowed foods. The first 14 days are the most difficult; after that, as foods are added on, it gets easier. Mark and I plan to continue this way of life. We'll be careful when eating away from our home but won't be fanatic. (I'm not going to turn down a good cinnamon roll if one is offered--but I shouldn't have one every day.) I did without bread for the required 28 days and am watching the amounts and types of breads that I currently eat. I have been experimenting with making crackers so I can have that treat without eating a commercial product. Here's my Cracker Recipe .

The good news is that as of this writing, I've shed 12 lbs. My face and neck are looking a lot less bloated. Plus I haven't had any trouble with acid reflux since changing my eating habits; that has helped my sleeping. Those two things alone make me want to continue the program. Dr. Rubin believes that by changing one's dietary program, one can cleanse the body; without further irritation from unhealthy foods, then the body will begin to heal. His own testimony shows that food does greatly impact our body. In addition, Rubin advises regular exercise and also to actively practice one's faith. Both are important in my life; I read/ study the Bible each day. I originally was walking 2-3 miles daily. I hit a plateau in my weight loss about Week Three. After upping my walking to 3-5 miles, pounds again came off.

Here is my brief and incomplete summary of the Diet. However, don't take my word for it but study The Maker's Diet, I also have read a two other books which I will mention below.

Meats/Poultry/Fish:
beef, buffalo, turkey, chicken and fish such as salmon, sole, halibut, cod (No pork or shellfish)

Fruits and Vegetables:
Most vegetables, going lighter on the potatoes. Lots of berries are recommended during the first 14 days; other fruits are added during the 40 days.

Grains and Legumes:
Some are recommended as being more healthful that others. Amounts consumed is more of the issue than the type. Certain grains and breads are recommended.

Beverages/Dairy/Eggs:
Dairy is limited and only certain types are recommended. The more processed it is, the more difficult it is for the body to use. Eggs are recommended as protein. Drinking water is recommended; be careful about the amounts of sugar in other beverages.

At this point, I'd like to tell you about a couple of other books you might wish to read in addition to The Maker's Diet: The 40-day Health Experience that will Change your Life Forever. Jordan Rubin has also written a book called Patient Heal Thyself: a Remarkable health Program Combining Ancient Wisdom with Groundbreaking Clinical Research. The back cover informs the reader:

In Patient Heal Thyself Jordan shows us:

• The key to attaining and maintaining vibrant health lies in our gastrointestinal trace.
• How by following the Maker's Diet the body will be given the nutritional tools it needs to overcome virtually any health challenge.
• Why homeostatic soil organisms that are missing from our modern diet may be the key to healing a wide range of health conditions.
• Also included are complete protocols including diet, lifestyle changes and nutritional supplements to improve the health conditions that plague us today.

I saw a review of the Perricone Prescription: A Physician's 28-Day Program for Total Body and Face Rejuvenation by Nicholas S. Perricone, M.D. in a women's magazine. I discovered that he has written this and other books on anti-aging which can be found at the local library. The Perricone Prescription is a secular work that is fairly easy reading. I enjoyed reading it and wish to read his other books. The back flap has this information:

Step by step, Dr. Perricone guides you on the road to improved health and looks and increased well-being, providing:

• a three-day "jump start" diet that will give you immediate, impossible-to-ignore results
• the twenty-eight-day Perricone Program of meals, exercise, and skin care
• delicious, nutritious, easy-to-follow recipes
• the latest news in topical application, supplements, and age-defying technology, including a breakthrough spider vein treatment for face and body, overnight skin brighteners, and muscle stimulation that rivals surgical face-lifts
• a completely up-to-date resource guide
• and much more!

The food selections of The Perricone Prescription are very limited but he does give excellent reasons behind his choice of foods. Frankly, Perricone's explanations filled in a few gaps of knowledge, explaining some of the things I wondered about in Rubin's program. My reaction to Perricone's program is that it would be good for a limited time to change habits and see quick results. However, this book is well worth reading.



So, Folks...that's what I have to say about our experiences with The Maker's Diet. I wish you the best if you wish to join Mark and myself on this program.