"If you are carbohydrate addicted, this book will give you the information you need to literally eliminate your cravings for starches, snack foods, or sweets and get control over your eating and your life--at any age, through all the decades to come--and without sacrifice. You will be able to lose weight and greatly decrease your risk for virtually all of [America's] top killer diseases. You will get the guidance you need to make the lifestyle change you have been waiting [for] for so long. And, in addition, you will gain the courage and conviction that your hunger, cravings, and weight problems are not your fault, and as the pounds fade, so will your guilt and self-blame." So begins The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program, a book especially tailored for those 40 and over, especially menopausal women and those who were prescribed Fen-Phen. Its premise is simple--it's designed to help you rid your body of excess insulin. When excess insulin is circulating through the body, it's virtually impossible to lose weight, say Richard and Rachael Heller, both research scientists and professors and authors of the bestselling Carbohydrate Addict's Diet.

They've created a sympathetic and clear guide for keeping insulin levels--and therefore food cravings--in check, with plenty of appealing and easy-to-prepare recipes, including low-fat Chicken Kiev and Herby Crabmeat Salad. A stress-reduction plan, progress charts, meal plans, and comprehensive index are included.

From Publishers Weekly
The authors of The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet (1993) and Healthy for Life (1995) aim the latest volume in their approach to carbohydrate addiction at maturing Americans. Professors at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, the Hellers reiterate their claims that excess insulin causes some people to crave carbohydrates, creating an unstoppable cycle of cravings and weight gain. Noting that metabolisms slow down as individuals age, the Hellers again tell personal stories of learning how to manage their carbohydrate intake and their weight. They present their Basic Plan, which is based on craving-reducing proteins and vegetables and allows "Reward Meals" that include reasonable portions of carbohydrates. Nine "Options" include such tactics as adding chromium, exercising, or cutting out MSG (which triggers carbo cravings). The Hellers also link excess insulin to such age-related diseases as high blood pressure, heart disease and adult-onset diabetes. Accompanying recipes and menus, which allow much more fat than typical low-fat/high-carb plans, may attract new readers. To maturing Heller fans, much of the text will seem familiar. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
The Hellers have written a sequel to their popular The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet (LJ 5/15/91), which argued that the best way to lose weight lay in reducing carbohydrates rather than fats. This new work is designed specifically for people between the ages of 40 and 60, but, unfortunately, it covers the same diet program as the first book, only with different personal success stories. The first three sections contain a description of the carbohydrate addict, "the basic plan," "options" to help in further weight reduction, and tips on eating out. Yet the food pyramid is never discussed, and skipping a meal is encouraged. Menus and recipes are presented in the fourth section, and a lengthy bibliography is included. Purchase only where this writing duo is in demand.-?Connie Weaver, Bosler Free Lib., Carlisle, Pa.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Low fat? High carbohydrate? Protein rich? Low carbohydrate? What's a dieter to pick, and how well do any of these weight-loss programs work? A partial answer comes from the Doctors Heller, both researchers and authors, who discovered that consumption of certain carbohydrates triggered cravings--and an overabundance of insulin, which, in turn, stimulated hunger and more cravings. Based on the popularity of their Carbohydrate Addict's Diet (1991), they've refined their initial recommendations into an easy-to-follow STAR (simple, targeted, adaptable, rewarding) program, with only three guidelines--but a lot of options, meal plans, and even more recipes (more than 200). A quiz helps readers determine whether their genes are addicted to carbohydrates; other chapters point to scientific evidence linking overproduction of insulin with being overweight. Along with a smattering of feel-good psychology, the Hellers have produced an almost surefire second best-seller that'll refuse to stay on library shelves. Barbara Jacobs

Book Description
From the authors who revolutionized the diet industry with their breakthrough research into the carbohydrate-insulin connection, here is a personalized plan for becoming slim,fit, and healthy in your 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Millions of maturing Americans face increasing weight levels and failing health, although they eat no more than they did when they were younger. Drs. Richard and Rachael Heller have found the post-forty-year-old's "slowing metabolism" often stems from changes in insulin balance which decrease its ability to burn food energy and increase its ability to turn food energy into fat.

Drawing from their breakthrough research into the carbohydrate-insulin connection to excess weight and poor health, the Hellers offer readers a comprehensive, straightforward program for people over forty, including:

A clear review of the impact of prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs
Weight gain and health risk factors
Lifestyle alternatives for maximizing weight loss and health promotion
Dozens of exciting, crave-reducing recipes
Tips for eating out and eating alone

For those frustrated by traditional weight-loss plans, The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program allows readers to indulge in the foods they love while reaping from the outstanding rewards.

The program that forms the basis of this book is scientifically proven to work.