A Review of Bob Harper's Newest Plan: Jumpstart to Skinny

I've seen a number of opinions expressed regarding "Jumpstart to Skinny"... but haven't come across any coming from someone who read the book as I did. And now that I'm a week into it, I have some additional opinions.

First of all, don't let the title "skinny" throw you... he's not advocating that weak, emancipated look. He's just using a title that is what will get people to notice the book. It is a playful version, the way some girlfriends talk to each other. If that makes sense. He is advocating health.

What made him decide to write it is to provide a more healthy quick weight loss for a particular event that some people are going to try out of desperation... instead of the cabbage soup or other extreme cleanse diets. His method is indeed very strict but your body gets the nutrients it needs. It is not designed at all to be sustained for more than 3 weeks. There is ZERO eating out or even going to a friend's for dinner. So another reason this is just a short term alternative to say that maple syrup and cayenne pepper cleanse some embark upon.

Everyone has been buzzing about his 800 calories per day plan. Two points: 1) This meal plan is based on "super-foods", so each calorie is so nutritionally dense. It includes protein at every meal as well as lots of fiber and the "good fat" (like olive oil and avocado); 2) If one is hungry between meals, there is a long list of vegetables you can eat until full. So not really 800 calories, doubtful you'd make it over 1200 though with just his list of veggies but you won't go hungry!

Now for some, his meal plan may be as appetizing as the cabbage soup diet... but I have found most of them both tasty and satisfying. A few I added to my own personal recipe collection as I liked them so much. Another thing is you can substitute any meal. For example, I really like the "Pizza Toast" but the "Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal with Egg White Scramble" didn't sound so good. Plus, it required a jar of almond butter that I just didn't see the point in buying, so I repeated what I knew I liked plus had the ingredients on hand.

I found myself getting sick of the salads for lunch so since I work from a home office, I repeated one of the dinners I really liked. So it is flexible that way.

Now, there some folks that I don't think would enjoy or benefit from this plan. I'd skip if:
1. You don't have the time to prepare 3 meals per day. More if you have a family that you need to prepare their meals too. (I have found that I can adapt some of them... like serve their turkey patty on buns and include sweet potato fries for them).
2. Eliminating for 3 weeks alcohol, cow's milk/cream, beef, processed grains after breakfast (and the ones on his plan are high fiber) and sugar is going to make you feel so deprived you will binge.
3. Don't like green vegetables. One meal had 1 cup each of broccoli, cauliflower, shredded cabbage then 4 cups of chopped spinach and a head of chopped bok choy!
4. Can't drink 2 glasses of water upon rising, then two prior to each meal.
5. Can't stand fish oil supplements.
6. Unable to commit to a 30-45 minute stroll before breakfast EVERY day.
7. Can't do his 20 minute "Jumpstart Moves" 5x per week. Note, because I'm recovering from an injury, I can't do them all but I did show to a trainer at gym and he gave me an alternative set to replace as needed.

But if those aren't deal breakers, I can report that I've lost 5 pounds but even more importantly, I feel great a week into it. My skin looks so much better and I lost the bloat.

Hope this helps others debating if they want to try it. My plan is when I get through it, I try is his long term lifestyle change plan called "Skinny Rules". I am doing this plan truly as a "jumpstart" after my weight loss got sidelined for my injury for two months. I'm motivated and want to see some results!!!