The Petite Advantage Diet

JessieNeutronGirlGenius · January 2012

So I bought this book a couple of days ago and so far it's pretty interesting. Jim Karas (the author and fitness guru) talks about how women under 5'4 need to be on a different diet and what not. He even recommends not to take part in cardio? This doesn't make sense to me. He says that for petites it can assist in actually GAINING weight....is anyone else reading this book?

shakybabe · January 2012

Never heard of it.. Can dowload it as PDF? Or do you have a link? I'm 5ft 3 and half.

MB_Positif · January 2012

Interesting, as I have lost weight doing a lot of running mixed with circuit training and I am barely 5'-2". Not saying my methods would work for everyone, but I've never heard anything like that before. Let me know if you yield good results!

hottottie11 · January 2012

Sorry...sounds stupid... I'm 5'2'' I've lost over 50 lb they same way tall people lost weight.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics · January 2012

I'm also curious how being short makes our bodies work so differently that we would require a completely different diet/exercise plan from our taller counterparts? It sounds a little silly.

cameralinds · January 2012

That's really interesting... can you post more information about it? I'm 5', definitely petite.

Doing some mild research this was the first thing that I found about it... it basically states the obvious. Short people can't eat as much as their equally weighed, taller friends, because BMR is different. Cardio will make petite people more hungry....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2079454/New-Petite-Advantage-Diet-reveals-weight-loss-tips-SHORT-women.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Not that the dailymail is a scholarly source on the matter, but that's what I found in a quick google search.

jam0525 · January 2012

Marking my spot.

A different diet sounds right for us vertically challenge people, but no cardio does not sound right. A certain amount is good for the heart.

Keep us posted on what you are reading and what sounds like it makes sense.

Jeannie

busterbluth · January 2012

Sorry...sounds stupid... I'm 5'2'' I've lost over 50 lb they same way tall people lost weight.

Yeah. Me too. And Joan Benoit, the first female Olympic Marathon winner, is 5'2", 100lbs.

RunningAddict · January 2012

Everyone needs exercise in my oppinion, tall, short, big, small!! I think I would pitch that book-

klcinwpg · January 2012

I have read about the book and read the first chapter. Some things seem interesting but I don't know about other things that he talks about. That no cardio thing is interesting and the eat your biggest meal at breakfast!.

firedragon064 · January 2012

I don't belive it but I want to keep an open mind since I used to not believe in low carb and IF.. until I tried them myself.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics · January 2012

I just went to the website and it sounds like a lot of hooey to me. If a person's credentials are that they've appeared on The View, Dr Oz, and Good Morning America, that hardly qualifies them as a "guru" in my experience. Also this is another eating plan that requires you to eliminate certain foods completely from your diet.

nikkirenee79 · January 2012

I could get behind his theory that strength training might be better, but I am very skeptical of his claim that cardio will make us gain weight. I found a little bit more info about the book via a quick google search-

http://www.weightloss-hq.biz/weight-loss-reviews/the-petite-advantage-diet-review-sneak-peak-into-the-book.html

kellyb63 · January 2012

I'm 5 foot 3.5 inches and have an apple shape body. I'll check it out, thanks for writing about it. Maybe he thinks excessive cardio is bad. I know when I run an hour, I'm starving!

yvonnej1 · January 2012

I just looked on Amazon and 'read inside' quite a bit of it. I'm 5'3 and I've lost my weight through a mix of cardio and strength, and I do think the strength training has been vital to getting the body shape that I want. Overall though this book seems to say a lot of what I have read before. I've read plenty about how it can be harder for smaller people to lose weight because of tighter margins in calorie requirements and deficits etc. There are also plenty of claims about cardio not being as effective for weightloss for some people, but to claim it can make you gain weight? hmmmm. However the deal breaker for me would be his insistence on breakfast having to be the biggest meal, that does not suit my style of eating at all, I like my big evening meal and always will. I've lost weight eating like that and I've seen studies that show that meal size and timing are irrelevant when calories are constant.

edited for spelling!

mamitosami · January 2012

I'm 5 foot 3.5 inches and have an apple shape body. I'll check it out, thanks for writing about it. Maybe he thinks excessive cardio is bad. I know when I run an hour, I'm starving!

Just sayin' -- I'm 5'11", if I run an hour I'm starving too!!

tangal88 · January 2012

Sorry, sounds hokey to me personally.

5'2" here, medium frame.

I use heavy lifting and cardio both. When I cut out cardio I have a harder time losings. When I add my cardio back, I loss more consistently - but certainly don't gain weight. (other then the normal weight gain related to stored water in muscle which happens to everyone, or all sizes, and gains as I build on muscle.)

Personally the only difference I see, is that stature can dictate differences in calories needed to loss and maintain weight. But you can find free calculators everyone online, that will provide correct cal numbers based on height, body build and age.

I have lost 60 pounds, I am older at age 47, which also mean slower metabolism issues. I do not cut out any foods, just use moderation and common sense, and staying in my calorie and macro goals.

Meal size does not change how you burn calories, many studies have shown that to be inaccurate, and I cannot see how stature would matter. There are many many female (and male) athelites of short stature that eat small, or no breakfasts, and lose or maintain weight. (jockeys, ballerinas, gymnasts, female body builders)

Pretty much everyone, any stature, male or female find they are more hungry after working out hard. This is true or cardio or resistance training. Its normal. Usually means you need to eat.

Your body needs fuel to rebuild, repair, stressed tissues, muscles and body systems.

Resistance training and cardio are both important for well rounded fitness, health, fat loss, toning, muscle building and conditioning. Both have benefits.

estherpab · January 2012

I too bought the book and I was a bit skeptical about the cardio part because I do tons of cardio, am constantly hungry and I don't gain or lose weight! I just joined MFP so I'm hoping if I get my eatting in check I can lose the last 4 pounds I want to lose. I thought the meal plans were to complicated as I work and don't have time to make a bake sweet potato for lunch. Im in sales so I'm always on the road. I've been on MFP for 3 wks and have I have only lost one pound

significance · January 2012

I'm 5'1" and lost almost 20kg (over 40 lbs) in 2011 by doing lots of cardio and sticking to 1200 net calories per day. I don't have a big breakfast, but reserve calories for a big dinner. If I don't do cardio, I have trouble sticking to 1200 calories and am hungry a lot. If I do a lot of cardio, I have much less trouble and I'm rarely very hungry.

KC5ZRQ · January 2012

Does petite mean short, or small? I agree that someone who is obese (see gov't BMI standards) should initially diet only, for weight loss. Persons that are obese shouldn't participate in strenuous repetitive exercise because of risk of injury and aggravating existing health problems. When the person drops to being overweight, then start an exercise program. A normal weight person should exercise to benefit their overall health. I don't know why a petite person should not do cardiovascular exercise.

Pebble321 · January 2012

Sorry...sounds stupid... I'm 5'2'' I've lost over 50 lb they same way tall people lost weight.

I have to agree - I'm 5'4" but although the numbers are going to vary, and there isn't going to be so much wiggle room as when you're bigger - sounds silly!

JessieNeutronGirlGenius · January 2012

I agree with all of your opinions I've been reading more into it and there are some aspects of this book that makes me really angry while some of the book is really informational. I'm getting mixed feelings on this book because he says you have to use this special equipment that he created so I was like wow this guy is just trying to sell me his crap but then his valid information like how you calculate how many calories you can have and your bmi and what not is really helpful. And the support you gain from his knowledge is great but like I said before I feel as if hes pawning off his success and what not.

Also, a lot of doctors have agreed that his methods aren't right. Especially re guarding the no cardio really freaked me out because I always do it. I LOVE cardio especially how it makes me feel so fantastic. But when he discusses strength training I can see what he means when he says how it tears your muscles and rebuilds them as lean muscles but like I said before the no cardio matter really confuses me and I totally disregarded that!

He has some great recipes and easy ones as well. And he stresses that eating more at breakfast is key. And since then I've been eating a bigger breakfast and I feel a lot fuller throughout the day. I usually get hungry around 12 or so. So i'll eat lunch and be on my way.

Honestly though, would I recommend his book? Yes and no. His information is great and really plugs a bug into your brain about being mindful about what you eat. But his exercise routines really make me angry. Especially when hes like "using my equipment will help you succeed in weight loss blahblah"

You can read a summary or what not about the book and message me your opinion on it if you'd all like!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-petite-advantage-diet-jim-karas/1106240923
http://www.weightloss-hq.biz/weight-loss-reviews/the-petite-advantage-diet-review-sneak-peak-into-the-book.html

littlemsmuffet · January 2012

He even recommends not to take part in cardio? This doesn't make sense to me. He says that for petites it can assist in actually GAINING weight....is anyone else reading this book?

I haven't read the book, but I know from recent, consistent personal experience that I do hold weight when I exercise. If I omit workouts, my appetite is decreased significantly and weight seems to fall off. It is strange to me, but I am going to save myself some time and stay at home where it's warm

Redgal56 · January 2012

I bought it and I am very impressed! What he states in there is so true - calories are calories - muscle burns more fat than just cardio. I am still planning on taking my Zumba class next week but I will be adding weights. I love the book so far!

kendalsmom · January 2012

i have been doing the petite advantage diet without the exercise bc i teach and have a 6 month old. so far on the diet i have lost 4 lbs in 6 days. i didn't think i would like the food but actually they are quick and delicious:)

WilliamsPeggy · January 2012

I'm 5' tall. My goal isn't to just lose weight, it's to be an athlete too. Therefore, I wouldn't follow that program.

lbaustin8 · January 2012

I've been on this Diet for 9 days now. I think there is alot of misinformation even for those who have apparently read the book. Even though he says "no cardio" it's really, that you don't have to do those exercises that just focus on aerobic exercise to get your heart rate up. My experience is that if you do the exercises he recommends with minimal rest periods in between, you will get your cardio. Your heart rate will go up which is the whole point of cardio. He also points out in the beginning that if you follow his exercise plan you will tone your body in places that pure cardio won't. The jury is still out on his plan. I am blogging about my experience and progress at www.mypetitediet.blogspot.com. I'm reviewing each of the meals and tracking my progress. Just my way of making myself accountable. So far I've lost 3 pounds. I just started the exercise routine and felt it in my legs and butt immediately (which is where I need it the most). Also, the gravity straps are not his product. It's from "GoFit" and a totally different exercise guru.

lbaustin8 · January 2012

Let me add a couple more comments. How many of you who responded to the original post are over 50? Believe me once you hit post menopause, your body is not your own. The way you used to lose weight doesn't work anymore. What you used to get away with because you had a good hormonally running metabolism doesn't cut it when your hormones go caflewy on you. Maybe that's why this book resonates for me. I've tried all of my usual ways to lose weight to no success. I've worked with a trainer and focused mostly on cardio with some exercises. I never noticed a significant change in BMI and, didn't lose any weight. And, ended up being hungry after every workout. In fact, when I was working with a training, I would have serious hunger pangs at all hours of the day and night.

Redgal56 · January 2012

I am over 50 and totally understand what you are saying! I have the book and am going to try and follow it! Keep us posted on how you are doing.

ftpprd71 · January 2012

I am 5 ft tall and 40 years old. I need to lose about 20lbs to get down to about 110 lbs which I feel is a good weight for someone my size. I read the book and it made perfect sense to me from a scientific point of view. The diet is a plan that uses foods that are much more likely to fill you up with fewer calories (high in fiber and lots of lean protiens). It is really just retraining your metabolism so that you can burn calories faster and feel full on less calories a day. The exercise program with the reisitence bands is meant to build and stretch your muscles. It also burns a lot of calories when you are doing the exercises correctly. I do about 30 minutes of cardio twice a week in addition to the resistence bands but that's because I happen to enjoy cardio. I just started this week so hopefully I'll reach my 20 lb goal.

chaitrex · February 2012

I've heard of it and think it sounds really interesting. I like the idea of strength training being preferential to cardio. I've started only doing intense cardio for warm-ups instead of the bulk of the workout. I probably should actually read the book before I decide to follow it haha.

The Petite Advantage Diet

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