I’m not a doctor or a dietitian. I’m sharing my review of the book Eat Live Thrive Diet with you as a 49-year-old woman….a frustrated woman who feels like my body has changed the game, but it hasn’t told me the rules.

I’ve gained a little weight, and I wouldn’t mind dropping a few pounds, but that’s not my main concern.  My body feels different.  It’s taking a different shape.  I gain weight in different places now, and a lot more easily!

My digestive system feels sluggish and slow.  And then there’s the bloating.

Why am I always bloated?  When I finish a meal, I look pregnant.

It’s uncomfortable!  My point is, I wanted to learn about the Eat Live Thrive Diet for reasons that included more than losing weight.  But if your main goal is weight loss, this book is certainly a great source to help you achieve your goals.

I received the request to read this book at just the right time.  I was finally admitting to myself that…

The way I had eaten in the past might not be the best plan for my present.

You see, I’ve always eaten pretty healthy.  Why wasn’t that enough anymore?  And the bigger question became…What the hell could I do about it?

Should I go vegan?  Maybe just vegetarian would work.  Paleo?  What even is Paleo?  Then my copy of Eat Live Thrive Diet arrived.  I like this book.  A lot!

Buy this book on Amazon (book, audio book, Kindle versions available)

The Eat Live Thrive Diet focuses on the the midlife metabolism.

I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but this book describes less of a diet, and more of a lifestyle plan.  You can design your diet based on what works for YOU.  The authors give you so many options and ideas to make changes in your diet, you can chose the changes that work for YOU.

For example, I’ve been reading that intermittent fasting is proving to be successful for lots of midlife women trying to lose weight. The book covers many different ways to fast. The thought of going 24 hours without food does not appeal to me.  I know I won’t do it.

But I like the authors’ suggestion of a “12/12 Cycle,” in which 12 hours a day are for eating and 12 are for fasting.  An example would be if you stop eating at eight at night, you won’t eat again until eight the next morning.  There are many other fasting cycles in the book, choose one…or none!  Build the lifestyle that you will stick with.

One of the authors, Robyn Thomson, likes to incorporate a fast of 20-24 hours into her lifestyle.  The other author, Danna Demetre, almost never does.  And that’s a great example of what I like about this book:  You pick what works for you!

Learn more about the authors at the end of this post.

Generally, here is the outline of the Eat Live Thrive Three-Phase Plan: 

1 • The Elimination Phase – temporary elimination of several key foods known
to promote insulin resistance and cause allergies, sensitivities, and
inflammation.

2 • The Discovery Phase – determine which foods are troublesome for you.

3 • The Lifestyle Phase – design an ideal long-term eating plan that accommodates your specific needs and preferences.

For me, eliminating as much grain from my diet as I could REALLY helped my bloating situation!  Most days I do my best to avoid grains, and I feel SO much better!  It has helped manage weight, but I’m so much more comfortable on a daily basis!

The book includes recipes, healthy shortcuts and tips for food substitutions designed to easily adopt and sustain a healthy lifestyle.  I’m trying new recipes, like the Grain-free Pumpkin Pancakes that have become my breakfast favorite!  Because of this book, I’ve started drinking Kombucha, and that’s been a game-changer for my gut health.  I’ve also discovered sweetener made from monk fruit.

For me, little changes have added up and I feel results.

I was surprised to find there is a religious/spiritual component woven into this book.  In all honesty, I’m not the most religious person, so I thought this aspect might put me off.  But I didn’t find it “preachy” at all.  For me, the religious parts were like positive messages that just made me feel good.  And who doesn’t need more of that?

There is so much to learn about in this book, I could go on and on.  If you are ready for BIG changes to your diet, the authors have plans for you.  If you’re just easing in to making healthier choices, the book has plenty to choose from.  There really is something for everyone.

The choices and changes I’ve made have me looking and feeling better.  It’s a resource I’ll continue using without a doubt.

Buy this book on Amazon (book, audio book, and Kindle versions available)

About the Authors:

Danna Demetre, RN, is an author, speaker and co-founder of Lean Healthy Ageless. She has been a guest on a variety of national and local shows, including Fox News Dallas, The 700 Club, ABC News NOW and Moody Broadcasting’s award-winning Midday Connection. Demetre, who is in her sixties, lives with her husband in the foothills outside San Diego.

Robyn Thomson, an advanced clinical weight loss practitioner and co-founder of Lean Healthy Ageless, has worked with cutting-edge nutritional companies and received training from some of the top doctors and scientists in the industry. Through seminars, workshops and coaching, she helps people lose weight, improve their nutrition and get more active. Thomson is in her fifties and lives near the beach in San Diego with her husband, Rob.