Men's Health TNT Diet: The Explosive New Plan to Blast Fat, Build Muscle, and Get Healthy in 12 Weeks

Well, I guess this is the week for exercise books. (Sorry, the reference to "dynamite" in my title was a natural, given the book acronym). I was already familiar with the TNT diet and exercise protocols before I bought the book, since it was introduced awhile back in Men's Health magazine. Readers of the mag will want to purchase the book, as it goes into more detail and has many additions. Anyway, so what is the hoopla over this TNT (TM) diet and exercise program? Read no further than Dr. Richard Feinman's review here on Amazon; Feinman is a research collaborator with author Jeff Volek and both have clinically slashed through the medical community's ridiculous low-fat/high-carb dietary advice like samurai Musashi Miyamoto slashing through twenty bad guys, without blinking an eye. If this were a samurai movie, those severed, bloodied bodies you see all over the ground would be the standard medical community. But this isn't a samurai movie, alas, so back to less-bloody thoughts. In all seriousness, if anyone bothers to read the clinical studies done by Volek and Feinman and their findings on the superiority of low-carb diets over the typical advice (not to mention numerous other studies, plus older clinical literature comparing higher-mono-fat diets vs. the typical high-carb low-fat AHA diets), one simply cannot avoid the conclusion our medical communities are clueless on worthwhile dietary advice. I knew that already. Many others were aware of that too. Now all of you know it too. Dr. Volek distills a lot of his research here in TNT for getting folks started on a prudent low-carb baseline diet, and then ratcheting up certain carbs from there, depending on the *timing*. The strong point of this book is showing exactly when one can add carbs without killing the fat-burning effects of a low-carb baseline diet- i.e., primarily after exercise, when the glucose load can be shunted into receptive muscle tissue. If someone has read my other reviews, I'm kind of partial to a low-glycemic-load concept on carbohydrates in general. This book goes one further- it gives the optimal time to add in some low-glycemic carbs like legumes, dairy, fruits, high-fiber cereal etc., which is right after the workout...NOT during a regular meal. This isn't really new news; bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts have targeted carb intake around workouts for many years...such as the so-called "targeted ketogenic" diet. So what's unique about this particular book, you ask? It's problably the dietary spectrum that the authors give that sets this book apart. Readers can choose from a variety of dietary strategies along a baseline low-carb spectrum. Depending on whether rapid fat-loss or muscle-replenishing is the goal, one can choose a starting point that targets one of these goals specifically, or opt for a modified less-extreme point in the middle of the carbohydrate re-loading spectrum. The dietary options will be especially appreciated by (middle-aged or otherwise) readers who are watching their blood glucose levels and need some solid exercise advice to lose fat and build some lean muscle tissue. The exercise section is also very good. Three whole-body workouts a week, with optional high-intensity cardio on off-days. Truly the best of both worlds. Body re-composition needs weight training to accomplish, hence the emphasis on weights(although a good full-body workout produces ample cardio benefits in it's own right). Co-author Adam Campbell of Men's Health undoubtedly had a lot of expert input into the exercise section, which is well-balanced and sensible. What's not to like here? Finally, a word about saturated fat, as I know Dr. Volek considers this a key finding in his research. We've been told by the "experts" for many years that saturated fats are very bad for one's health. It's almost a mantra in the medical community. To be sure, there have been vocal opponents to this status-quo thinking (lipid expert Mary Enig being one), but by-and-large, most advice given out currently sees saturated fat as an enemy. Well, no more. Volek and Feinman, among others, have shown conclusively in the research that saturated fat in the diet is only harmful when the CARB CONTENT is also high; if one eliminates the carbs, saturated fats are not harmful. Studies which show negative results on high saturated-fat diets invariably also included ample carbohydrate content, which means some of the researchers didn't do a particularly good job isolating the variables. And some types of saturated fat are actually good for you (as would be expected, given our cave-man genes...Fred Flintstone didn't eat only salmon). Yes, I know this flies in the face of what many readers are expecting, but the research is there on saturated fats, despite what many in the medical community still believe. (Old, outdated health advice dies hard). Let's sum up. Buy the book, get rolling on the workouts, and get the damn sugar and starches out of your non-workout meals. You'll be healthier, your cholesterol and blood sugar will thank you, and Dr. Volek and Mr. Campbell will be happy authors. Everybody wins.

I was excited to read this book. I have a few friends at work who started this diet and have already lost weight, feel better and have more energy. My goal isn't to just lose weight but to also get healthy. I was going into reading this book thinking, YES this will be the fix all end all for weight loss, but after finishing the book I realize that it isn't just about losing pounds, but it's about making smart food decisions and smart workout decisions. This book has instructions on what to eat when as well as how to make the best out of your workout. Sure you can go to the gym and run for 2 hours, but after your done running, does your body still burn calories? This book answers these types of questions. There is a lot of science behind this book. The authors explain everything which makes it very nice to understand why eating a juicy steak every night is acceptable. It also explains how doing certain exercises and eating certain foods at the right times can produce the best results possible. This diet isn't about eating less food, or only eating super healthy foods, but it is about eating what you want at the right times in addition to exercising your body. Best quote from the book: "...fat free and low fat foods have remained staples of the American diet... If this describes you, consider this logic: 1. fat-free foods are healthy. 2. Skittles are fat free. 3. Therefore, skittles are healthy. Makes sense? Of course not. But it's exactly the type of reasoning that food manufactures want you to use" (Volek, Men's Health TNT Diet)

I AM A NORMAL GUY. I AM NIOT A HEALTH NUT, MUSCLE HOUND GUY. BUT I DO WANNA LIVE TO BE OLDER THEN FIFTY FIVE, AND BEFORE THIS BOOK, IT WAS A REALITY. THIS IS SCIENCE FOLKS; NOT 'WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR' BUT WHAT IS. AND THEY GIVE YOU A SIMPLE PLAN TO FOLLOW THAT YOU CAN'T SCREW UP, EVEN IF YOU TRY! LOW-CARB, HIGH FAT, AND PROTIEN...THAT'S IT. THEY GIVE YOU THE FOODS TO EAT, THE RECIEPES TO COOK EASY, GOOD MEALS( I NEVER COOKED UNTIL I BOUGHT THIS BOOK). THE WORKOUT PLAN IS EASY TO FOLLOW, THIRTY MINUTES EVERY OTHER DAY AND THE WEIGHT COMES OFF!! WHEN I STARTED THIS, I WAS 205LBS; IN NINETY DAYS I WAS 150 AND COULD SEE MY FEET!! GET IT?

This the one book for a LCHF lifestyle and workout guide! I have read several books and websites trying to learn the LCHF and Keto way of dieting. This book is by far the best at simply explaining it and setting up real programs. Except for the suggested fish oil and protein powder (which are not high cost than what I was using) its everyday supermarket items. Most other books have about 2/3 of the book in outdated trails or studies that try to prove its point. Stuff that you can find on the interwebs. But within 15 pages, TNT Diet has you picking out your diet program and explaining what you need to eat and when. Then you get a exercise proggram for the next 12 weeks with an exercise guide! I will try the exercise program, but as a HIT guy, I will be using a HIT program after the first 12 weeks. If the book has a down fall, its the recipes. But that is about every diet book I ever read. Its easy to morph any recipe into a LCHF friendly version. And I would only setup about two breakfast meals, two or three different lunches, and maybe the same dinners. Keep it simple and boring (Thank you Butter Bob Briggs!) and you will be happier. Learn that food is just fuel, not the end reward. One more excellent point this book stresses is that of the 80/20 rule. Life gets in the way, damnit! If/when you slip, don't think of it as the end of your world. Its just a slip up and then go on. In fact, scheduling "cheat" meals would be a good idea.

I have read this book twice, and I am in the fourth week of training. Whats good about this book is, it explains in depth how the diet works, and it gives you a step by step guide of what you can and can't eat, it also tells you the benefits of the diet. It's also explains things in layman terms so everyone can understand. It also has illustrations on how to execute all the different exercises that you need to perform, I can honestly say that this book is the real deal, I say this because I have been training for the last fifteen years and people who know me have commented, saying this is the leanest and most defined they have ever seen me, one person even ask if i was taking steroids! no such thing. As the book says the first two weeks are the hardest, because of the dramatic change, but after that its smooth sailing, its a well written book, at times you want to jump ahead just to get started, but persevere its interesting and informative, and you begin to realize where you have been going wrong all those years. A great book, you can almost call this the Bible for fitness, honestly I would expect nothing less from Men's Health L George

Já li livros sobre as dietas paleo, low carb, cetogênica, vegetariana, vegana, sem glúten e livros de dietas para reversão da diabetes. Este surpreende pela abordagem simples e bastante flexível sobre o que comer (e quando comer) para atingir uma saúde excelente e um corpo vigoroso. Seu plano de alimentação não demoniza nenhum macronutriente, alimento ou substância, ao contrário de outras dietas. Simplesmente esclarece sobre a qualidade de algumas comidas ou elementos, as melhores e as piores opções, o valor nutricional delas, seus efeitos e quando é adequado ou "permitido" consumi-las. Você não é privado daquilo que gosta de comer, apenas disciplinado. É especialmente atrativo para quem busca hipertrofia muscular mesmo sem suplementos como o whey e a caseína (embora estes são indicados pelo livro). Exercícios com uso de pesos fazem parte do programa. Questões sobre metabolismo, fisiologia, nutrição etc são escritas de forma clara, leve e bem humorada. Há também testemunhos de pessoas narrando suas experiências e os resultados que obtiveram.

Depois que comecei a minha dieta low-carb/high-fat, comecei a virar meio carbo-fóbico... mas o livro até indica macarrão e arroz em horários/dias ADEQUADOS para aumentar a massa muscular, sendo opcional, claro bom livro, oq eu mais gostei foi qnd ele explica os horários de alimentação para "perda de gordura", "ganho de massa muscular" e "recuperação" recomendo

Still the best and easiest diet after all these years. The results in 2 weeks are amazing. I’ve used this on and off for 10 years and it works every time.

It's a very interesting reading. Simple to understand and to use. I recommend to everyone. No starving, you eat and don't want to do anything else.