At first glance, you might think that this book is a publicity stunt by McDonald’s, or at least an attempt by the chain to repair the damage caused by the Super Size Me film.
It is neither, and in fact McDonald’s was not involved in any way with the writing, marketing, or even the idea behind the book. Even the burger on the cover is not a McDonald’s burger because they have very strict copyright issues regarding anything related to their brand.
This is a book written by Mark Austin, a certified personal trainer and performance nutrition specialist who works out at his Swiss-based gym.
Mark Austin specializes in fast and sustainable weight loss based on an exercise and diet regimen that he has perfected over 27 years in the health and fitness industry. The waiting list to join your gym says it all, and once you’re in, you have to make an effort so to speak, or you’ll be politely asked to leave, to make way for the next desperate client.
The motivation behind the book was a response to all the excuses Mark’s clients have given over the years to avoid weight loss: Nothing else to eat at the restaurant … It was a special occasion … It was cooked especially for me … I didn’t want to offend the host … I didn’t have time … etc, etc.
He decided to write a book to show that even if you ate nothing but fast food for a month, you could still lose weight if you sensibly meet your body’s nutritional needs and an exercise program three times a week.
How to use this book
My suggestion is that you read it twice to understand the dynamics of weight loss based on nutritional needs and linked to a progressive exercise program. Study the pictures of the exercises and watch the video that accompanies almost all the exercises on the website provided.
The book is written in an engaging, easy-to-understand conversational style, with all expert-backed statements or research findings listed at the end. All non-everyday terms are explained as they are used and followed up again with a glossary at the end.
Next, assuming your doctor has cleared you for both a new diet and exercise regimen, take the book to your nearest trusted gym and sign up or log in. Follow the pictures of the exercises and record your progress on the training chart provided. On the way home, stop at a convenient McDonald’s and order your first meal for the next 30 days.
It is better to do the exercise correctly with a lower weight than to force the body with too heavy a weight used incorrectly. If you’re not ready for the weights, you can start at home by doing flexibility and mobility exercises. The instructions that label the photographs are very clear and give several variations of the exercise depending on your physical condition and flexibility. Once you can master an exercise with ease, it is time to “move on” to the next level. Do you need something easier? You can also “go back” one level.
Advantages of eating McDonald’s
The main advantage of basing the food to be consumed on a standardized source is that there can be no unconscious traps. McDonald’s was the obvious choice because there are so many branches in every major city.
Diet is traditionally associated with deprivation, while “eating out” is associated with a treat. The main reason people eat out is for simplicity and convenience. Not having to buy, prepare and weigh “diet foods” is already a time saver and a psychological boost.
If you’re ordering takeout from McDonald’s, you can’t be on a diet, right? So that eliminates all the well-meaning family, friends and colleagues who are waiting to tell you that you are going to fail, once again. It tastes good and there is a lot of variety. Each item in your diet has been assigned its caloric value, so no calculations are necessary.
Meals become something to look forward to rather than a test of your creativity with a limited number of low-fat options.
conclusion
The McDonald’s Diet is a slim 225-page book (67 of those pages consisting of exercise photos) that easily fits in a gym bag and into a lifetime. It is one of the few books I have seen that offers the same page space for both exercise and diet, the two components that are an integral part of any weight loss program.
It covers in a few pages the essentials of weight loss, nutrition before and after exercise, and why yo-yo diets never work and are a danger to your physical and mental health. The reason it can be so slim and affordable is that no space has been wasted on recipes – your meals are waiting for you ASAP. It is written for people who want to lose weight seriously, without harming their health. It sells on Amazon for $ 14.
So now it’s your turn.