Stats:  Published every other month (6x’s a year)

Cost: $3.95/issue or $14.95/one year, $24.95/2yrs, $34.95/3yrs.

Review:

I really like this magazine.  Let me tell you that I am no stranger to weightloss magazines and I know a good one when I see it.  The layout is a little different though, and may take some getting used to.  Rather than having every single article referenced in the first few pages, the table of contents is divided into sections.  The sections listed are; “your looks,” “your life,” “your cookbook,” your health,” “your fitness,” and “first person.”  When you turn to the page listed for the section, you’ll see a small table of contents that references that particular section.  It’s kind of nice because everything about cooking, for example, is in one section instead of all throughout the magazine.  Now this means that if you are looking for a particular article, you’ll need to know which section it falls under or else it might be difficult to find.  But it’s a good concept and works well.

Here are a couple of  titles to give you an idea of some of the articles featured throughout the magazine: “The Heart of the Matter” (about diabetes, hypertension, etc.), “Step It Up” (a walking plan), and “Jump-Start Your Success” (a meal plan).  The articles seem pertinent and well-written without a lot of “fluff.”

And now for my favorite part - the Success Stories.  Other weightloss and fitness magazines only offer one, two, maybe three at best.  But not WW Magazine!  They have four! Yes, you read that right - FOUR!  I’ve always found these stories to be inspiring and am glad to see that they have so many. 

Bottom Line:  it’s a great magazine that offers the same diet articles that you are used to, but with a formatting twist. 

Pros:

• Reasonable cost
• Good articles
• Great “success stories” about real people

Cons:

• Only published every other month

Website: Order here

Rating: 5 Stars

Posted by: Tabitha

Stats:  415 pgs/copyright 2005

Authors: Michael Roizen, MD and Mehmet Oz, MD

Cost:  $17.79

Review:

This book definitely has a different format than other health related manuals.  It’s almost “ketchy” in its approach.  I actually like that - it’s hip and clever without being obnoxious.  There are original drawings used as illustrations and my favorite: factoids and the myth vs. fact.  These little nuggets are all throughout the book and contain such goodies as: “Myth or Fact: you can catch a cold by being cold or wet” (Myth) or “Thirty minutes of exercise reduces eye pressure by 20 percent.”  

These little tidbits aside, the book is written in such a way that it is easy to read and easy to understand.  There are twelve chapters and you can read one or all of them, they are independent of each other.  They cover topics from your digestive system to your sexual organs.  While the information may not be terribly deep and life-changing, it is interesting, practical and definitely worth reading.  

Pro’s:

• Useful information
• Easy to read and understandable
• Creative illustrations

Website: Click here to order through Amazon

Rating: 5 Stars

Cost:  $10.19 on Amazon, $14.99 list price

Review:  This book has great reviews on Amazon and goodness knows I don’t need another diet book, but I figured “Why not?”  So I bought it.  This is not a typical diet book that teaches you what to eat and how to eat it.  Rather, it’s one man’s journey into the world of weight management.  And I do mean journey.  The story follows Dr. Nick Yphantides as he travels for several months, visiting baseball games around the country.  During this time, he is one a radical liquid diet that he moniters (since he is a doctor).  The end result: a weight loss of almost 300 pounds! 

The book says that it will teach you the seven pillars of weight loss that will help you lose weight.  It may do that, but honestly, that’s not what I came away with.  What I got as I read the book was an admiration for the author and desire to take care of myself.  The writing was heartfelt and honest and in some parts quite funny.  The best part for me, is how even now, when I drag my feet getting to the gym or don’t want to eat the right thing, I think “If he could do it at 467 pounds, then I certainly can.”  That, the power to motivate and inspire, is what a good book is all about. 

Pros:

• Honest, heartfelt
• Good length, 320 pages
• Written from experience

Con’s:

• Isn’t a true diet book (if that’s what you’re looking for)

Website:  http://www.healthsteward.com/ 

Rating: 5 stars