By the Book?

If you hang around low-carb communities for any length of time, you’ll hear the advice given emphatically to newbies: “Get the book! Get the book! Get the book!” You'd think the folks have some sort of stock in the publishing company, man.

It’s “the book” for whatever low-carb plan said newbie has decided to follow—most often, Dr. A.’s New Diet Revolution (DANDR). And you’ll sometimes hear my least favorite response to that advice: “I can’t afford the book.” Now, bear in mind this is available in paperback, for somewhere in the neighborhood of six bucks...Maybe less. "Woe is me! I'm too poor to be informed!"

Now, I know this isn’t the plan; the real intent is NOT avoid responsibility for getting educated and taking charge of your eating habits. Heck, when somebody says they can’t afford the book, they probably even believe it. But c’mon, folks. So you are not worth six bucks, Sparky? This is what you’re saying? Do what you have to do, ok? Becasue you ARE worth it. Buy generic TP or skip a couple cups of Starbucks in the morning. And even if you can't honestly afford the expenditure, visit your local library. The librarians are your friends. (Not to mention the fact that as long as you're saying you don't have six bucks to spare, you won't. You create your own reality.)

When somebody says they can’t afford the book, here’s what I hear: “I don't want to spend my time or energy on this....if you can't explain it to me in thirty seconds or less so I can prep for my high school reunion next Friday, then forget it. And besides, I want to continue to eat whatever I want, while I say I'm low carbing—and owning the book might get in the way of that!” Ok, maybe that’s a bit harsh, I know. I'm sorry. That's not the concious intent. But that's what I hear.

Honestly? However you do it, this is the deal: You can't afford NOT to get the book, ok? 

I often like to point out that I’ve “done” low-carb twice. Once, sans book—I lasted 2 weeks and lost 12 pounds. Impressive, but…with the book, I’ve been at it over two years and lost over 100 pounds. “Which results do you prefer?” I would ask the cash-crunched newbies.

Why get the book? You get the book to understand low-carb works. You get the book so when your mother says you’re not eating healthy food, you know you actually are eating very well and you can explain why, if you so choose. You get the book so when you wonder why you haven’t lost any weight in the last twenty minutes or when you wonder if you really have to exercise or when you wonder if too much cheese stall losses, or even when you just need a bit of inspiration, you have it there. You get the book to be your roadmap. 

You get the book because you are committed to making this work. You can stumble along based on odds and ends to see if "this thing pans out" or you can commit and get the book.  I think we both know who’s going to make it and who isn’t, based on the attitude. Who do you want to be? Which results do you prefer?

Get the book! Get the book! Get the book! You'll be glad you did.