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"I've known Rip for more than 20 years. In that time, he's been a great motivator for so many people. This terrific book will inspire all who read it to change their lives and optimize their health." -Lance Armstrong, cancer survivor, seven-time Tour de France champion
Lose weight, lower cholesterol, significantly reduce the risk of disease, and become physically fit—in just 4 weeks.
Professional athlete-turned-firefighter Rip Esselstyn is used to responding to emergencies. So, when he learned that some of his fellow Engine 2 firefighters in Austin, TX, were in dire physical condition-several had dangerously high cholesterol levels (the highest was 344!)-he sprang into action and created a life-saving plan for the firehouse. By following Rip's program, everyone lost weight (some more than 20 lbs.), lowered their cholesterol (Mr. 344's dropped to 196), and improved their overall health. Now, Rip outlines his proven plan in this book. With Rip as your expert coach and motivator, you'll transform your body and lifestyle in a month. His plant-powered eating plan is based on a diet of whole foods, including whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. This invaluable guide features: **Dozens of easy, mouthwatering recipes-from pancakes to pizza, Tex-Mex favorites to knockout chocolate desserts-that will keep you looking forward to every bite **Pantry-stocking tips will take the panic out of inevitable cravings and on-the-fly meals **Guidelines on menu choices that will allow you to eat out, wherever and whenever you want **Rip's simple, firefighter-inspired exercise program that will boost your metabolism and melt your fat away.
Medically approved, easy-to-follow, and amazingly effective, this diet is designed for anyone who wants to make heroic strides in his or her health, weight, and well-being-all without heroic effort.
"Want to be as strong as a Texas firefighter? Or as healthy as a professional triathlete? Then follow the wonderful advice of Rip Esselstyn, who is both. His book can save your life—whether you're a man or a woman. Highly recommended!" -Dean Ornish, M.D., Founder and President, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, Clinical Professor of Medicine, U of California SF, author, Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease
DanFritz
Posted February 23, 2009
I Also Recommend:
I had just completed Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's book when I heard that his firefighter son, Rip, was also authoring a book on the benefits of a plant based diet. Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's book "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" was an amazing read. This well respected surgeon led a pioneering study that paved the way for many to change the course of their lives. This includes me. So it was with great enthusiasm that I ordered Rip's book "Engine 2 Diet". I read the entire book in 2 days and was amazed at its approach and enthusiasm regarding a plant based diet. As a firefighter I know that many in our profession succumb to the ill effects of the typical western diet. Rip's work infuses logic into a workable solution that is remarkably easy to follow. The dietary options are endless and the included recipes have me wondering if eating this way can really taste this good. The Engine 2 Diet is a convincing philosophy for every firefighter to consider. But make no mistake, the book is for everyone who wishes to improve their health. In the 3 weeks that I have subscribed to the Esselstyn dietary philosophy I have noticed dramatic increases in energy with obvious weight loss. Please do yourself a favor and read Rip's book. Buy it for a firefighter you might know and tell your friends. While many have tried to espouse the benefits of eating well, these two just might have created a force to be reckoned with when it comes to an American dietary revolution.
17 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 7, 2009
Being a fire fighter, this book and the author caught my interest. He is very strong in his belief that a plant based diet is the only way to go. I decided to follow his recommendations and switched to a plant based diet, no meat, fowl, and only occasional fish. If it has legs, I don't eat it. I will have to say, it was difficult to adjust to with the first two weeks sheer hell! Now that I have been on it for 3 months, things have leveled out, I've lost 25#, my cholesterol has dropped and my blood pressure is within normal range. If there is anything I would criticise, it would be the author's attitude that there is no way to accomplish an improvement unless strictly following his guidelines. Some people may not be able to be that rigid and may abandon a good program because they feel the need stay totally with the program. Mixing the book with some flexibility could give good results even if not becoming totally plant based. All in all, the book is interesting, informative and can work.
16 out of 19 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 2, 2009
At the end of 2008 I found myself the heaviest I had ever been. I had just turned 40 and the scales were saying 270. I was 100 pounds overweight. My cholesterol was sneaking up to the 200 mark and my doctor told me that if I couldn't get the number down with diet and exercise, medication was the only option. I was already on meds for my high blood pressure and I really didn't want to add any more.
So, like a lot of people do, I made a new years resolution to lose weight. I thought that if I would just eat less of the bad foods I was already eating I could lose weight. By the end of January I had lost 10 pounds and was feeling confident. But by the end of February it was back again. Sometime in March I saw an article in The Dallas Morning News about this book. I had always been interested in the vegan lifestyle but never thought I could live with the diet. Your diet looked interesting. It was something different and that was just what I needed. I bought the book and started the E2 diet on March 23rd. I really wasn't that hard at all. I was finding all kinds of new food and new ways to cook them. I even stared growing some of my own food. I am never hungry. I eat until I am full. But, I am now eating good plant based foods.
As of today, April 28th, I have lost 35 pounds. I am losing a pound or more each week. I am starting to exercise daily, which I haven't done in years. I am feeling great. Oh and by the way, I just got my lab results back from my doctor visit last week. My cholesterol has dropped 48 points and my triglycerides dropped 66 points. My doctor says to "keep doing what you are doing because you have finally found what works for you".
I am half way to my goal of being under 200 pounds.
Thank you,Rip, for the book and the help it has given me. It has no doubt added years to my life.
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 9, 2009
Some of the recipes are absolutely delicious. I have searched high and low for some of the ingredients, and was unable to find them, even in our local health food store. I just wish there was more information for transitioning from a meat eating diet to vegan. I don't like meat, but the rest of my family can't imagine not eating it. The recipes do not include nutritional information, and I don't feel reassured that they are balanced.
10 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 20, 2009
This book gets right to the point. You can read a few pages then jump right in to the program. After 4 weeks of being on this diet, my family has learned to eat differently, enjoy many new foods, and began cooking together. We will continue to maintain this diet 90%. The only down side is that it is difficult to come home from work and spend so much time cooking. There is a lot of prep work and lots of dishes. We are now going to work on efficiency in the kitchen and we will also begin looking for simpler menus that can be prepared in 30 or 40 minutes.
9 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The Engine 2 Diet is written by a firefighter who, following studies done by his medical doctor father, did a study of 13 firefighters and 2 civilians with the twenty-eight day plant-based Engine 2 diet. All were able to reduce their cholesterol, some significantly.
The book covers food myths, case testimonials, target BP & BMI, and how to read food labels. There is a section with basic cardiovascular exercises such as jumping jacks and step-ups. The exercise section is short, but covers all body areas and is mostly aerobic and body strengthening workouts. Most able-body persons will be able to accomplish the exercise routine.
The recipe section is more extensive with foods for every meal and dessert. This is, however, a very strict vegetarian diet. Most of the ingredients are readily available in your grocery store. Living in a small town area, I always take notice of the availability of the ingredients recommended. One lesser known ingredient that is frequently listed is Bragg Liquid Aminos, of which I just recently received a free sample. It is simply a healthier version of soy sauce and can be ordered online if not in your stores. Even in small towns, most grocers now have frozen meat substitutes.
Strict diets are difficult to stick to, but if you want to be healthy, I'd at least give this one a try for the initial two weeks. You may be hooked on it!
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Okay, so I admit - I need to lose a (clears throat) few pounds! But what really caught my eye of Rip Esselstyn's new book was the subtitle - "The Texas Firefighter's 28 Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds."
Okay - cholesterol is a major concern for many North American adults and who couldn't stand to lose a (clears throat) few pounds?
The basis for The Engine 2 Diet is Esselstyn's belief that "...the most basic, profound and powerful way to take care of your health on a day-to-day basis is to eat a healthy, plant-based diet."
As a firefighter and dedicated athlete, Rip was concerned about the health of his fellow firefighters. He convinced them to join him in his plant based diet and all who participated saw profound results, both in weight and health improvement.
He has two plans - Fire Cadet - which slowly weans you off meat, eggs, dairy, oils and refined products. And the Firefighter - you're off all the above at once. There are numerous studies and facts presented to back up his belief that this is the way to live the rest of your life. Results can be seen in four weeks.
Of course, it needs to be combined with physical activity, muscular and cardiovascular. Rip uses a method called functional training - using your own body weight, no equipment needed. There is a full section on stretching and exercise, complete with descriptive pictures. He advocates having a number of medical tests (ie blood work, BP etc) done so that you have a baseline to measure your progress against. The book is peppered with testimonials and anecdotes, giving it a personal feel.
The second half of the book cover recipes and meal plans. I found the section on label reading and specific product recommendations to be extremely helpful and very clearly written. How to ensure you are getting the nutrients you need from sources other than meats and dairy were helpful as well. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised with the recipes and meal plans. They were absolutely do-able, if that makes sense. Many of them were foods I already enjoy. Most of them appealed to me. (But I will take a pass on kale butter!)
I have to say that a lot of it really makes sense to me after reading this book. Even if you took some of his ideas and adapted them to your life, you would reap some benefit. Am I going to jump on the bandwagon? (or fire engine as the case may be) It's given me a lot to consider.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 20, 2009
I love this book. It is very easy to follow and it answers all your questions regarding a vegan diet. My husband and I are on our 8th week following his diet and have lost 15 pounds each and have really enjoyed our food. We are not hungry and have no cravings. We plan on making this a permanent lifestyle change.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 20, 2009
After months of trying to diet and exercising daily, I had little to show for it. I saw Rip on the Today Show when the book came out, and I decided this might be worth a try.
I used to consume a diet of almost all meat. I thought it could be tough to stay on the diet, but the recipes helped me realize how good fruits and vegetables can be.
So far I've lost 35 pounds. This book changed how I eat, and I'm much healthier now.
When I explain to people how I lost the weight, they're always very surprised. I've now been able to get some friends to read the book and try the diet, as well. Most people have phenomenally unhealthy eating habits, and I think this is a great diet for everyone--regardless of whether you need to lose weight.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 21, 2009
I Also Recommend:
Rip makes it easy to transition to a healthy vegan diet, with plenty of compelling reasons why, research to back it up, and an awesome group of recipes to make it delicious. This book proves ANYONE can do it...
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 30, 2011
This is not just a diet, it is a lifestyle choice.
A choice that if you make it will be the best investment in you that you could make!
As a Firefighter / Paramedic, with the patients I see, it makes one want to exercise and eat right. I thought I was, yet my vitals and and numbers stayed the same. After reading this book and becoming, "Plant Strong", I have not only noticed my cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight decrease, but my energy and stamina have increased as well.
Unlike other "diets" everyone* will see positive results, *(Unless you already are plant-strong, then you like this book for the recipes!)
Make the investment in this book for you!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 5, 2011
After reading this book I was forced to evaluate what I ate and the consequences of it. During the first 28 days I lost over 13 lbs and never felt better. This eating style works for me.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 16, 2010
I Also Recommend:
I bought this book because I know how much firefighters love cooking and food. The information and personal stories were very good, however a lot of information was based on authors I already own (Dr. McDougall specifically) so it was a little repetitive for me.
I do recommend and very much enjoyed the NY Time Veggie Burger recipe! Easy to make, freezes great, smells wonderful when reheating!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 15, 2010
This could also double for a vegetarian cookbook as it is full of great recipes. The author stresses a vegan, plant-heavy diet free of processed food and rich with whole grains. I can easily see myself using this as a basis of my dietary choices, though I doubt I will ever follow his plan zealously. His advice has helped me to make better food choices, eat more salads, and incorporate vegetables in places I usually don't. I feel better and I look better. It was easy and I don't really think about it. Unlike my old diet of mostly sugary and processed carbohydrates, I feel full faster and I don't crave things nearly like I used to at the end of the day. Because the biggest change I've made has been the incorporation of salads into every meal, I attribute it to the leafy greens that I'm now eating. While I'm sure others may read more deeply into the book and become vegans or vegetarians, for me, I was quite happy just to get some great ideas into how to enjoy vegetables as a main course. The author also adds anecdotes, personal testimonies, and some cute stories which help make the book a very easy read.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.if you're looking for results, this book can help. If you just want to improve your diet, this book can help, if you are vegan this is the book for you
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 15, 2012
Great book, great recipes from a man that walks the walk. I have lost 80 pounds not being on a diet, rather by changing my eating habits. I have never felt better nor looked better.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 29, 2011
Easy to read and great info.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 20, 2010
This book is a must read for anyone interested in keeping their cardiovascular system healthy for a quality life!
The weight will drop off without stringent dieting with this healthy food.
The author makes a fantastic case for healthy eating with an impeccable family background in medicine.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 7, 2012
Recommended for anyone interested in learning about whole food, plant based living.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 14, 2013
I am extremely happy with this purchase. The information is helpful and the recipes are fantastic!
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Overview
"I've known Rip for more than 20 years. In that time, he's been a great motivator for so many people. This terrific book will inspire all who read it to change their lives and optimize their health." -Lance Armstrong, cancer survivor, seven-time Tour de France champion
Lose weight, lower cholesterol, significantly reduce the risk of disease, and become physically fit—in just 4 weeks.
Professional athlete-turned-firefighter Rip Esselstyn is used to responding to emergencies. So, ...