Description:
"Losing weight is as easy as finding your body type," asserts Carolyn Mein on the cover of her coffee-table-size diet book. Based on 20 years of research as an applied kinesiologist and bionutritionist, Mein concludes that each human is born with a dominant gland, organ, or system that corresponds to one of 25 specific body types. She also believes each body type manifests itself in unique physical characteristics and psychological traits. Here, Mein attempts to help readers identify their own body type, understand its specific needs (according to her empirical research), and implement a diet tailored to meeting those needs. Opening and scanning the book proves great fun, especially for those who love delving into parallel studies like astrology or numerology. Trouble is, the task of accurately identifying a body type is easier said than done. As readers peruse hundreds of black-and-white photos of scantily clad adult bodies, "unique" doesn't always look so unique--even with help from the corresponding personality profiles. So, while Mein earnestly strives to offer a solution to the one-diet-fits-all myth, her own theory begs the question: Are we all so predictable and categorical? The flip side, of course, is that anyone who finds a perfect match of physical and psychological traits (for instance, an "Adrenal Female" who has a solid boyish figure, thrives on excitement, is competitive and ever in charge) will receive very specific marching orders from Dr. Mein. To each body type, she dedicates about six pages of notes, including a lengthy personality profile, guidelines for dietary intake, healthy and unhealthy foods, ideal meal scheduling, and a sample one-week menu. --Liane Thomas
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