The QOD Diet: Eating Well Every Other Day by John T. Daugirdas; Willowbrook, IL: White Swan Publishing, Ltd; 2006. 147 pages, softcover, $18.95.
In today's society, with the accent on health and fitness along with the alarming numbers of overweight adults and children, there has been a proliferation of diet books and media focus on weight loss, diet, and exercise. Each diet or program has a twist to it that appeals to a particular audience. A recent addition to this literature is the QOD Diet. QOD is a Latin and English acronym meaning, every other day. The hook to this diet is that you "eat" every other day; you alternate a day of eating a full diet with a day of fasting, or a rather severely reduced energy intake. This book, The QOD Diet: Eating Well Every Other Day was written for the general public by a kidney doctor using his years of medical experience to develop a healthy, doable, eating plan for those who want to lose weight and maintain their weight loss. The diet is meant for basically healthy, 20- to 60-year-olds, who are less than 25 lb overweight.
The book has an attractive, illustrated cover and introduces the author and the diet in the Foreword. Before the book begins, there is a disclaimer absolving the publisher and author of any responsibility if the diet adversely affects its followers. The QOD Diet is divided into 12 chapters beginning with an overview of the diet. The book next lists those who should not follow the QOD diet including people with eating disorders, high or low blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetes, on sodium or potassium restriction, among others. One chapter explains metabolism and the body's starvation response while another offers tips for success. A breakdown and explanation of key nutrients, vitamins, and minerals and are given. Two chapters explain the QOD diet and the "off" and "on" days including when, what, and how much to eat. Principles and a walk-through of a typical "off day" eating are given. Although these two chapters are the essence of the diet, the rest of the chapters provide context, rationale, explanations, and additional material to supplement the core diet information. The next chapter deals with problems related to the QOD diet such as weakness, lightheadedness, and gnawing hunger pains. In the chapter on exercise, the author discusses its benefits and the role in weight loss, and reviews aerobics, strength training, and flexibility exercises. The author devotes a chapter to the mental and spiritual dimensions of fasting and its place among several world religions. Next, he presents research studies on energy restriction related to health and longevity. In the chapter entitled Ten Reasons to Get Started, the author motivates readers and makes a case for following the diet by giving 10 persuasive and logical reasons. In the final chapter that deals with what to do once you reach your goal weight, the author advises the readers to keep their weight under control by continuing exercise, following the diet's basic principles for the long term, keeping the diet handy, and reusing it when needed. The author then provides positive strokes to those who elect to follow the diet.
The first of 3 appendices lists a bibliography, footnotes, and resources, chapter by chapter. The middle one offers ideas about snacks and mini meals, recipes included, and divided into categories such as fruit, vegetable, and protein snacks. There are useful charts along with beautifully colored photos of foods that although not necessary, add interest. The last appendix is 32 pages long and contains several weeks of a dieter's blog with his thoughts and activities related to his following the diet. Although I found the blog excessive and uninteresting, other readers might enjoy it. The author invites feedback from the readers and provides a form at the end of the book to be mailed or e-mailed.
The author effectively uses boxes in all the chapters to highlight, clarify, or summarize information, and provide resources. The many tables, figures, and graph are easily understood, and run the gamut from charts for determining target heart rate by age to an off-day eating guide summary.
The book is written in a reader friendly style, briefly to the point, with clear, simple, and complete explanations for complex ideas and issues. The author presents a well-balanced diet using all the food groups with emphasis on nutrient intake while underlining the fact that the diet is not for everyone. Strengths and weaknesses of the diet are presented. The approach is physical with the food and exercise routines as well as mental and spiritual. The author does such a good job in promoting his diet that I would be willing to try this. Although it is another diet among many in the field, it could and should be workable for those to whom it appeals and who meet the criteria for inclusion.
Lenore B. Weinstein, MA, RN
Adjunct Associate Professor (Clinical), Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, Wisconsin