Power Eating : Book Review

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The third edition of Power Eating by Susan Kleiner, Phd, RD was a favorite of a fellow powerlifter so I decided to give it a quick review. This book was also recommended on Elitefts.com in the past. It is a good diet and nutrition primer for anyone.  This is especially useful for midlifers. Let me give you an idea of what you'll find in this book.

One thing I noticed is that the book has a good flow to it. You can tell by the many studies mentioned and the long list of references in the back of the book that Dr. Kleiner could have gone the long, dry, academic route. She didn't and I'm thankful. The book was an easy read compared to lots of texts on nutrition, but it had better references than some of the fly-by-night fad diet books.

I was a little concerned about her definition of strength training, but I am much more sensitive about how that term is used now. This is because of the many exercise fads that invoke "strength training" to describe long duration bouts of local muscular endurance training.
The book covers the basics of the three energy systems and does so in detail without being boring. She encourages the idea of eating enough calories (anti-starvation diet) and tells you why.

The book does come off as anti-low carb and you could even say that it slants pro carb / low fat. Dr. Kleiner does provide explanations for her position and with so many fad diets derived from the Atkins diet, it is easy to understand why she may have felt the need to emphasize this point.

She was keen on a varied diet. As in any endeavor, it seems diversity can be the insurance to keep you from missing something crucial. She recommends combining all of the macro nutrients in each meal to prevent insulin spikes through out the day. She also recommends following well-thought out plan and she offers various templates in the book.

Dr. Keiner categorizes all of the herbs and supplements into what works, what might work, and what doesn't. She offers up her guide to exactly how much carbs, protein, and fat you should take in order to gain muscle, maintain weight, lose weight, or even cut like a bodybuilder.

She indicates that at the time of this book's publishing, 25% of the population was insulin resistant and she constantly mentions the effects of different food stuffs on insulin production. She even covers different kinds of sugars, sugar substitutes, and their effects on the body.

Dr. Kleiner confirms what many of us have known for years pertaining to the use of an easily absorbed protein and simple carb combined for post workout drink and the efficacy of creatine in a strength training routine. She also helps you to understand the importance of a logical approach to your diet including slow, long-term actions directed to a realistic goal and detailed documentation of progress.

Overall I thought the good doctor's book was solid. It will be easily understood by the novice and an enjoyable read. The sample diets serve as a great starting point for anyone looking to start fixing the problems with their diet. There are no hidden sales gimmicks or fluff. While I may not agree with everything stated, it is easy to see the basis for her conclusions from the many references listed. Buy this book if you haven't already learned the basics of diet or even if you just need a handy reference / refresher.

Stay strong.