Success Stories

I wanted to thank you wholeheartedly for a weight-loss system that has helped me to create a healthier self. To date, I have lost 95 pounds, and I hope to continue applying these positive habits to my daily life. I still follow your program and exercise regularly. May God reward your efforts and may we merit living a healthy life that enhances our purpose in every area of life.

I would like to thank David Zulberg for sharing his years of research. It’s a gift from G-d. I am a licensed physical therapist. While having children, I developed a passion for nutrition as I saw the health benefits that resulted from avoiding certain foods, preservatives, etc. I myself lost 40 pounds (I am at goal weight of 130 pounds at 5’5”) by adopting a healthy lifestyle. I do yoga twice weekly and use my elliptical trainer for 15 minutes (two to three times weekly), and my barbells as well. My mentors, apart from David Zulberg now, are Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Neil Barnard, Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Colin Campbell, and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. Interestingly, during my search to gain as much knowledge about nutrition as I could, I decided to read Maimonides’s works and purchased Dr. Fred Rosner’s adaptations of Maimonides’s medical works. As you can imagine, I was thrilled when I saw Zulberg’s program. I truly believe that it will enable me to maintain my goal weight. It is a comprehensive plan that covers all aspects of a healthy lifestyle—mind, body, and soul. I especially like the idea of subconscious habit formation and agree that it is imperative that people reinforce positive behaviors to establish good habits that will eventually be ingrained into their lives. Introducing one change per week ensures that people are not overwhelmed and will enable greater compliance, as opposed to asking them to dramatically change their existing habits. I agree with encouraging short-duration exercise more frequently, because that is also more attainable than committing to at least 1 hour each session. I can go on and on regarding my interest in this program, but as you can see, I agree with all of its principles, and I am proud to share it with a wider audience.

What makes this diet different from all the other diets I have endured? I think it is the brilliance of the subconscious habit formation process to form new positive habits in order to fight the old, established ones. I didn’t have to eliminate everything in one go. The emphasis is not on “willpower” alone. The focus is rather on the gradual development of good habits. It is so clever to quietly cultivate positive habits and to help them grow until they are big enough and strong enough to “fizzle out” the former monster “masters.” Becoming aware of the ability of my “creative” mind to predominate my decisions has been very enlightening, and I have never been so calm about food and food choices. I don’t really feel like any of my old temptations, and I’m not waiting for the opportunity to “break out.” I lost over 40 pounds and have not felt deprived or trapped—in fact, I feel energized—and most importantly it took me 6 months to do it!

I began the diet somewhat skeptical (after many unsuccessful at-tempts at unsustainable diets). But I sure became a quick believer and possibly even a groupie. The stages are brilliantly structured in a way that makes them easy to begin and easy to sustain. Already in the few weeks I have been on the program, I have seen and felt a remarkable difference with my energy levels, my food choices, and my lack of cravings. I feel empowered understand-ing the reasons behind healthy choices, as opposed to just being handed a list of what’s taboo. My friends and family are telling me I am glowing. This program is truly life transforming because it hasn’t just affected my way of eating and viewing food, it has affected every single aspect of my life. I feel more disciplined, more motivated, and totally liberated. Instead of working for my body, I am getting my body to work for me. I wish you so much success, and I look forward to watching the impact this book is going to have on the entire globe.

I have been following the principles of the 5 Skinny Habits and I have lost 40 pounds. My type 2 diabetes is under control, and I am no longer on medication for it. My lab values show that I am healthier than I have been in years. This program really works and helps me focus on how to change my life gradually. It has been a great blessing to me. Thank you.

I reached my 1-year anniversary at the end of May. In total I lost 35 pounds and have not been at this current weight since I was a teenager, and that was close to 20 years ago. I feel great and finally found a normal way of life in terms of eating. I, like many people, have tried numerous diets in the past 20 years, from Weight Watchers to fad diets to nutritionists. In some cases they worked, and once I was satisfied with my weight, I just gained it back and then some. I began to feel uncomfortable, reaching almost 200 pounds last May (2012). I decided to do something. I decided to try this program. I started at the end of May 2012 at 197 pounds and followed the principles meticulously. I changed my habits one week at a time, and I started to get back to exercising. The weight started coming off. Over the last 12 months I began to reach new record lows. I wanted to thank you for bringing Maimonides’s teachings into an easy-to-follow guide, and I have recommended the diet to so many others.

I was able to keep to the diet successfully over all the Festivals! I ate V-Plus meals but only had seconds of veggies at all meals. While I did have a small amount of something sweet, it wasn’t like before. I am also gluten free. I actually was the only one of my friends to not gain weight during them! I have so much more energy, and the fruit for breakfast is now second nature. I like that the diet is so simple to follow. I don’t have much weight to lose but just want to stay healthy! I was already an avid exerciser, exercising 5 to 6 days a week for 30 to 60 minutes each time.

Over time, I started to develop unhealthy eating habits, eating lots of cheap, refined sugar products and refined wheat foods. I had become accustomed to my unhealthy eating habits and maintained them for the 9 months. That is around the time I went for a physical and came in at over 30 pounds more than my baseline. It’s also around the time that I needed to renew my passport ahead of a business trip. Of course I had seen myself every day in the mirror, but for some reason, when I took one look at my passport photo, the reality hit me hard that I needed to do something before my weight got any more out of control. As I was browsing one day, I came across this program. I went home and “ate it up.” That was the turning point. I followed all the instructions, and within a few months I lost over 30 pounds and have kept it off since. At the same time, my wife joined the plan with me and lost 25 pounds as well in just a few months, and has continued to now, having lost a total of 40 pounds! We now feel fit and healthy and could not have done it without these principles. Thank you!!

I’ve always wished I had a clear, biblical-based guide for managing my food intake and succeeding in trimming off the extra pounds that weighed me down. The “principles,” based on Maimonides, became my guiding light and helped me lose—and keep off—35 pounds. The gradual successive steps help to train a person to develop proper eating habits and to know what is good and enjoy it. Here is an approach that allows for flexibility, enjoyment of good food, and the ability to eat in a healthy and satisfying manner. I have recommended this approach to others and continue to do so. Join the winning team, and feel the pleasure of success.