cover image State of Slim: Fix Your Metabolism and Drop 20 Pounds in 8 Weeks on the Colorado Diet

State of Slim: Fix Your Metabolism and Drop 20 Pounds in 8 Weeks on the Colorado Diet

James O. Hill, Ph.D., and Holly Wyatt, M.D., with Christie Aschwanden. Rodale, $26.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-60961-491-1

Hill (The Step Diet) and Wyatt direct the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center at the University of Colorado; studying the patients at their clinic and utilizing the National Weight Control Registry (a scientific database cofounded by Hill), they conclude that the true test of an effective diet is whether the weight stays off once it’s lost. Colorado has the lowest obesity rate in the nation and Coloradoans live an active lifestyle with foods that are “fresh, flavorful, and seasonal.” Focusing on studies and examples of those who have succeeded, Hill and Wyatt offer a plan that promises permanent weight loss. Their strategy relies on repairing metabolism, which, they claim, is often stuck in fat-storing mode; in three phases, the diet reignites, rebuilds, and reinforces metabolism so that it functions at topnotch capacity (Mile-High Metabolism). The plan requires daily exercise, but participants can choose either a structured or flexible plan and can mix and match from a number of options, including yoga, walking, and tennis. The book’s user-friendly approach, upbeat tone, and easy recipes will attract readers to the lean and active Colorado lifestyle no matter where they live. (Aug.)