Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by Tom Venuto – My Review

BURN THE FAT, FEED THE MUSCLE BY TOM VENUTO

Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by fitness expert Tom Venuto, is a best-selling fat loss program that was previously available only as an internet download. The e-book was so popular, in fact, that it made the difficult-to-achieve leap to print and is now available with updated and never-before-published material as a book that you can hold, flip through and stick on a bookshelf in your home. But that’s not where it’s going to live. No. Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, subtitled The Secrets of the Leanest People in the World, is going to become a how-to manual that will be referred to often.

First, a little about Tom Venuto. He’s earned the street-cred, so allow me to give it to him.

Tom Venuto is a fat-loss expert, transformation coach and author. He holds a degree in exercise science and has worked in the fitness industry since 1989, including fourteen years as a personal trainer. He promotes natural, healthy strategies for burning fat and building muscle and is a lifetime steroid-free bodybuilder.

I received an advance, complimentary proof of Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle for review and I’m still going through it. There is a lot of information in this book that begins with a preface from former-fat-kid Venuto who, even after losing weight lacked muscle tone and was still called “fat boy,” even though he was a gym regular. He knew something wasn’t working and began a 14-year mission to not only learn about nutrition and exercise but to put it into practice. This led to the birth of Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, the internet sensation, and now, a print edition.

Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle is informational, motivational and aspirational. It’s well organized in what Venuto refers to as the L.E.A.N. Plan of Action. The “L” in the equation stands for “Learn,” and includes information on setting and prioritizing goals and understanding the emotional reasons behind them. “E” stands for “Eat” and is a comprehensive section on all things nutrition from understanding calories to the importance of portion control to finding the combination of protein, fats and carbs that will work best to achieve your goal and so much more. (Venuto doesn’t skimp on the information in this section to which he devotes several chapters. I’m in the process of digesting it and wonder if it’s not perhaps a bit much – do I need to know all of this? Venuto would answer with a resounding “Yes! And, as I continue to read and learn about smart food swaps, post-workout nutrition timing and meal planning, I am inclined to agree.)

The third step in Venuto’s L.E.A.N. plan is “Activate,” which translates to cardio training. In this section, Venuto presents his views on the age-old question of diet vs nutrition for fat loss and proposes lots of tips for getting your cardio routine on track.

The fourth step, “N” for “New Body” is all about weight training. In this section, Venuto debunks weight training myths; presents detailed information on how to train properly for maximum effect and provides a comprehensive program to follow.

The rest of the book discusses plateaus (why they happen and how to break them), how to accelerate your fat loss and also provides tools including a calorie worksheet and daily nutrition charts to make achieving your goals easier.

The book is written in a casual manner, despite the amount of information presented. Venuto writes as if he’s speaking with you and talking you through his program. Again, some of the information is intensive. Do I need to pinpoint my perfect carbohydrate intake before embarking on fat loss? (Please note that Venuto is consistent about making the distinction between fat loss and weight loss. We all want the former, right? Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle!)

After writing this, I went online to read the reviews from Venuto’s e-book version of Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle. They were, for the most part, positive and grateful. (There are always naysayers and I’m not enough of a nutrition or fitness expert to refute any claims, positive or negative.)

I like this book. It won’t gather dust on a bookshelf in my house. But I advise you to look it over and discuss it, your fat loss and fitness goals with your doctor.

Venuto’s goal in writing this book is to help you achieve your personal goals. Whether you want to lose ten pounds or a hundred pounds, Burn The Fat, Feed the Muscle is a detailed reference guide that, I think, will motivate and educate to better help you achieve your goal.

For more information on Tom Venuto, and Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, please visit http://www.burnthefatblog.com/ and http://www.burnthefatfeedthemuscle.com/ and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter.

Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle is available in bookstores and online vendors today. Buy it here:

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