Curves and Curves on the Go
Gary Heavin with Carol Colman
non-fiction, health and diet
Reviewed by: Carrie Byrd
Review posted: 5/21/04
Curves and Curves on the Go can basically be considered the same book. Curves on the Go came out a few months later and includes slightly more up to date information, and is abbreviated. I guess it exists for women who are so on the go they don’t have time to read the entire Curves book. Both books consist of a first half that details the Curves diets, (one for those going low-carb and one for those going low calorie) the Curves workout, and basically, the Curves lifestyle. The latter half of both books is made up of charts and graphs that Heavin references heavily in the books, and that play a vital part in following either of the Curves diet plans the books discuss.
On one hand, Heavin writes in an interesting engaging style. The book is a fairly quick read, and he makes things clear and simple. Sometimes, however, they are a little too simple, and you feel as though he is “talking down” to you. But that doesn’t happen often enough to truly be disruptive to the flow of the book. In addition, it’s important to note that most of Heavin’s advice falls under common sense as opposed to medical advice, and while most of it does make sense, my eyebrows rose a few times in query, and I’m certainly going to ask my doctor some questions next time I see her. His insistence on the existence of the “so-called starvation hormone” for example. If the starvation hormone does exist, could he really not come up with the actual name instead of calling it the so-called starvation hormone every time? And he mentions it a lot. If it exists, which he says it does, was he really unable to come up with a scientific name? Really? The lack of scientific evidence supporting the claims Heavin makes seriously undermines them.
In addition, much of the books is simply Heavin making with some serious self-advertisement. Does it take away from the message of the books? No. But it is distracting. Read Curves to Go. The only thing Curves has is more advertising a brief history of Heavin. Interesting, but not vital. And before you start any diet plan, remember to discuss it with your doctor.
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