The Calorie Myth: How to Eat More, Exercise Less, Lose Weight, and Live Better

Microsoft executive by day and fitness devotee by night, Bailor, in his first book, ostensibly offers readers the best of all worlds: the freedom to eat more food without worrying about gaining weight. Drawing on 1,200 research studies, Bailor’s reach exceeds his grasp as he alternates between over-explanation and obfuscation in an attempt to get his points across. Based on his SANE concept of calorie qualities—Satiety, Aggression (whether calories will be stored as body fat), Nutrition, and Efficiency (how those calories are stored)—which must be in balance in order to achieve optimum results, Bailor addresses commonly held beliefs about weight management and exercise in a meandering argument for his theory that eating fewer processed foods and cutting back on carbs will lead to weight loss and greater health. Whether or not his recommendations are valid—his exercise regimen, for example, calls for only 20 minutes of exercise per week and his diet plan, including recipes, offers no nutritional information or endorsement from a licensed dietician—or simply too good to be true remains to be seen, though the author is happy to cite third-party studies. Readers certainly won’t hurt themselves by following his convoluted program, but they might do better elsewhere. 60 illus. Agent: Linda Konner, Linda Konner Literary Agency. (Jan.)