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13 min 57 sec
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Eat It!: The Most Sustainable Diet and Workout Ever Made: Burn Fat, Get Strong, and Enjoy Your Favorite Foods Guilt Free

Shows how to lose body fat with one simple calorie target, a matching protein goal and basic strength training, while still eating the foods you enjoy and forgiving yourself for bad days.

Table of Content

If you have moved between keto, paleo and low-fat plans and ended up back where you started, the problem may lie somewhere other than the food you cut. In Eat It!, personal trainers Jordan Syatt and Michael Vacanti argue that losing body fat needs exactly one condition: eating fewer calories than you burn, whatever those calories are made of. Carbs do not make you fat, they say, and fats are no enemy either.

Their method rests on that deficit, held about 80 percent of the time, made comfortable with protein and food you enjoy, and helped along by lifting weights. In their view, what usually ends a diet is the guilt and the false expectations that follow a bad meal.

The whole plan fits on an index card: one multiplication for your calorie limit, one number for protein, a short priority list for meals, six rules for the gym and two simple tricks for hungry evenings.

A pound gained after a week of careful eating feels like proof that nothing works. The authors explain what that number really measures, and why it fools so many people into quitting just as they start.

Diet books disagree about carbs, fats, timing and special foods. Strip all of that away and one requirement is left standing, simple enough to explain in a sentence and still hard to follow every day.

Strict plans promise faster results, yet they often collapse after a single slice of birthday cake. The authors built their method around a margin for error, and the reason has to do with how weight is gained.

Most calorie calculators ask for your age, height and activity level before giving an answer. The authors’ version needs a single number you already know, and it produces two targets at once.

If every calorie counts the same, singling out one nutrient seems strange. The authors make the case for protein anyway, and along the way they defend the two nutrients most diet influencers tell you to fear.

The authors rank what deserves your attention at every meal, and the item at the top is neither calories nor protein. Their order reflects a simple point: nobody sticks for long with a diet built on food they dislike.

Exercise is optional in this plan, yet the authors still recommend one kind above all others. Their six rules for the gym fit beginners, and one of them asks you to stop chasing perfect workouts.

The title is the argument. Eat it: the pizza at the party, the dessert at a holiday meal, the food you actually like, as long as you stay under your line most of the time. Syatt and Vacanti take fat loss away from forbidden lists and hand it back to arithmetic and forgiveness. The arithmetic decides whether fat comes off. Forgiveness decides whether you are still doing the arithmetic six months from now.

Begin with your goal weight. Multiply it by twelve for your calorie limit, keep the same number in grams as your protein target, and aim to hit both on four days out of five. Fill your plate with nutritious food you enjoy, and lift weights three or four times a week with rest days in between.

Expect some hunger, especially early on. When the evening pull toward a snack gets strong, the authors suggest something with zero calories, such as seltzer, coffee, tea, diet soda or certain diet juices. Or brush your teeth: nobody knows exactly why, they admit, but it reliably calms cravings.

And when the scale jumps a pound tomorrow morning, remember it may be water, the time you weighed, or a body built to resist change. Look at the month, and keep eating.

About this book

What is this book about?

Keto, paleo, low-fat, low-carb: many people have tried several diets and ended up where they started, often after buying apps, drinks or memberships along the way. Personal trainers Jordan Syatt and Michael Vacanti argue that fat loss is much simpler than the diet industry suggests. It needs one thing, a calorie deficit, and the source of the calories does not decide the result. Their method turns that principle into a plan anyone can set up in minutes. Multiply your goal weight by twelve for a daily calorie limit, eat the same number in grams of protein, and hit those targets about 80 percent of the time. A short priority list puts nutritious food you actually like at the top, and six rules for strength training help you build muscle, which burns more calories than fat. Just as important is the mindset. The authors explain why the scale jumps around, why one bad meal never ruins progress, and why guilt does more damage than any slice of cake. Readers get realistic expectations, simple numbers, a beginner-friendly gym routine and a few practical tricks for hungry evenings.

Book Information

Rating:

Genre:

Health & Nutrition, Sports & Fitness

Topics:

Fitness, Nutrition, Weight Loss

Publisher:

HarperCollins

Language:

English

Narrator:

Peter

First published:

June 7, 2022

Pages:

240

Length:

13 min 57 sec

Get the book:

Amazon

Who it's for

  • Repeat dieters

    People who have tried several diets and regained the weight each time.

  • Professionals short on time

    Busy professionals who want two simple numbers instead of meal plans and banned foods.

  • Strength training newcomers

    Beginners who want a basic strength routine and a kinder way to handle bad days.

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About the Author

Jordan Syatt

Jordan Syatt is a personal trainer and the founder of Syatt Fitness, an online coaching business. He has coached hundreds of people in person and thousands online, including entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk. Michael Vacanti is a trainer and nonfiction author who writes about nutrition and weight management. Together they co-host the How to Become a Personal Trainer podcast, and they read the audiobook edition of Eat It! themselves.

Ratings & Reviews

Ratings at a glance

4.5

Overall score based on 614 ratings.

What people think

Listeners find this guide simple to digest and value the hands-on suggestions, with one listener mentioning it is especially useful for newcomers. They also admire the grounded perspective on health and slimming down, featuring one listener who shared a 42-pound weight loss success. Additionally, the writing supports building a better connection with eating, while one listener defines the work as a no-nonsense guide to sustainable fat loss.

Top reviews

Somchai

Finally, a fitness book that doesn't feel like a lecture from a drill sergeant. Jordan and Mike have captured exactly what is wrong with the modern diet industry—it is often far too restrictive and creates a terrible relationship with food. The 80/20 rule they discuss is a total game-changer for my mental health. I am someone who usually spirals after one 'bad' meal, but this book taught me that weight loss isn't a straight line. It is about consistency, not perfection. I have already started multiplying my goal weight by twelve to find my calorie target, and it feels actually doable for the long haul. Frankly, the advice about brushing your teeth to kill late-night cravings is so simple it is brilliant. If you are tired of the keto and paleo madness, just get this. It is the sustainable, sensible truth we all need.

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Nadia

After hearing Jordan on a podcast, I knew I had to grab his book, and it did not disappoint. I have struggled with my weight for a decade, jumping from one trend to another until I was physically and mentally exhausted. This book helped me lose 15 pounds in the last two months by focusing on one thing: a simple calorie deficit. I stopped fearing carbs and started prioritizing protein, and the difference in my energy levels is night and day. Truth is, I used to think I had to spend hours on a treadmill to see progress, but their emphasis on full-body strength training is much more effective and time-efficient. The writing is punchy, funny, and very easy to digest. It feels like having a personal trainer in your pocket who actually cares about your happiness and long-term success.

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Pakpoom

Picked this up during a particularly bad bout of diet fatigue and it was the reset button I needed. The authors explain homeostasis in a way that finally made sense to me; my body isn't broken, it is just trying to stay the same! This guilt-free approach to eating is such a breath of fresh air after years of being told that bread is the enemy. Look, I love that they don't force you to eat 'clean' 100% of the time. The focus on hitting protein targets while staying under a calorie limit is the only thing that has ever worked for my busy lifestyle. It is realistic, it is sustainable, and it is actually fun to read. Highly recommended for the chronically discouraged who need a win.

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Pla

Wow, what a refreshing change of pace from the usual 'miracle' diet books cluttering the shelves. I have followed Mike’s work with Gary Vaynerchuk for a while, so I knew the advice would be practical and direct. The math is so simple—goal weight times twelve—and it removes all the mental gymnastics that usually lead to me giving up by week three. I love that they call out the BS of the keto industry specifically. Carbs aren't the devil; they are the fuel for your workouts! The emphasis on progressive overload in the gym section is exactly what I needed to hear to finally start lifting heavier weights. This isn't just a diet book; it is a manual for a better life. Just buy it and start today.

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Rohan

Ever wonder why you lose ten pounds and then gain it all back immediately? This book explains the 'why' behind the scale fluctuations that usually drive us crazy. I never realized that my weight gain after a pizza night was just water retention from the carbs, not actual body fat. That knowledge alone has saved me from three different 'I give up' meltdowns this month. Jordan and Mike write with so much empathy and humor that it feels like you are just chatting with friends. The focus on 'the foods you like' is the secret sauce here. If you hate cottage cheese, don't eat it! It is such a simple concept, yet so many of us ignore it in pursuit of a 'perfect' diet. Truly a life-changing perspective for me.

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Thitima

The chapter on expectations should be mandatory reading for every adult in the country. We are so conditioned by social media to expect instant results, and when we don't get them, we quit. This book settles the 'weight loss isn't a straight line' debate once and for all. I have started focusing on my monthly averages instead of the daily number, and my stress levels have plummeted. I also appreciated the breakdown of how muscle burns more calories than fat; it has motivated me to actually hit the weights instead of just doing endless cardio. Frankly, this is the last diet book I will ever need to buy because it is about building a lifestyle you actually enjoy. Don't overthink it, just get the book and follow the steps.

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Charlotte

Is this groundbreaking science that will win a Nobel Prize? Probably not. But is it exactly what most people need to hear? Absolutely. To be fair, most of us already know deep down that calories in versus calories out is the key, but we get distracted by flashy marketing and overpriced supplements. Syatt and Vacanti cut through the noise with a blunt, no-BS approach that focuses on what actually moves the needle. I appreciated the section on why the scale fluctuates due to water weight and carbs—it really helped lower my anxiety about daily weigh-ins. My only minor gripe is that the tone can be a bit 'bro-ey' at times, which might not be for every reader. However, the logic is sound and the strength training advice is top-notch for anyone wanting to build muscle. It is a solid, practical guide for beginners.

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Arnav

As someone who grew up in the toxic 90s diet culture, this book felt like therapy. We were taught to fear fats and obsess over every single morsel, but Jordan and Mike break those chains. They explain that a calorie is a calorie, and while nutrient-dense food matters for health, you do not have to suffer to see fat loss results. I found the section on strength training particularly helpful because it gave me a clear, six-step plan instead of vague advice. Personally, I think some of the 'fend off hunger' tips like drinking seltzer or brushing your teeth are a bit cliché, but hey, if it works, it works. It is a very common-sense guide that prioritizes your mental relationship with food as much as your physical health. Definitely worth a read if you are stuck.

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Gioia

The information here is definitely solid, but I felt like it could have been a long blog post rather than a full book. If you have followed Jordan or Mike online for any length of time, you already know their stance on the calorie deficit and the 12x multiplier. Not gonna lie, I was hoping for a bit more deep-dive science or unique recipes to round out the chapters. That said, it is a great gift for someone who is just starting their fitness journey and is currently overwhelmed by toxic TikTok influencers. The 80-20 rule is explained well, and the chapter on why weight loss isn't a straight line is necessary reading for anyone prone to quitting. It is a good reminder of the basics, just not particularly 'new' if you are already a fitness junkie.

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Saranya

Not what I expected, as it is very basic for anyone who has an elementary understanding of nutrition. I appreciate the no-nonsense vibe, but I found myself skimming through large chunks of the book because it felt repetitive. Got it, calorie deficit is key. Got it, protein is important. In my experience, the book spends a lot of time on mindset and expectations, which is great for some, but I wanted more technical programming or perhaps some meal plans. However, I cannot deny that the 80/20 rule is the most realistic way to live without going insane. It is a 3-star for me because while the message is perfect, the delivery felt a bit thin for the price point. Still, it is a thousand times better than any juice cleanse nonsense.

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Questions about this book

The authors argue that losing body fat requires only a calorie deficit, burning more calories than you eat, and that the source of those calories does not decide the result. Carbs do not make you fat and fats are essential. Hit your calorie target about 80 percent of the time, prioritize protein, eat nutritious food you enjoy and add strength training, and forgive yourself when a day goes wrong.

Take the weight you want to reach in pounds and multiply it by twelve. That is your daily calorie limit. Your protein target in grams equals the same goal weight. Someone aiming for 175 pounds would eat about 2,100 calories and roughly 175 grams of protein a day, built mostly from nutritious foods they actually like.

It means you only need to stay within your daily calorie limit 80 percent of the time to keep losing weight and reach your goal. The authors point out that nobody puts on serious weight after one day, one week or even one month of overeating, so a slip is no reason to quit. Get back on track and focus on the long average.

According to Syatt and Vacanti, weight never falls in a straight line, because homeostasis pushes the body to stay the same. Much of a sudden gain is water, and carbs make the body hold water the way bread soaks up liquid. The time you weigh yourself and your last bowel movement also shift the number, so they recommend judging progress by monthly averages.

Strength training, because it builds muscle and a pound of muscle burns about six calories a day against about three for fat. Their six rules are full-body exercises, two to four minutes of rest between sets, good technique, three or four sessions a week of 45 to 75 minutes, progressive overload, and regular rest days for recovery.

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