Dr John La Puma, a fellow physician, has written a new book, Refuel: A 24-Day Eating Plan to Shed Fat, Boost Testosterone, and Pump Up Strength and Stamina I don’t like diets – because diets don’t change long-term behaviors, but here is his trick: he starts men down a simple path of cooking some healthy meals, and before you know it, you have made those changes. A realistic, easy to implement 24 day program provides a simple schedule to follow that has measurable results.

The book goes through the science of testosterone, how belly fat converts men’s testosterone into estrogen – it gives some simple hints as to what men can do- and then the fun part of the book begins: a 24 day program, with simple and delicious recipes, and a way for you to start that program.

For those who don’t know Dr. La Puma: he was the first physician to coin the term “culinary medicine.” He went to The University of Chicago, and also went to culinary school – while I was working away learning to tie surgical knots he was honing his skills as a chef in one of the finer Chicago restaurants. He wrote the recipes for Dr. Oz’s books, and his prescription pads contain recipes – not drugs.  Dr. La Puma and I have a lot in common, and occasionally you will see us tweet one another.

But he is grounded in science.  Too many people take nutrition to a very strange place, but he doesn’t – simple recipes, written for those who are omnivores (meaning people who eat a wide variety of foods) – no strange protein only, or plant only program – but a balanced approach to the diet.

So for all those men out there- this is the way to start your New Year. And if you are not a man, but have a man in your life that you are concerned about: father, boyfriend, husband, son, nephew, or just a good friend – who has struggled, but wants something to do for the new year- get this for them. It is simple, and empowering.