BOOK REVIEW …21 Days to Change Your Body

I mentioned before that I was asked to do a book review and would be posting today.  I am so happy I agreed to do this!  Helen M. Ryan has written an easy, no holds barred, honest and encouraging book.  It is not a diet book because we all know diets don’t work.  It is a guide to help change habits and lifestyles.  Some of the advice is really easy, and some is really difficult, but she writes so openly and honestly you know she’s been there and she gets it. 

Helen writes to help others learn what she discovered through trial and error to help her lose 82 pounds.  Improving her health gave her a new purpose to help others.  She became a Spinning instructor, personal trainer and began writing again, something she had given up.  Previously, at 5 feet tall, 198 pounds and a size 20, she could not walk very far, keep up with her two children and was extremely unhealthy and unhappy.  She’s honest enough to say that losing the weight does not bring about instant happiness.  However, for her, it did give her a new lease on life and the courage and ability to do so many things she had been missing.  Like all of us, she faces challenges every day to stay on track.  In fact, as a result of her weight loss and lifestyle changes, she went through a  divorce that caused a 15 pound weight gain from stress eating.  
She fought hard  and ended up back on top, re-learning the healthy habits she shares in her book.

The format follows a 21 day journey.  It takes 21 days to form a new habit, so you can take a habit a day (or stick with that habit a few days before moving on!)  Each chapter represents a day.  I love that each day she gives a habit for the head and a habit for the body.  We all know most of the unhealthy stuff we do to ourselves is from the head . . . and the body is just the result!  She also begins each chapter (or day) with a great motivational quote.  I love these and am such a sucker for them!  She also includes tools to help you tackle whatever might come up to derail you.  She has a list of healthy snacks, help for cravings, sound nutritional advice, science behind foods and exercises, and the understanding that sometimes we just “mess up”, sleep in, skip a workout, or eat too much junk.  She even tells you what to do when that happens.

I did not read this book in 21 days.  I read it in two.  It’s a really quick, well written book full of honesty and knowledge, along with a bit of “buck up” and no-nonsense that we all need, but  in a most encouraging way.  It is one I will go back to again and again.  I, for one, can’t hear this stuff enough!  I love getting a new tip or boost with every page!  

Thumbs up!

21 Days to Change Your Body by Helen M. Ryan can be found on Amazon.com

Have a great Monday!