The Best Life

I am really enjoying this book. I'm not reading it to lose weight, just in case you wondered. I was interested in seeing the recipes and meal plans that he has in there. I have been really impressed as I have read more and more of the book. It's different from other diet books for a few reasons:

First, it's not a "diet" book per se (see title). He recommends changing your life for the good. Making new habits, choosing to give yourself the best life. I like that. I can't stand those fad diets that promise that you'll lose 10 pounds the first week or make you stop eating bread and fruit and other normal, healthy foods.

Second, he says it might be hard. It will take sacrifice. You will have to let go of some foods you love. You will have to work at it. He doesn't pretend it's really easy and that the weight is just going to magically drop off of you.

Third, he says that exercise is vital. You can lose weight without doing it, yes, but your body needs it. He has a great way of teaching in a simple, concise way that the average person can understand. He explains WHY exercise is good and how it helps you lose weight.

Fourth, he recommends that you do not drink alcohol. I have never seen this in other diet books, despite the fact that alcohol has 7 calories per gram, almost as much as fat! Carbs only have 4 calories per gram. So you think about all those low-carb diets out there- they would be better off abstaining from alcohol than carbs if they were smart. I guess it depends how much you drink... but anyway.

One of the other things I really like is the way he outlines different activity levels. As an assessment at the beginning, he has you take a look at where you are on the scale-

Level 0- You only do what you have to. Any exercise is "purely accidental". You drive everywhere, work at a desk, sit on the couch all night. 3,499 or less steps per day
Level 1- You see the value in activity and may have a job where you have to move like a nurse, waitress, teacher. You sometimes take a walk but you don't workout regularly. Maybe 60-90 min a week. 3,500 to 5,999 steps per day
Level 2- You have a consistent exercise schedule. It's moderate but you're shaping up. You get in about three 30 min sessions a week or about 90-150 min per week. 6,000-9,999 steps per day
Level 3- You are serious about exercise and workout 5-6 days a week. Four of those days are cardio and two are weights. Exercise 150-250 min per week. 10,000-13,999 steps per day
Level 4- Workout every day, cross train, and 3 weight sessions per week. About 250-350 min per week or 14,000-17,999 steps per day.
Level 5- Staying fit is a way of life. You belong to a club or group and may even compete or race. You do your main workout three times a week with 3 days of cross training. You do weights 3 x a week with at least 10 different exercises per session. Exercise 6 days a week, 360 min or more per week. 18,000 steps or more.

So where do you rank? He says that NO matter where you are on the scale, set a goal to move ONE level up. Make the changes you need to make, push yourself. If you are at Level 0, it's critical. Your inactivity is detrimental to your health. If this is you, get a pedometer and just start with increasing your steps per day. Move up just 500 steps per day until you are at the next level. If you are at level 4, get yourself signed up for a race. Start training for something. Choose a level that you see yourself achieving. Just do something. I challenge you!