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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Body Confidence by Mark Macdonald- Book Review and Giveaway

TLC Book Tours asked me to review Body Confidence by Mark Macdonald and I jumped at the chance to learn more about nutrition.

body confidence

I have to say this is a fabulous book. I recommend it with two thumbs up. The book is so informative and offers a more balanced approach to diet and fitness. I cannot agree more with the balance concepts that Macdonald introduces within this book.

Check out the product description from Amazon.com:

At last, there’s a nutrition and fitness program that doesn’t require you to develop superhuman willpower, shun entire food groups, or devote your every waking moment to the treadmill.
Body Confidence is a revolutionary approach based on three key nutrition factors that stabilize your blood sugar and keep your body in balance:
  • Eating at consistent meal intervals
  • Absolute certainty in essential nutrient ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrates
  • Identifying and consuming the right amount of calories per meal
But there’s much more to Body Confidence than when and what you eat. You’ll become a master at:
  • Determining your current metabolism—and then reprogramming it
  • Focusing on body fat percentage rather than body weight
  • Setting measurable, motivating goals (short- and long-term, internal and external)
  • Following a customized, efficient, diverse exercise plan that makes you feel energetic and strong
  • Harnessing the powers of sleep, supplements, water, and stress management, all in perfect sync to optimize your body’s performance
Body Confidence creator Mark Macdonald knows that weight loss doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and he has made room for “real life” at every stage of this program. Along the way, you’ll be introduced to some of Venice Nutrition’s extraordinary success stories, and learn how to stay on track no matter what life throws at you. Packed with recipes, nutrition guides, exercise journals, and Venice Nutrition’s proven goal-setting tools, Body Confidence walks you through every step of a process that has already changed thousands of lives.

Getting in shape (and staying in shape) no longer has to mean feeling deprived and hungry, living with low energy, being irritable and anxious, or obsessing about food and exercise. There is a way to make looking and feeling your best a permanent way of life.

As stated above, the basis of the plan is on blood sugar stabilization. Reading this book was timely for me, considering I have recently started watching my Carbs, Fat, and Protein ratios. This is exactly what Macdonald writes about in this book. He takes a scientific approach to dieting but explains everything so clearly in terms that even I could understand. The book is packed with nutritional wisdom. I learned so much while reading this book.

Macdonald begins the book with his own experience. He was an athlete throughout college, and once he was out of college- he started to pack on the weight. He believed all of the common myths about dieting: that in order to lose weight, you have to deprive yourself; that you cannot eat in the evenings if you want to lose weight; that drastically cutting calories was the answer and so on. When his own wife was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, he started searching for a plan that would provide answers to the questions that he had. He came up with a plan of blood sugar stabilization. His wife went on the plan and many of her symptoms and ailments disappeared. But he learned that it takes more than blood sugar stabilization to create balance in the body:

“Other components like sleep, exercise, vitamins/minerals, water, and stress management also play vital roles in optimizing the body’s performance.”- Mark Macdonald

Macdonald goes into an extensive explanation of each. They all work together to create an internal balance.

The book is written with plans for a variety of people. The information applies to those who want to lose weight and those who want to gain weight. There are plans designed for each type of person. The book has meal plans that one can use as ideas, exercise plans, and more. Most importantly, Macdonald explains the importance of each concept within his book and how it can help create balance within the body which will lead to Body Confidence. Understanding how the body works is essential and that is what Mark Macdonald explains within this book.

You can learn about his plan, Venice Nutrition, by clicking on the link.

TLC Book tours has offered to send one copy of this book to a lucky winner. You have a few different opportunities to enter to win:
  1. Leave a comment telling me what you think is an important aspect to overall health.
  2. Spread the word in any way you like. Facebook, Twitter, tell a friend. Just leave a separate comment telling me that you did- one extra comment for each entry. (up to 3 times for this one). Please mention me on Twitter if you chose to do that- @AJourneyToThin, and link back to this post in any way you spread the word.
Giveaway is open to US and Canada. Winner will be chosen Thursday April 21st at 5 PM Central time. Please leave me your email address in the comments if you do not have a blog. Thanks!

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

Purchase Body Confidence here.

16 comments :

  1. I love to read books about nutrition. I think the "all things in moderation" is generally the best approach. kimncolumbia at aol dot com

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  2. This looks like a great book. I think keeping blood sugar stable is an important, and often overlooked aspect of health. For many people who gain weight I think that blood sugar is a huge component of that, even if they don't have diabetes or IR. thanks for the giveaway! sarah.currence at gmail dot com

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  3. As someone who has PCOS, the idea of balancing protein, carbs and fat at a meal is important to me. The other thing is I will never make a food completely off limits...I would just want it that much more = moderation. (jgreenwood at sympatico dot ca)

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  4. Sounds like an interesting book! I think one important aspect to overall health is CONSISTENCY!

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  5. I am so for all things in moderation!


    mommyminded at gmail dot com

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  6. Sounds interesting. I have PCOS & insulin resistance and high blood pressure. I've started watching my carbs because of insulin and it is helping out.

    To me, it's 80% nutrition and 20% fitness/exercise.

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  7. Sounds like a great book! I've been changing my habits since the first of the year, and many of them are in line with what you've listed. I'd love to read more! Hope I win!

    My philosophy, 3 healthy square meals - no seconds. Fruit or veggie with every meal. Healthy 50-100 calorie snack in between meals. The more protein the better. No eating after 7 p.m. And allow yourself a sweet treat once in awhile - like a hershey kiss.

    Lastly, add activity to every day. The more activity, the more you lose!

    I'm down 20 lbs since January 1st.

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  8. One important aspect: Exercise :)

    Jen
    http://jensdaily.wordpress.com/

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  9. An important aspect: knowledge

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  10. The most important aspect of health is living a balanced life - exercise, nutrition and some fun. :)

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  11. I think balance is what is important - not too much of anything....work, food, activity or family

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  12. Balance for me is eating a balanced diet and keeping my BS on track. Something I have to think about every day.

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  13. Belief in yourself and the commitment.

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  14. Belief in yourself and the commitment
    ckwathome@yahoo.com (sorry I forgot my email)

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  15. Overall health to me means everything in moderation.... even moderation !!!! Don't over do any one thing ! damack666@aol.com

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  16. I'm so glad that you found this book helpful! I like that the author offers plans for a variety of body types - it makes the book accessible to more people that way.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts and being part of the book tour.

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