Michelle Bridges, best known for her role coaching individuals on The Biggest Loser Australia, has recently released her new health and fitness book: Powerful Living – Mindset + Exercises + Recipes. The focus of this title is to remind the reader that they alone are in charge of their choices surrounding food and movement, and exercising power over these choices is the key to success.
I’m liking
The book is divided into the sections of mind power, body power and power food. It takes you step by step through forming habits, putting together meals of different caloric values, and exercises with lots of visuals to help you get into shape. There’s even a pull out guide at the back so you can refer to it easily when working out, to ensure your technique is correct. I like the fact that the book centralises around the themes and doesn’t wander wildly into other territory – it seems pretty focussed on getting the results you desire.
Things that made me go hmmmm
She trains some very large folk on The Biggest Loser, but I’m not sure they start out with all of the exercises in this book?? Some might require working up to a certain level to achieve with competency!
Personally I find the mindset stuff a little airy fairy for my worldview. I get that we need to own our choices, but chanting while I exercise just isn’t something I’d find helpful.
The conclusion
This is a fairly simple formula – keep track of your calories, work on the ways to take back the power around your choices, and use exercises that are effective. Bridges obviously helps people lose a lot of weight so if that’s what you’re after and if you’re looking for it in a compact place this book could help you. There are some great ideas for healthy recipes which are easy to make when you’re starving and might make some poor food choice. Some people would find value in the quick reference guide for working out as well.
Powerful Living has and RRP of $37.00 and is published by Penguin Random House NZ
