Blogging for Books Review: Strong is the New Skinny by Jennifer Cohen and Stacey Colino

I recently received a book titled Strong is the New Skinny: How to Eat, Live, and Move to Maximize Your Power  written by Jennifer Cohen and Stacey Colino as part of the book review program developed by Blogging For Books. Are you looking for a fitness book that will get you on track for the new year? I'm embarrassed to say this . . . but I've been off track for several years now. The profound message in this book reminded me of the passion I once had for nutrition and fitness.

Author Biographies

Jennifer Cohen is a trainer, writer, studio owner, and successful health and fitness entrepreneur. You can read her weekly fitness blog posts written for Health.com. She has captured the attention of nearly 2 million of their followers. The columns she writes for Forbes are frequently read and noted as being in the top 10 list of posts read. She shares her knowledge and has contributed to Shape, Redbook, and Woman’s Day. Mrs. Cohen has appeared on numerous national media sites. She is also the Fitness Ambassador for Weight Watchers and has developed a series of bestselling DVD's with the company.

Stacey Colino is an award-winning writer who specializes in fitness, health, and the field of psychology. She is also a certified group exercise and Spinning instructor. Her articles can be found in a dozen national magazines, as well as numerous health and diet books, such as Disease-Proof: The Remarkable Truth About What Makes Us Well.

Book Description (According to Amazon)

LEANER, STRONGER, FITTER … FASTER
Sick and tired of hearing what’s wrong with you and your body? You’re not alone. It’s time for a new conversation—and a new plan for treating, feeding, and moving your body in ways that build on your strengths inside and out. Strong is sexy. Strong is powerful. Strong is achievable.  
With STRONG IS THE NEW SKINNY you can say goodbye to body-bashing and physical faultfinding, and instead learn to embrace, not just how it looks, but what your body can do—from pushups to pull ups and box jumps to rope climbs, nothing is out of your reach.

Topics Covered
Part 1: Inner Strength

• Maximizing Your Potential - in Mind, Body, and Spirit
• Your Lifestyle Checkup
• Developing Strength from the Inside Out
• The Strong is the New Skinny Diet Plan

Part 2: The Head-To-Toe Strengthening Plan

• Back-to Back Basic Strength
• Armed to Impress
• Cutting to the Core
• Getting a Leg Up on Strength 
• Assembling Strength
• Torching the Fat 

Price

You can purchase a paperback copy of this fitness and nutrition guide for $18.00 at Random House or at Amazon for $14.68.

Note: Prices are subject to change at any time.

Overall Review and Thoughts
This 239-page paperback fitness book begins with chapters that identify your inner strength and encourage you to maximize your potential. One suggestion mentioned was to create a brag box in order to record success reminders and mementos which will build up your confidence level. The program helps you develop STAR (Specific, Time-Based, Action-Oriented, and Realistic) goals and when combined with the psychological strategies for different situations enable you to stay focused. Each strategy is described and contains tips and tricks to handle the mental aspect of your situation and personal needs. As you read these chapters, you will "get yourself mentally prepared and ready" for the program. Do you know what holds you back from becoming the person you want to be? The authors can help you figure it out! 

The diet plan is solid, straightforward, sensible, and based on science research in the fitness and health fields. It's formulated around the acronym SINS (Strong is the New Skinny) and focuses on whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats. The sample menus are perfect for busy on-the-go people who desire simplicity when it comes to general meal preparation. They explain what you should eat, how much to eat, and when to eat. The authors use a formula based on height, weight, and physical activities to guide you into choosing the right diet plan for your specific needs. I do wish that there was a section in the book dedicated strictly to SINS recipes using the recommended ingredients.

The Strong Seven Plan includes a list of seven power foods that will jumpstart your goals in the first seven days. There's a list of paired foods to choose from such as kefir or greek yogurt, chia or hemp seeds, tart cherries, blackberries, or raspberries, apples or jicama, quinoa or amaranth, wild salmon or lake trout, and lentils or edamame. The benefits for each food pair are explained followed by daily meal examples for a weekly action plan which discusses how to incorporate these superfoods into your meals.

The exercises are demonstrated and explained thoroughly using detailed photo shots. The workout moves include back, arms, legs and core exercises. Furthermore, the workouts require a limited amount of equipment and can easily be done in the privacy of your own home which means the suggestions are more realistic than some suggestions I've read in other fitness books. It also won't take you hours to set-up and prep your routines. I was familiar with many of the strength-building exercises mentioned in this book, but they emphasized proper technique which is a great reminder to us all. Not to mention, many of the moves can be modified or adapted to meet your needs. The fat-burning exercises appealed to me the most. I absolutely LOVE the HIIT workouts which take less than 10 minutes to complete. I became a fan of HIIT workouts years ago. When I utilize this strategy to reach my fitness goals, I am usually more successful and see better results for my body type. The book also dives into the four essential principles for fitness training. The prominent attitude of "Go Hard . . . or Go Home" is one that drives to me to excel and empowers me to challenge myself on ALL levels. It also encourages me to not quit and to set higher expectations for myself.

I believe that the Lifestyle Assessment Test which considers both cardio and strength exercises will be useful when preparing yourself for the BIGGER life changes. It'll help you realize the strong impact power has on fitness -giving you a "can do" mentality.

The authors definitely give you the tools for success if you want to achieve it. This is not your average ordinary, boring fitness guide. It's a manual chocked full of resources that will guide you into becoming a better YOU. The knowledgeable authors have convinced me to focus on my fitness plan and workouts, eat better, and to start moving towards my personal fitness goals of becoming strong and fit in the new year. Who knows maybe they will inspire you to reach your goals?

Recommendations 

I recommend this informative and empowering book to individuals (particularly women) wanting to create a stronger, healthier, and fit body. This book will help you start the year off on a good note by encouraging you to create a healthier lifestyle. The authors want you to develop an inner and outer strength. You'll find yourself marking the pages of this book in some way or another for future and present use. This would be a wonderful self-help motivational book for fitness experts and trainers to recommend to their female clients. Visit the following link to read excerpts from the book.

Disclaimer

I received a complimentary, free copy of this book from from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest, unbiased review on my blog. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

Blogging for Books Review: I Quit Sugar: Your Complete 8-Week Detox Program and Cookbook

Blogging for Books recently announced the April release of Sarah Wilson's book I Quit Sugar: Your Complete 8-Week Detox Program and Cookbook. Do you know how much sugar you consume on a daily basis? Did you know many products contain hidden sugars? Are you aware of all of the effects sugar has on your health and well-being?

Author Biography

Sarah Wilson is a qualified Health Coach for the Institute of Integrative Nutrition located in New York. She currently lives in Sydney Australia. The author is also a television host, journalist, and blogger. Read Sarah's story and journey to quitting sugar here.     

Book Description

This 224-page book is a step-by-step program guide offering suggestions and tips for quitting sugar which will hopefully help you lose weight, boost your energy level, and improve your moods. The 8-week program is discussed at the beginning of the book using a week-by-week format. Sarah encourages her readers to try three new recipes from the book each week during her 8-week program. Visit the following link to see sample pages of the book.

What's Covered

• Start to Cut Back
• Operation Eat Fat
• Quit!
• Face the Demons
• Get Creative, Experiment . . . and Detox
• Add Some Sweetness Back In
• Recovering from lapses
• Refining and Moving Forward

She includes a "Getting Equipped" section that mentions two notes from the author on how she hates waste and loves efficiency. Her recipes utilize the same core ingredients repeatedly and she wants you to take advantage of the bits and pieces that many individuals tend to toss out. She gives the reader tips on how to create a freezer stash. One tip Sarah offers is that she freezes celery leaves to later use in stock recipes which are included in this book. I have tossed out the ends for years, now I collect them in a freezer bag for later use. The author also includes a short list of kitchen items that she prefers to have on hand. It is NOT an exhaustive or complete list, but is helpful to those wanting a simple start in the program. This book section contains information on how to stock up your pantry with staples that will consistently be used during the program. I have to say, I found this section to be quite insightful. I never realized I could make my own cream cheese and how useful and good chia seeds were for my body. A few other recipes included in this section are homemade ketchup, BBQ sauce, mayo, nut butters, and almond milk. Several of these recipes are also on her blog if you'd like to take a peek.

The back of the book consists of a shopping list, additional resources, and contributors. The shopping list is organized into three categories including pantry, freezer, and fridge items. Sarah also adds in a list of oils, condiments, sweeteners, teas, and baking bits. The list isn't comprehensive, because it doesn't include any fresh produce foods. The additional resources list her social media links and lists places to find hard-to-find ingredients. I had a difficult time finding chia seeds at local stores, but managed to find them at a nearby health store and on line for a reasonable price. I also stocked my pantry with quinoa after finding several packages on sale in the clearance section. I've been reading about the benefits of quinoa and have a strong desire to create recipes using this product. There are definitely a few ingredients that I don't tend to buy such as marcapone cheese, brown rice syrup, coconut and grapeseed oil, unsweetened coconut, almond meal, almond milk, stevia, and chia seeds just to name a few. I am not sure if I will be able to afford these items, but I will take small steps towards eating better using several of the recipes.

The book also contains 108 sugar-free recipes to help you in your journey. The recipes include an ingredient list, method instructions, serving size, and preparation notes. Several recipes include variations and seem easy to prepare. Many of the recipes seem appealing. I haven't tried any yet, but fully intend on doing so this month. My favorite recipe categories are obviously desserts, savory snacks, sweet treats, and breakfast. I can't wait to try the blueberry quinoa crumble, fudgy protein bites, sugar-free nutella, meal-in-a-cracker, coco-nutty granola, and chia and quinoa parfait. Ha! Can you tell I am a sugar addict? I head straight to the sweets. Doesn't this Raspberry Ripple look delicious? Sarah tells you how to make it while cutting back on sugar.

Recipes Categories 

• Breakfast
• Smoothies and Drinks
• Healthy Detox Meals
• Savory Snacks
• Sugar-Free Kids
• Sweet Treats
• Desserts

Overall Thoughts
Her book is organized into bite-sized chunks making it a quick read. The plan appears to be doable and flexible, but you will need to make a consistent effort and remain motivated to complete the program. The book teaches you how to eliminate sugar completely from you diet and later introduces sugar back with healthier substitutes. The variety of recipes included in the book make the idea of quitting sugar seem a little more realistic. I am sure that there will be controversial debates over whether or not sugar makes you fat. However, there are other benefits to quitting or reducing your sugar intake. Sarah does provide the reader with scientific information about the effects of sugar.

I haven't attempted the program yet. I definitely consider myself a sugar addict. I feel like I NEED sugar every single day and my sugar cravings are intense. I always feel tired, moody, and bloated. The information contained in the book was informative and extremely helpful.

The author is personable and inviting as she shares the realities of her experience with quitting sugar in the introduction of the book. She states, "There is a detox period where you will feel like crap." I love the honesty in this statement. She wants you to know ahead of time, that the program is not going to be easy and she's not trying to "sugar" coat it. She wants you to understand that your body will have an adjustment period and that it is normal. Many individuals will be able to relate to her experiences. I also like her viewpoint on using a "lets just see" approach when attempting the detox program.

Are you looking to live a healthier lifestyle? 

Recommendations

I recommend this book to individuals wanting to improve their health and well-being. Are you looking for a structured program that will help you cut back on sugar? I believe this is a good book to begin with if you are a sugar addict and want to change your lifestyle. Sugar doesn't have to rule over your life! Sarah's modernized book format and knowledge about the topic will encourage and motivate you to make better life choices with regards to which foods you eat. 

Price

The paperback trade book can be purchased for $25.00 at Random House. Amazon is currently offering the book for $15.81.

Note: Prices are subject to change at any time.

Social Media
Sarah Wilson's Blog
I Quit Sugar Book Store
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest

Disclaimer: 

I received a complimentary, free copy of this book from from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest, unbiased review on my blog. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

Schoolhouse Review: Beeyoutiful Products

Beeyoutiful is an online health and beauty product store that carries many items made with all-natural, organic ingredients. The company encourages others to take responsibility for their health. They are interested in finding natural remedies that improve health. Certified nutritionist, Stephanie Tallent, runs this natural wellness Christian company with her husband. Their product line includes essential oils, bath and beauty items, hair or skin products, supplements, nutritional supplements, books, baking supplies, and even appliances. The have many products available for men, women, and children. As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I was fortunate enough to review five of their products including Berry Well, Lip Balm, Ow!-Ease, Miracle Skin Salve, and the Beeyoutiful Views DVD.

Berry Well
Berry Well is an immune booster that attacks flu, cold, bacterial, and viral symptoms. It is a powerful concoction of all natural ingredients including purple elderberries, raw honey, raw apple cider vinegar, bee propolis, and Echinacea root extract. You are probably wondering what could something with all those ingredients tastes like? It is not as bad as you might be thinking; the taste is tolerable. My family rated the taste; we gave it a 7 out of 10. There is a strong apple cider vinegar taste with a slight sweetness. As compared to other medicines in my cabinet, the Berry Well is a little thinner and runnier than cough syrup consistency. One thing I wasn't sure about was whether or not it was supposed to be refrigerated. I could not find this information on the bottle, DVD, or website. I assumed it did not need to be refrigerated since I don't have other medicines or vinegars in a cool place. They recommend that you do not use this product if you have bee product allergies.

How We Used Berry Well
I noticed that during our recent move, I started to have cold-like symptoms ... most likely due to stress or allergies. I took Berry Well for a couple of days. I did not use it every three hours as recommended. My symptoms did not get worse and improved a little each day. We moved to an area surrounded by cedar and ragweed, so it is very possible that I may have developed unknown allergies. Occasionally as a preventative measure, I would take one dose (1 Tablespoon) to prevent any major illness from occurring since that was the last thing I wanted to happen during a move. I also gave a tablespoon of Berry Well to my father-in-law when he was ill. He said, "It tastes like sour boysenberries." Alyssa tried it on several occasions after complaining about a sore throat. She took a regular dose of one teaspoon each time. She didn't mind the taste at first, but she felt the aftertaste was bad. She said, "It tasted a little like honey and something else I've tasted before. It was sour and sweet too." Her sore throat didn't worsen or become a bigger problem. I used kitchen measuring spoons, because I wanted to make sure I gave exact dosages. My husband was curious so he also tasted the product. He didn't like it at all, but he would take it if I asked him too. He doesn't like apple cider vinegar - he couldn't get passed the smell and taste it even though it is not that bad. We are saving the rest of the bottle for the winter months when we all usually get sick. We may need to purchase another bottle since this one is getting low. We might take it as a preventative when the weather gets colder. Berry Well costs $19.75 for an 8 fl. oz. bottle containing 16 servings.

Lip Balm
We used Beeyoutiful's all natural peppermint flavored Lip B.A.L.M to moisturize my daughter's lips. The ingredients are grape seed oil, beeswax, shea butter, and essential oils. The nourishing lip balm smells decent, has a smooth application, and doesn't gob up or seem too sticky. There is not a nasty taste. In fact, it is more refreshing than many we have tried in the past (not that we are suppose to taste it). Alyssa's great grandmother told us to try Petroleum Jelly on her lips. It was thick, sticky, and Alyssa was not happy with me. We have seriously tried way too many lip balms in this family. I threw a tiny drawer away before the move. I won't be throwing this lip balm in the garbage. The regular-sized lip balm is available for only $3.00 per tube or you can receive a discount by buying this item in bulk. You can also purchase 3 for $2.70 each.

How We Used the Lip Balm
This product was mainly used as intended for dry, chapped lips on a daily basis several times throughout the day. Alyssa, my four year old daughter, was the main user of this product. I also applied a dab on my lips, using my fingertips, for several days as needed. I love peppermint lip balm products!

Miracle
I also received a 2 ounce container of Miracle Skin Salve which is a blend of organic herbs and oils. The product contains coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, bee propolis, organic plantain and comfrey root, organic calendula flowers and essential oils of rosemary and lavender scents. These ingredients combined provide moisturizing effects. It is light green in color and really does soothe your skin. This product can be used for a variety of conditions such as diaper rashes, psoriasis, eczema, dry skin, cuts, sunburns, burns, abrasions, stings or insect bites, chapped lips, cold sores, and more. This product is available in two sizes. The 2 ounce container of Miracle Salve can be purchased for $15.00 and the 4 ounce container can be purchased for $25.00. If you have a large family or believe that you will use this product often, then it may be more convenient and cost efficient to purchase the larger container. I may be purchasing this as a Christmas gift for family members. I hope they are not reading this post.

How We Used Miracle Skin Salve
I have seen several dermatologists and tried concoction after concoction for my dry, rough hands. They crack, bleed, swell, and hurt badly in the winter months making it hard to do many everyday activities easily. Years ago, a dermatologist wanted me to try a mixture of Jergen's lotion and Milk of Magnesia to help soothe the dryness and heal the cracks. He also recommended that I cover my hands at night. I applied the same principle when using this product. I used Miracle Skin Salve at night on my hands. I wore winter gloves to bed so that I didn't get the oils on the sheets and my pillow. I also have trouble with acne so I didn't want to get any on my face just in case. The gloves do not stay on throughout the night. I move around a lot when I sleep and they usually fall off sometime during the night. By that time, I am sure the product was already absorbed in my skin. I did notice that my hands weren't as dry and red. They also seemed softer and smoother. I hope to use this product more in the winter and I pray that it will work wonders - that will be the true test for me! If this product works I plan to notify my family because all the women experience the same bothersome skin issue. My husband's hands are also horribly dry and rough due to the work conditions. He used it for several weeks and experienced skin improvements. Thank goodness! Towards the end of this review, I noticed that Alyssa's hands were beginning to dry up like mine. I really hope she isn't have the same skin issue. It may be due to the fact that she doesn't rinse off all the soap when washing her hands and the soap is irritating them. I immediately started using the Miracle Salve and it is helping her situation. She didn't want me to put it all over her hands at bedtime because she didn't want to get it on her dolls while sleeping. I realized that I needed to use less and rub it in thoroughly several times before bedtime.

How We Used Miracle Skin Salve and Lip Balm Together

I used the lip balm on my daughter's lips several times throughout the day. As a bedtime regimen, I used a q-tip to spread the Miracle Salve across her lips for added protection while she slept. It looks like the two worked well together and I noticed a definite improvement in a short amount of time. Her lips weren't as dry and chapped. Her confidence level went up and she smiles more often. Beforehand, she was self-conscious about her lips which really concerned me. Now, if I can just get her to stop picking and biting at them. Below you will see before and after photos. These pictures were taken after several routine applications over a couple of weeks. However, I noticed the improvement within a few days of consistent use. The results were awesome! I highly recommend these two products especially when used together for extremely dry and chapped lips. The first photo was taken after using several products available at other stores for an extended time period.

Before

After

Ow!-Ease
The Ow!-Ease blend arrives in a large, portable stick applicator form which makes it extremely easy to apply. The arnica trauma salve is a proprietary mixture and infusion of organic arnica, beeswax, extra virgin olive and coconut oils, cayenne, lavender and rosemary essential oils, organic chamomile, organic wild crafted calendula, and organic St. John's wort. The product description on the website explains what arnica is and how it works. Ow!-Ease works well for blunt force injuries, bruises, bumps, contusions, sore muscles, joint pain, or sprains. It has also has a smooth, creamy texture and can be applied with ease. The one ounce Ow!-Ease applicator is available for $15.00 and discounts are offered for multiple applicator purchases.
Warning: This product is not safe for use on open wounds. Use on wounds where the skin has not been broken.

How We Used Ow!-Ease
My husband bruised his arm badly during the move. I applied Ow!-Ease to my husband's bruised arm. I couldn't believe how fast his arm healed! The bruise faded away quickly and the pain ceased. I honestly wish I had taken before and after photos. I guess deep down inside I didn't think it would work, but it actually did! I recently had a doctor's appointment and blood was taken from both of my arms. Afterwards, I had two huge bruises - I tried the Ow!-Ease on both bruises. The soreness was reduced, but I didn't have results as quick as my husband's. The bruise eventually went away, however, it took much longer for mine to disappear. I used this product on my friend's swollen ankle and it reduced the pain and swelling. She didn't complain as much about the piercing pain after applying this product to her ankle. I also used it on Jeff's knees for the joint pain he was experiencing. He was a marine and training tore his knees up pretty bad. Shortly after rubbing it around his kneecaps he said, "The pain was not as excruciating. Hey, this stuff might work! It really doesn't hurt like it did a few minutes ago." I hardly ever used it on Alyssa and when I did she said, "Thanks mom it feels better." I used it occasionally after hard workouts which wasn't that often due to time constraints with the move. It did eliminate muscle soreness. I will be keeping this item in my first aid kit in preparation for future emergencies.

Beeyoutiful Views DVD 
The Beeyoutiful Views DVD contains informative and useful information about several products carried by the company. Stephanie Tallent explains how she uses the products in her household. I watched this DVD and had to start taking notes! I learned so much about taking a step closer to a healthier lifestyle. This DVD costs only $3.00.

Other Products of Interest
I may have to try Beeyoutiful's Tension Tamer available for $11.00 to see if it will help eliminate my headaches or even lessen the pain related to my frequent migraines. The website states that it is the "ultimate de-stressor." I could DEFINITELY use this in my life right now. Recently, my doctor also told me that I need to take calcium and D3 (5,000 iu). There is a hereditary bone disease that runs in my family so I need to take supplements as a preventative measure. D3 can be very beneficial for individuals that do not get a lot of sun exposure. Beeyoutiful carries D3 in liquid ($10.00) or pill form ($9.00). I will need to compare their prices and products with the stores before considering this purchase. Other crew members are reviewing products that may be of interest to you including but not limited to their new make-up, the vanilla body butter, and hair shine as seen below. Make sure you head over to our Schoolhouse blog to read their reviews.

Recommendations and Results
Overall, I was pleased with the results we had from using Beeyoutiful's wonderful products. I was especially happy when my daughter's lips healed (this was a first for us). I love seeing her smile! I would recommend Beeyoutiful products to those of you that are health conscious and want to make an effort to take care of your body better. I highly recommend the Lip B.A.L.M and Miracle Skin Salve. I need more time experimenting with Berry Well in the winter time when we are most likely to get sick before HIGHLY recommending it. I do still recommend it because it seemed to work well for our symptoms. Ow!-Ease is also a good product that worked more for my husband than for myself. If Alyssa gets hurt, I will apply this product on her wound to see if she experiences the same positive results as my husband. Please keep in mind that I am not a doctor or a nurse; this was my experience with these products. Make sure you read the ingredients beforehand to eliminate any allergic reactions you or your family may experience. I know that individuals allergic to bees must heed caution since several product ingredients contain bee products.

Check out Beeyoutiful's line of beauty and health products, you can shop by product or health concern.

If you have any questions about Beeyoutiful Products and their ingredients, please contact the company here. They can also be reached at 1-877-6BEEYOU. Stay up to date on new products and more by signing up for their newsletter. You can also read previous newsletters on the website. Check out the Beeyoutiful Forum which is a place where you can ask questions and discuss health and beauty issues with Beeyoutiful staff and members. I read some pretty interesting stories at the forum. The company recently started a reward program in which "Bee Points" can be earned for placing orders, writing product reviews, etc. It may be worth looking into since those points can be used to reduce the amount you pay for your order. You can also follow their Facebook page. Would you like to view a few Beeyoutiful Living Videos? Click on the links to learn more about a variety of health topics.  

Thank you Beeyoutiful Products and Schoolhouse Crew Leaders for giving us the chance to use these amazing, healing products!

Please visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog here to read the reviews for other Beeyoutiful products.

Disclaimer: As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received four products from Beeyoutiful Products and a DVD, at no cost to me, in exchange for an honest, professional review on my blog.  All opinions expressed are my mine and were not influenced in any way by the product or company.