“Strong is the New Skinny,” Jennifer Cohen’s motivational, instructional and experience-based book is a powerful and practical guide for women looking to lead a healthy life. She covers the gamut, from mindset, lifestyle, nutrition, and of course, exercises.
This book is a far cry from some of the other books I’ve reviewed. I reflected on what made me pick it up, and besides the impressively strong female body on the side, I was honestly compelled by the title. I didn’t expect that I would learn new exercises or nutrition programs, although I was sure these would be discussed; what I hoped to learn was how to cultivate the mindset of being strong is more important than being skinny. I had seen a similar mantra on a billboard advertising “The Rush” memberships, and the mindset appeals to me.
To do what we love, what the Lord would have us do, to take care of others, to create and work hard – all of these take strength and stamina. And so I devoured this book in two days, wondering if there was a secret.
Of course – as you would have guessed – there is no secret. It’s about developing a lifestyle of habits, and that takes time, discipline and dedication, and a little self-forgiveness, too.
If I had to describe the tone of this book, I’d say imagine you’ve worked with a physical trainer for years: she’s beautiful and fit, she knows what you’re capable of, and she’s also dished the gossip with you here and there, while never forgetting to get down to business. The down-to-earth book that Cohen and Stacey Colino have created is that trainer for you.
I particularly appreciated how this book was structured. You start out getting the right mindset; although I’d heard many of these mental exercises and attitudinal statements before, gathering them together in that friendly but firm way solidified them all in my mind.
The book shares specific scientifically-proven exercises in the following fashion: your back, arms, core, then legs. This was revolutionary for me, as all of my dabbling in sports has never really given me a firm foundation for my back, which is essential. This book spoke to me in a new way for that section especially.
I found myself wishing that the exercise section, while giving plenty of variety, had more images. Some of these exercises were new to me, and there was an image for only some of the exercises. I probably will go on to YouTube to view how some of these are done. It would be a great idea for the publisher to include a digital component along with this book, complete with how-to videos to demonstrate the appropriate way to accomplish some of these exercises.
This book would be especially meaningful for someone who needs some motivation to continue their fitness and healthy nutrition journey. For the women who need to change their mindset of measuring themselves by their scale and begin measuring themselves in strength. I recommend this book as a comprehensive, readable and thoughtfully-created guide to refocus on physical and mental strength, not society’s skinniness.
I received this book free from Blogging for Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
{Susie Boles Books} 