Body Confidence: Venice Nutrition's 3-Step System That Unlocks Your Body's Full Potential

by Mark MacDonald, Chelsea Handler (Foreword)

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 But there’s much more to Body Confidence than when and what you eat. You’ll become a master 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.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Fitness, Nutrition, Self Help, Diets

352 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2011

Reviews

[Edenn Jablonski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chelsea Handler says this book's nutritional plan allows her to still drink vodka and lose weight. This is a theory I'm willing to consider ... :)

[Anne-Marie Whisnant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve actually owned this book for over a decade. When faced with potential kidney failure if I didn’t get my diabetes under control, I finally picked it up and not only read it, but implemented it. My blood glucose readings have been 100 percent on point, and I’ve lost 30 pounds in two months! Mark McDonald knows what he’s talking about! He even gives advice as to how to work the Venice Nutrition system into your life when life has other plans. I’m hooked! From now on, I eat to live rather than live to eat. Body Confidence is my wellness bible. It helped me, and it can help you too. I guarantee it!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Very insightful! I've tried EVERY fad diet there is and this book taught me a better way of living! It explains everything from nutrition to exercise to decreasing stress and incorporating a balanced lifestyle! It gives great tips for all types of people to achieve their body confidence! I highly recommend it!

[Walthree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. Nothing really new but a different angle and made the food plan alot easier. I have was able to loose 2 pounds a week on this plan. I also followed my own workouts. I am very pleased with the results.

[Sky Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books like this. I learned a lot, didn't feel like an idiot along the way, and am already implementing what Macdonald discusses into my daily life. Lets go team weight loss!!

[Cherice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing new, took him way too long to get to the point.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid beginner information on fitness and weight management. The author is thorough in explaining his reasoning for eating small meals with a particular amount of calories and macronutrients in each meal, with the goal of balancing blood sugar to reduce hunger and cravings while maximizing metabolism and fitness. However, much of this book is about the success of his clients, with of course no mention of those who weren't successful with his program. While the anecdotes could be entertaining at times, there was an abundance of them and I wanted him to get to the point after reading the first few pages. The necessary information could probably be communicated in 20 pages. There is also no mention of his education and credentials (or not that I remember) other than personal experience. Right now I am trying to learn about how I can be my healthiest self and ideal weight for my age and height. I can attest to the fact that when I make an effort to eat smaller meals more frequently with a certain balance of macronutrients, I find it much easier to hit my allotted calories for the day without feeling hungry, but he advocates for the use of protein bars and other processed foods and does not have an adequate plan for a plant based or plant abundant diet. I found myself eating less fruits and vegetables when trying to implement his plan. Admittedly I have not yet followed his plan to a tee, but I'm dealing with inflammation, so it is tough to stick to his plan based on his recommendation to have animal products at every meal, which ultimately contributes to inflammation. I hope to learn more about effective weight management and health before I decide whether or not this author's plan is the right one for me. I will likely continue the small meal approach regardless. Intermittent fasting and/or three meals a day only lead me to eat off plan and overeat. I may come back and update my thoughts after more review of information and experimentation.

[Adam Boltz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my second time reading this after a number of years and a lot of additional learning. First, if motivational examples of people succeeding are not your thing (as it's not mine), there's a lot to skip in this book. Even without those sections, there's a lot of redundancy in this book. Worst, though, is that I don't believe a number of the book's assertions like that adults should eat like babies (small, balanced meals every 3-4 hours) because our biology doesn't change, that we can make up sleep days later, etc.

That said, it does present an interesting case for a diet geared toward stabilizing blood sugar -- it certainly makes sense in terms of maintaining even energy throughout the day and it presents some biological arguments for its effects on releasing vs. storing body fat. I do appreciate its focus on body composition and its exercise recommendations seem sound to me.

[Tenille Tsujimoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously, this book has amazing information. The way Mark explains how different things in your body work with your food and stabilizing blood sugar just makes sense. He's fine his research. The program works and the book is very easy to follow. It took me a longer time to read only because I didn't get to read often, but the book is easy to follow along and understand. I kept getting bummed that I couldnt sit and read it for a week straight as I enjoyed it that much. Definitely a great read for anyone wanting to have a healthier lifestyle and learning how to being confident in your body. Great read.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers a lot of aspects that I rarely come across in other books on this theme. Great book to start from.
A bit much of "this will be covered in a later section of the book". It is covered so no problem there but many times it is so obvious that it will be so it does not have to be pointed out all the time.

[Mandy Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was very good information about ways to stabilize your blood sugar that I found helpful. Also, it explained a little about customizing exercise based on personal goals which was nice. However, I do wish there was more information on how to follow the plan as a vegetarian.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
some good advice about how to eat 6 meals a day to keep blood sugar balanced , lose weight and lose body fat%. Wish there was more meat on weight training exercises

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. A program that makes sense.

[Chuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not the person to be reviewing a book on healthy nutrition and fitness. However, over the course of many unhealthy (but tasty) dinners, and too many wonderful sweets, I did read it cover to cover.

It is the only health and fitness book I have seen recommended by the Life Leadership Policy Council, and there are some seriously fit people sitting in those chairs. Body Confidence is written by the founder of the Venice Nutrition Program and all it's centers. It is full of recipes, nutrition guides, exercise journals as well as guides on setting and achieving goals. It is also recommended by Chelsea Handler and she is Hot (that is to say that she has a wonderful quick mind and serious comedic talent)!

I don't know, I will give it to my wife, Susan, to try some of the menu ideas. And we do have a fitness center here at the complex! Oh, and my ear specialist apparently signed me up for an Overview with the Weight Management Team! So maybe my universe is trying to tell me something, but I do have this problem with my ears, so we will see.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Very through explanation about health structure and things that help with fat loss besides the concept of eat less, exercise more mantra. The concept of blood sugar stabilization is helpful for anyone wanting to lose weight, regain their health, and most importantly keeping the weight off. He even shows you how to indulge without having a major impact on your long range goals.

He has centers with certified coaches for those that need more support. I think it is an excellent program. When I have followed his program my cravings for foods disappear.

[Chuck Cova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a half dozen fitness/healthy lifestyle books in the last year or so and this is the one that 'clicked' with me. Takes into account the mental aspect of healthy living, and boiler plates it down to the critical aspect of blood sugar balance. Have actually met and spoken with him as well. Him and his wife have a great testimony about how they 'figured it out' and now teach and train it. Good stuff.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark is an amazing man and has written this book to help us change our lives in a healthy way! along with Monavie (Mark is the spokesman for this company) there is no better way to get healthy and if you need to lose weight!

[Raffaella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an eye opener and very easy to understand. I wish I read it years ago! I used it to adjust my lifestyle.. it just works when you finally know the WHYs behind every action to stay in control of your health and say goodbye to excess body fat for good.

[Lynetta]

The testimonials seem authentic and genuine even familiar in the ongoing struggles to look and feel good about the body we live in. Body Confidence has good information to add to the knowledge of weight control. The solution is in the why.

[Mindi Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book (mostly because the author validates nearly everything I believe about nutrition and fitness :)).

[Solange · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the great addition on my knowledge about loose weight without diet, but learn to eat property with lots of idea of a good Nutrition.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far a cliff hanger! Very useful information. An actual pen to paper put in place self do it book.

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the concept because I'm not one to deprive myself of things. I like moderation in my diet and that's what MacDonald says.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't say it changed my life but its definitely made me look at the way I exercise and fuel my body differently.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. I'm giving it a go. We'll see how I do.