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No Excuses : Building Better Bodies One Habit at a Time
Never have we had more trainers, health coaches, fitness influencers, paid and free YouTube workout channels, self-styled nutrition experts, weight loss programs, fitness/food trackers, diet books, fitness challenges, supplements, pills, powders, lotions, and potions...yet still, people are struggling to take control of their weight and their health.
When Nutritionist and Physical Therapist Shaun Taylor Bevins launched her health-promoting No Excuses Facebook group in January 2020, she had no idea how quickly it would grow or how much it would teach her about the obstacles people face when trying to lose weight and get healthy. Lack of motivation, inadequate support, poor nutritional habits, emotional eating, distorted body image, food allergies, and an inability to prioritize exercise were just a few of the barriers highlighted in member questions and responses. More importantly, she realized how alive and well the destructive diet culture remains and how confused many people still are when it comes to achieving their health/wellness goals.Shaun's first book was inspired by her No Excuses group and offers a health-centered approach to building a lean, strong, and healthy body. Drawing from over three decades of experience in the health and wellness industry, she emphasizes the importance of abandoning the quick fix and instead adopting sustainable habits that support long-term health, a process that often requires a shift in our attitudes about weight, weight loss, exercise, fitness, and health.
About the AuthorShaun Taylor Bevins graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences (1994) and a Professional Master in Physical Therapy (1997). Over the past 30 years, she has worked as a clinician in out-patient orthopedics, taught group fitness in a variety of settings, lectured as an adjunct faculty for both a personal training certification program and a 200-hour yoga teacher training certification course, served as an advisory board member for the Academy of Massage and Bodywork, written online exercise and nutrition articles for LIVESTRONG, founded the No Excuses Exercise, Diet, and Wellness Community on Facebook, and organized dozens of community-based wellness programs among other things.
When Nutritionist and Physical Therapist Shaun Taylor Bevins launched her health-promoting No Excuses Facebook group in January 2020, she had no idea how quickly it would grow or how much it would teach her about the obstacles people face when trying to lose weight and get healthy. Lack of motivation, inadequate support, poor nutritional habits, emotional eating, distorted body image, food allergies, and an inability to prioritize exercise were just a few of the barriers highlighted in member questions and responses. More importantly, she realized how alive and well the destructive diet culture remains and how confused many people still are when it comes to achieving their health/wellness goals.Shaun's first book was inspired by her No Excuses group and offers a health-centered approach to building a lean, strong, and healthy body. Drawing from over three decades of experience in the health and wellness industry, she emphasizes the importance of abandoning the quick fix and instead adopting sustainable habits that support long-term health, a process that often requires a shift in our attitudes about weight, weight loss, exercise, fitness, and health.
About the AuthorShaun Taylor Bevins graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences (1994) and a Professional Master in Physical Therapy (1997). Over the past 30 years, she has worked as a clinician in out-patient orthopedics, taught group fitness in a variety of settings, lectured as an adjunct faculty for both a personal training certification program and a 200-hour yoga teacher training certification course, served as an advisory board member for the Academy of Massage and Bodywork, written online exercise and nutrition articles for LIVESTRONG, founded the No Excuses Exercise, Diet, and Wellness Community on Facebook, and organized dozens of community-based wellness programs among other things.
- GenresNonfictionHealth
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2023
48 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 8, 2023
Okay…so full disclosure, this is MY book.
My entire life has been dedicated to health and wellness. I got my first set of weights at age 10, joined my first gym at 13/14. Started teaching group fitness at 18. Earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences and a Professional Master in Physical Therapy. Professionally, in addition to almost 3 decades as a physical therapist practicing in out-patient orthopedics and treating patients across the lifespan, I also taught group fitness for over a decade, taught a personal training certification course at a local community college also for over a decade, and currently teach in a 200 and 300 hour yoga teacher training.
In 2020, I started an online wellness group to support healthy lifestyles that has grown to over 150,000. The book was born from that ever-growing group. New members come into the group asking the same questions. Other members often give the same outdated and even incorrect answers. So, I decided to write the book that had already been writing itself in my head for decades.
An avid reader (check out my Goodreads shelves), I purposely read about 100 books that covered many of the issues that were coming up in the group to explore those topics more deeply.
I cover quite a bit of ground, starting with mindset as I find this is a big issue for many people. I offer my personal strategies along with the justification for those strategies. I objectively explore popular dietary and fitness programs, offering a pros and cons type of assessment rather than a do this or that.
Additionally, I briefly touch on many areas that come up repeatedly in the group: food allergies/sensitivities, emotional and non hungry eating, motivation, calories and macro counting, gut health, hormones, supplements, and other various topics.
I review the body systems and spend time highlighting the benefits of a health centered vs weight loss centered approach. I also spend a whole chapter just on macros, explaining what they are and the benefits of including them all in your diet.
And then I pull it all together. It is less prescriptive and more instructive. The idea is to get people to understand a healthy lifestyle which supports our goals should be—and quite often is—an art inspired by the science. There is no one size fits all. And whatever the strategy, real and lasting change requires real and lasting change.
No diets. No pills. No potions. No quick fixes. Just the cold, hard, and often unpopular truth.
In short, I attempt to summarize what I’ve learned personally, academically, and professionally so that the reader is better informed about why a particular strategy may or may not work for them.
I think I’ve done a pretty good job of doing what I set out to do, and I hope readers agree.
My entire life has been dedicated to health and wellness. I got my first set of weights at age 10, joined my first gym at 13/14. Started teaching group fitness at 18. Earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences and a Professional Master in Physical Therapy. Professionally, in addition to almost 3 decades as a physical therapist practicing in out-patient orthopedics and treating patients across the lifespan, I also taught group fitness for over a decade, taught a personal training certification course at a local community college also for over a decade, and currently teach in a 200 and 300 hour yoga teacher training.
In 2020, I started an online wellness group to support healthy lifestyles that has grown to over 150,000. The book was born from that ever-growing group. New members come into the group asking the same questions. Other members often give the same outdated and even incorrect answers. So, I decided to write the book that had already been writing itself in my head for decades.
An avid reader (check out my Goodreads shelves), I purposely read about 100 books that covered many of the issues that were coming up in the group to explore those topics more deeply.
I cover quite a bit of ground, starting with mindset as I find this is a big issue for many people. I offer my personal strategies along with the justification for those strategies. I objectively explore popular dietary and fitness programs, offering a pros and cons type of assessment rather than a do this or that.
Additionally, I briefly touch on many areas that come up repeatedly in the group: food allergies/sensitivities, emotional and non hungry eating, motivation, calories and macro counting, gut health, hormones, supplements, and other various topics.
I review the body systems and spend time highlighting the benefits of a health centered vs weight loss centered approach. I also spend a whole chapter just on macros, explaining what they are and the benefits of including them all in your diet.
And then I pull it all together. It is less prescriptive and more instructive. The idea is to get people to understand a healthy lifestyle which supports our goals should be—and quite often is—an art inspired by the science. There is no one size fits all. And whatever the strategy, real and lasting change requires real and lasting change.
No diets. No pills. No potions. No quick fixes. Just the cold, hard, and often unpopular truth.
In short, I attempt to summarize what I’ve learned personally, academically, and professionally so that the reader is better informed about why a particular strategy may or may not work for them.
I think I’ve done a pretty good job of doing what I set out to do, and I hope readers agree.
March 25, 2023
Fantastic Book
Ms. Bevins’ book is enjoyable and packed full of information. I found myself highlighting and copying many of her recommendations into my GoodNotes journal. The book is thorough covering many topics. I came to really appreciate Ms. Bevins’ brutal honesty. There are no quick fixes but instead a roadmap to leading the very best life all of us are capable of. It’s a journey without an end but one in which every day can bring out our best.
Ms. Bevins’ book is enjoyable and packed full of information. I found myself highlighting and copying many of her recommendations into my GoodNotes journal. The book is thorough covering many topics. I came to really appreciate Ms. Bevins’ brutal honesty. There are no quick fixes but instead a roadmap to leading the very best life all of us are capable of. It’s a journey without an end but one in which every day can bring out our best.
February 16, 2024
This is a great book! An easy read with a ton of information. Shaun clearly communicates that there is no quick fix for building a better body. It takes time to build habits that support your goals. Topics include nutritional habits, emotional eating, an inability to prioritize exercise and more. If you are on a health and wellness journey and want to change your life for the better, I highly recommend this book!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews