Give Me Strength: How I Turned My Back on Restriction, Nurtured the Body I Love, and How You Can Too

by Alice Liveing

In 2017 Alice had over half a million followers on Instagram, she had celebrity PT clients, appeared on the cover of Women’s Health magazine, and even achieved her third Sunday Times bestseller. She was celebrated as the embodiment of health, but that was the furthest thing from the truth.

Now, having recovered from her disordered approach to food and fitness, Alice tells the intimate story of what led to her darkest moments of restriction, the ultimatum that forced her to change, and how she overcame those demons using her four pillars of Why, What, When and How, which teach us to move based on how you feel rather than how you look .

This is a vital, powerful and life-affirming book for any women who has struggled with their body image and wants to feel happy and confident in their own skin.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

272 pages, Hardcover

Published August 6, 2024

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5 stars

I wanted to love this so bad - but unfortunately I just didn‘t.
I follow Alice on Insta and really enjoy and appreciate her content and authenticity but her writing just wasn‘t for me.
This wasn‘t nearly as inspiring as I was expecting it to be, the storytelling was very bland as well as repetitive and I just wasn‘t moved at all. There weren‘t any real quotes to highlight for me, the whole thing lacked a lot of necessary depth for a topic this sensitive and I‘ve heard all of it many times before - from different sources.

[Amrita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the audiobook version of this but I probably would have struggled with a hard copy. It was an honest account of personal experiences and clean eating culture, and I imagine it took an immense amount of bravery to write this book. I found some parts of the second half more beneficial than others but that’s more due to personal preference of exercise and specific goals rather than the content not being good

[Aisling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have been waiting for agesss for someone to write something about clean eating influencer culture and the responsibility that comes with having a platform being somewhat paradoxical with the lack of qualification needed to have one. Would defo recommend if you ever followed any fitness influencer !

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow. I will preface this review with the fact I have followed Alice since the start of 2021 and didn't know Alice in her Clean Eating Alice phase. I also have met Alice in 2022 at an event and she is one of those people who is exactly the same offline as she is online.

Now that little bias note is over, I want to talk about how hard it was to sit at a station listening to some heartbreaking moments on ED ... while currently feeling guilty of eating a burger! It really put into perspective of how many of us women (no matter what shape and size) go through a journey of hating our bodies or comparing ours to others and how social media doesn't show all.

This was such an honest and raw book but also super uplifting and positive. This book gave me strength and I hope it does for others.

[Natasha Giroux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really pleased I picked up this book: I am currently going through a similar intuitive eating and exercising journey to Alice and it was the right message for me at the right time. I hadn’t heard of her instagram account but I’m really pleased I can add it to my feed for some like-minded, positive inspiration on living a happy, healthy, balanced life. I found her journey/experience interesting and definitely preferred this first part of the book. Unfortunately I found the second half, which talked about how to have a healthy approach to exercise, quite basic. The book in general lacked detail where there was opportunity to do some research and expand points. However, I certainly wouldn’t be able to do a better job at writing this book so my overriding opinion is that this is a much needed message to young women right now. I will be recommending to friends as a quick and inspiring read. We really do need to ditch the diet mentality, see the thin ideal for what it really is and trust our bodies to eat and move in a way that’s best for us!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me preface this by saying that I consider Alice my personal trainer as I've been subscribed to her app since its inception. I love what she does as a personal trainer and as such, was looking forward to reading her book so much.

I have to admit that I have mixed feelings about the book, for multiple reasons. I loved the first section, which zoomed in on Alice's personal story and her journey from fitfluencer to where she is right now. I appreciate her honest insights and actually would've loved for her to go even deeper.

This brings me to why I didn't love the entire book: the second section was Alice's view on a healthy approach to movement, based on science-supported information. While interesting, I already knew most of this, not to mention that I wasn't really looking for this. I would have loved a deep dive into her personal experiences, because breaking away from fitfluencing and diet culture is no easy feat.

In fact, I feel that both sections of the book were just not hitting the right notes because they would basically be two different books altogether.

I wanted to love this book so badly, but I just didn't. I still love Alice's bigger message and her work as a personal trainer though!

[Ali Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've followed Alice on Instagram since 2015/2016. I enjoyed her content then and I enjoy her content now. I find her an incredibly encouraging voice through all of the diet culture mumbo jumbo that we all have the right to take up space, regardless of our size. Our value is inherent and the size of our jeans is not a determining factor either negative or positive on our value.

Because the internet is a monstrous place to spend the majority of one's time, I can't even begin to comprehend what it must be like to have a career that's 100% online. I imagine writing this book must have felt like either the greatest act of bravery or the most terrifying challenge. I applaud Alice's forthcomingness and honesty, giving readers a glimpse into what was happening behind the scenes and inside her head during her Clean Eating Alice days. I commend her for taking ownership of the role she played in the "clean eating movement" and unintentional contributions to the idea that staying slim is the ultimate goal one can pursue. I also commend her nerve to discuss the abusive relationship she endured and how she fought back. Well done, Alice, well done.

However, I felt like the second half of this book was unnecessary and redundant if you're not at the start of your fitness journey. If you've spent any amount of time in fitness, the second half of this book seemed like a rehash of all of the workout tips anyone's ever heard for the past decade but now retold through a filter of body positivity/anti-diet culture. I felt like it didn't offer anything new. Again, I am sure putting this book together had to be a challenge and opening yourself up to criticism is an incredibly brave act. Do I think this book will be immensely helpful for those beginning their fitness journeys? Yes, absolutely. For those more advanced/further along in their journeys with fitness, read the first half for the story/background but maybe skip the second half. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think beginners will get more out of it than maybe I did. But again, I must commend Alice's bravery in sharing her story. Well done.

[Amina (aminasbookshelf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve followed Alice on Instagram for years and really admire her vulnerability in revealing her struggles with disordered eating. I found her story very relatable and the truth about her abusive relationship was extremely powerful.

However, I wished this book was a bit more like a traditional memoir and provided more information and context on her life. For example, Alice goes from being a touring dancer to fitness influencer very quickly, with no explanation of her decision to transition from performing (or when/how she got her fitness qualifications).

The key part of the story felt rushed and I kept wondering if I’d missed a section. I just wanted more from this book. It felt like a podcast interview or information already in the public domain, rather than having the level of depth and introspection I’d expect of a memoir.

Read my full review on my blog
aminasbookshelf.com and check out IG/Tiktok @aminasbookshelf
for more book reviews and recommendations

[Egle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have been following Alice on and off for few years, not getting too fussy about the content, observing PT influencer’s life, methods, and in general tired of americanised market, enjoy Alice’s way. The book, especially first part, was like a fresh air in social media influencers life; the honesty and openess she has declared made me respect her more and can find more meaning in her work. Got few ‘aha’ moments and found where I behave toxic within myself. Even felt inspired to be more honest with myself.
Got a bit bored on second part as it was not why I listened to it. Really happy to see such book available and recommend to just enjoy. Listened within one day as a good long podcast.

[Helena Raywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book as a fan of Alice’s “reformed” outlook on fitness and wellbeing, hoping it would provide some respite from my own body and diet issues.

As a fellow ED sufferer, I found this book relatable, heartfelt and inspiring. It is simple and accessibly written, and presents some poignant and moving personal realisations and admissions from Alice.

The second half is a wonderfully presented introduction to exercise and respecting your body and health. If you are overwhelmed with the conflicting advice and myriad of options when searching for exercise and lifestyle advice, this is a good place to start.

[Carey Aiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has navigated the health and wellness world for sometime, I found this book very validating. I constantly overthink and analyse what I’m doing when in actual fact what I’m doing is exactly what Alice says I should be doing!

But that’s more about me and not the book! I have followed Alice for some time on social media. I actually find her persona and voice in this book more likeable and relatable than her “in real life” persona. She sounds like a friend giving you some valuable advice and letting you know that you are enough.

In a world of quick fixes, fad diets and joy-stealing comparisons, this is a refreshing and encouraging viewpoint from a high-profile fitness professional and I hope this helps people become happier and healthier (physically and mentally)

[Samantha Gumb · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has followed Alice for a long time I’ve enjoyed hearing about the journey she has gone on. With insight into her own health and fitness issues, as well as how she has re-educated herself and now trying to explain that to her audience I felt was genuine and authentic. She writes with honesty and transparency. I felt she needed to write this book for herself but also out of respect for her audience and I’m pleased she did.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this honest and personal account of Alice's journey from clean eating Alice to the person who now promotes a more balanced way of moving. Reading this really took me back in time to my teenage years and my twenties when people thought putting sweet potato in everything was a good idea.

[Shana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve followed Alice since 2014, bought her previous books and enjoy her content on instagram progressing through the years. I really admire her honesty but unfortunately the book did not live up to expectations.
This could have just been a podcast episode. Sorry to say but it was boring, even whiney at times. Waste of money..

[Ell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sad to say that I found this book hard to finish. I really wanted to love it and take advice and guidance on my journey of recovery but i found it quite boring, with not much substance to it. It didn't feel personal enough and focuses very heavily on exercise which I didn't realise before I read it.

[Alice Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook. The first half I really enjoyed, hearing about Alice’s life and her experiences. The second half not so much, it was not really relevant to me but I’m sure many would get a lot of value out of it.

[Mary Jane Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very relatable and it’s nice to see how honest Alice is about her journey. It couldn’t have been easy considering how well she was known for her clean eating Alice days but as someone who has also struggled with their relationship with food & exercise it was comforting to read her honest words

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this honest and personal account of Alice’s journey. I got a signed copy of the book at The Happy Place Festival after listening to The Happy Place Podcast episode live 🌈🎤📖✍🏻

[Pamela Gallagher · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel this book reflects the new Netflix documentary series Apple Cider Vinegar , a girl who duped the nation , she put out dangerous content saying look at me copy what I am doing and you’ll get a body like this ? Dangerous girl for an already vulnerable audience , 🫤 don’t waste your money on this book I feel this book was a long winded attempt at an apology with undertones of excuses after excuses of why she did it , this is why I see her cook books on most charity shop shelves