Body by God: The Owners Manual for Maximized Living

by Ben Lerner

Outlines a spiritual approach to achieving fitness, arguing that the God-created human body contains everything necessary for optimal health while presenting a plan that covers five areas including nutrition, exercise, stress management, time management, and success.

Genres: Health, Self Help, Nonfiction, Christian

384 pages, Hardcover

First published February 29, 2000

About the author

Maximized Living Co-Founder & NY Times Best Selling Author

Dr. Ben Lerner owned and operated 5 clinics in Central Florida seeing 12,000 patient visits each month. He is now the co-founder of Maximized Living Inc. and Maximized Living Health Centers which has opened more than 80 franchised clinics.

Dr. Ben is the author of two New York Times best sellers, doctor for two U.S. wrestling teams at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, and currently the Chairman of the Wellness Advisory Council. The Wellness Advisory Council provides care and performance programs for USA Wrestling, USA Judo, USA Weightlifting, and USA Sitting-Volleyball. They also cover performance for the 2010 MLS Cup Champions the Colorado Rapids, U.S. Martial Arts, many professional MMA teams, and for sports programs up through the college level.

Maximized Living has clients, franchises, and partners in 4 countries and is a world leader in health curriculum, wellness events, and fitness challenges.

Reviews

[Fire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Body by God is a great resource and guide for your life. Whether you are wanting to increase your productivity, eat healthier, exercise more, or decrease stress; Body by God is a wealth of insight for how to accomplish your goals without getting burned out, or giving up.

I found that it inspired me to do better and to make changes in each of the four main areas that I plan to implement now that I've finished the book. Also I learned a lot from this book, how eating foods at different times of the day is better than others, out of all of the health books I've read before, I've never heard this before and when he lays it out it makes perfect sense. Your body needs fruits in the morning to have energy for the day, and it needs proteins in the evening when it is getting ready to rebuild and repair from the strain your body has endured throughout the day.

I can't recommend this enough it is full of lists, tips, charts, and ideas that will inspire you as well. You owe it to yourself to read Body by God! 5 Stars!

[Mary Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, when you compare with study from bible source and. Combine with other bible studies his analogies, and experience evolved into this book that not only makes sense but connects for me a lot of dots.

[Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the simple approach with which Dr. Lerner, who is a chiropractor, wrote this book. It is filled with lots of "DOs" rather than "DON'Ts". Loved that.

I like simple lists.

This is where I learned about eating more of my carbs earlier in the day as I expend energy throughout. Then, in the evenings, have more protein & fats, as that's the body's repair and rebuilding time.

Probably the people before him whom I read helped gear me to be more receptive of the information I learned from Dr. Lerner. I also love his godly approach, without being too preachy.

[J G · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has solid, non-gimmicky advice on diet and exercise. The religious context is weak.

For example: “Anything that comes from God makes scientific sense.” Huh? Miracles don’t make scientific sense. The misogyny and queerphobia that is so common among fundamentalists doesn’t make scientific or spiritual sense.

If people can experience maximal health and prosperity just by worshiping, studying, and not interfering with the body, then the majority of Christians for 2000 years would have been in excellent health. It’s clear most of them weren’t when you consider the short lifespans and susceptibility to disease and war. As science developed and improved, it was mostly Christians who called it the devil’s work. It’s only because of the overwhelming scientific evidence that most Christians today are healthy.

3 stars for sensible fitness and nutrition info. 0 stars for excessive blathering on about religion.

Thank God for your body and treat it respectfully. ‘Nuff said.

[Vegan Viajo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best health book I've read in a while & I love how it brings everything back to scripture. There's even suggestions for kids and descriptions of why you should pair some foods and not others.. Why you should eat some foods and not others... Fantastic book I'd you want to learn how to gain or lose weight or simply learn how to better power your sport of the day! Loved it!!!

[Village Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reluctant on reading this book. I did and was quite impressed. It not only approached your health with exercise and diet. It also discusses mental and spiritual to make the body well as a whole. A very good read.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love this book. beyond fitness, dr. Ben teaches us how to live an overall healthy and well lifestyle. everything is positive, encouraging and practical- not to mention biblical! others have noticed my progress and asked me my secret :)

[Lisa]

How to eat healthy

[Amy Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much better than The Maker's Diet...easier to understand and more interesting to read.

[Kris Kimball · Rating 5 out of 5]

do for you and God

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book at the library and like it so much I ordered it from Amazon. Just the info I needed to tip the scales :)

[Erik Zimmer]

Great reading. Take a look if you want to relate some scripture to healthier eating styles.

[Dr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Ben Lerner has created a challenging and encouraging approach to a Biblically wholistic treatment of what God has given us. Meals, exercise, time management, all designed in a fashion that builds up our God given issues.