Are You Ready!: Take Charge, Lose Weight, Get in Shape, and Change Your Life Forever

by Bob Harper

The world-renowned fitness coach on the hit TV show The Biggest Loser presents his winning approach to lasting weight loss by showing how to get at the root of your overeating problem, followed by a nutritionally savvy diet and unique exercise plan.On The Biggest Loser, Bob Harper gives contestants the practical tools and psychological insights they need to get into the best shape of their lives. The key to his success is the emotional connection he makes with each participant, and he brings that same spirit to Are You Ready! Harper starts with a four-step strategy for getting at the root of negative thought patterns and destructive behaviors, replacing both with a clear way to build self-worth and confidence. With these tools in place, people are empowered to make real, lasting changes in their lives. In an easy-to-follow eating plan, he provides lists of foods that are nutrient-dense and naturally low in calories, more than twenty sample menus, and

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

240 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2007

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was skeptical at first when I picked this up. I wasn't sure if I was worried it wouldn't work or because it was to commercialized. But Bob Harper I find is one person who truly knows what he is talking about. There's a connection there that really does make you sit back and take a good long hard look at your life and current lifestyle and it makes you wonder what you really can do to improve yourself. In order to loose weight and stay healthy you have to be able to believe in yourself first to know that you as in individual can make the change and that you can maintain an active and healthy lifestyle just by make simple changes within yourself.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The information is what I have read before which is a good reinforcement for wanting to change your habits. If your looking for new solution then this book isn't for you, your probably not ready to change.

[Maureen]

Apparently I wasn't ready.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the books about losing weight come with their own diet and exercise plans. Some you can do, some are just too far out there.

Bob's isn't too extreme. He introduces exercise into your life slowly and builds to weight training.

The diet plan isn't extreme ... just eat all the right stuff. There's no weird food on the list that I don't like.

What I liked best about the book was he encourages you to dig deep inside and confront why you ended up overweight in the first place.

The four steps to his program are:

1. Are you really ready?
2. Accept where you are and forgive
3. Love yourself
4. Change your internal recorder, change yourself

There are pictures of all the exercises to show you how to do them. For some reason, they are black 'n white which gives them kind of a 1950s look.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book coming off of a high from watching Biggest Loser and honestly, I was kind of disappointed. The first section is amazing and teaches you about getting down to the real reasons why you're over-eating or not taking care of yourself.

Once you get to the 2nd and 3rd parts of the book, however, it gets a little unrealistic. I felt his menu wasn't practical for normal people and the exercises weren't even in color. Also, I would have much preferred a simplified option for those who are on a busy schedule and just want to work on cardio and a little toning.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter bought me this book as she knows as I a huge (no pun intended) Biggest Loser Fan - actually this book caught me off guard as it wasn't really based on the biggest loser at all.....more based on the mind body connection and preparing yourself mentally before making the change to a healthier lifestyle. The only downside of this book I found is half of it is pictures of exercise moves---we all know how to exercise --- I wish more of it would have been based on the first third of the book.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book at Barnes & Noble, and it is amazing. Bob Harper (from Biggest Loser) has written this manual to help us "take charge, lose weight, get in shape, and change your life forever." He focuses on 3 areas: the inner compass which helps us to change our emotional/mental outlook on life and fitness, diet, and exercise. Everything is explained clearly with a very positive approach. I am glad I bought the book, as I want to refer to it often to help myself keep on track with what I already know I need to do. Outstanding book for all levels of fitness, weight, and sizes!

[Dorene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a whole lot of new info here, but who just doesn't love Bob? His data and research are up to date and realistic, and his energy and style are just plain motivating. I found it a great reinforcement to what I already know about diet, exercise, fitness, and wellness. I certainly think this would be a great "help" to someone who feels like they are just starting out on a weight loss or fitness journey.

[Whitney Hopperton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't a huge fan of how much it was focused on the "inner compass" as I don't find that belief to hold true to myself as a Christian believer. Seemed very new age to me. However, I absolutely loved the workout suggestions and the food lists which will help me in my goals for 2010. The Food Journal was also beneficial. While we think it's easy to keep track of our foods, this journal helps you realize when you are eating, why you are eating and is a good system that i may try.

[Tammysparkle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I truly love Bob Harper, but I really should not have bought this book as it is essentially your bog standard diet book with a psychological angle. If you are interested in dieting, you will've definately come across all these ideas before. But if you'd like a bog standard diet book to start off your lifelong diet book collection, then buying a book with Bob Harper's face on the front may bring some kind of light into your life. A Bob Harper tinted light.

[Athena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I expected when I got this book from the library. I've been a fan of the Biggest Loser for a few seasons including a fan of Bob Harper. I found this book to be very informative. It wasn't an every day fitness/diet book. It was motivational and shared some personal stories-- both from Bob's friends and him.

I'm definitely adding this book to my collection as it's a good go-to book for that extra motivation, an idea, information, etc.

[amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

i admit, i don't watch the biggest loser, but i have seen bob on oprah and rachael ray. i'm all for digging into why i'm really bingeing, but i wasn't feeling the inner compass set up. my biggest issue with this book is the lack of editing. i found several errors, as well as charts/ graphs which were referenced and then just plain missing. not acceptable. and are you ready? is a question, not a command.

[Justin Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

so I have had this book for years but never actually read it. In reading it I found it very interesting instead of Bob diving into exercise and new recepies that he talks about the emotional side of it all. To me diet books are useless. I feel as if everyone should get a personal sense on how their body and matabolism works and base their diets off of that. This book is a great start to learning how you should plan your diet.

[Cory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Bob Harper, so I was predisposed to like the audiobook version of this book. Bob was in my car, telling me that I could be healthy! The first section, where he talks about my inner compass, was a bit too woo-woo and vague to be helpful to me. But the other two parts were inspiring, and did give me some helpful steps to take in order to be healthier.

[H.A. Fowler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well... it's not really anything anyone concerned with nutrition and exercise hasn't heard before. I adore Bob on the Biggest Loser -- I like his holistic approach to getting healthy, and that he's a yoga enthusiast (plus, he's adorable) -- but this book wasn't really all that excited or groundbreaking. It was ok, but I'm really glad I took it out of the library rather than buying it.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

First let me say I love Bob Harper! That being said, this book was not what I expected. Too much psychoanalysis and not enough practical advice. I think we already get it that emotions and baggage come into effect. However, I do believe this book is worth while, it just really depends on where one is in their life when they read it.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was nothing new from what I read before. It was filled with stories of how the author helped people to change their lives, but no real way to do it. The suggestions in the book are the same suggestions I've read over and over.

[Kiston · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but it was too touchy/feely for me. I wanted to experience what it was like to be trained by Bob, and instead I got a lecture on my 'Inner Compass'. Blah, I say. Still, some of the recipes are useful.

[Elissa]

I know this is like the zillionth diet book I have bought but I like he gives a three page list of foods to eat. There is also numerous black and white photos of exercises to do and all you need is some weights and a stability ball. Bob Harper is from the tv show The Biggest Loser.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really respect and admire Bob Harper's methods. I thought this book was insiteful. I only gave it three stars because he really did not end the book. The last part of the book focuses on exercises and then just ended without any other information.

[Ealopez826 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I workout sometimes while watching the biggest loser and let me just say that this book gives you nothing new. But if you don't watch the show bobs workouts and diet plans in the book are easy to follow for beginners.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Bob Harper, so I'm sorry to say that I wasn't completely enthralled with the book. I wanted more personal stories, more anecdotes, more of the awesomeness that you see on The Biggest Loser, but it just didn't come through the pages for me. It was OK.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is great! I love that you can interact with the book with motivational exercises. It really got me pumped about starting a new life, but made me realize that it is a process to lose weight, not just physically but emotionally as well.

[Laurynkay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Bob's Inner Compass Journey. It totally helped in many areas of my life including what I eat and how much I exercise.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of soul searching in reading this book. A step by step process that doesn't happen overnight. Parts of the book are good to read over again.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fun to read because I am a fan of the show, but I didn't really find it to be very helpful.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

most of it is just pshcological crap

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

So far not impressed and very disappointed because I was really excited about this

[Denise]

love him!

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for beginners and those needing a first step on identifying the "why" behind their weight gain.