Thrive Fitness: The Program for Peak Mental and Physical Strength—Fueled by Clean, Plant-based, Whole Food Recipes

by Brendan Brazier, Venus Williams (Foreword)

Head of nutrition for the Cannondale-Garmin Cycling Team, nutrition consultant to the pros, and former professional Ironman triathlete Brendan Brazier is one of the world's leading experts on nutrition for professional athletes. In Thrive Fitness, he presents his own easy system for total health and fitness, complete with new photos and step-by-step exercises, for maximum results in minimal time. Whether you're a time-crunched beginner or an experienced athlete, Thrive Fitness will help you sculpt strong, lean muscles, reduce body fat, prevent disease and injuries, increase energy, cut sugar cravings, and sharpen mental clarity.

Genres: Health, Fitness, Vegan, Nonfiction, Nutrition, Food, Sports

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 23, 2008

About the author

Best-selling author (The Thrive Diet, Penguin 2007) and professional Ironman triathlete, Brendan Brazier is the founder and creator of a raw, organic, whole food health optimizer nutritional porduct called Vega.

As one of the only professional athletes in the world with a solely plant-based diet, Brendan advocates the benefits of plant-based foods for both environmental and physical wellbeing. He was chosen as one of the 25 Most Influential Vegetarians by VegNews Magazine, the Top 40 Under 40most influential people in the health industry by Natural Food Merchandiser and has been nominated for the prestigious Manning Innovation Award twice for creating VEGA, his environmentally friendly and ultra-healthy line of natural food products made from plant-based superfoods. He modeled his products after the meals and snacks he made himself everyday, which were the key to his success as a professional vegan Ironman triathlete.

Brazier’s intentions of spreading the news on an ethical, environmentally friendly, and healthy lifestyle through plant-based foods have taken him across North America, speaking at events such as the Chicago Green Festival and to audiences such as the United States Congress. Brendan was also invited to speak at the 2008 Democratic Convention.

Among Brazier’s other achievements are his active involvement with healthy, ethical, and environmental initiatives such as a new exploratory adventure movie on health and wellness, ‘Back from the Edge’, and a photo feature alongside the likes of Barack Obama and Bill Maher in the Charity book ‘A Rare Breed of Love’ (Simon & Schuster) recently featured by Oprah Winfrey. brendanbrazier.com thrivediet.com myvega.com

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was fairly disappointed in this book. I am a vegan and was interested in endurance sports nutrition so this book should have been an easy sell. For me, however, there were three major flaws with this book. First Brazier makes some really sweeping statements about health and nutrition with little if any scientific references or support of the statements. I kept hoping for footnotes evidencing support for these broad statements but most often there were none. For example, he really hammers cortisol as a central theme of weight gain but lacks or fails to provide much, if any scientific evidence supporting his claim. It seemed to me too many of his claims are supported simply by the fact it worked for him. A study of one (him!) really isn't great science! Second, too many times he relies on information from his first book without anything more than saying, "You will find that covered in my first book" or something along those lines. Basically then if you want to understand a point he is making you have to buy the first book. Finally, and the biggest flaw for me is that many of his nutritional recommendations are simply based on having to buy his products he is selling. His product just happens to be a key ingredient in many of his recipes. The whole book reads like a cheap infomercial for his first book and his expensive food supplements/products. I should even add, that I have used his products and they are fine, but I don't appreciate the book's covert attempt to sell them! Further, based on how little evidence he provides in his book, I am a lot less likely to continue buying his products! In conclusion, if you are looking for a solid book on nutrition for vegan athletes this doesn't seem to be it!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect book if you want to know how to start exercising / perfect your exercising routine and know more about nutrition!

[FC · Rating 3 out of 5]

having read Thrive, this did not add as much to prior book. Exercise program is interesting but does not seem comprehensive enough.

[Myridian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wasn’t sure who this book was written for. The whole first section of the book attempts to justify the need for formed and healthy eating. And it does so by assuming the audience is completely naive to any information in this area. I frankly found that to be annoying and patronizing. Then the whole second section lays out Brazier’s approach to testing and exercise which is hard core. Ib would imagine that most people who would be the bandwagon with exercising 6 days a week and eating only whole foods (many of them raw) would have to have built up to this lifestyle and would already know that whole first part.

And then there is the fact that there writing is not brilliant. While Brazier has to be held ultimately responsible, I also blame the editor. How anyone let book be published have concussion as a bullet point twice in the same section (see Reasons? Or Excuses? In ch 1). Brazier also describes left and right brain thinking in a section talking about how exercise stimulates creativity. While I am not a neuroscientist, I’m pretty sure that the left/right brain dichotomy is at best pseudoscience and at worst a complete fallacy. Just read the bullet points.

Brazier is open about being associated with the supplement company that he recommends so his recording them did not come as a shock, but it was still a conflict of interest that further detracted from the book.

I did find Brazier’s sample exercise schedule interesting to see and his conclusion that strength building exercises are a necessary part of endurance training helpful. The specific recipes could also be helpful for someone who needs inspiration so I appreciate that practical element.

[Dave Manning · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not the target audience of this book. I'm sure someone would benefit from it.

[Fred Ayres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same old Thrive message. Not much science, but still a great message.

[Michelle Corder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, instructive and easy to follow

[Arvind Ramanathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brandon Brazier's advice on fitness. Not greatly written, not much info.

[Cindy Troiano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m donating this book and don’t want to forget that I read it. In 2008 when I read it, I gained so much health education from it. Brendan Brazier was the real deal. I read all of his books.

[Bernadette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chronicles benefits of vegan lifestyle in working toward, achieving & maintaining competitive advantage in athletic fitness. Includes training regimens, meal plans.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid update to the original. It could actually be shorter I think as he does repeat himself sometimes. However the recipes are solid if you care to make them and the nutrition tips are better than you find in most books like this. I feel anyone following even half his suggestions would see a marked improvement in their life.

[Jesus Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great companion to Brazier's other book "Thrive". "Thrive Fitness" is mainly written for athletes, incorporating Brazier's philosophies on nutrition and expanding more on the important of exercise and functional fitness.

I really appreciated that this book's main objective is functional fitness. It's not about getting ripped or doing exercises so hardcore that will eventually turn you off to the idea of physical activity. There are also some great sport-related recipes that are not found in "Thrive".

If you already have your exercise routines and activities all set, the only real value in this book for you will be the recipes which are great. All alkaline-forming and nutrient dense.

Though this book is not as essential as "Thrive", the additional information in "Thrive Fitness" won't hurt at all. And if you're just starting to get in to the world of exercise, and most importantly, functional fitness, then get this book. Brazier has a very sound approach to overall health and wellbeing that is extremely helpful to get the things we really want out of a healthier lifestyle.

[Tamara Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a perfect book for those who want to increase their fitness/strength level and adopt a vegan lifestyle at the same time. The book starts with the author providing reasons why so many people are out of shape and then introduces readers to thrive fitness which is "fitness that lays a foundation on which a higher standard of living can be built." Braizer follows up on his definition of thrive fitness by providing four components of vitality before devling into the exercises and food needed to acheive and maintain thrive fitness.I liked that he provides pictures as well as intstructions of exercises for thrive fitness. I also liked that the book had easy to make recipes, descriptions of nutrients and compounds and a shopping list. The only thing I didn't like was that some of the exercises require purchasing equipment called the Jungle Gym (made by Monkey Bar Gym) which costs either $50 or $70 and this can be viewed as costing too by some readers.

[Andreas Michaelides · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing guide for some one that wants to have a healthy life based on a plant based diet. It also has concrete scientific facts about why you should eat plants and also which plants. It shows you which exercises to practise and also explains why you use this specific ones.
It’s a complete manual for someone that wants to have a healthy life or even for someone that wants to have athletic performance based on a plant based vegan diet. Has lots of recipes, for post workout, and after workout and also during workout, either cycling, running or swimming, it explains subjects like hydration, electrolytes, alkalinity and acidity, Ph of the blood, everything that someone is looking about being a vegan athlete and had questions or doubts this book will answer and also suggests ways of accomplishing it.

[Jayme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for anyone wanting to ramp up their fitness routine. Lots of sound advice on getting more return for the time you're putting into your workout (cause who wants to workout more than they have to?) and tons of good nutritional advice too. Brazier being a triathlete, I was hoping for more specifics on running, biking, and swimming (especially swimming), but I also see where he was going with this book and it does work.

If you're only going to buy one Brendan Brazier book though, I'd go with Thrive Diet. There's quite a bit of overlap between the two and I found Diet to be the more complete of the two books. The only thing Diet doesn't have is the 6-week workout plan.

[Lee-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

13 January 2010

This is a thoughtful, well-written book that stands out from other fitness and nutrition books. Brazier's knowledge of the subject is conveyed in the pages dense with information. Unlike most publications in the field which read like book-long advertisements for whatever products the author is flogging it never feels that his products are the reason for the book.

I had the pleasure of hearing Brendan speak while he was on the tour for this book, and appreciated his articulate and convincing reasoning supporting plant-based nutrition.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in living a healthy lifestyle.

[Lauren Caselli · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're a serious competitive athlete and you're interested in going vegan (as in WHOLE FOODS and not too many beans and performance based vegan), this is a pretty decent guide. You should probably be familiar with veganism already and maybe at least a vegetarian or do not consume a heavily meat based diet. I like that Brazier doesn't give too many difficult recipes to follow, but it does seem like a lot of his recipes are for training as opposed to just every day consumption (there's only 1 or 2 "meals" in the book that I could make for myself and a friend. Most of it is smoothies.)

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't know anything about fitness and want to, read this. If you know a lot but want to keep getting better, read this. It's a quick read with a lot of great information about how to take care of your body and maximize your potential. Brendan knows his s*&t and you won't be disappointed. I've hit a plateau with my own workouts and am excited to see how this all plays out (will try to remember to update the review in a few weeks) Live long and thrive!

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so amzing! If you want to learn how to sleep better and shorter, have much more energy through out the day and overall feel much stronger and clearer read the first four chapters of this book. The recommendations are amazing and have worked for me! This is an excellent - non mainstream - approach to general overall fitness. I recommend this book to everybody!

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's isn't easy finding information geared for vegan or vegetarian athletes and this book really became super helpful to me as I developed my own food and exercise strategies to help me as a vegan runner.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a lot of new information in this book after reading Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance. Basically the chapter showing weight training and fitness moves is the only fresh info.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent guide for us plant-based diet people who want to stay fit. I am presently doing a P90X3 workout program. This book has the information I desperately needed for energy drinks, recovery foods, electrolyte balance, etc. Very glad I found it.

[Roger Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some interesting information about being vegan and an athlete. You only need one of the books he has written unless you want the other books recipes. The recipes are very good but I think No Meat Athlete's are better and easier.

[Dickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered this book by mistake (I meant to click the save for later options) but it was one of my happier errors. Good ideas for getting or keeping fit with simple exercises and equipment as well as more vegan recipes to try.

[Britt Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly skimmed, but pretty standard recommendations for fitness books these days. glad to see people are beginning to fall onto the same ideas these days. eat whole, unprocessed foods. mostly plants. run. lift bodyweight. get quality sleep. reduce stress.

[Doug Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books on WFPB High Performance Work

This is the go to book on Whole foods plant based nutrition for high performing athletes and weekend warriors. This was the guy who started it all.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on fitness and vegetarian nutrition.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure this has good information but I got very sick of Vega supplement being the answer for everything, it was just like one big advertisement

[Ali Hendessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scrupulously researched. Well written in a really practical way. Realistic and doable methods. Can't recommend it highly enough.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome advice for a non inflammatory diet. Very helpful.