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Fitness Independence: Escape the Dogma and Be Fit Your Way
Our modern fitness culture has become a messy, and often confusing, patchwork of theories and pseudoscience. In his groundbreaking book, Fitness Independence, Matt Schifferle restores the most fundamental scientific principles that make fitness work, and how you can use them to make diet and exercise work for you. In Fitness Independence you'll endlessly trying to work harder to get better results leads to endless plateaus and frustration.The most fundamental principles control your body fat, muscle mass, and performance. How almost all diets are doomed right from the start because they are based on the same flawed premise, which is the complete opposite of what makes a diet healthy or not. Why almost everything you've learned about using exercise to change the shape of your body is wrong, and what you can do about it. Why the experts don't really know what's best for you and how you can take full control over your fitness habits. The simplest and most efficient diet and exercise methods that produce the best results that are also the easiest to maintain. Getting in, and staying in shape doesn't have to be nearly as difficult as popular diet and exercise trends make it out to be. If anything, this whole fitness thing is supposed to get easier over time, not harder. Read Fitness Independence and take your first step toward breaking free of the dogmas and flawed methods that continue to fail you time after time.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2016
150 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 12, 2016
Best Fitness Book Around
After being introduced to Paul Wade's Convict Conditioning, Dragon Door, and Al Kavadlo, I stumbled upon Matt's YouTube videos a while back. He brought a good dose of common sense to the seemingly endless complexity of training concepts bouncing around fitness culture and I was thrilled to find out he wrote a book. This book did not disappoint, it embodies the independence in training and fitness that so many gym goers are lacking
these days. Matt knows what he is talking about and isn't trying to sell you a particular routine, machine, pills or powder. He doesn't spook you into giving up sugar, cardio, or office chairs and he skillfully explains crucial concepts without the of use overly complex scientific jargon that you need a PhD to comprehend. What this book sets out to do is make the uncommon argument that health and fitness don't have to be so time consuming and resource expensive. It is literally the only book I have ever read which is trying to make a healthy lifestyle easier to obtain/maintain rather than more difficult. It is refreshing to encounter an author without an agenda other than helping the reader reach their full potential and avoid all of the pitfalls of training your body with a conventional mindset. Please buy this book and watch his videos, you won't be disappointed.
After being introduced to Paul Wade's Convict Conditioning, Dragon Door, and Al Kavadlo, I stumbled upon Matt's YouTube videos a while back. He brought a good dose of common sense to the seemingly endless complexity of training concepts bouncing around fitness culture and I was thrilled to find out he wrote a book. This book did not disappoint, it embodies the independence in training and fitness that so many gym goers are lacking
these days. Matt knows what he is talking about and isn't trying to sell you a particular routine, machine, pills or powder. He doesn't spook you into giving up sugar, cardio, or office chairs and he skillfully explains crucial concepts without the of use overly complex scientific jargon that you need a PhD to comprehend. What this book sets out to do is make the uncommon argument that health and fitness don't have to be so time consuming and resource expensive. It is literally the only book I have ever read which is trying to make a healthy lifestyle easier to obtain/maintain rather than more difficult. It is refreshing to encounter an author without an agenda other than helping the reader reach their full potential and avoid all of the pitfalls of training your body with a conventional mindset. Please buy this book and watch his videos, you won't be disappointed.
April 18, 2020
Here's the thing with this book: a lot of it isn't revolutionary. Originally, I rated it a 2, but I find myself constantly coming back to a few ideas from it every day and I like to think that part of what makes a good book is if it sticks with you. My big takeaways from this book were:
1) Adding tension into your exercises is vital and will make your gains much more significant than not.
2) The human body has not evolved to "look nice"--that is a modern perception about a goal from fitness and exercise. Think more about what you want your body to do and less about how you want it to look.
3) Think of diet like buckets: there's your vitamins bucket, your calorie bucket, your protein bucket, etc. but there's also your "eating for pleasure" bucket and your "social enjoyment" bucket. It's important to consider each of these buckets and to try to satisfy as many as you can (without overfilling them) per serving. Denying yourself any of these categories isn't good for long-term health and happiness--but conscientious consumption is important. It's made me really appreciate the food that I put into my body in a new way.
Overall, I think I would recommend the next book the author wrote, Smart Bodyweight Training, more as I feel like it has more practical advice rather than overarching philosophical advice. But especially if you feel overwhelmed by all the options out there, aren't sure where to start in health and fitness, etc., Fitness Independence can be a good introductory read.
1) Adding tension into your exercises is vital and will make your gains much more significant than not.
2) The human body has not evolved to "look nice"--that is a modern perception about a goal from fitness and exercise. Think more about what you want your body to do and less about how you want it to look.
3) Think of diet like buckets: there's your vitamins bucket, your calorie bucket, your protein bucket, etc. but there's also your "eating for pleasure" bucket and your "social enjoyment" bucket. It's important to consider each of these buckets and to try to satisfy as many as you can (without overfilling them) per serving. Denying yourself any of these categories isn't good for long-term health and happiness--but conscientious consumption is important. It's made me really appreciate the food that I put into my body in a new way.
Overall, I think I would recommend the next book the author wrote, Smart Bodyweight Training, more as I feel like it has more practical advice rather than overarching philosophical advice. But especially if you feel overwhelmed by all the options out there, aren't sure where to start in health and fitness, etc., Fitness Independence can be a good introductory read.
March 28, 2018
You are your own gym (as one other well known bodyweight guru Mark Lauren would say) and you are in control of your desires, actions and life, even when you think you are not. Fitness industry and fitness/wellness authorities are lying (to consumers and to itself) that you need variety of supplements, special diets, gym memberships, an expert trainer, special workout equipment, tech and apps, etc., if you wish to succeed on your path to be fit and healthy - but it could not be more far from the truth.
In this book you won`t find any specific advices on training plans and diet, this book is about mindset, applicable to your whole lifestyle frame. Matt build this mindset around 5 basic principles on which you have to be particularly attentive: emotion / consistency / logic / progression / action plan - these are that kind of principles you could find in any random self-help book.
Although I agree with a lot of the authors claims, this book is all-around to simplistic, there are a lot of claims that author assures that are scientific truths, but he does not support his claims with any evidence or appropriate arguments and he uses that special snake-oil sells-man logic: just believe me, I have been through this path, on this journey, I know it all. But if this kind of attitude can change peoples (readers) minds and lives for the better, I don`t mind, whatever works....
It is a good mindset and philosophy of everyday life strategy, but it could be a better book. I would recommend it anyway to everyone who aspires to be a better and more mindful person and who wishes to successfully, productively adopt fitness routine into everyday habitual routine without too much sacrifice and monetary or personal dependency on others.
In this book you won`t find any specific advices on training plans and diet, this book is about mindset, applicable to your whole lifestyle frame. Matt build this mindset around 5 basic principles on which you have to be particularly attentive: emotion / consistency / logic / progression / action plan - these are that kind of principles you could find in any random self-help book.
Although I agree with a lot of the authors claims, this book is all-around to simplistic, there are a lot of claims that author assures that are scientific truths, but he does not support his claims with any evidence or appropriate arguments and he uses that special snake-oil sells-man logic: just believe me, I have been through this path, on this journey, I know it all. But if this kind of attitude can change peoples (readers) minds and lives for the better, I don`t mind, whatever works....
It is a good mindset and philosophy of everyday life strategy, but it could be a better book. I would recommend it anyway to everyone who aspires to be a better and more mindful person and who wishes to successfully, productively adopt fitness routine into everyday habitual routine without too much sacrifice and monetary or personal dependency on others.
December 8, 2016
More for beginners
Maybe in some parts a little borig. However, eventhough is not really a book where you learn technicall things about fitness aad training in general, it has some nice advices amd some of them even if heard already very usefull to achieve a happy fitness lifestyle. Good over all for beginners but also for passionaned amd experienced people that think need to umnderstand if they don't like working out or training anymore or if is just the way they do it that push them away from what they used to love doing.
Maybe in some parts a little borig. However, eventhough is not really a book where you learn technicall things about fitness aad training in general, it has some nice advices amd some of them even if heard already very usefull to achieve a happy fitness lifestyle. Good over all for beginners but also for passionaned amd experienced people that think need to umnderstand if they don't like working out or training anymore or if is just the way they do it that push them away from what they used to love doing.
March 20, 2018
Wow! A great look behind the scenes of the fitness industry.
This is the book to get. If you're like me, you think of yourself fairly intelligent and on the ball, yet the fitness infomercials sucked us into the buying scam. This special equipment or this special protein is what you need. What colossal bag of !@$¡|! This book brings it all back to you. You're fitness plan should be customize for you by you. Simple huh? This is truly the most useful book I've read in 30 years. No way to go wrong. Believe in yourself. Good luck.
This is the book to get. If you're like me, you think of yourself fairly intelligent and on the ball, yet the fitness infomercials sucked us into the buying scam. This special equipment or this special protein is what you need. What colossal bag of !@$¡|! This book brings it all back to you. You're fitness plan should be customize for you by you. Simple huh? This is truly the most useful book I've read in 30 years. No way to go wrong. Believe in yourself. Good luck.
November 23, 2016
Matt is an honest Guy who does not Sell Bull*
Frankly, the Headlines of the book invited me to buy it, and spend my money on it. I am glad I did.
No programs here, no shitty materials, no nonsense. It explains what I needed after trying all the fads out there.
Experiment, be your own guide, and nothing beats personal experience. Above all, the price of being fit should fit into your life, not vice versa.
Good job Matt, recommended reading.
Frankly, the Headlines of the book invited me to buy it, and spend my money on it. I am glad I did.
No programs here, no shitty materials, no nonsense. It explains what I needed after trying all the fads out there.
Experiment, be your own guide, and nothing beats personal experience. Above all, the price of being fit should fit into your life, not vice versa.
Good job Matt, recommended reading.
May 16, 2019
An excellent book in which the author wants to demystify nutrition and exercise and in my opinion he fully succeeds. It's about enabling everyone to make their own decisions without fear. Neither fitness nor diets have to be complicated and the curious reader might have noticed already that the best exercises or healthiest foods have changed many times in the last decades.
For me there are some big takeaways. I loved the chapter about "logic vs emotional dominance". As I am here on Goodreads it should be clear in which category I fall so the advises how to raise your emotions to get more done were extremely useful
Another insight was that whatever you are doing, you are free to make mistakes. Overtraining and burn-out will only happen after a LONG period and eating unhealthy food will not make you die. Be brave enough to do more and forgive yourself when you have a weak moment.
Just recently I saw the Netflix documentation "Losing sight of the shore". 4 women were rowing from San Francisco to Australia (!) and the whole time they lived in 2 hour shifts, night and day. According to Why We Sleep this shouldn't have been possible, but it was! Or if you think about the mental and physical strain, unbelievable. And this is the point! Humans are capable of so much more and strict plans will limit you.
After reading the book you will have a basic foundation in how to improve your fitness. It will be up to you to come up with a plan. For some really smart ideas I would recommend The World's Fittest Book, which follows the same principles.
5 of 5 stars
For me there are some big takeaways. I loved the chapter about "logic vs emotional dominance". As I am here on Goodreads it should be clear in which category I fall so the advises how to raise your emotions to get more done were extremely useful
Another insight was that whatever you are doing, you are free to make mistakes. Overtraining and burn-out will only happen after a LONG period and eating unhealthy food will not make you die. Be brave enough to do more and forgive yourself when you have a weak moment.
Just recently I saw the Netflix documentation "Losing sight of the shore". 4 women were rowing from San Francisco to Australia (!) and the whole time they lived in 2 hour shifts, night and day. According to Why We Sleep this shouldn't have been possible, but it was! Or if you think about the mental and physical strain, unbelievable. And this is the point! Humans are capable of so much more and strict plans will limit you.
After reading the book you will have a basic foundation in how to improve your fitness. It will be up to you to come up with a plan. For some really smart ideas I would recommend The World's Fittest Book, which follows the same principles.
5 of 5 stars
June 20, 2024
Very good intro to healthy eating, especially if overcoming a binge-eating habit. Skipped a bit as I felt confident in most of it, but a newbie would find lots of benefit.
Reading this (as a neurotic person sometimes) makes me overcomplicate my thinking, as there's lots of information here, especially as someone who is happy with their current routine.
Fortunately, Matt summarises all this in that Only you know how to best approach your diet and exercise to fit your lifestyle, stress etc, and by forming sustainable, enjoyable healthy habits, you will achieve YOUR best physique.
Trust yourself, learn but don't just accept outside information, and remember: I may look better weighing less, but I'd be more positive mentally by gaining a bit of weight, so that way the weight gain and body-image concerns is offset by better self-image and ballsyness/fuck it mentality.
In summary: Trust yourself, try, modify, adapt, trust and repeat.
Reading this (as a neurotic person sometimes) makes me overcomplicate my thinking, as there's lots of information here, especially as someone who is happy with their current routine.
Fortunately, Matt summarises all this in that Only you know how to best approach your diet and exercise to fit your lifestyle, stress etc, and by forming sustainable, enjoyable healthy habits, you will achieve YOUR best physique.
Trust yourself, learn but don't just accept outside information, and remember: I may look better weighing less, but I'd be more positive mentally by gaining a bit of weight, so that way the weight gain and body-image concerns is offset by better self-image and ballsyness/fuck it mentality.
In summary: Trust yourself, try, modify, adapt, trust and repeat.
July 8, 2021
Working in the fitness industry, it is easy to get caught up in the dogmatic approaches many so-called experts offer in an effort to sell you on their latest program, food stuff, or idea, only for you to spend your hard earned money and still be left wondering what went wrong.
Matt does an outstanding job here of demystifying fitness and nutrition, and approaches it in a way that, even for me, is unsettling in its sincerity.
The writer gives the reader the power, validation, and practical tools to make beneficial choices on their own individual path.
A well written piece that is a must for many, whether in the industry or anyone interested in health and wellness philosophy.
Matt does an outstanding job here of demystifying fitness and nutrition, and approaches it in a way that, even for me, is unsettling in its sincerity.
The writer gives the reader the power, validation, and practical tools to make beneficial choices on their own individual path.
A well written piece that is a must for many, whether in the industry or anyone interested in health and wellness philosophy.
October 27, 2018
Very helpful and inspiring!
This has been great in helping me in my quest to program bodyweight training into my workouts. In my opinion, Matt’s books contain a very good marriage of open-ended yet solid concepts. Reading this has definitely helped me open up to a better, more flexible programming concept while still maintaining adherence to the necessary overarching principles...
This has been great in helping me in my quest to program bodyweight training into my workouts. In my opinion, Matt’s books contain a very good marriage of open-ended yet solid concepts. Reading this has definitely helped me open up to a better, more flexible programming concept while still maintaining adherence to the necessary overarching principles...
August 24, 2019
Not bad
Not a bad book overall. Would have benefitted from proofreading; some word choices were questionable. Similar to other fitness books I have read, but flexible in terms of diet.
Not a bad book overall. Would have benefitted from proofreading; some word choices were questionable. Similar to other fitness books I have read, but flexible in terms of diet.
November 16, 2017
Excellent! Take responsibility and walk your own path.
Many gems of wisdom in here. Check out all his YouTube videos as well. Great stuff. I got a lot out of this.
Many gems of wisdom in here. Check out all his YouTube videos as well. Great stuff. I got a lot out of this.
January 9, 2020
A very honest "meta book" on living healthy with a harsh truth: We are on our own.
October 6, 2021
Great book
Very informative. I like how the author talked about how you need to do what is right for you. Great book
Very informative. I like how the author talked about how you need to do what is right for you. Great book
June 4, 2022
A very digestible and easy to understand summary of the authors fitness philosophy. It is a wonderful read, and really gets to the bare bones of what you need to focus on to be healthy and achieve your fitness goals. This isn’t meant for a professional athlete, but for a person with a life outside of fitness, trying to take care of themselves. With that said, I would wager that almost anyone training for any goal could learn something useful from this book. Sometimes simplification is what we need most, and Schifferle achieves that to great effect here.
Filled with easy to understand and implement strategies on both exercise and nutrition, this is a potentially life-changing book. Matt cuts through the bs and fad diets and routines, and helps to identify what you need, simplifying fitness, and getting what you want out of it, on your own terms. The main point is explaining that you don’t need to follow some dogmatic diet or exercise program to achieve whatever your fitness goals may be.. Hence, “Fitness Independence.”
Highly recommended.
Filled with easy to understand and implement strategies on both exercise and nutrition, this is a potentially life-changing book. Matt cuts through the bs and fad diets and routines, and helps to identify what you need, simplifying fitness, and getting what you want out of it, on your own terms. The main point is explaining that you don’t need to follow some dogmatic diet or exercise program to achieve whatever your fitness goals may be.. Hence, “Fitness Independence.”
Highly recommended.
March 6, 2022
The most important insight I got from this book is how to handle plateaus. If you are finding your workouts too hard, and you feel that you are in danger of quitting... or, if you are pushing hard and don't seem to be getting anywhere, falling back to lower numbers, then make your own plateau and stick with it until your body starts adapting. Choose a benchmark that you can achieve every workout, something that you can do every time. You want to do something but it has to be easy enough that you can be consistent. Then, stick to that for a month (or other duration of your choosing). This will give your body time to adapt. When you get stronger, you will naturally start wanting to progress again and it will be easier.
A consistent, lousy workout 150 times a year is vastly better than 2 or 3 weeks of excellent workouts that you start once per year.
A consistent, lousy workout 150 times a year is vastly better than 2 or 3 weeks of excellent workouts that you start once per year.
July 2, 2016
Informative
March 22, 2017
The beginning
This is a great book to start your fitness journey. If you not had success in the past or could not maintain your success then this books is for you. I am just starting and am so glad this book is one of the first things I have done. I am sure you will be glad you have read this book too.
This is a great book to start your fitness journey. If you not had success in the past or could not maintain your success then this books is for you. I am just starting and am so glad this book is one of the first things I have done. I am sure you will be glad you have read this book too.
April 30, 2017
Not Another Fitness Book
Facetious in some places and full of bragging, Fitness Independence is a good read for anyone that feels stuck in the Ray race called fitness. It's not but a book about fitness, per-say, but rather mindset change. You'll find little substance in the way of workout instruction.
Facetious in some places and full of bragging, Fitness Independence is a good read for anyone that feels stuck in the Ray race called fitness. It's not but a book about fitness, per-say, but rather mindset change. You'll find little substance in the way of workout instruction.
March 11, 2018
Two words: Life Changing.
A whole new perspective and approach to fitness. Good job Matt.
It may get a bit boring in the middle and leave you confused but stick with it. At the end, as the author says, if you are still confused and got more questions stirred up, that's a good thing and not bad. Informative book and a good read. Short and precise. No bullshit and no selling.
A whole new perspective and approach to fitness. Good job Matt.
It may get a bit boring in the middle and leave you confused but stick with it. At the end, as the author says, if you are still confused and got more questions stirred up, that's a good thing and not bad. Informative book and a good read. Short and precise. No bullshit and no selling.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews