This is incredibly dense reading material but certainly worth it for those looking to seriously change their lives. It took me around 5 months of on/off reading to get through it but I think it's important to read this one when you are motivated to rather than forcing yourself to slog through it. The entire book is about a lifestyle journey, so it's worth taking your time with. I'd recommend keeping a notebook and pen handy when you do read it, as aside from the suggested activities you are likely to find certain ideas, quotes or anecdotes resonating with you quite profoundly, and you may wish to record these for future reflection.
I love this notion of learning to let our bodies take back control. We are so easily influenced by external factors that it's hard to remember the body will give us all the clues we need to keep it running smoothly. I like that this book is all about taking things slowly; making small changes, attempting smaller steps ... there's no pressure, no expectations. It's all about the personal journey, and learning to understand and appreciate what you are made of.
There's a lot of information here so everything is backed by science, which I love. It goes into minute detail and backs the information with scientific literature. I particularly enjoyed this element, as I consider knowledge to be power and I believe the key to regaining control of our bodies is understanding them, and appreciating just how hard they work. It's crafted well so that there's an interesting mix of fact, logic and anecdotes. At times I did find it quite repetitive, and I confess I did skip chunks here and there, but the general message is an empowering one.
As a single person who lives alone there were a few things that missed the mark with me, particularly where I was asked to 'get the family involved'. I feel like that was a minor oversight from the author that could be a bit of a sting for others in a position similar to me.
That being said, there were so many moments reading this book where I had to pause and reflect, and think, 'Wow. How have I never thought about that before?' or 'That is a fantastic way to look at it!' There are some fantastic messages in this book and I really enjoyed challenging myself to begin this journey of thinking differently. Even though it's written specifically with eating habits in mind, I found there were quite a few things I could apply to other aspects of my life and I really enjoy that.
Overall, a fantastic read for those looking for a new outlook on becoming healthier, fitter and/or changing their bodies. This book will start you on a fantastic journey that will diminish stress and teach you to feel fabulous, healthy, loved and more fulfilled in your everyday life.