Sick to Fit: Three simple techniques that got me from 420 pounds to the cover of Runner’s World, Good Morning America, and the Today Show

by Josh LaJaunie, Howard Jacobson

If you’re overweight or obese... If you’re constantly tired, bloated, constipated, achy, sluggish, depressed, or anxious... If you’re diabetic or pre-diabetic... If your doctor keeps warning you about the risk of cancer, heart disease, or other lifestyle- reversible calamity... If you’re constantly worried about your blood pressure, weight, insomnia, eating habits... But you still find it next to impossible to stick to a healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle plan... 
 Then you might be going about things the wrong way. Let’s face it - despite a flood of information and advice, we’re getting sicker and fatter all the time. That’s because the vast majority of “conventional” advice is outdated, wrong-headed, and just plain ineffective. Within this storm of bad news and bad advice, there’s a growing tribe of outliers who have managed to lose hundreds of pounds, reverse “impossible to cure” diseases, and even - to their own shock and delight - become fit and high-performing athletes. Their stories don’t get a lot of media attention, because they aren’t selling anything. No pills, powders, or potions. No expensive workout gadgets. No late night informercial magic formulas. They simply rediscovered some basic, natural truths about the human animal. What we’re designed to eat. How we’re designed to move. And how we’re meant to think and feel. When we get away from our natural heritage, we suffer. When we return to it, we thrive. Read Sick To Fit to discover how Josh LaJaunie went from a 420-pound food addict to the cover of Runner’s World magazine, as well as live appearances on Good Morning America and The Today Show. Discover the simple secrets for a healthy life that have transformed dozens of members of the Missing Chins Run Club and clients of WellStart Health from sick and sad to fit and fulfilled. In Sick To Fit, you’ll • the one food rule that banishes confusion, eliminates the need to count calories or restrict portion size, and makes you impervious to the marketing and clickbait BS perpetrated by the food industry • how to honor your culture and heritage without suffering from the diseases that are killing your people (coming from the Bayou of South Louisiana, Josh knows a thing or two about being a foodie) • how to use social and family pressure to get stronger and more committed • how to prevent self-sabotage after initial success • how to start exercising safely if you’re overweight (by 20 or 200 pounds) • the four-question FAST Assessment (the “Swiss Army Knife” of sustainable behavior change) • how to master life’s stressors so they don’t turn into binges • how to never “fall off the wagon” again - even if you’ve failed at dozens of diets before • and much more... Written with behavioral health expert Howard Jacobson, PhD, Sick To Fit combines Josh’s journey with cutting edge nutritional, exercise, neurological, and habit science. Sick To Fit is your roadmap to better health and a more joyful life. “Sick To Fit is a captivating, inspiring and practical story of an epic transformation. And don’t be deceived by how entertaining this page-turner of a book is. What you’re about to have fun reading is scientifically proven, and it just might change your life.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Amazon, Fitness

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2018

Reviews

[Clara Young · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another white middle-class dude is gonna tell us all about how he came up with a brilliant 'new' idea for how to lose weight. Guess what? He hasn't. Correlation doesn't equal causation and all that. There are mounds and decades of medical and scientific research that go against pretty much everything these dudes are talking about. One thing he says is true, weight loss is not sustainable. No buts. It is only sustainable if you work yourself into orthorexia or an eating disorder that then takes over your life. The NAQ is hilarious. Apparently this guy would be happy with mass starvation in the world because 'technology' shouldn't be a part of our food! So glad this book was 'free'. I 'bought' it on a whim to see if it was another style of vegan/paleo/keto bs and it didn't disappoint.

If you like facts instead of anecdotes, I don't recommend.

[DonnaJo Pallini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information and easy to read format. I don’t have the same weight goals as others but this book is full of ideas to pick and choose from.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit me positively at several levels. The four biggest impacts for me may be (1) the realization that I can grow to become a person who eats and exercises in life-transforming ways by acknowledging that I will fail from time to time, but I can listen carefully to what is going on in my head and body at those times, re-imagine each “failure” step by step into how I could have turned it around to a positive event, and determine to make those changes next time. (2) Recognize that I don’t have to be comfortable all the time, but that growth usually comes along with discomfort, and I should actually seek some levels of discomfort that come along with the healthy changes I want to make. (3) It’s not really true that we can think our way to a self-identify as a person of discipline, or healthy eating, or whatever attributes we want to develop; it’s more effective to consistently practice those habits, even though we may feel very uncomfortable doing so, until we naturally think of ourselves as someone who is disciplined in those areas. (4) The discomfort we think we avoid by eating junk food now, tends to crop up later in life in the form of heart disease, cancer, dementia, and all of the other results of our unhealthy eating habits.

[Eliseo Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read.

Among my list of health and fitness related books, both on my shelf and Amazon wishlist, I’m glad this book came into focus as I picked it up and started reading on Kindle. It’s as if these guys are speaking to you across the kitchen table over morning coffee. I feel like I know them as they talk about their journey. Now their experiences and knowledge is imparted on us as readers, not only to ingest the words and advice in this book but to actually, finish it, put it down and DO it! Get moving. I have started my fitness journey just today, one day after my 54th birthday with patience and and self-compassion in wanting to lose 60 lbs and knowing it will take time to arrive at the Big Change, but I can’t wait until tomorrow and the next day. I see my future self one year from now when I will hope to say, I’m revived at 55 having embraced the suck and will be an ex-fat man. Lol! Thanks guys. Keep doing what you are doing. God bless.

[Boyd Presley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has left me with a can DO attitude

This book is a life changer. After the first chapter I immediately went to Facebook to join the Sick to Fit group. The authors have me so much to think about while at the same time giving me tools to improve my health and lifestyle immediately. Quite coincidentally, around the same time I began this book, I also started a couch to 10k program. I have been able to use what I've learned from Josh and Howard to positively push myself when I otherwise would have wanted to give up. I will be reading this book repeatedly in the future and using it as a bible of sorts.

[KERA TASKER · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really hoping for an inspiring story about someone who went from 400+ lbs and his struggles, to how he got to where he is at now (similar to the book Can’t Hurt Me) but honestly there was maybe 1 chapter that told his journey and then the rest was just advice. I also didn’t care for the whole vegan approach because they talked about how most “diets” don’t work yet they were preaching a ton of vegan propaganda.

I did however, enjoy the section on running and how he specifically preaches about the positive impacts of running and there were definitely a few tricks that I learned that I can apply to my mindset about my workouts.

Anyways TLDR; it’s a self help book and that’s about it

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok here’s the thing, I’ve never been obese and that is clearly the person this book is targeted at however I have lost weight and I’m interested in personal change. It fascinates me to consider motivations for big change and I’m often left without precise answers when asked how to make changes. Josh however does a great job of making it simple and approachable. I’ve followed his journey for years since first hearing him on the Rich Roll podcast. Whether you are looking to make a change yourself or interested in the topic the book is well worth the read.

[Gisela Lesley Zipp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth it just for the bonuses

This book started a life-changing journey for me. It addresses the one part of weight loss that many books neglect, which is mindset. The bonus audio downloads were so useful for me, they really changed my perspective on what foods we should be eating and what quantities we should be eating them in. I've used the idea of naturally attainable quantities to explain a healthy diet and they got it, and have started to change their habits. Definitely worth a read, there are so many worthwhile ideas in here.

[David Teixeira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gostei, interessante e completo

Não tenho 130kg nem 100... Aliás estou apenas ligeiramente fora do peso, seja como for decidi ler o livro e foi uma optima decisão. Além de completo esta inundado de referências a outros autores sobre os temas discutidos. Não é nenhum plano de dieta, é uma enciclopédia completa na psicologia de quem quer perder peso ou fazer qualquer outra coisa, deixar de fumar, deixar de beber, quebrar qualquer vicio... E isso merece 5 estrelas merece ser lido e estudado.

[Sagar Chamoli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

A decent read. The author shares his transformation journey from being a 420-pound food addict to the cover of Runner's World magazine. The key takeaways to achieve this are-

1. Menu (proper food)
2. Movement (proper exercise)
3. Mindset (right attitude)

Though the menu part was heavy for me, the rest two parts were well written & I specifically liked the mindset part. Another major take away for me was the references of other self help books that author has given in his book.

[Susan Knause · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succinct and to the point secrets of success

Josh LaJaunie knows from what he speaks. I have followed several different programs and been paleo, been not paleo, counted macros and his example and continued success are to me what brought me to follow him into Big Change Program. As he says, ‘results dictate sufficiency’ and his results are still undeniable, steadfast and visible inside and out!

[Jeremy]

Discovered Josh LaJaunie via the Rich Roll podcast and dug him immediately. A year later I found that he wrote this book. Read through it pretty quickly. Mostly I just like his genuine voice on the subject of going from fat to fit. Some good tips too on real change. Plenty of highlighting and bookmarked pages to review. "Jiggle Jogging." I appreciated him shedding some light on this topic. Growth mindset. Things of this nature.

[Cyrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pragmatic advice to take charge and really transform your life

I thoroughly enjoyed Josh and Howard's simple techniques for taking back control of your life. Using the power of DOing to create new habits of Menu and Movement to lose weight and get into your best shape naturally. If you have tried diet and exercise to lose weights and failed, this book is for you.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring, motivational guide to taking control of one's health through lifestyle choices. Prompts us to look at food as fuel, and movement as caretaking. Autobiographical in that Howard & Josh detail their personal journeys from "sick to fit," showing that the wellness lifestyle is accessible to those willing to do the work.

[Mrs. S. M. Appleby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes sense

At a low point in the month my go to activity is to bury myself in books
This book makes sense and is full of reasons to change and how to become open to curiosity and change our lives
A valuable book that I will dip into while I explore my own ability to change and move forwards

[Jordan Dailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to give this book 5 stars but there are a few items I just can’t get over in my head. Interesting story and definitely a compelling read, but a little too remedial, and the NAQ portion lost me. I agree wholeheartedly with his take on movement though which is why I’m giving it a 4 star rating.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you

I’ve read and skimmed a ton of books on ‘do this not that’. This is the first one that made sense, physically, mentally and, fundamentally. The craziest thing about this book was I had already implemented the things I was reading about. Maybe that’s why it worked it was obvious and therefore simple. I was thrilled when I read go plants and I switched on March 7; who wouldn’t like reading that they’re right!!!

[Patricia Kaspshak]

It's a game-changer.

I found this book by accident, looking for a way to make my body healthier. I'm 76 with multiple health problems, including obesity, Crohn's disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and arthritis. They made me believe I can make significant changes on my own.
I plan to reread this book until I've absorbed every word.

[Layne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Full of great advice and lots of motivational talk. Josh's story is amazing and I applaud him for all that he has accomplished. Eating whole food, plant based is definitely the way to go. I has changed my life. Howard's podcast is also very good. You should check it out.

[Lori Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good advice. Easy to follow

I've read (and loved) MANY of the whole food plant based books and I have heard it all. I thought it was impossible to read a new twist on it. This book is new, refreshing and easy. Great read

[Du · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. I like that there was a lot of information her about weight loss and plant based eating, but it wasn't in a forced or unrealistic manner, not was it overly snootty. Just plain, simple facts.

[Stacey Hatfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are serious about losing weight then this book is to read.

This book explains the mental aspects of why you are sick. It is very encouraging to you. There is no rightway.

[Andreea Barbu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to get your motivation started

Just on the edge of wanting some additional surprising info. Otherwise a good, grounded book, very practical for anyone who wants to do something good for their body

[Amy Fly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for starting your “Big Change!”

I learned so much about how to eat healthy,turn set backs into learning opportunities and how to get moving while a
having self compassion along the way.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. However, the main concept is for the reader to become a vegetarian. There was one vague statement in the book about if you have an autoimmune disease, this form of eating may not be for you?!

I liked the message that you have to move to lose weight.

[Howard Elj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Motivating

The book is excellent in that it teaches people to develop positive attitudes towards weight loss and mindset as powerful tools.

[Keith Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiration and Information

Heard Josh on the Rich Roll podcast. Inspired by his story I read this book. Now motivated to go and Do! A great read.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information. Stuff most of us know, but talk ourselves out of. Perfect reminder for a kick start.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

An easy read with understandable, useful insights. Rather than a plan, it’s a concept that you can incorporate into your day to day life for the long term.

[Mizloo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very readable, but not much I could use. The difference in age between author and reader was too big a gap to close.