Whatever your goals or your level of fitness, this book offers you a plan to make you look and feel great 24/7.
I've tried every workout and fad diet so you don't have to.
As a former PE teacher, athlete, personal trainer and now one of the biggest fitness YouTubers in the World (a.k.a an absolute weirdo who films themselves doing stuff), the most common question I get from followers and even people in the street is, 'How do I get a body like yours?'
People will almost whisper it, as if I'm going to usher them into a dark alleyway and reply with some kind of mystical secret. Like they're expecting to be told that they need to drink 263ml of maple syrup three times a day whilst reading the complete works of Shakespeare to their dog. Other times they seem to want me to reveal a protocol of supplements, with an inference that I must be taking steroids or other drugs, because having a good body without chemicals is now seen by some as almost impossible. It's not.
This book is my attempt to shatter all of those myths and give it to you entirely straight. It is about understanding how to live your life in a more healthy, sustainable and happy way-and how to maintain that forever. And I'm not talking about becoming a monk and only eating lettuce. If you want to eat McDonald's, go for it. Eating crappy food doesn't make you fat and by the time you're done with the book you'll understand why. I want to arm you with your own set of tools so that you can tailor my methods and experiences to you and your own unique situation.
Pretty good read and it was nice that Matt kept the same tone as he uses in his YouTube videos. Was refreshing to have a book written by an influencer that was well researched and cut to the chase.
Great chapters on supplements and progressive overload.
This is a very interesting read. There are lots of massive positives in this book and some genuinely good information to learn but there a lot of things which are simply untrue such as reverse dieting and kick starting a metabolism these thing are simply not true which is just disappointing
I did think it was good Matt describing which supplements are useful and which are I thought with his deals he might stretch the truly slightly be he was very honest
I found it to be a good book and I think it would have been especially useful to beginners as it explained everything very simply but also in an amusing way - I really felt as if his personality did come through. Overall I think I got more motivation and context from the book rather than actual information as a lot of it I was already familiar with - however I think it is nice to have a physical copy of this information readily available to me.
I wouldn't usually go to a book like this but Matt is hilarious which makes it worthwhile anyway. But aside from that some pretty great and straight up advise, I will refer back to this in a couple of months when the gyms re-open in England. Also pretty short and sweet and quick to get through.
The book is pretty entertaining, I’ve followed Mat’s work for some time now and he’s very straightforward and honest about the fitness industry.
The book has good content and advices, oriented towards beginners. If you’re more experienced or have more knowledge in fitness maybe you already know part of the information.
One observation is that the book lacks order with the principles Mat covers, I didn’t see a clear path in the transmission of the message. Also, some chapters talked a lot about Mat’s personal life, maybe more than it should have...
I brilliant mix of Matt's Knowledge, Humor and research. It was a brilliant way to read true facts on how to develop your training and diet to fit you. I brilliant read I am excited to go back to certain parts for a refersher.
Funny, cheery and accessible. Key things learnt were: 1) Eat a diet high in fibre and protein. 2) If you eat less your body adapts and your metabolism slows down so it is harder to lose weight. You can try a reverse diet and eat slightly more so your metabolism speeds up again. 3) Progressive overload is the key to training including for bodybuilding, strength training, and running. For weights, 2.5kg increases eventually become unsustainable and you need smaller increases. 4) If injured, generally keep using your body in some way as this helps your body heal in such a way that it is optimised for activity. 5) Genetics matter - some people have genetic advantages and limitations e.g. some people have pecs that don't connect, so no matter how much benching they do they won't get big pecs that are joined up. The same applies to the thigh gap. 6) Protein shakes are good for convenience. Creatine is a good supplement. 7) Fitness is a niche on YouTube, but vlogging attracts a wider audience, as people are fundamentally nosy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I’ve been following Matt for a while now on YouTube and love his content and I wondered if his YouTube personality would translate here. It did, and it made for an entertaining read where I could imagine his voice reading to me.
This book contains great content for those who are limbo with their fitness journey. He provides straightforward answers and undeniable facts about strength training and fat loss. I highly recommend for those wanting a guidance on what to do with their personal fitness.
This isn’t a highly technical book but is like a great talk from a down to earth coach who wants the best for you and is not going to let you delude yourself into engaging in short term damaging behaviours.
I am already on the fitness journey and I was just looking for some encouragement and guidance as I was beginning to get confused by contradictory opinions online. I found what I was looking for. My only criticism is the chapter on social media. I don’t bother with it so the journey to get followers was a bit lost on me.
I really loved this book, it has a tag line on the front saying it’s the new fitness bible and I feel like that’s so true! Not only does Matt not sugar coat things, he explains everything in a way that is easier to understand. I really needed to read this to understand so may things about myself and my relationship with food and exercise. I’m really hopeful that this advice can give me the hints that I need to progress my fitness journey and I will be forever grateful to Matt if it does.
Before I bought the book, I had read some reviews about this book and was a bit hesitant about buying the book, but after I read it. I applied the slight improvement from the book to my workout, and I am happier with myself now. I can see myself developing more and more in the future. The book is not a science book about fitness, but it is a good book for someone who wants to develop themselves. Matt is funnier, and He is more incredible than I thought
Eat less move more. Simple concepts but hard to pull off. The author maintains that a cycle of dieting then regressing to old habits won't work long term to achieve any physical goals you may have. Going to look to act on the principles covered (including not banning any foods from the menu) and see where it goes. Worth a look if you want to change something about your body
I’ve read a few books on resistance training and diet but this was certainly the most engaging. The advice is easy to follow without being overly simplistic or dull. I’ll definitely come back to this book to read it again for advice.
Brilliant book! Funny, light hearted and very informative. Nothing revolutionary but cuts out the BS and gives it to you as it is. Highly recommend for anyone beginning their fitness journey or is looking to change old habits.
Sounding exactly like himself, I loved reading Matt's book. He made diet and training advice so easy to understand with his analogies and the fact he used his own exact way of speaking made it a great, funny yet informative read. I will definitely be taking some of his advice.
An entertaining read by Legend from Gladiators. Written before he started on the series, his humour comes through in this mix of part autobiographical and part fitness/diet advice, that's in an easy to read style. Entertaining on many levels.
A simple approach to health and fitness, written in a fun and entertaining way. Anyone who is serious about their health can benefit from reading this book.
Great book. Learnt a lot about Matt as a person and his journey. Very basic understanding of health and fitness given, enough to build a foundation for a more healthy lifestyle.
I’ve been a follower of Matt for years now, and this book is 7 years of YouTube rolled up into 300 pages, I really enjoyed it as a personal timeline of his career, as well as a reference book for my own knowledge, loved it and will read it again! I mean - come on - I finished it in a week!
I'd never heard of Matt previously, but since I need to shift a few lockdown/christmas pounds in the coming months, I thought this could be a good listen. Matt comes across very well on audio, with a light conversational tone that feels like you're listening to a mate. I did hear a few mistakes that needed to be edited out, but they weren't without their charm.
Content wise, this is pleasingly BS free. He explains in simple terms how fat loss occurs and offers some insight into muscle gain and issues surrounding supplements and crash diets. The only criticism I have is when he used vegan diets as an example of a difficult diet to get enough protein on. I've been vegan for a few years and never struggled to get enough protein. His point stands when it comes to the plant-based fad diets (of which there are many) but referring to a 'vegan diet' doesn't really mean much. Some of us eat higher protein, others don't. It's a lifestyle, not a diet.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and I'm sure I'll check out his Youtube channel.
I had no idea what to expect when I grabbed this book off the table at the library, but this is the funniest health & wellness book I've ever read.
(It might also be the only one I've ever read, but I never imagined one would make me laugh.)
Matt has a way of finding humor in the mundane.
However, I felt like he repeated himself a lot. (And he cusses, but I don't hold that against him in the rating. This is an FYI.) And he said a lot that I've heard before. It may not be mainstream, but the information is out there.
I did really appreciate how he talked about genetics. A lot of how our bodies look are based on our genes, and that is a point left out of mainstream diet and exercise, so I appreciated that chapter!
If someone is just starting out on a fitness journey, or if someone uses a lot of different diet and exercise regimes to meet a goal and none are working, I would recommend this book. It just wasn't what I needed at this time.
Matt is an entertaining fitness ‘Guru’ - full of practical, simple advice with a bit of humour thrown in.. Looking forward to putting some of his advice in lockdown and getting back to the gym post lockdown. Am interested in reading/listening to some more of his books. Hope this will help my consistency in what I eat and how I exercise.
Listened as an audiobook - would strongly recommend this format. Hilarious, very personal and uplifting. Not what I expected at all. A great way to avoid the fad-dieting-January ridiculousness that happens at this point in the year all the time.