Book Review: Never Binge Again

Never Binge Again: Reprogram Yourself to Think Like a Permanently Thin Person by Glenn Livingston
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book provides a framework to overcome binge eating. The author focuses on ways to disempower your seemingly uncontrollable urge to eat. By naming your mid-brain and personifying it, the author assists you in separating your higher thinking self from the immediate gratification seeking of the lizard brain. Ultimately, it is about learning to say no and adhering to a healthy diet.

I like the concept and some of the ideas in this book--but it was hard for me to get through. Setting up your personalized food plan seems like a great idea, but beating up your lizard brain can be difficult to read over and over (let alone implement). If you have an eating disorder, work with a health care provider before trying this protocol.

There are 24 chapters to help the reader formulate and cement their ability to stick with the food plan of their choice. It is not about a particular diet.

Guidelines for Constructing a Food Plan
1. Nevers: What foods, drinks, and behaviors will you never indulge in again as long as you live?
2. Always: What will you always do regarding food, drink, and food behaviors?
3. Unrestricted: What foods, drinks, and food behaviors will you permit yourself to have without restriction?
4. Conditionals: What foods, drinks, and behaviors will you permit only at certain times, in specific amounts, or restricted by other conditions? (p. 30)

Three Steps to Defeat Any Craving
1. Remember: Consuming even the most minuscule amount of anything outside your food plan is a binge.
2. Recall: Your lizard brain has cravings, not you.
3. Reiterate: State your commitment never to eat off plan. (p. 49)

The Kindle version is free. Additional resources, such as templates, are available to download for free. Utilizing this framework to set up a personalized food plan may work for some people.

Some sections were verbose and seemed redundant; I skimmed here and there. There is a lot of unnecessary capitalization and italics; the writing style may be off-putting to some readers. I recommend you work closely with a health provider if you have an eating disorder.

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LinkedIn Review of Never Binge Again.

Book Review: The Lazy Genius Kitchen

The Lazy Genius Kitchen: Have What You Need, Use What You Have, and Enjoy It Like Never Before by Kendra Adachi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you want to make your kitchen a more pleasant place for you and your family to spend time in, this book will help you become more strategic and intentional with what you do and don’t need and how to use it. After going through the process, the author shares resources on techniques, taste, tools, tasks, and general tips.

The author provides a brief summary of the Lazy Genius Principles from her first book and then refers to them throughout this book.

The book is packed with practical information that will help you to be more comfortable and confident in the kitchen. The author has a fun, down-to-earth tone. She provides ideas, prompts, and personal examples to get you started. I appreciated the repetition of going through the five-step framework in detail (part 1) and then applying them to each area in part 2.

Just reading the book will not solve all of your kitchen challenges; you must put in the time and effort to go through the steps and apply them to increase efficiency and ease. Some more skilled cooks or those with successful systems already in place may find this book oversimplified with little new information. I skimmed through some sections that I felt weren’t applicable or didn’t want to dissect and make changes around, e.g., area 6, the table.

I highly recommend this to everyone looking to become more efficient, effective, and joyful in their kitchen.

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Book Review: Ketogenic Bodybuilding

Ketogenic Bodybuilding: A Natural Athlete’s Guide to Competitive Savagery by Robert Sikes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This comprehensive book provides everything you need to know to prepare for a bodybuilding show utilizing a ketogenic lifestyle. It is exhaustive—441 pages of detailed information and resources. I am amazed at the level of effort, commitment, and sacrifice that is necessary to compete. I would highly recommend this book if you are new to bodybuilding.

There are three parts: preliminary groundwork, the prep, and appendices. The author also provides a free electronic companion guide.

Everything you ever wanted or needed to know about competing in a natural bodybuilding competition is included. Be prepared to be all in. You cannot pick and choose what to implement and think you will succeed.

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