Jill Weisenberger

This is a really informative and useful book about how to change your habits in an effort to prevent Type 2 diabetes. It includes information about prediabetes, how to prepare for a lifestyle change, meal planning, the importance of exercise, addressing your weight, how to handle your thought processes, and how to get support from those around you. It also includes a handful of interesting recipes, and an appendix full of worksheets to help you work through your lifestyle reset.

It talks a little bit about fad diets, how they don't work in the long term, and how restrictive diets (i.e. no carbs, no sugar, no sodium, etc.) can lead to feeling like you're in "food jail" and end up binging and subjecting yourself to a negative thought spiral. It's surprisingly relaxed in how it addresses bad-for-you food; basically moderation and minimal intake is key. For example, if you know you're going to a party with a lot of bad-for-you food, don't tell yourself you can't have any of it. Instead, plan on eating small portions of a variety of foods, or a larger portion of your favorite food. Since these foods are going to be worse for your diet, exercise a little bit extra and eat some healthier foods earlier in the day so you don't end up in a negative thought spiral. The author emphasizes that it's okay to treat yourself every once in a while, just as long as you don't start looking at every meal as an opportunity for treats.

One of my favorite things about this book is that the author uses realistic scenarios to help guide the reader through difficult situations. For example, how to discuss your needs when those around you don't want to support your lifestyle changes. Another example is how to get yourself out of a negative thought spiral if you flub your diet or exercise routine - this one is particularly pertinent to anyone who has gone through the gamut of dealing with change in routine.

Although marketed for those with prediabetes, this book can work well for anyone who feels they need a healthier lifestyle. It's not restrictive; emphasizing more balance in the diet. It's pragmatic in how to handle bad-for-you foods, exercise routine, and making mistakes. And it is excellent at re-working how to think about changes in habits, routines, and mistakes in a healthy and constructive way.… (lisätietoja)