Living the One Day Way

This week, I read Chantal Hobb's latest book "The One Day Way." Having already checked our her book "Never Say Diet" I knew she had some good tips about exercise and nutrition. I'm not in the market to lose weight right now...but I am always looking for new exercise inspiration and to broaden my food knowledge.

This book is written for those who've dieted in the past and found themselves looking at the end of the chocolate bar (again). Her concept is simple: instead of trying to figure out how to lose that 5 pounds, drop that dress size, or make those jeans fit, Hobbs encourages readers to focus simply on the 24 hours in front of them, make a plan they can work with. That way, a failure doesn't mean the end of days or weeks of effort, but just a few hours, which makes it easier to get up and give it a go the next day.

The book is broken into 4 sections: changing your mindset (about weight, dieting, your ability to succeed, etc.); making a plan (preparing yourself mentally and emotionally); executing a plan (including a meal plan and some at-home exercise ideas); and going the distance (caution and encouragement for the road ahead).

I found the book to be extremely practical and helpful, without being obsessive. Hobbs' own story is inspiring, and sprinkled within the book are success stories from those who have tried her tips and succeeded.

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to get healthy and is looking for a solution that sticks.

The Chocolate Diaries

Sometimes we need a light book to realign our perspectives. And when "The Chocolate Diaries" by Karen Scalf Linamen arrived in my mailbox, that's what I was looking forward to.

Linamen uses chocolate, and its identity as a comfort food, to draw a parallel with the comfort we can find in relationships, the Bible, God, and other soul-lifters. She shares stories of how friends managed to find the silver lining in rough times to help us to see that no matter how bad life gets, there is hope. There are times when she has more success than others, but overall the book is a quick read.

Each chapter includes tips from her readers on how to lift a tired spirit, and the end of each chapter includes some reflection questions and, appropriately, a chocolate-rich recipe.