The No More Excuses Diet

This week’s [optional] theme for the Fit Dish link up (hosted by Jill Conyers @ JillConyers.com, & Jessica Joy @ TheFitSwitch.org) is on…your favorite podcasts!

Unfortunately, I’m opting out because I don’t know of any. (I’m looking forward to reading everyone else’s posts though, because my current rotation is ~40-70 minutes away–I’d very much appreciate having something to listen to. :] )

Instead, I bring to you…a review of The No More Excuses Diet! :]

Maria Kang went to the same undergrad as me (UC Davis represent! <3!), and I love that she’s turning all the backlash from the ‘controversial’ photo she posted on facebook into more inspiration + encouragement for others to lead healthier lives! The fitness nonprofit that she founded (Fitness Without Borders) has inspired hundreds of workout groups in 25 different countries!

The No More Excuses Diet

Genre: Healthy Living
Pages: 288

I’m not going to coddle you. This plan isn’t easy. It takes effort. It will take time, too, but I guarantee you: You will become healthy if you make the choice right now to never give up.”

Maria breaks The No More Excuses Diet down into 3 cycles:

S.P.E.E.D. (3 days): Make a game plan, and map out a timeline of your goals!

S.T.R.I.V.E. (3 weeks): Start to make your new habits part of your new lifestyle, and develop a plan to stick to your goal.

S.C.O.R.E. (3 months): Yay! You’ve developed those new habits and now you’re working on maintaining them and achieving new goals!

I’m trying not to give the entire contents of the book away, hence the sparse descriptions–she goes into much more detail, but the focus of this book is to help you put together a lifestyle that works for you whilst incorporating your fitness + healthy living goals!

Maria lists common excuses and how to bust them. She also discusses strength + cardio training, nutrition, the 30/30/30/10 (protein/carbs/fats/flexible) “diet” (I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but…it’s a lifestyle, not a diet!), and shares 3 different meal plan options, 7 sample workouts, lots of stretches + strength training exercises (step-by-step pictures included), and a grocery list!

Moment of honesty here–it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve stuffed in a full powerlifting workout, and last week, I went to my first BJJ class in ages and was pretty disturbed at how winded I got when we were rolling. It was awesome to be back, but my out-of-shape-ness was highly disheartening.

For the sake of my future, I’ve been making some major sacrifices, and trying to balance it out with healthy food choices, but…not gonna lie–I get really sad when I look back and see how awesome I used to be at lifting vs. how terrible I am now. I used to pretty awesome abs too.

What are my excuses? My top (and really, only) two:

1. I have no time.
2. I love food.

Remember this post? :O I really meant it.

Back in the weekdays of college, my days were packed with any/all of the following:

• Classes (~10-12 per quarter)
• Work (music librarian, piano teacher, + accompanist)
• Practice piano
• Hula on Tuesdays, a capella on Wednesdays, chamber ensembles on Mondays/Thursdays
• Study/School-related stuffs in the evening/at night
• Volunteer at Shriners/Sutter in the afternoon once a week (each)

I’d take Andrea’s Abs/Back Conditioning or Aerobic Kickboxing class at 7 in the morning, and lift (3-4x/week) in the afternoon/evening. Sometimes, I’d even run (what!?)!

On Saturdays, I’d volunteer as a medical interpreter/patient advocate at a free clinic from ~7:30-3 p.m., and then go home to study/catch up on life. Sundays were Tahitian practice plus a whole more studying.

Don’t ask me how I used to do this, because I have no idea anymore. What I do know is that it could be done, and my fitness level back then was a billion times more awesome.

So why not now as well!? I’m kickin’ my butt back into gear, and shall find a way to make it work in my present life too!

I love that Maria stresses that you may have days where you might slip up, but remember that it’s not the end of the world–just pick yourself up and keep going!

So! All in all, I really enjoyed The No More Excuses Diet–I think I’m actually going to follow her approach as much as I can, just to see where it takes me! (It so happens that I just finished Day 3, so “STRIVE” is next!) It’s really great for anyone who needs a kick in the butt (e.g. me)!

Maria has a very positive and encouraging voice, and I really think this book would be awesome for anyone…but it’d be especially wonderful for those who are just starting out on their fitness journey, have run out of motivation/lost their way, or have a bunch of excuses (or even just one) for why they’re not going for it!

• Have you heard of Maria Kang, or read The No More Excuses Diet?
• What’s your excuse?

Click the image to read my other Dish The Fit posts! :]