I'm a sucker for fitness books, so once I saw this one, despite not being familiar with Krissy, I had to check it out. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot. Krissy seems very genuine and down to earth. She is a very relatable trainer and the book has a conversational tone. I really liked her emphasis on discipline and habit over motivation and willpower. She cited research throughout that outlined the importance of the former two qualities over the latter two. The reading is still very approachable though, even for those who may not love science. I did feel that her writing was a bit too unpolished for my liking at time. The tone kind of annoyed me at times as well. She mentions so many times about how people think she is superwoman or something to that effect and she continually tells the reader she is not. The only reason she cited as people thinking this is because she had a full load of college/university classes, worked 30 hours a week, and worked out. Most people I know at least did the former in college, and many did some type of sport and/or worked out. I did it while pregnant with my first baby. It just seems like such a common thing that it made her come off as a little entitled or something? I don't know, generally, I liked her and thought she seemed sweet, but those parts just came off really weird. Also, she talks about putting yourself first, before anyone else. Spoken by someone who doesn't have children. Parents have a lot more curveballs thrown at them that you cannot plan for. I get it. I also was a stick to my planner each day type of person. I still love planners. But, as a parent, you can't count on things going according to schedule. Improvising is needed on a daily basis, multiple times a day. I would have liked more details on how one might navigate those challenges besides not making excuses and putting yourself first, because, my kids' needs definitely come before my own and that is not going to change. But again, I understand that is hard to even fathom before you have kids of your own and personally experience the unique challenges that parenthood brings.

All in all, I thought it was a good book and brought up some very helpful points that would put most people on track for healthier habits to lead to a healthier lifestyle. She is not about gimmicks or quick fixs, but about adopting a series of healthy and sustainable choices. There are no recipes or food recommendations. I did not mind this as I wasn't looking for that anyways, but just wanted to note it for others who may be looking. As so many fitness books advocate one way to eat or omitting entire food groups, this was really nice in some ways. Thought, I wouldn't have minded her sharing what her meal plans look like or some healthy ideas for those who are new to healthy eating.

Do This For You: How to Be a Strong Woman from the Inside Out by Krissy Cela
Publisher: Hachette Books
Genre: Health, Mind & Body
Release Date: January 12, 2021

Do This For You: How to Be a Strong Woman from the Inside Out by Krissy Cela is an inspiring book filled with tips to improve your life.

I found this book really interesting and look forward to implementing some of the ideas! The book is easy to read and has great information! I recommend it to anyone looking for some inspiration and for tips to improve your life!

I'm so grateful to Krissy Cela, Hachette Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

The author starts off sharing her journey to achieving a healthy lifestyle. She found it was important for her to find her “why”. Why exercise and stay fit? I found her chapter in how she discovered her “why” fascinating. I can see that the “why” will motivate you more than the fact that we “should” or you want to keep up with everyone else. It was interesting to learn that she added more “why’s” as time went on, and she became more confident and saw results she did not expect. She was honest and realistic, insightful as she shares about how to create a healthy lifestyle exercise, and eating plan that works for you.

This author has a YouTube channel with exercise workouts I found interesting that there are even some posted during pandemic times as everything shut down. She talked about exercising in her home and showed the ordinary items you can use to exercise at home.

She is a great motivator, cheerleader, and inspirational speaker I enjoyed learning from.
Likewise, she writes as if you are sitting down next to her giving what you need when you need it. I like how she helps you get down to keeping the main thing the main thing. Knowing your why is huge. Why do you want to exercise and eat the things you do? I like her unique way of looking at the whole fitness thing. We have so many voices competing for our attention each saying they know the “way” but, do they? I liked the doable tasks the author has at the end of each chapter. This helps to make things personal. It is all the little things we say, do and eat that add up to the big picture and last the longest.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

The author does a good job of motivating readers to take care of self - by prioritising fitness and eating healthy. Many tips on how to make it happen.

“Always remember, an excuse provides a short-term win, like having an extra ten minutes of mindless scrolling or leaving the bathroom to be cleaned until next week. However, an action provides a long-term win, long-term progress—that ten-minute workout will lead to more energy, better habits and a willingness to do more for yourself.”*

Cela lays out a plan to develop a healthier lifestyle, which includes better nutrition, exercise, and mindset. First she asks the reader to dig deep into the “why” behind such aspirations, going beyond how one wants to look to how they want to feel. She tackles excuses and procrastination, making time for workouts and food prep, how forming good habits help, support systems, getting past fear, and mindful eating. Some of her words of wisdom include the following: Focus on the journey rather than the destination, progress over perfection, motivation works in the short term but counting on habits is better for the long term, and reframing situations increases resilience. She also includes periodic check in questions to keep one’s plan on track.

Cela has a great conversational writing style, and she shares numerous personal stories about her own journey. On multiple occasions, she mentions her Tone and Sculpt program as a tool, however, the references came across as helpful, i.e. as a potential supplemental aid, rather than as a sales pitch for her product,

The book addresses specific issues such as menstruation and fear of bulking up muscles. My favorite thing about the book is the sense of positivity and creating a sustainable program for better health. I recommend DO THIS FOR YOU for anyone who wants to make some positive changes and is looking for a kind and gentle guide to help. I liked how the book isn’t packed with recipes or meal plans or exercise routines, yet some references are included to such things. Not only does the author encourage the reader to do this for you, her message also implies you do you. For example, she makes a case for weight training yet encourages expertise/movement as a whole regardless of the type of activity.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Go, an imprint of Hachette Books, for providing an Advance Reader Copy.

*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text.