The Word of Wisdom by Dr. Scott A. Johnson – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Feb 202013
 

The Word of Wisdom: Discovering the LDS Code of Health

Author: Dr. Scott A. Johnson

Publisher: CFI/Cedar Fort, Inc.

Published Date: February 12, 2013

Softcover/Kindle; 128 pages

Genre: Religious Nonfiction/Health & Lifestyle

ISBN# 978-1-4621-1160-2

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: I received a digital copy (PDF) in exchange for an honest review

Summary

Improve your health today! The Word of Wisdom will teach you principles to help you eat better, feel better, and change your life. Dr. Scott A. Johnson draws from the Doctrine and Covenants to help you make correct dietary choices in a world where convenience food reigns supreme and where chronic illnesses and degenerative diseases are rampant.

Review

The Word of Wisdom: Discovering the LDS Code of Health is a good reference for people who are new to the Church or seeking clarification on the “Dos” as well as the “Don’ts” of the Word of Wisdom. Dr. Johnson addresses each major point and explains the particulars of why mankind can benefit from refraining from certain substances and consuming others.

Some of the subjects Dr. Johnson doesn’t shy away from and briefly discusses include:

  • alkaline and acidic foods
  • being wary of sources of studies that make health statements and researching how these studies were funded
  • questioning why the FDA goes to great lengths to protect people from herbs yet approves manmade drugs with horrific side effects
  • questioning why the government passes regulation on air pollution but won’t risk the tax dollars from tobacco companies despite evidence of the negative effects of smoking on both smokers and non-smokers
  • the benefits of both organic and locally grown produce (it might not look as pretty but usually tastes better and is better for you)
  • the failure of modern medicine and the US healthcare system in helping Americans become healthier people
  • how the actions of man have “adulterated” food by processing it in a way that reduces nutritional benefits (ie- white bread, etc.)

The first part of the book discusses the dangers of addiction and how the harmful substances in these addictive chemicals affect the body. The last part focuses on the Lord’s instructions regarding herbs and food.

I agree with Dr. Johnson’s statements that food and nutrition are integral to our health. I have experienced this personally. I have spent years modifying my family’s diet away from processed foods and toward wholesome choices. We have seen the health benefits of this manifest in many ways.

An issue that I feel should have been covered considering how much page real estate is dedicated to discussing grains and their benefits is the fact that a large number of people cannot tolerate some grains and/or the gluten found in many of them. As one who is gluten-intolerant as well as carbohydrate-sensitive, this is a subject that is of interest to me. There is so much emphasis placed on wheat and grains in the traditional presentation of the Word of Wisdom that I actually experienced guilt and feelings of unworthiness when I first learned that I could no longer include many of them in my diet. Though there is a paragraph about seeking personal revelation regarding what is beneficial for each individual, I do wish Dr. Johnson had spoken to GMO, mankind’s modification of grains, and people who are grain- and gluten-intolerant.

I do think that The Word of Wisdom: Discovering the LDS Code of Health is an excellent overview of the Word of Wisdom. It’s a great resource for new members and non-members who want to understand what the Word of Wisdom is all about and why those who follow it experience better overall health.

Find The Word of Wisdom: Discovering the LDS Code of Health:

AMAZON | KINDLE | DESERET BOOK | GOODREADS

Connect with Dr. Scott A. Johnson:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOOGLE + | PINTEREST

 

Finished Being Fat by Betsy Schow – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Jan 072013
 

Finished Being Fat: An Accidental Adventure in Losing Weight and Learning to Finish

Author: Betsy Schow

Publisher: Cedar Fort Books

Published: January 2013

Softcover; 144 pages

Genre: Health & Lifestyle

ISBN# 978-1462111251

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a free PDF review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

Not everyone can win the race, but everyone can finish it. In her quest to wish away an extra 75 pounds, Betsy changed her life for good. Using her Philosophy of Finishing, she snowballed her efforts from weight loss into a bucket list of seemingly impossible dreams. This inspiring account of one woman’s journey will help you find the strength to conquer your most daunting goals and unfinished projects.

Review

I don’t know Betsy but after reading her book I can tell we would get along famously. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect when I picked up Finished Being Fat. As I read I realized that this was a motivating story about one woman’s journey to finish what she started and not a “diet” book.

I love Betsy’s casual, honest voice. I laughed several times and read many paragraphs to my husband. I related to so much that Betsy wrote, from initial fear of joining a class at the gym and discovering incredible support from my classmates to realizing as I looked at childhood photos of myself that things weren’t as bad as I thought they were at the time.

While I have never aspired to complete a marathon (a 12-minute mile would make me deliriously happy at this point), I admire Betsy for following through with her goal to do just that. Through examples she shares and her lessons learned, I know I don’t have to complete something like a marathon or do something better or faster than someone else for what I finish to be of value, that it’s my attitude and the follow through that makes all the difference.

Every year I choose one little word (via Ali Edwards) to be my motivation for the year. Ironically, my one little word for last year was FINISH. Only I didn’t actually finish anything that I initially set out to do. As the new year approached and I considered what word to choose for 2013 I thought long and hard about why I failed to finish any of what I had planned to complete in 2012.

When Betsy mentioned “starter’s high” I knew exactly what she was talking about. I love the excitement of starting something new but boredom, fear, insecurity, or life always got in the way. I soon realized that I was letting perfectionism and fear hold me back. So I chose COURAGE as my one little word for 2013. Courage to be imperfect. Courage to recognize insecurity and overcome it. Courage to leave behind things that really don’t matter. Courage to FINISH.

I enjoyed every minute I spent reading Finished Being Fat. It’s a quick read full of honesty and humor. I highly recommend it to everyone whether you have struggled with weight issues or not. The subject matter goes beyond health and fitness, encouraging readers to experience the sense of accomplishment and self-worth that comes with finishing what you start.

Visit Betsy: BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOOGLE+

Find Finished Being Fat: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOODREADS 

 

All Diets Work by Jen Brewer, RD – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews, Special Features
Aug 222011
 

All Diets Work, That’s the Problem

Author: Jen Brewer, RD

Published Date: 2011

Publisher: Petersen Press

Softcover; 132 pages

Genre: Non-Fiction

ISBN# 978-0-9835140-7-7

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for honest review

First Things First

I really like this cover. I’m not sure if you can see it, but the words are photos of different food textures. The clean white space, colorful words and directly-stated title worked to catch my attention. So did the subtitle:

25 tools to help you stop dieting and start losing weight for good.

As someone who has struggled with weight issues most of my life and health issues more recently, I was very interested in what the author had to say. Over the years, I have come to several realizations about dieting and fitness in relation to myself and I was grateful to find that the information in All Diets Work validated several of these things. It also helped me see the areas I still need to work on.

The Format

All Diets Work is divided into five sections: The Diet Dilemma, Principles, Tools, and What’s in Your Toolbox, followed by an Appendix full of good information about nutrition as well as printable forms to help the reader on their health journey. The entire basis of the book is that “the best weight-loss solution for you is the one you build yourself” and “if you can find an eating program that you can maintain indefinitely, you can manage your weight effectively — for the rest of your life.”

This books serves as support and encouragement for the reader’s efforts. Not only is it a quick read at only 130+ pages, it is to the point — a definite plus for those with limited time. Jen focuses on tried-and-true principles of success, then proceeds to offer several tools that the reader can pick and choose from to set their own personal goals. I found the Appendix to be educational and useful. I will be using several of the forms as I move forward.

Those who like to read about others and their weight-loss successes using a variety of methods will enjoy the seven stories included in All Diets Work. The only endorsement here is for the find-what-works-for-you-and-do-it method.

Summary

I found All Diets Work to be a refreshing change from other health and fitness reading I have done. My copy has several underlined sections and a number of sticky notes peeking out to mark useful charts and information. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for being to the point as well as offering encouragement and focusing on the principles of successful weight loss.

More Info

Learn more about All Diets Work on the website All-Diets-Work.com.

All Diets Work is available for purchase in paperback and Kindle editions from Amazon.

You can read more reviews of All Diets Work by following the blog tour schedule below:

August 22nd: Shanda Cottam   http://www.ldswbr.com

August 24th: Sabine Berlin   http://www.writinginberlin.blogspot.com/

August 25th: Heidi Durant   http://ldwmagazine.com/

August 26th: Cheri Crane   http://crane-ium.blogspot.com/

August 29th: Michelle Jeffries   http://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com/

August 30th: Karen Clark   http://overbackyardfence.blogspot.com/

August 31st: Alan Barnes   http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com

September 1st: Deanne Blackhurst    http://www.deanneblackhurst.blogspot.com

September 6th: Debbie Davis    http://debbiesinkspectations.blogspot.com/

September 9th: Maria Hoagland   mariahoagland.blogspot.com

September 12th: Shanna Blythe    http://www.writing4me2.blogspot.com/

September 16th: Rebecca Blevins    http://www.rebeccablevinswrites.blogspot.com/

Love Your Body by Brooke Parker, R.D. – Book Review

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews, Special Features
Mar 042010
 

Title- Love Your Body: A Diet-Free Approach to Balanced Eating
Author- Brooke Parker, R.D.
Published Date– 2009
Published By– Walnut Springs Press
ISBN#- 978- 1-935217-37-4
If the message of this book could be summarized in one word, it would be awareness.

Awareness is empowering, and so are the lessons and messages found in Love Your Body. Brooke takes a deeper look at why women struggle so much with loving themselves and their bodies. She uses her experiences with counseling young women about their body image to help her readers understand how Satan is using sneaky tactics to trick them into worrying about and focusing on how the world views their body.

Using quotes from apostles and prophets as well as the Scriptures, Brooke encourages women to see themselves as Heavenly Father sees them.

The opening line in “Section 3: Your Body is a Gift,” brought about a big A-HA moment for me: “One of Satan’s most powerful methods for taking the influences of the Holy Ghost away from a woman is to create self-hate.” Brooke goes on to say, “He puts his foot in the door by convincing us that we need to become physically perfect according to the world’s standards.”

Most women know what it means to be “physically perfect according to the world’s standards.” But have we ever really thought about what it means to be as close to physically “perfect” on the earth as we can be according to Heavenly Father’s standards? Nobody knows our weaknesses better than our Father in Heaven, and I believe He gives us a lot of credit for doing our best. If doing our best pleases our Heavenly Father, shouldn’t it please us as well?

Brooke gives some good tips as far as dealing with food, reminding her readers throughout that “deprivation doesn’t work.” I think her strength, though, is in how she teaches women to talk to themselves. We would never allow someone else to talk to a spouse, sibling, child or other loved one the way a lot of us talk to ourselves.

In Chapter 12, there are a few body image tests I decided to take and actually wrote my answers in the book (I usually don’t do more than underline a thought here and there). The answers were very telling: I learned that I don’t really care what others think about how I look, but I’m actually very hard on myself and have unreachable (at this point) expectations. Going forward, I can set attainable goals instead of setting myself up for failure, and I can celebrate my smaller accomplishments more often which will encourage me to continue making better choices for myself.

I will be reading sections of Love Your Body with my preteen daughter who has recently started showing signs of concern about her body image.

When I ask my daughters if they think they are beautiful, my 8-year-old answers “Yes!” quickly and with confidence. My 12-year-old answers “Yes,” as well, though not nearly as quickly and with the tiniest amount of doubt in her voice. If I can help them avoid feeling about and talking to themselves they way I have to myself over the years, this book will be worth it’s weight in rubies.

I recommend Love Your Body as a good starting point for everyone, and encourage girls & women of almost any age to read it. Please seek further help if you find yourself unable to stop certain behaviors or need help dealing with any kind of eating disorder.

Heavenly Father knows we are beautiful, and He loves us so much! Let’s resolve to free ourselves from Satan’s grasp and learn to accept, love and see ourselves as our Father in Heaven does.
The publisher of Love Your Body is doing a blog tour giveaway. For more information, keep reading!

From Walnut Springs Press:


We will be giving away 5 copies of Love Your Body: A Diet-Free Approach to Balanced Eating as part of the online book tour. The contest starts February 17th and will close on March 5th at midnight, MST.

Entering the contest is easy–all you have to do is blog, tweet, follow, or comment and then fill out this little form here.

So exactly how do you blog, tweet, follow, etc. Here’s how.

1. Become a follower of our reviewers blogs. You can follow one of our reviewers or you can follow all of them. Remember that each blog you follow gives you another chance to win, so
why wouldn’t you choose to follow them all? But what if we are already following a them ask? Well lucky you because you get an entry for that too.


Walnut Springs Press
Brooke Parker RD
Of Writerly Things
Random-ish by Nichole
Queen of the Clan
Rachelle Writes
The Write Blocks Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
Tangled Words and Dreams
*Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author
Why Not? Because I Said So!
LDS Women’s Book Review
 Cami’s Book

2. Post a comment on the reviews. .

3. Blog about the contest or one of the reviews. Spread the word. Just remember that the blog post either needs to link to the contest or to one of the reviews.

4. Follow us on twitter. Maybe you use twitter, maybe you don’t. But if you do, you should follow us.

http://twitter.com/walnutspringspr
 http://twitter.com/brookeparkerrd
http://twitter.com/camichecketts
http://twitter.com/valerieipson
http://twitter.com/Rachellewrites
http://twitter.com/LDSWBR
http://twitter.com/nicholegiles
http://twitter.com/TaDaFerguson

5. Tweet about the contest or one (or all) of the reviews. Yep, 144 characters or less is all it takes to enter.

6. Become a fan of Love Your Body on facebook. Brooke is constantly updating her fanpage with articles, recipes, and helpful hints.

7. Post about the contest on Facebook.

8. Anything else you can think of that will spread the word. If you mention it on goodreads, shelfari, google buzz, or any other social media site, or make it your status on gmail chat, MSN or yahoo messenger let us know. We want to reward your creativity with an entry.

Also, here is the blog tour schedule, so you can find the reviews on the correct days.

February 22
Of Writerly Things Valerie Ipson

February 23
Random-ish by Nichole Nichole Giles

February 24
Queen of the Clan Danyelle Ferguson

February 25
Rachelle Writes Rachelle Christensen

March 1
The Write Blocks Ronda Hinrichsen

March 2
Tangled Words and Dreams Alison Palmer

March 3
*Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author Tristi Pinkston


March 4
Why Not? Because I Said So! Sheila Staley
LDS Women’s Book Review Shanda Cottam

March 5
Cami’s Book Cami Checketts

American Girl Books: The Feelings Book and The Care & Keeping of You

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Feb 192010
 


Since I have been figuring grades, doing report cards and Parent Teacher Conferences, my reading has been at a minimum. I am in the middle of reading six different books that are Whitney nominated books. So, I really did not have a finished book to review. Instead, I wanted to share with you a series of books that help Tween Girls between the ages of 9-12. The books are from the American Girl company. I love their motto:


” American Girl celebrates a girl’s inner star-that little whisper inside that encourages her to stand tall, reach high, and dream big. We take pride and care in helping girls become their very best today, so they’ll grow up to be the women who make a difference tomorrow.”

The other day me and my daughter had a disagreement and I lost my cool and yelled at her. About 2o minutes later, she came downstairs with her “The Feelings Book: The Care & Keeping of Your Emotions” in her hands. She had turned to the chapter about anger and a section called, “Keeping Your Cool” and said, “Mom I think that you need to read this.” Here is what the book said, “It might help me stay calm if you would___________ (not point your finger, stop and listen to what I’m saying, ask how I am feeling) I have to say I was very impressed! She had found a way to explain how she was feeling and what she would like me to do. This is why I love this book!

Some of the great chapters included in this book are
-The Brain, the Body & Butterflies: In this chapter it discusses Brain Power, Why You Cry, Feeling out of Control and Holding it All In.

-How Do You Really Feel? : This chapter talks about What’s Your Reaction, Sorting it Out and Talking it Out.

-The Voice Inside: This chapter includes Thinking Smart, Learning Who You Can Trust and Clearing away the Clouds.

-Help!: This chapter is the best. It includes, I’m Scared, I Feel Anxious, I’m So Jealous, I’m Angry, I’m Lonely, I’m Really Sad, I’ve Been Disrespected, I’m Grieving and I Don’t Feel Safe.

-Feeling Positive: This includes The Good Stuff, Look Around and Keep it Up.

This book has colorful illustrations, small chapters and sub-chapters and is an easy to read format. You can pick the book up and open to any section and find what you are looking for without having to read it straight through. This book is so valuable in that it helps girls understand their emotions and handle them in a positive way. I learned also it is a good tool for parents to learn from our kids and how to help them.
The other book I bought my daughter was ,”The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls.” This “head-to-toe” guide answers all a girl’s questions about her changing body, from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bras, periods to pimples, and everything in between. ” It makes talking about the facts of life an easy job for parents.



My daughter has been reading this book a lot the past two years. She has been up to date on all of the changes her body has been making. She comes to me often to discuss things and ask questions. We have had some wonderful talks together.

This series also includes the “Care and Keeping of YOU Journal” This journal is a sensitive, interactive companion to The Care & Keeping of You. It includes a period tracker and mood recorder, plus tips, quizzes, and checklists to help girls keep in touch with their changing bodies.
There is also , “The Feelings Journal” that girls can write in.

If you go to their website you will see many other books that could help your daughters/granddaughters. Todays world is a much harder place to grow up in than what we had to deal with. I feel any good resource, such as these books, are beneficial in assisting parents as they raise their children. There are also many books out there that help your boys learn about their changing bodies. Head to Amazon.com to see what books are available.
Good luck with any “tweens” in your life.








The Biggest Loser: Simple Swaps

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 082010
 

biggest loser simple swaps book
Simple Swaps, the latest book from The Biggest Loser.

It is that time of year again when we all think about losing a little weight. Some of us think about losing more than a little weight. The reasons for losing weight have changed for me through the years. Yes, I still want to look nice and fit into cute clothes. The main reason though, is that I want to be healthy.This is the message I always get from reading the Biggest Loser books.
The newest book from the series of The Biggest Loser books is called, “Simple Swaps: 100 Easy Changes to Start Living a Healthier Lifestyle”. I love what it says on Amazon.com to promote this book….
“The road to a healthier lifestyle starts with small decisions and better choices. Now, with The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps, you can get healthy by simply swapping your old food, habit, and lifestyle choices for healthier versions every day. With 100 simple swaps that cut calories, save money, and provide better nutrition as well as more than 30 mouthwatering recipes that put these swaps into action, getting fit and healthy has never been easier”


Some of the chapter titles are basic things that we should all know, but we don’t.


They are:
–Calories: You Can Count on Them
-Planning Regular Meals and Snacks
-Eat Your Vegetables
-The Power of Protein
-Don’t Go Against The Grain
-Fat Can Help You Get Thin
-No More White Stuff
-Eat, Don’t Drink, Your Calories
-Moving Right Along
-Creating A Game Plan For Life




The thing that I like the most about these books are the simplicity of the layouts. They are easy to read. If you only have five minutes to read something while you are eating your breakfast, this is your book. This book is like having many short little articles revolving around one main subject. I also really like how every Biggest Loser book gleans from the knowledge of former contestants: the Winners and The Losers; who frankly are all winners.


Simple Swaps not only gives the reader the ideas about what should be done, but it also lays out the plan on how to accomplish and meet your goals. I also really appreciate the fact that these are real people, like me, that are and have struggled with their weight for a long time. It is so motivating to see people actually “Doing It”…losing the weight and keeping it off.


I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to live a healthier and more fulfilling life.