Several months back, I was slated to participate in a mom bloggers’ challenge coordinated by Dustin Maher of Fit Moms for Life.  Unfortunately, I discovered within the first week that our water was giving me major heartburn (yes, really), and since drinking enough water was a big part of the challenge, I pretty much fell off the wagon.  (We have since fixed the water issue, but it took a little while for us to arrive at a solution.)

I was blessed to be given a “second chance,” of sorts, when I was asked to review Dustin’s new book (also called Fit Moms for Life).  The short version: it is fantastic!

Dustin’s program is well-rounded, and it’s based on sound science.  It’s not just about losing weight (although it should have that effect, too, if that’s a need for you); it’s about being fit and healthy.  The book’s subtitle is How to Have Endless Energy to Outplay Your Kids!  That means there’s more to this than just a workout. In fact, you get about halfway through the book before you even read about creating a workout plan.  (And that’s a good thing.)

The system is based on five pillars: mindset, nutrition, strength training, burst training, and environment.  It’s meant to be sustainable — not a lose-the-weight-and-then-move-on sort of program — and it does a good job of defining sound principles in order to be just that.  The nutrition information is more-or-less what I would teach: eating real food the vast majority of the time, completely eliminating a few “choice” chemicals, getting plenty of protein and a sufficient amount of real fat, etc.

The exercise information is different from what I’m accustomed to doing, but solidly in line with what I’ve been reading lately about the science of how we burn fat.  (In The Smarter Science of Slim, for instance.)  Dustin does address the common concern that lifting weights will cause women to “bulk up.”  It won’t — exactly.  However, I do, personally, think that some of the women in his “after” photos are more “ripped” than I would like to be and have lost some of their womanly curves, so I still find myself a little nervous about that.

Very challenging resistance exercises combined with burst training (similar to interval training) really does burn more fat, though, than the “traditional” ways we’ve been taught to exercise for weight loss.  (Not surprising, I guess, given that all the things we’ve “traditionally” been told to eat for good health are pretty much baloney, too. 😉 )  I would highly recommend the book if for no other reason but that it’s a fabulous overview/introduction to healthy lifestyle, in plain language.

The tone of the book is significant, as well, though.  Dustin clearly has a passion for helping mothers take care of themselves.  He loves to help you, and to indirectly help the next generation (your kids!) by helping you.  It shows.  I feel honored as a mama just by reading the way Dustin talks about us — what we do is important, we are important, and he wants us to have the tools to be at our best.  There’s a theme of taking care of yourself  “first” so you can effectively care for those around you (the “oxygen mask” concept) — but it’s not at all with a pampered, spoiled sort of “because I deserve it” kind of attitude.  It’s hard to articulate, but priceless to encounter.

Several appendices provide further resources.  There are forms for recording your progress.  There are suggested resources for learning more about various aspects involved in the program — nutrition, for instance, or strength training.  (A number of resources are mentioned throughout the text, as well.)  And the entire first appendix addresses pregnancy and the postpartum period and what you can and can’t do.  (Very helpful for me, as I’m reading this during my second trimester!)

Definitely, definitely recommended!

Disclosure: I was provided by the publisher with a copy of the book to facilitate my review.  As always, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.