Showing posts with label home fitness success. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home fitness success. Show all posts

Wake Up! You're Probably Never Going to Look Like That: How to be Happier, Healthier and Imperfectly

Wake Up! You're Probably Never Going to Look Like That: How to be Happier, Healthier and Imperfectly Fit SECOND EDITIONFaced with the task (challenge) of losing 30 pounds, I turned to my trustworthy Google to look for a good approach to take. After several discoveries of "quick weight loss" spams I finally found some comfort in Michelle Pearl's book, Wake Up! You're Never Going to Look Like That: How to be Happier, Healthier and Imperfectly Fit.

Two discoveries were especially comforting. First that quick weight loss promises are a scam because the only sure way to shed pounds and keep them off is slow and steady. Another comforting discovery is that there is no one-size fits-all approach to weight loss but that success is best achieved by tailoring workouts and eating habits to your body, lifestyle and environment. Now that makes sense to me!

Pearl stresses that the person who makes lifestyle changes slowly over time and understands that weight loss won't be easy will drop pounds and keep them off. The important thing, Pearl adds, is to have realistic expectations and in the end be happy with what you achieve and with the new imperfect you.

The author, who herself lost 100 pounds and kept it off, is a certified group fitness instructor who operates an online subscription exercise service at . Besides telling her own story in Wake Up, Pearl tells the stories of seven Imperfectly Fit Superstars who each reveal how they lost weight. Each had a different method, one or parts of which might work for me.

An important discussion in Wake Up that I found especially revealing was how important nutrition and healthy foods are to any weight loss effort. I just can't get into counting calories (which I don't understand anyhow) or reading package labels to figure out the significance of this percentage or that percentage of vitamin A, C, D or something. Alphabet soup is better eaten than pondered.

Pearl eats the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day. That way she doesn't have to make different decisions each day or count calories or configure proteins and vitamin balances into her diet. She fixes a different evening meal each day so her family is not dragged into her personal eating regiment. Now that makes a lot of sense to me and was very helpful.

I never cared for the Biggest Loser so was not impacted one way or another by her criticism of the show or Jillian Michaels, except to cheer her on when criticizing the show for exploiting obese people. That is certainly the case. I must confess, though, getting some satisfaction form visiting Pearl's blog, .

The fact that you read this far in the review suggests you very likely have a weight problem, or have a friend with a weight problem. If so, you too might benefit from reading this wonderful book.

By Emory Daniels

I absolutely adore Michelle Pearl and her youtube videos. I got the n**k version (not sure if it will be blocked so that's why i blocked out the competetors name) because it was free on a lender program.

The diet is basically low sugar, whole foods, low-carb dinners with her husband. She does explain a phenominon I've never heard of but experienced myself in my journey: you're constantly hungry and constantly cold. I believe with a little more work and cutting out the cheesy clip arts and reworking the "diet fairy tale" section it could go from ok to good.

All the information is available on her blog and videos. The book only gives a smidgen more details. It's more her story of losing 200 lbs and the tips she learned along the way. All in all a good read bit not something I'd buy for my bookshelf

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I happened across Michelle Pearl's weight management guide after a week of chocolate chip muffins for morning tea. You could say her easy-to-read book was just the timely motivation I needed.

Reading Pearl's `Wake Up! You're Probably Never Going to Look Like That' is like having a non-judgmental conversation with a friend. Pearl writes from personal experience, and for anybody who has travelled the weight struggle path, her voice is credible and believable.

There is no guilt stick waving here; instead this book offers a message of self-care and acceptance. What is to be aimed for is weight loss for health and well-being, achieved through a combination of five factors:

* An understanding of the underlying physiological factors influencing weight

* The emotional aspects

* The influence of environmental factors, including avoiding temptation and the importance of support from friends and family

* Healthy, lower-cal, lower-fat eating and

* Exercise

A former journalist and writer, Pearl supports her thesis with jargon-free scientific evidence, diagrams, pictures, short chapters and sub-headings. It is easy to dip into this book at relevant sections, as well as to read and absorb it quickly. Although a lot of the information she provides is not necessarily new, to have it in such an accessible form is an advantage. And, although many of her tips are probably common sense, they serve as good reminders when you're considering less-healthy alternatives to snack on. I particularly found motivating the statistics on what serious health issues are influenced by weight, the idea that sustainable weight management comes not from special diets or programs, but portion control of everyday food choices and substitution of lower-fat/sugar/salt varieties and the necessity of exercise to achieve a weight-loss calorie deficit.

I downloaded this title as a freebie from another site, but I believe it would be well worth considering for purchase. Download a sample for yourself and see if it could be of benefit to you. Hey, I've been three mornings muffin-free since reading! Maybe this title might help you ditch your food weaknesses too! :-)

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WOWtalk about a anti-be perfect book! This book is like sitting down and dishing with your girlfriend you haven't seen in 3 years! Michelle is honest and blunt. She freely admits genetics are going to keep ALOT of us from EVER looking like a Playboy/Victoria's Secrets model! The key to her is understanding this and then determining WHERE you can get to where you are healthy AND happy. So you don't get below say a size 10, if you are fit, ACCEPT it and deal with it! She debunks all the get slim-quick diets and exercise plans in honest, behind the scenes, advice. Her book contains the kernel of truth that ALL girls need to learn at an early age, so they will not make themselves ill/die trying to achieve something they can never be!

Michelle lays out a VERY simple diet and exercise plan that ANYONE can follow, including healthier choices at fast food restaurants (cause sometimes you HAVE to eat out!). Her success stories are honest and share one themethe choice to MOVE more and change their lives. I can understand Michelle's loathing of the Biggest Loser show as being unrealistic based on her OWN experience (hello, HOW many people go thru that big of a weight loss TWICE?) With some of Jillian Michael's latest comments REALLY makes you wonder about what is being said to the contestants OFF-camera! Michelle would be the trainer I would want in my corner helping me!

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This is a good book for getting your head right. The author has a great sense of humor. This is the first book I've read that addresses the fact that many of us veterans of the diet wars feel like we are constantly starving. What a relief. Because of this book, I changed my weight goal to something more doable, and changed my calorie settings on my tracker to give me more time to do it. My favorite part of the book is her diet fairy tales.

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The Folk Remedy Encyclopedia: Olive Oil, Vinegar, Honey and 1,001 Other Home Remedies

The Folk Remedy Encyclopedia: Olive Oil, Vinegar, Honey and 1,001 Other Home RemediesThe best part of this book to me is how easy it has been to find a natural way to cure ailments right in my own pantry, garden and even the neighborhood grocery.

If you are into folk and home remidies this is the book for you.

The book was shipped quickly and was like new.

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Warrior Cardio: The Revolutionary Metabolic Training System for Burning Fat, Building Muscle, and Ge

Warrior Cardio: The Revolutionary Metabolic Training System for Burning Fat, Building Muscle, and Getting FitOk, I will be the first to admit, that the title says it all: "Warrior Cardio." Maybe that should have been a clue that this is going to go way beyond what most people are looking for in a workout book. I am a middle-aged guy, getting back in shape, and from the title was hoping to find some new ways to do cardio that were not mind-numbing like a treadmill or elliptical trainer. I got the book the other day, and while I normally wait to review items until I have used them for a time, I wanted to get this up so others don't make the mistake I did. With return fees, it isn't worth me sending the book back and I will be able to use a couple exercises in here in my daily routine. I kknow that a lot of times, these workout book reviews get jammed with groupies or friends of the author trying to hype the book but I am neither. I am the average joe, sitting in my office, avoiding that painfully long project report by shopping on Amazon. So, here goes:

I gave the books 4 stars because there are a lot of positives in it:

I found some good nutritional information, but the overall diet is a bit more than I am looking for.

The book is beautifully photographed, the exercises pretty well staged out as well as you can get in a book and it seems to have a good flow to it.

all of the models are very buff and good looking, and will inspire you to push the workout a little harder.

My one complaint I am not complaining because I am average fitness guy would would need two simpler workout programs to build to this one is that some of the workouts are REALLY unrealistic in normal people's homes or regular gyms. My gym does not have truck tires for me to push all over. I don't have room at my house for a full sled to tie to myself and drag around the yard. And I have never seen barbells with special handles on them for me to carry around doing lunges. So for the average person, unless you are in MMA or something like that and have access to a professional gym that has this equipment, some of these are going to go way beyond what we can do. I did like some of the bodyweight exercises some of them I will build up to, but they seem to be a good challenge.

Also, the book isn't really about just Cardio. A lot of the exercises are muscle building or would not be a cardio exercise unless you had the strength to do them quickly enough to count as cardio.

So, overall it is visually one of the nicest workout books I have seen in a while. The logic behind the program seems sound. But it is not for beginners or maybe even intermediate level people. If you are an athlete and have 8% body fat and muscles lord love you if you do then this book would definately take you to the next level, if you have access to the equipment. I just wish they had been more clear about the level of the workouts the "getting fit" part is a little misleading.

No disrespect to the authors here, because they obviously know what they are talking about and their enthusiasm shows in the book. It was just not quite what I thought it would be and I don't have room for truck tires or weight sleds to try and follow the program at home. I would rupture something if I even tried.

I've been following Martin Rooney and Training For Warriors for a while now, but I am always a little nervous when it comes time to see a fitness book. This book did not disappoint.

As an MMA fighter, a personal trainer, and a fitness nut I was very interested in seeing what this book was all about, so, like any reasonable person I preordered it. Okay, I'll admit that this was the first book I have ever preordered... I was a little nervous. This book is page after page of different exercises, circuits, tips, methodologies, inspirations and pure knowledge. I am amazed at the simplicity of the breakdown of the book. He breaks it down into different sections based on the type of circuit, from there he breaks every circuit up into different body types. Each type of circuit has an instructional section followed by different interval and repetition suggestions.

On top of all the fitness instructions, Rooney includes a nutrition section. Now everyone might not agree but as a personal trainer I love that he did not just include a "Here's what to eat for 4 weeks" guide. Rooney goes through and breaks down nutrition in a very easy to understand way. Not only does it include tips for what to avoid, what to eat, and such for loosing weight, but also for gaining weight and mass (something usually overlooked in general fitness books).

I suppose if I was going to have a complaint it would be that some of the pages seem to be missing of few steps in the instructional photos. I have been doing this for a while, so I can fill in the spaces, but I could see how a beginner could get confused. Let me say though, that with almost 400 pages of FULL COLOR photos, this is hardly a negative.

In conclusion, I tore through this book in one day and threw two of the circuits together (which tore through me). I recommend this book to anyone looking to get in shape or improve their game. The great thing about circuits is that they can be tailored to any fitness level or athletic ability. Great job and congratulations to Martin Rooney!

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In the foreword to Martin Rooney's new book, WARRIOR CARDIO, Top 10 ranked UFC Lightweight, Jim Miller tells us "In the 3 years I have been following the Training for Warriors system, I have changed from a tough local-level fighter into a professional athlete. I have fought ten times for the UFC, going 9-1 over that span and I am ranked Top 10 in the World. I have not only been able to pack on 10 pounds of muscle and add hundreds of pounds to my lifts, but I have also stayed healthy."

So let's consider that. Top ranked, 10 pounds of muscle (remember, combat sport has demanding weight categories), strong and healthy. Sounds like a triple win.

WARRIOR CARDIO is the distillation of Martin Rooney's formidable experience. He has worked with athletes from the UFC, NBA, NFL, Olympians, armed forces and Division 1 colleges. Moreover, he himself has performed at the highest levels in a number of disciplines. So he's the embodiment of practicing what he preaches. And this, for me, is the clincher. What he says, is what he does and I can tell you, it's infectious.

If you are familiar with Training for Warriors and Ultimate Warrior Workouts you will know Rooney Rule #1 "We don't do something for nothing". WARRIOR CARDIO is designed, without compromise, to get you fight ready, whether that fight is getting in the best shape possible or preparing to go 5 rounds in the ring. No knowledge or experience of martial arts or combat sport is required. Training for Warriors is aimed at each and every one of us. If you have any doubts just read Martin's blog, you'll feel better for it, I promise.

WARRIOR CARDIO breaks down in to three sections.

Part One

Getting Started, gives an initial view of what we have come to consider "cardio". Martin's long time mentor Dr Tony Caterisano gives us the Science. It's a wonderfully concise overview of the various energy systems along with a solid breakdown on the nuts and bolts of WARRIOR CARDIO. If you want the why, this is it. It will have you question many of the practices that have become conventional wisdom. It will also introduce you to a way of training that banishes boring cardio in exchange for a comprehensive system that provides incredible bang for your buck.

Mental Cardio is essential reading. Martin knows about coaching. I am not talking about teaching an exercise or providing a workout. I am talking about the ability to engage at the deepest level. Mental Cardio looks at the components of building a resilient athlete from the inside out. Some folk will want to skim over this section. I strongly advise that you sit down, read it thoroughly and apply. Taking the time to do this might be the best investment you can make.

Warrior Performance Self Evaluation. If you want to know where you are going you have to know where you are at. There are separate Speed and Power Tests and an eye opening Endurance Test. Once again, everything is laid out and ready to apply. You'll be able to rate your performance for each test which gives you an invaluable benchmark to work from.

Warrior Prehab 15 lays out a top to toe routine with 15 carefully chosen drills. This stuff is standard issue within the Warrior Cardio 12 week program and it might just be the nicest thing you can do to your body. People are quick to jump in to the deep end. The key to staying injury free is taking your time to get the body moving through a natural range of motion. WP15 is the answer.

Warrior Cardio Warm Up. Here's another aspect that we are quick to skim over. This warm up with challenge you. There are a number of dynamic drills, mapped out in sequence. There's no doubt that you'll be familiar with many of these. But I can bet you don't do them! Once you are familiar with the drills it's easy to mix and match. Failing that, the drills are integrated into the 12 week program.

Part Two takes us right in to the Metabolic Training section where everything is explained in detail with accompanying photographs. You will find all manner of tools and enough variety to challenge and engage even pickiest prospect. Martin maps out the 10 Commandments of Metabolic Training then delivers -

Energy Circuits,

TFW's trademark Hurricanes

Barbell, Dumbbell & Kettlebell Circuits

Bodyweight training

Speciality Strength Circuits

Sprint Training

Finishers

Core workouts.

It is a complete toolbox incorporating everything you can lay your hands on. Challenging? Yes. Boring? No way.

Part Three focuses on -

Nutrition for Warriors. Martin has brought in the talents of Dr John Berardi and his team to give us a resoundingly sensible approach to how we fuel our bodies. Berardi's Precision Nutrition is one of the most respected nutrition programs available. Here we get a no gimmicks approach, focussing of the kind of foods athletes eat to maintain muscle, get lean and perform at the highest level. It's a relief to see real food front and centre. The supplements section is practical look at what actually delivers, listing the benefits of ten key supplements and how to ingrate them in to your diet. Information on gaining, losing and cutting weight rounds out this Nutrition for Warriors. Again, the approach is practical and informed by people who actually do this, week in, week out.

Warrior Cardio 12 Week Program. It makes a lot of sense to read this book cover to cover before jumping in to the 12 Week program. The 12 week program maps out three sessions per week. Each comes complete with Prehab and Warm Up drills followed by Metabolic Training and finishing with a brief Core Training session. If you really want to understand and benefit from Martin's years of experience, I suggest you "absorb what is useful" and get to applying it!

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The book contained a lot of great information. I especially enjoyed the workouts that were presented by the author. I've had great workouts utilizing the information and workout plans that are found in the book. My biggest complaint is that in the schedule, many of the exercises that the author tells you to perform do not make sense because they are not "titled" to match the wording or verbiage used throughout the book. For example, a Monday workout will tell to perform "all mini plyo hops and movement drills" which is easy to understand because those exercises maintain the same title/verbiage in the book. The problem comes when executing, say a Tuesday workout, where the book tells you to perform "all muscle activation exercises" and you're left to try and figure out what exercises these are because they are not referred to as such anywhere in the book! If each workout maintained specific verbiage it would be a 5-Star rating. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to utilize the information completely because I'm left to try and figure out exactly what exercises the author is recommending on specific days.

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The book is great. It has allot of information, which I had not been aware about. The exercises and workouts are explained in detail and with pictures. Great buy.

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The She-Ra Collector's Inventory: An Unofficial Illustrated Guide to All Princess of Power Toys and

The She-Ra Collector's Inventory: An Unofficial Illustrated Guide to All Princess of Power Toys and AccessoriesThis 57 page paperback edition of She-ra toys is well worth the pricey tag that comes along with it-at first i was disappointed with the amount of pages for a $30dollar bookBUT almost every single page is colored-and there are excellent pictures of every She-ra MOTU character including crystal castle and the extra outfits and comic books.

Each of the characters has a page dedicated to themin colorand a SMALL description of each; including what makes them more valuable and variations between year releases. Then there is a box to the right of the picture with a average price for a NIP (new in package), complete (with accessories etc), and loose (the figurine without all clothes/swords/etc). At the end of the book is one page dedicated to the Horde characters (minus Cat-ra & Entrapta who each had their own page). There are not prices for the Horde characters.

Some of the action figures are missing their accesories in the pictures but overall they are completea couple of them shown are NIP as well.

DePino also provides a concise introduction worthy of a standing ovation. I loved this guide and read it from front to back. I would recommened the book to She-ra collectors as well as Children/Teens of the 80s who had anything to do with these charactersa nice item to have and read.

The She-Ra Collector's Inventory is a very nice guide to the Princess of Power toy line. It has a great introduction that gives a history of the Princess of Power (POP) series as well as the Masters of the Universe (MOTU) series. It helps to show how important the POP line was, even though it had quite a short run.

The price guide is excellent; it gives full information for each action figure/accessory/playset, including alternates and variations. Values are given for "Mint in Package", "Complete", and "Loose" conditions. Information is also given on some prototypes that were never released.

Some of the pictures are not the best quality, but they provide what they are meant to provide. Overall, this book is an excellent buy for any She-Ra collector!

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What an awesome book! Hillary DePiano has compiled an unbelievably thorough inventory of all the Princess of Power toys and related accessories that were released in conjunction with the She-Ra cartoon. "The She-Ra Collector's Inventory" features an introduction that summarizes the creation of the He-Man and She-Ra toy lines and cartoons. There is a page devoted to every She-Ra action figure that was ever released. In addition to photos of each action figure, DePiano also gives a brief description of each character and the special features of each toy (mobility, accessories, collector's pricing guide, etc.). There are also photos and descriptions of She-Ra playsets, books, fashion accessories, and other Princess of Power merchandise.

This is an amazing book for anyone who is a serious She-Ra fan. I was a huge fan of the She-Ra cartoon when I was a child and I owned many of the different action figures and toys that are featured in this book. Sadly, most of those toys were lost or thrown out a long time ago, but now I can pick up this book and fondly remember all the fun my sister and I had playing with our She-Ra and Glimmer action figures and the Crystal Castle and Crystal Falls playsets. Those are some of the best memories of my childhood, and now they're all available in this fabulous little book!

Some people have complained that this book is too pricey. I think die-hard She-Ra fans will gladly shell out the money for a book as awesome as this! The only disappointment I had is that the book is almost more like a pamphlet because the cover is so flimsy. Maybe DePiano will consider releasing a hardcover edition that includes info on all the She-Ra DVDs that are in the process of being released.

If you loved She-Ra as a child, you really need to buy this book. It's the next best thing to owning every single She-Ra action figure that ever existed...and how many people actually have all that stuff?! NONE! Buy this book...you'll be so glad you did!

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Excellent buy for any type of She-Ra collector!!!!!

The first comprehensive guide I have ever seen on the entire toy line. Pictures for all figures/playsets and accessories. Excellent listing for each figure of complete contents including the comic. Pictures of entire clothing line and even the covers of comics enclosed with the figures.

Descriptions of the figures and accessories help lend insight to the collection for the newer collector, and help for identification for the more experienced collector.

I have been a She-Ra fan since the toys first came out and would highly recommend this book for everyone who is a fan of the series.

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"The She-Ra Collector's Inventory" is a nicely done book on the various items that Mattel produced toy-wise for the She-Ra, Princess of Power line. All pictures are in color, although some seem a bit fuzzy. All items are listed, along with accessories that came with them. The author includes price guides for all the items as well. This is a great little book for those starting to collect She-Ra figures or for those who just want to remember some of their favorite toys. I recommend buying this book. It is definetely worth it!

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Chemical Maze

Chemical MazeThe best book I've come across to simply explain all the chemical additives. In such a handy size.....small enough to carry in handbag all the time, comes in handy when doing the food shopping. I'm studying Naturopathy & it has been a valuable quick & easy reference for switching to a healthier lifestyle...helps decipher the ingredients for everything from foods to personal hygiene products to household cleaners. two very big thumbs up!!!!

Don't get greenwashed! Use this valuable practical book when you go shopping and you'll be shocked to learn how many products claim to be "all natural" and "environmentally friendly", but in fact are a toxic carcinogenic concoction wiping out your health and fertility and destroying the environment. You'll also be able to decipher the codes on the ingredient lists and will know what to stay away from. It's a great shopping companion!

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An extremely invaluable must have pocket sized shopping guide telling you at a glance, which additives are hazardous, which chemicals are best avoided and which ingredients are safe, making it easier to shop for your family.

What's more each of the chemicals listed are colour coded and in alphabetical tables which provide valuable information about the potential health effects that takes the mystery out of the additives code. This book truly is a must have to any book collection. I never leave home without it.

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Green Housekeeping

Green HousekeepingEllen Sandbeck's book, Organic Housekeeping, has joined The Joy of Cooking on my bookshelf as a reference standard. It is packed full of practical ideas, written concisely and with humor. When it comes to housecleaning, I need all three.

My canine friend left me a mess on my living room carpet, which by the time I discovered it had set itself rather stubbornly. I lined up all the carpet cleaning products from under the sink, grabbed my magnifying glass to read the fine print on all the cans, then tried to determine which would help and which would make the mess worse. My frustration mounted until I remembered recently receiving a copy of Sandbeck's book. I grabbed it and started with "Rug and Carpet Care" and found I had a hard time putting her book down.

I noticed immediately how well indexed Organic Housekeeping is. It was easy to find the answers to quite a number of my current household dilemmas. From my mother-in-law's flour moths to how to avoid bacteria-ridden kitchen sponges, I have found inexpensive, non-toxic, healthful ways to resolve common household problems. I pick it up for one thing and find I am enjoying the insights and her common sense approach to house cleaning so much I have read well beyond the answer to my original question.

I have no problem giving this book a five out of five star rating.

The first washing machine inside the door of the laundromat I used to go to in Berkeley was named Cleanliness. The one right next to it was Godliness. I always tried to use those two to make sure my bets were covered both in this life and the next, but I never realized what an ungodly toxic proposition the pursuit of cleanliness is until I read Organic Housekeeping, by the practical organic ecologist, Ellen Sandbeck. The author's wry wit, thorough research, and empirical use of herself, her home, her family, her pets, and her own charming illustrations to demonstrate her eminently sane and healthful approach to housekeeping are solvents tough enough to cut through the greasy buildup of a million commercials for synthetic cleaning products that, as this book shows, not only fail to get things cleaner but slowly kill us while they're doing it. Most of the time, we learn, vinegar, baking soda, and a shot of vodka will do the trick. Full of tips on everything from reducing clutter to cleaning the air you breathe, Organic Housekeeping will dissolve your guilt over never getting things clean or organized enough and save you from having to clip coupons for all kinds of stuff you don't need.

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This book has way more information than just about cleaning. Ms. Sandbeck tells you what will make your life easier then gives hints for accomplishing such as how to unclutter when you live with (or are) a pack rat. She tells of how to keep a home clean and neat without being a clean freak or having to be Martha Stewart. This book is filled with normal things that normal people can do inexpensively. There are great ideas for dealing with insects, water conservation, recycling, and more. I also thought that the writing style was easy to understand and amusing.

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Ellen Sandbeck's latest is a truly practical guide to getting things clean without killing yourself. Some of the tips are oldies, but goodies that our grandparents used, but there's plenty of new, and quite clever, suggestions as well. I also really appreciate that she encourages the reader to find their own comfort level with what they think is "clean." Instead of dropping twenty or thirty bucks on cleaning products that really do more harm than good, buy this book and leave the world a better place!

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Growing up using chemical cleaners, and not growing up with anyone who is chemically sensitive, I never thought about going through life without needing the stuff. This book was a real eye-opener. I picked it up as I am about to embark on owning a new home and trying to maintain it in an eco-friendly (and inexpensive) manner. I found the book thorough, entertaining, and reasonable. It covers a myriad of topics besides household cleaning; eco-conscious fabric/material/building choices, natural personal hygiene, safe lawncare/gardening, home safety, etc. I was not a big fan on how each chapter was set up though. For instance, while the theme may be "laundry," all the laundry info just seemed tossed in without any organization. It also would've been nice to have had a key with all the supplies recommended for each chapter. In order to get an idea of the supplies you would need in order to upkeep your home, you basically need to read through each chapter and just write down the supplies she frequently refers to (there's only a handful of products she refers to throughout the book so she could've even annotated them at the beginning of it). It's not that big a deal, it just would've made it more handy. Even though the chapters seem disorganized, its saving grace is a decent index, so you can get the info you need. While the book alerts the reader of all the toxins chemical cleaners provide, it offers them in an informative manner, not in a way that would make you feel guilty if you used them. I didn't feel like this book was preachy, which is something alternative living books tend to do. All in all, this is an approachable, helpful guide that just may change your life and make you think about your choices in the future. This would make an awesome housewarming gift.

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Beauty at Home: a natural guide to skin care

Beauty at Home: a natural guide to skin careThis is a great guide for do-it-yourself tips, especially for hair and skin. These tips can save you lots of money, because you won't have to spend big bucks on expensive beauty products.