Body Love: Live in Balance, Weigh What You Want, and Free Yourself from Food Drama Forever (The Body Love Series)

Kelly was featured on Lewis Howe's podcast (which I love, you will too, go subscribe and thank me later). The 1 hour interview was so great that I immediately followed all her social media and ordered this book. Although she uses a lot of technical/sciencey terms, she breaks it down and explains things in ways that anyone will be able to grasp. I've only been having Fab Four smoothies for the last 3 days, and I can already notice a huge difference in the way I'm feeling throughout the day. It's made me more aware of listening to my body. Perfect example is that late afternoon crash. I haven't been sitting at work scrounging around for some chocolate or chips, I'm still full from a healthy, delicious lunch and my morning smoothie. Minimal changes and so far I'm feeling great! I ordered a bunch of fun things to try to incorporate better ingredients into my smoothies and can't wait to start trying some of the Fab Four meal recipes (baby steps, you know). The book was an easy read, unlike some other health/lifestyle books I've read that are so filled with technical jargon you just get lost. It was filled with actual client examples, delicious recipes and lots of tips and tricks on how to easily transistion into a healthier lifestyle. I'm so thankful I was introduced to this book!

This is not a diet book - it's a lifestyle book. Kelly's methods have completely changed my approach to nutrition. I have never been one for diets - they are restrictive and they often cut out food groups which is never a healthy or sustainable way to live. They also inevitably leave you obsessing about food throughout the day. Kelly's approach is about freedom from all that. By focusing on macronutrients (and not calories) I'm free from the constant obsession of meal planning, calorie counting, always trying to ignore the growing hunger. Don't let the concept of smoothies fool you, it's not your typical meal replacement shake. It's the easiest way to get key macronutrients to satisfy you for the long haul. Her recipes are delicious and easy, but you're not bound to just what recipes she provides. The guidelines in this book make it easy to always find food options whether cooking at home, eating in your office cafeteria or out with friends. She provide strategies for avoiding the typical pitfalls that come with happy hours, holidays and travel. If you're in a rut, looking for more energy and want freedom from your hunger, this is a great place to start!

I love that she breaks down the information into science. Being a fellow science nerd, I can really appreciate that research based information is the only way to go. There were a few discrepancies within the book. On three different occasions, she talks about exfoliation of the skin - at one point it says daily, another says weekly, and the third says a few times a week. She has a section about how good egg yolks are but then says to use egg whites as a facial mask (did she mean yolks?). The recipes are great, but some were just for fat sauces, some were with meat, some were without and with those last two, I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be the entire meal or not. There were a few other areas that left me with questions, but overall I liked it and have been having a fab 4 smoothie every morning since reading it. I’m also trying to do the meals as well, which has been a little more of a challenge as a mom and a wife. I don’t always want to make 2 meals. Here’s hoping that this helps to lose some weight but more importantly, to become more healthy.

Eat more fats?! Kelly does it and she is not fat! She is skinny and glowingI! There must be something to this Fab 4 strategy. I have been trying to lose weight for years on and off. I struggle with binge eating and drinking, and I realize now after getting into her book that the insulin roller coaster I was putting my body through was very damaging and led to chronic weight gain. I also see that I was not eating enough healthy fats or fiber at EVERY meal to keep me full and satisfied so I did not feel the need to binge or snack. I cannot wait to try the freezer fudge when my intense chocolate cravings kick in. This book is so smart, but yes I agree technical and repetitive. But her concept is life changing for me. Bring on the healthy fats! Stabilize blood sugar! I have been introduced to so many new ingredients like ghee, MCT oil, coconut oil/milk, (bulletproof coffee) monkfruit, stevia and tahini. In just a few days I already can tell how the Fab 4 shakes and meals keep you full, and you can up the fats and fiber if you need to. I love her approach and perspective on wellness and feel empowered, healthy and hopeful. All you have to do is stock your fridge and pantry with the right ingredients - those that you like! Limit ALL sugar (incl. fruits) and carbs, and increase healthy fats, fiber and protein. I am just getting into the book, and still trying to wrap my head around ditching the steel cut oatmeal I eat for breakfast mostly before the gym, but so far I am reading that any carbohydrate will spike your blood sugar eventually because they are digested into glucose, and Kelly is trying to avoid that. I like that her aim is to first make sure you have the Fab 4 ingredients ready to eat, and then add the sugars if you need or want. I think that one challenge will be to prepare myself or eating out, like bringing raw almonds in my purse to add to a meal out if if does not seem balanced. I used to be starving all day, snacking left and right, even starving after I drank a huge protein shake after the gym, like it lit up my appetite instead of satiating me. This is because there was not the Fab 4 in it, for me too much fruit, and not enough healthy fats and fiber. Where has Kelly been my whole life!? This strategy that she suggests makes so much sense. Turning off hunger hormones with the Fab 4 is exactly what I have been needing to do!

After years of mild obsession with exercise and healthy eating, I thought I understood how to eat for optimal health and wellness, but something was always missing. After just a few weeks of following the "light structure" and practical tips in this book, I could feel significant improvements in my fitness, mood, health, and sleep--and yes, I even lost a bit of weight during that time. And the advice in this book is incredibly easy to follow. Although I have tried probably every superfood out there over the past several years and have tried everything from paleo to keto to even a vegan diet, the piece I never thought to focus on was insulin and maintaining balanced blood sugar. I used to eat fruit and "healthy" sweet snacks throughout the day without giving it a second thought and, surprise surprise, I constantly craved sugar (which caused the more-than-occasional lapse into post-dinner Dairy Milks...). By dramatically reducing sugar (yes, including fruit sugars), cutting out snacking, and trying to get the "Fab Four" (protein, fiber, fat, and greens) into every meal or smoothie, I have finally started to see a difference in my body, but more importantly I feel great and am no longer a slave to sugar cravings or even to food cravings in general. Two or three good balanced meals in a day (sometimes even just one good meal) are now completely satisfying and I don't have to spend the entire day obsessing over food, which frees up a surprising amount of time. I thought I ought to use at least a little bit of that time to give this life-changing book a great review. Kelly Leveque, you are a godsend. Thank you.

This book is great! It was recommended by a friend and I have recommended it since reading it. Such a logical approach to weight maintenance and leading a healthy lifestyle. I have definitely made some changes that have helped me bc they were easy and simple concepts to follow! A decent number of recipes although I do wish there were more photos of them.

Gutes Konzept. Sympathische Autorin

Really helpful!! Love the philosophy and life style that Kelly Leveque inspire in this book. I would suggest this book to anyone that would like to understand their bodies and take care about them.

Muy buen libro, muy recomendado