max_the_lesbrarian's review against another edition

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5.0

This book gets it.

Working out can really suck. Pretty much all of us have serious baggage about it - especially gym-class related terrors - but Kurchak both acknowledges that and approaches exercise in a way that doesn't make you shiver when you so much as think about entering a gym.

This book gives extremely compassionate looks at how our bodies work, and adapts for what resources and abilities people have when trying to plan a fitness regime. Whether you've never lifted a dumbbell in your life, or you're fitness fanatic - there's something for you in this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quirk books for giving me a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.

vanlaw's review

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4.0

Encouraging, realistic, and meeting me where I am without shame, guilt, or any other negative emotions.

anna_hepworth's review against another edition

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hopeful informative medium-paced

4.0

The tone of this book works for me; after a single read through of the library copy I have determined that acquiring my own copy and then working through sections will be the most useful. This is because it will take time for me to implement the first bit of working towards an exercise regime that works, and I'm going to need to come back to it.

There is also a section of 'can't deal with thinking; try this set of exercises' that I think I'll try first; having a copy of the book is going to make that possible. 

Overall: this is a very no-nonsense approach to finding a way to exercise that works for you, wherever you are at this point in your life, even if that is a very low point and exercise seems out of reach. It really does address the 'how to add exercise when you can't get out of bed' question in a way that I think I could do, although I'm not at that point right now, so who knows how I would feel.

It mostly focuses on people with mental health limitations on their exercises, but I think it should also work for people with chronic fatigue and other physical conditions that limit their ability to exercise. It is also firmly against fatphobic aspects of fitness culture, and is respectful of 'I have no money or time to implement anything' and how to work within those limitations. 

meltbrianna's review against another edition

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Didn’t connect with the content enough, but was practical and helpful in the beginning enough to feel good about not finishing. 

natters's review against another edition

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informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

90sinmyheart's review against another edition

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5.0

This was excellent, and I cannot recommend it enough.

I have a lot of anxiety in general and about a lot of things, including exercise, and this really helped reinforce the need to listen to my body, and that some exercise is better than no exercise and that it doesn't have to look or feel a certain way for it to "count".

rmesquirrel's review

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informative fast-paced

2.5

yetimantra's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

ddmgembala's review against another edition

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funny informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

lareinadehades's review against another edition

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informative slow-paced

3.25