Summer Reads for Health Enthusiasts
New Year’s and summer time always seem to be when everyone really wants to shape up! I personally think summer is the best time to catch up on good beach reads; and books that can teach us HOW to get healthy, lose weight, and/or achieve better performance in a sport. Having a “healthy read” on hand is a good way to stay motivated towards your health goals while lounging at the beach, pool, or relaxing in the park.
There’s a lot of health and fitness books on the market and it seems a new one comes out every other week. I love to have a well rounded view on different topics; and research different opinions so I can educate myself and my clients. I do find it hard to weed through all that is out there, though. To help me select my “healthy reading”, I follow these simple steps:
- Decide on the topic I am interested in reading about (a new diet, how to run faster, eating for a good mood, etc)
- Browse books and look at reviews (I mainly use Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com for this)
- Narrow my books down to a small selection and then research the author to see if they have the background and education to speak to the topic they are writing about.
If you’re looking for a healthy book to read this summer, I did some of the leg work for you here! Below are some of my favorite health and fitness reads:
Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life by Brendan Brazier: Brendan is a former professional Ironman triathlete and the creator of the successful line of vegan nutritional products, Vega. This book is perfect for the vegan athlete, or any athlete looking to optimize their diet for performance. A lot of research was put into creating the diet and philosophy Brendan describes, which allows you to form your own opinion. Within the book you’ll get a 12-week meal plan and tons of recipes.
Mind your Body by Joel Harper: This is a very interesting book and provides a new view on health/fitness! Joel provides neuroscience and neuropsychology research and insight into the mind/body connection and how positive thinking can improve your physical performance. Not to sound cheesy, but this book could really change your life if you’re open to it.
The Good Karma Diet by Victoria Moran: Victoria poses a new diet based on the age old logic of “what goes around comes around.” Victoria Moran reveals that by doing what’s best for all creatures and the planet, you align your eating with your ethics—a powerful health and wellness tool if there ever was one!
The Appetite Solution by Joe Colella, M.D.: A diet book that addresses all the issues that those who are facing trouble with weight loss encounter. Dr. Colella presents an aggressive plan for resetting your appetite, bringing your weight under control, and keeping you out of the body mass danger zone.
Clean Slate by the Editors of Martha Stewart Living: Chock full of delicious recipes aligned to help you eat clean, whole, unprocessed foods as part of a primarily plant-based diet. My mother-in-law actually gave me this as a gift and I love the recipes in it.
Do the Kind Thing by Daniel Lubetzky: Vastly different from the other books I’ve listed, Do the Kind Thing is written by the CEO of Kind Snacks and provides a behind the scenes detailed account into how Lubetzky turned a social mission and a purpose into a successful business. Great read for all the entrepreneurs out there.
The Science of Fitness by Greg LeMond and Mark Hom: This book is for anyone who is interested into learning more about the science behind fitness & nutrition. I love this book because learning how the body works is really eye opening and shows how important good health really is. Knowledge is power!
Those are my favorite books that I’ve read recently and I’ll let you know as I find more.
What are some of your favorite health/fitness reads? Leave in the comments below, I’m always looking for new suggestions!
Kristin McGee is a celebrity yoga and Pilates instructor in New York City. She is currently teaching yoga with Peloton. She is the star of over 100 videos, seen in several magazines and tv shows and is a spokeswoman for many brands and causes she believes in. A proud mom to three, she sure keeps herself busy!