Review

Start Somewhere

by Calvin Nowell with Gayla Noz

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; 1 Original edition (November 9, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 141432331X
ISBN-13: 978-1414323312

Description (Publisher Website)
How do you go about losing 215 pounds? The same way you gain it—one step at a time. In Start Somewhere, Christian singer/songwriter Calvin Nowell shares the story of his astonishing weight-loss journey, his search for a truly healthy lifestyle, and his faith that made it all possible. Not your usual “quick-fix” diet book, Start Somewhere offers a path to lasting, transformational change—starting from the inside out—to everyone who feels trapped by unhealthy behaviors or circumstances.

Author Website 
Connect With Calvin Nowell on Facebook
Tweet With Calvin
 Listen To Calvin's Music

About The Author (Publisher Website)

Potential: capable of being, but not yet in existence. This definition best describes the life journey of Calvin Nowell. Pursuing purpose and destiny has been the path he has taken for most of his life. Knowing it was there but not understanding how to manifest it was the struggle he faced for years. Eventually, he decided to start somewhere. This Nashville-based artist had spent his entire life struggling with his weight until he found the strength and willpower to fight his final battle of the bulge. Now, 215 pounds lighter, Nowell brings new meaning to the term "living large." A worship leader, session singer, and songwriter since 2000, Nowell has recorded and toured with well-known artists such as Michael W. Smith, CeCe Winans, Fred Hammond, Nicole C. Mullen, and Israel Houghton. Two songs from his 2007 CD release, Start Somewhere ("Unrestrained" and "Receive"), have been featured on Worship Leader magazine's Song Discovery CDs. "Unrestrained" can be heard on recordings such as CeCe Winans' Pure Worship release, American Idol Mandisa's True Beauty release, and EMI gospel artist Myron Butler & Levi's Stronger. Calvin has appeared on Billy Graham's Television Special, ABC's Good Morning America, TBN's Praise the Lord, and the Dove Awards. No longer relegated to the shadows as a background singer, Nowell has turned misery into ministry and is ready for his close-up as he brings his unique blend of music and testimony to audiences nationwide.

Review
I was totally blown away by this book.  It was the message I needed to hear at this point in my spiritual and weight loss journey.  My copy now has about 40 post it flags decorating it so I can refer back to it! This isn't a diet book or a workout book.  Simply, it's about Calvin's journey on his weight loss.  It's about getting honest with yourself and with God, it's about surrendering your will and gaining God's dreams for your life.

The biggest message in this book is that it isn't just about weight loss - it's about anything you're holding onto.  Whether you're weighed down by addictions or abuse, the message in this book is that God still has a plan and you can leave it all behind and move forward.  This book isn't about the end result, it's about the process and how we just have to "Start Somewhere".

Calvin tells us it's like picking up change.  We may find a quarter today that doesn't seem like much, what can you buy with a quarter anymore? But if we find a quarter a day at the end of the week it's $1.75, at the end of the month it's $7 and if we keep going, at the end of a year we've collected $91.  Losing weight, or addiction or anything that's weighing you down, is like that.  Start with something, anything and it grows.


There is so much wisdom in this little book.  This man has been there, he's suffered and he's used every excuse in the book just like we all have.  While this book is definitely Christian, it will speak to anyone who is struggling to let go of something.

Thanks to Tyndale House for providing me with a copy of this wonderful book to read and review!


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Review of "The Diet Doc's Guide To Permanent Weight Loss: Secrets to Metabolic Transformation"

by Joe Klemczewski, PhD & J. Scott Uloth, MD

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (December 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736924655
ISBN-13: 978-0736924658

Description (Publisher Website)

Diet books have become a genre unto themselves as people anxious to shed those extra pounds seek that one perfect plan. Oh sure, they’ve found such a plan before....in fact, several times before, as they shed unwanted weight....only to gain it back within a few months.

It’s frustrating following a diet only to end up failing in the end—losing that same twenty pounds over and over again.

But now Drs. Scott Uloth and Joe Klemczewski put an end to yo–yo dieting by giving their readers what they need most: control!

The Diet Docs’® plan brings complex metabolic physiology within the grasp of the average reader. A plan...

• With over ten years of clinical success
• Field tested on everyone from housewives to professional athletes
• That’s “attainable and sustainable”
• Easily implemented with no complicated formula to decrypt
• Combining the latest scientific information and how to apply it
• That encourages the reader to become their own nutritionist

The last diet book anyone will need....written by a family physician and a professional bodybuilder and nutritionist to the world’s top bodybuilders and women’s figure competitors.

Read An Excerpt

Author Website

Author Bio

Dr. Klemczewski

Dr. Klemczewski has multiple degrees health sciences including a PhD in health educat

ion. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a drug-free professional bodybuilder (WNBF).

Dr. Joe is currently working on his fourth book while maintaining a very active client load. For the last eight years Joe has been a contributing science editor for Chelo Publishing, a health and fitness magazine publisher in New York, is contributor for eDiets, and writes for MatureMensFitness.com.

Dr Scott Uloth

Dr Scott Uloth is Board certified in both Geriatrics and Family Medicine and maintains an active practice in Indiana. He also serves as a clinical instructor for Midwestern University and the Indiana University School of Medicine. He lives with his wife and family in southern Indiana.

Review

With the rate of obesity rising higher and higher in our country, this book couldn't be more on target. While some information may seem like it's the same 'heard that, done that' diet book, this book lays out a plan to help you understand your own personal metabolism and come up with a diet that works for YOU!

The book is written in a way that the average person can understand and easily implement the ideas in the book. You'll learn how to be your own nutritionist after reading this wonderful book. While tracking your intake will take some work, it eventually becomes much easier. The author's also offer you ways of problem solving if things don't seem to be working. The main point is that you work this plan around your individual metabolism to get it to work.

For those readers who have purchased many diet books in the past to find that after awhile it was too difficult to maintain, or they just didn't make any sense, this is the book for you! If you read this book and put into motion the ideas presented, you have results. So what are you waiting for???





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Review of From Fat To Fit: Turn Yourself into a weapon of MASS REDUCTION

by Carole Carson

Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Hound Press; illustrated edition edition (April 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0976603098
ISBN-13: 978-0976603092

Review

This is the incredible story of a woman who took her weight loss journey public and ended up with an entire community behind her. When Carole Carson wrote a newspaper article on being over 60 and getting fit, she didn't have any idea what she was stirring up in her community. Soon the entire community was rallied behind her and they were participating along with her. She managed to get more than 1,000 others in her town coming along with her on the weight loss/getting fit journey. What started as a single newspaper article turned into a weekly series that chronicled her struggle to get fit and lose weight. They found that what is hard to do alone, is easier and more fun when doing it with others. This book outlines the seven-step Meltdown plan that this community used to go from fat to fit, and offers practical strategies and resources to help the reader duplicate the process. This story is an inspiration to anyone of any age who has tried to lose weight, and demonstrates the power of partnership to attain a goal. This book gets 5 out of 5 stars from me! As someone who's been on a weightloss journey for a while now, I know how much support helps.




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Guest Post by Kandy Siahaya, author of Making Light of Being Heavy

Please welcome Kandy Siahaya as she guest blogs today at Marta's Meanderings

My mother to this day will tell you that I was not fat growing up. There are pictures in my book that prove otherwise…Oh the love of a mother. I believe that it was my mother’s point of view that inevitably gave me mine. I have a very good friend that has struggled with her weight since childhood too but she has told me before how her mother would make negative comments about her weight rather than being supportive. I think she has bitter feelings about being fat partly related to this. I know that given the opportunity to be left alone with little Johnny who did not pick her for the kickball team in the fifth grade because she was the “fat kid” it could get a little messy….and not for her :) My mother never harped at me about my weight or told me I was fat. According to her I was just “big-boned.” To me I was fat. Today I am fat. I am not angry about, mad at anybody because of it, and know that there are reasons for it but also know that I will eventually lose some poundage but will never be skinny. And I do not want to be skinny. I was not born to be a skinny chick even if my doctor tells me that at my height of 5’6” and large frame I should weigh 140. Sorry, that is never going to happen, it is a physical improbability.

In Making Light of Being Heavy there are pictures of me at around 170 my senior year in high school. I had dieted like mad to get into a prom dress that I bought for senior prom and I was “skinny.” I can remember my dad coming up beside me at the dinner table one night and pointing out my shoulder bone and hip bone and telling me to stop with the dieting. But according to the weight guidelines I was still 30 pounds overweight!

People should find a comfortable weight for them and consider that their weight guideline and just smile politely at their doctor who whips out the chart that says otherwise. A person’s main focus should be that they are healthy. I may be fat but I am healthy. People will ask how that is possible… if I am fat I must automatically be unhealthy. I am 42 and even though I am considered in the medical field “obese” I do not have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, varicose veins, joint problems, etc. Am I just lucky?

About the author…

Kandy Siahaya grew up in a small town in Maine. For years she has owned her own medical transcription business and sold real estate part-time. Friends and family have long enjoyed her quick wit and great sense of humor which comes through in each chapter of Making Light of Being
Heavy

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