In the 2023 book “You Can’t Mess It Up: Why Eating Takeout, Enjoying Dessert, and De-Stressing Your Diet Leads to Permanent Weight Loss,” Adam Bornstein, one of the best-known health advisors in the game. , offers practical advice.
As CEO and founder of Born Fitness, former editor-in-chief of livestrong.com and fitness editor of Men’s Health Magazine, he has worked with celebrities such as LeBron James, Cindy Crawford and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“We categorize health as a choice, and while you have the power to decide what you eat and how you exercise, the environment you live in and the endless options available to you make it difficult to understand the real issues,” Bornstein writes. “There are dozens of diets out there, each offering different opinions, which means you’ll never be sure you’re doing the right thing for your body.”
Bornstein emphasizes how the wellness industry in its current form feeds people with negativity and that a one-size-fits-all mentality won’t work. The book equips readers with the tools to find their own path and adapt the knowledge to fit their lifestyle and goals.
It offers solutions like a six-week plan that lets you eat without counting calories and suggests takeout options from the 50 most visited restaurants in the U.S. to make it easier for readers to choose. It also includes 30 delicious, nutritious recipes that can be made in under 15 minutes, including indulgent but healthy versions of French toast, sweet potato mac & cheese, and nachos.
The foreword, written by bodybuilder, actor and politician Schwarzenegger, who has known the author for a decade, is surprisingly thoughtful and aware as well as helpful.
“It’s frustrating to see so many plans built on fear and negative motivation,” writes Schwarzenegger. “When I look at the amount of shame and guilt, I’m not surprised that so many people struggle to eat better and exercise consistently. When I sit and watch a lot of people trying to get healthier, I get frustrated with them because I see a lot of people who want to change and are motivated to do so. No one ever changed by beating themselves up. Change only comes from a positive vision.”