The review about this product
Make Shift Happen: Change How You Look by Changing How You Think (Paperback) I randomly happened upon this book on Amazon last week and immediately, after reading just a few intro pages online, I ordered it. This book is amazing, period. I have highlights and pen marks all over, I wrote FOUR posts on my website giving a breakdown of the "shifts" and I haven't stopped talking about the book since I first broke the spine. Dwyer gives specific details on his own journey to a healthier life but reiterates throughout the book how important it is to find something that works specifically for you, which is so different from the "diet" books out there.
Nothing written is ever overbearing but every single chapter is light and inviting while being brutally honest. This is not a "let me baby you and show you exactly what to do" book; this is a "this is how I lost the weight by testing theories on myself and I can teach you to do the same" book. It's a close look into the issues Dwyer experienced throughout years of eating a normal "American" diet of processed and fast foods, vegetarian, vegan and finally paleo. The tips he gives are spot-on for helping start your own journey or move out of a plateau you may have reached. This is not a normal self-help book as the writing is too casual for that.
I loved how Dwyer made a point to be intimate about his struggles and how he handled the situations he came across and I can't tell you enough how wonderful his personal ideas of how to handle a weight-loss journey were. I hate to even say things like "diet" and "weight-loss journey" in this post because he explains in full detail this is a lifestyle for him now and I feel those words are tainted.
To give you a small overview of some of the tips: Dwyer made a list of 12 ways he would know (without a scale) he had reached his wellness goals. These included being able to run for X amount of time or being able to do X amount of push-ups nonstop. He also explains the trial-and-error way he found the perfect diet that fit him and how, by logging your food intake, you can figure out what food is your setback rather than trying to exercise more or reduce caloric intake.
These ideas are so common sense I had a few "duh" moments throughout my reading. There are so many experts out there telling you what your ideal weight should be, how many calories you should be eating per day and there are so many different diets: low-carb, low-calorie, low-fat. Because of this my common sense went out the window and thankfully Dwyer was there to retrieve it. I agree with Dwyer now: I'll make my own goals, aside from the scale, and once I obtain those (including doing 20 push-ups without stopping, smaller clothing sizes and being my own savior in an emergency) I'll know I'm at my personal health goal.
If you've been struggling with your weight for years or have put on pounds lately and need to take them off or maybe you eat "healthy" but your cholesterol is high and you have diabetes, you should read this book. Everyone should read this book! The insight will amaze you and it's such an inviting read. I'll say it once more: BUY THIS BOOK.
