Bob Harper want to know, Are You Ready!

Bob Harper, best known for his role as the only constant trainer on NBC's Biggest Loser, recently put out a book call Skinny Rules. Skinny Rules is a simple checklist of 20 things that those who do not struggle with weight have in common. It is fairly simple, hydrate, get sleep, eat protein at every meal. Years earlier however, Harper put out a small book that tackled the root of the problem with weight, the issues within.

In Are You Ready, Harper does more than just list want needs done. He introduces himself, which in itself is humorous since the obvious target audience are those who are already fans of his work in shrinking down 300+ lb Americans on a weekly basis. I do find it curious that the books title, an obvious question, has an exclamation mark and not a question mark. Perhaps that is because the book assumes that you have already reached a point where you are excited and discovered that a change in lifestyle in necessary.

The book focuses around what Bob calls the Inner Compass, after a brief introduction about how he got into the celebrity fitness industry. The Inner Compass is essentially the mental and emotional attachment that leads to what we really want in life. Be it physical or emotional, the Inner Compass is what in life incorporates everything. Its our strive for balance. It is what points us towards balance in all aspects of life.

Before working on the physical, Bob brings home the point that you cannot move from where you are, that is, until you acknowledge where you are in the first place. This is not to destroy yourself, but quite the opposite. He says, "before you can even think about what you want to change about yourself, you need to be able to see yourself honestly for who you are at this moment in your life." This step helps to see your true motivation, a key step in avoiding burn out. Once you see yourself you are more able to appreciate the work you are doing, adding mean to the task and making this not a diet or exercise plan, but a new way of life. That is Part One.

Part Two and Three compliment each other quiet nicely. Part Two focuses on diet and Three on the physical workouts. Two offers tips like counting calories, food lists, recipes, and other ways to ensure you are eating properly. The diet plan, if you use the term liberally, is not to have you follow a list but rather, to train you into eating better for yourself. Part Three is a list of workouts and exercises. Similiarly to Part Two, it is merely guidelines for creating your own workout regimen. The book continually builds on itself, using the workouts as the pinnacle. The end of the book may be quite grueling since the last hundred pages or so are simply the list of exercises and how to properly do them.

The book does not have much of a conclusion, but rather a simple paragraph of parting words. Perhaps it is a metaphor since there is no end to the plan, like many 30, 60, or 90 day diet and exercise plans. On the contrary, it is just a beginning, to a new way of life. So, whether you are just starting out, having a low point in your motivation, or just want to up you fitness ante, Are You Ready! is a great weapon to arm yourself with!