Book Review:enLIGHTened by Jessica Berger Gross

enLIGHTened: How I Lost 40 Pounds with a Yoga Mat, Fresh Pineapples, and a Beagle Pointerby Jessica Berger Gross

I ‘live in my head’ and usually give little or no thought to my physical self. I have been a vegetarian for ten years, but I am still overweight. I am healthy, but sometimes worry about how much longer it will be before my weight and lack of exercise catches up to me.

Over the last seven months as I have committed to going after my dreams, building the life I want and living creatively there has been an increasing discontent when it comes to my body. Reading this book over the last three week has inspired me to face myself in the mirror, literally.

Jessica’s writing is open, raw, funny and honest. She shares her story, both the good and the bad, in a manner that is inspiring and supportive of your own quest for health and fitness. After finishing the book you feel like you have found a friend for life.

Even though Jessica’s life and my life are very different while reading this book I found myself thinking, “That’s me!“, and then, “She’s right!” and finally, “I can do this, too!”

“That’s me!” Pg. 25

“I trudged from our Brooklyn apartment to the subway, picking up a bagel and coffee on the way. I wasn’t pounding back nags of potato chips, or ice cream sundaes–I tried eating at least semi-healthy foods. A bagel seemed harmless enough; I figured bread and cheese were wholesome ingredients. At night, I’d order up an entree of tofu and broccoli from the vegetarian Chinese restaurant, not seeing anything wrong with eating the entire oil dish in one sitting.”

How often have I done the same thing? A bagel and cream cheese and coffee; vegetarian entrees, wholesome foods, but no portion control. I saw myself reflected back from Jessica’s story and felt a small tremor of hope. She’d had changed her relationship with food and her body, maybe I could, too.

She’s right! Pg. 99-100

“When it comes to eating and exercise, there’s no getting around what we all know: To lose weight, you’re going to have to eat much less and exercise much more. Once you’re maintaining a healthy weight, eating wholesome, energy-giving foods in moderation and integrating physical activity into your daily routine, it will all become much easier. But in the beginning, it’s going to be a battle. You will be hungry, you will feel like you’re spending all of your free time exercising.”

How many times have I given up because I was hungry, or had a ‘craving’ or felt like my whole life revolved around food and exercise? I thought people who lost weight had some secret. I didn’t realize what I was experiencing and feeling was normal. And, like everything else on this journey I am discovering there are no secrets, we all walk a similar path.

I can do this, too!
There is no single line or passage I can quote from the book to demonstrate this feeling. It was gradual and grew every time I picked the book up to read another chapter.

If you are looking for inspiration to start or keep going, this is a great book to have handy. And for more information – Jessica’s website: jessicabergergross.com

Buy it today…