You know how they say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, we’d like to add, “Don’t judge a book by its size,” too. Because this little-bitty book—The Little Book of Diet Help by Kimberly Willis—is seriously a girl’s best healthy eating/losing-weight friend. Especially if said girl is hippity-dippity in the slightest.

About 175 pages of little nuggets of information that are helpful for losing weight and finding the motivation to eat right and work out, The Little Book of Diet Help is truly a book of facts, tips and tricks. While there’s no actual diet or workout plan, this book is written by a life coach and hypnotherapist who gets that, most of the time, we have trouble living a healthy lifestyle because of what’s going on between our ears. With chapters on overcoming emotional eating, looking after your liver (take good care of it—it detoxifies your body!), using the power of your mind, the wonders of exercise and achieving your goal, Willis covers everything from fighting cravings to improving your mood.

While you’ve probably heard many of the facts in the book, I can almost guarantee that the tips and tricks Willis shares will be new to you. A decent amount of the book centers around “tapping,” which is a form of accupressure that you can do to yourself by literally tapping different points on your body. In addition, the book suggests doing different affirmations to boost confidence and willpower, and there’s even some self-massage techniques that are recommended. Overall, it’s not the diet book you’re used to, and it can work with any type of workout and healthy eating plan that you’re following. Although it won’t exactly tell you how to lose weight, it does give you some additional tools that can certainly help. There may not be a lot of text in this book, but what’s there is encouraging, motivating and totally handy!

Want to read this book for yourself? Leave a comment telling us why you’d like to win it, and we’ll select one lucky U.S. reader to win a copy of the book in about a week! —Jenn

When I first heard about The Beauty Blueprint: 8 Steps to Building the Life and Look of Your Dreams, I honestly thought it would be a stretch to write about for FBG. Sure, we’re all about building your life so that you feel your best, but beauty? Well, we’re not much into that in the traditional mascara, eyeliner, blush sense. In fact, the closest we really come to “beauty” is a post-gym beauty routine where you do your best to not look like a hot, sweaty mess.

But yet, I went ahead and got a review copy because something about the cover image resonated with me. Just look at that chick. Sure, she’s pretty and has impeccable eye make-up, but she just looks glowy. And oh-so peaceful. I want twinkly stars like that around me, too! So off I went, readyto get my beauty blueprint—and soft glow.

Written by Michelle Phillips, a celebrity make-up artist and life coach, this is a beauty book, but it’s like no other beauty book that you’ve ever read. In fact, there’s not one diagram or drawing on how to pencil your eyebrows. Instead, it’s filled with inspiration, examples and exercises to help you get in touch with the beauty you have within. With chapters that build on each other, it’s a full self-help personal discovery plan that involves everything from positive affirmations to dream boards to setting intentions and to discovering what you really value and want out of life. And then, once you’ve figured all that out (and that takes the majority of the book), you can get your shop and make-up on because you know what style you’re going for because you’ve figured out, in a sense, who you are and who you want to continue being. The “beauty” part of what to wear and how to wear it is almost like the cherry on top of a dessert that was already freakin’ delicious to begin with.

I know you’ve heard the cliches that beauty is really on the inside and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but, dude, Michelle lays out a comprehensive plan that shows that how we feel about ourselves really is the key to developing and appreciating our outer beauty. She then shows you how to honor that, hone it and make it even more beautiful and awesome. It’s very much like how we at FBG value exercise and eating right as a way to take care of yourself and love yourself, which leads to a happier, more fulfilled and authentic life. The Beauty Blueprint? Well, I’d call it a Life Blueprint.

Do you want to read The Beauty Blueprint? (You should!) Leave a comment below telling us what beauty you see in yourself when you look in the mirror, and we’ll select one random U.S. reader to win a copy. Mirror, mirror, on the wall… —Jenn

Today’s post is part of FBG’s Back to Basics Week that features the best beginner fitness and beginner nutrition posts that help you to be a little healthier and—in theme with the week—a little smarter. We’ve decided to include this book review because it hones in on the more mental side of health and wellness, and shows that real fitness comes from the inside out!

Over the years, as my own personal fitness and wellness journey has evolved, I’ve learned that fitness isn’t just physical. To both get in shape and stay in shape, you can’t just mindlessly hit the gym, hoping to get results. Nor can you even begin to imagine what your physical body can actually do when you put your—wait for it—mind and soul into it. Part of the reason we started FBG back in 2008 was to let people in on this secret: Taking the time to take care of yourself and love yourself with regular workouts and eating right can actually totally open your life up to be about 1,000 times better than you expected. Yes, we want fit bottoms, but it’s never been just about that. It’s been about more, much more.

But sometimes you have to put the cart before the horse. Sometimes, instead of using fitness as a means to get to self-love and confidence, you need a little something else to get you to feel good about you—so that you then want to work out and take care of yourself. And when you need that little aha moment to get you going on the right (aka healthier and happier path), we recommend a cheery little blonde by the name of Gabby Bernstein. We reviewed her first book back in spring of last year, and really, really liked it. And Gabby’s second book, Spirit Junkie? Well, it’s more of the same awesome—plus more.

Sometimes I just want to bow down to Jillian Michaels’ greatness. Reading her most recent book, Unlimited: How to Build an Exceptional Life, was one of those times where I wanted to pull an “I’m not worthy!” that would make Wayne and Garth proud. (And not just because the week before I read the book, Jillian named FBG as one of her top three favorite blogs. WE DIE!) This book is really good, guys. Like life-changing good. Which is its point.

Two-hundred-and-forty-four pages of Jillian Michaels giving you the loving smackdown, this book lays out a plan for you to do whatever it is you want to do: lose weight, get a new job, find the love of your life…in a nutshell, be your best and happiest self. While the hippity-dippity lover in me rejoiced at the advice in this book (including plenty of mental tips and tricks for busting through emotional blocks, dealing with your past and replacing negative self-talk with positive thoughts), if you’re someone who isn’t into the foo-foo feel-good stuff, then this is your book. It’s totally in Jillian’s tone and with her personality. So, there’s no BS, no beating around the bush, no flowery language. She even drops an F-bomb or two (which I totally loved). You also get insider stories about Jillian’s emotional struggles with weight gain and self-defeating behavior (truly fascinating, and she’s so darn honest and open), along with a few behind-the-scene bits from Jillian’s time on The Biggest Loser and Losing It.

The best part of this book though isn’t the tone or the voice or even the inside scoop on what makes Jillian tick. It’s the page after page of ah-ha moments I guarantee you’ll have. From better understanding yourself to redefining past and current relationships and issues in your life to taking the steps necessary to stop holding yourself back (you are in charge of yourself and your destiny after all, Jillian says), Unlimited pretty much helps you take any goal you have, grab it by the proverbial horns and do the dang thing. While fitness and health isn’t overtly discussed and there are no workout plans or nutrition advice given, this book is a must-read for anyone with a fitness or weight-loss goal.

If you’ve ever wondered how Jillian gets the results she does on The Biggest Loser, this is how. While the tough workouts and improved nutrition add up to weight loss, it’s the mental work that really makes a difference in changing a person. And Unlimited shows you how to do just that. —Jenn

I may have run a marathon, but the idea of doing a triathalon still intimidates me. I know a lot of people who do them regularly (including our very own FBG Kristen—woot, woot!) and love them. No matter the distance, the thing that really gets me is the gear and, to be honest, the lingo. A brick? A transition area? A sprint vs. an Olympic? There’s much to be learned. But if you’re a newbie like me, your life just got a whole lot easier with The 12-Week Triathlete by Tim Holland (you may recognize Holland from his time training Good Morning America host JuJu Chang to compete in her first triathlon).

This book isa guide to triathlon training for triathletes of all levels. As someone who doesn’t know much about the sport besides that it involves a swim, a bike and some running, it was a great read for decoding the aforementioned lingo and getting a really good sense of what it takes to train for and complete a triathlon. With chapters on each part of the race, nutrition, strength training, flexibility, and what to do before, during and after the race, Holland pretty much covers it all. He tells you what gear is essential and what you can save on—an incredibly beneficial part of the book for any tri newbie.

He also lays out detailed 12-week triathlon training plans for all the of the tri distances (sprint, Olympic, half Ironman and full Ironman), each with a beginner, intermediate and advanced option. While the advanced plans are complicated enough to make your head spin a bit, the beginner options for all of the distances—especially the shorter ones—are extremely realistic and doable. In 12 weeks, his plan can literally take a mildly active person into a sprint triathlete with not even that much of a time commitment. Cool beans.

What’s really nice about this book, too, is that there are pictures! Lots and lots of color pictures. Many of them are of Holland, which seems kind of odd page after page, but they really liven up what could start to feel more like a triathlon-training textbook if it was just straight text. The stretching and strength-training exercise photos are particularly helpful, and I love, love, love that his plan puts such an emphasis on these two areas, as many endurance racers tend to focus on cardio, leaving their strength and flexibility to suffer (I sooo skimped on those two things during marathon training and may have gotten injured because of it.)

While seasoned triathletes probably won’t get a whole lot out of this book besides the training plans (which still are very helpful), I really think tri newbies and intermediates who are looking to take their triathlon training to the next level would benefit from reading the book.

Want to read 12-Week Triathlete and see if you agree with our review? We’ll select one random U.S. reader to win a copy! Just leave a comment with why you’d like to win this triathlon training book, and we’ll select a winner in about a week. The winner will be notified via email and in the comments below. G’luck triathletes (or soon-to-be triathletes)! —Jenn

Yoga is just one way to de-stress. Credit: lululemon athletica

We all know that stress wreaks havoc on our minds and bodies, including packing on the pounds. And while de-stressing sounds easy enough—do a few yoga poses here, take a few deep breaths there—understanding the weight-loss and stress connection goes a little deeper than just getting a massage every month. Committing to a healthy lifestyle isn’t just about what you do outwardly, it’s also about what you think, what you say and how you treat yourself.

I’ve known this to be true for quite awhile now (Oh, how I’ve had my own ah-ha moments as this blog has grown over the years), but I’ve never seen a whole book dedicated to the sole concept of actively managing your mind and body to handle stress over the long term to achieve optimal health and wellness. Stress Less, Weigh Less by Holly Mosier honestly surprised me.

I thought it would be another diet book with super-basic advice (as if we all don’t know that yoga de-stresses), but this stress and weight-loss book went deep into the mind-body connection and provided a road map of how to go from unaware of your thoughts and your body to keenly tuned in through series of exercises, tasks and games (whee!). Sure, the old relaxation standbys of doing yoga and trying meditation are there, but there are definitely new ones. Read on for six tips to truly Stress Less, Weigh Less.

5 Tips to Better Understand and Manage Your Stress and Weight

1. Stress adds up over time. Most of us think of stress as an event—a late night working on a deadline, a fight with a boyfriend or a child who just will not stop crying. But the stress that really affects our health and our waistline is the kind that builds over time, straining our minds and bodies. Mosier says this increases your appetite, suppresses your immune system and makes it harder to sleep. Making the commitment to decrease stress EVERY DAY—not just when we’re feeling stressed—is essential.

2. Discipline your thoughts and the behavior might follow. Although the word “discipline” takes me back to sitting in the corner for talking too much in first grade, in Mosier’s book (quite literally!) “discipline” is just being aware of your thoughts and not beating yourself up time and time again. We’re all for treating yourself like your best friend!

3. Make focused breathing a game. Deep breathing has been shown to reduce your blood pressure and lower stress levels. But to make focused breathing a little more fun, Mosier suggests seeing how many breaths you can take that are truly focused (you’ll know you’ve lost the game once your mind starts worrying about what you’ll wear tomorrow to that work luncheon). The game is to always try to be focused for longer and longer periods of time.

4. Be grateful for what’s going right. Oh, the power of gratitude! Instead of focusing on the size of your thighs or how your husband can never put his clothes away, be grateful for how strong and powerful those legs are and how your husband always mows the grass without you even having to ask! It’s all about perspective.

5. Eat protein at breakfast. Our nutrition can greatly affect our stress levels. Start your day off right by eating some whole-grain carbs, a little healthy fat and some protein. The protein keeps you feeling full and your blood sugar stable, so that you stay energized to tackle your day—and win that focused breathing game!

Stress Less, Weigh Less is chock-full of more good tidbits, advice and information on helping you to reduce stress (and therefore drop unwanted pounds) in ways I promise you haven’t heard before. Truly a must-read, ladies! How do you beat stress every day? —Jenn

I remember, back in the day, when doing anything “like a girl” was a put-down, an insult. Throwing like a girl meant you were weak. Sprinting like a girl meant you were slow or not very coordinated. And looking like a girl? Well, that was just the worst for boys. While I know all of these things are still said today, it feels like the tide is shifting somewhat. I see more women than ever running marathons, doing triathalons and completing crazy-awesome events like this. Videos like this are more in the mainstream than on the fringe. The Women’s World Cup is a major sports event—and not just a girlie one. Sure, there are still plenty of inequalities out there, but there are also some bad-ass chicks out there showing that girl power isn’t just about wearing a skirt. It’s about being your best, moving your body and being confident in the skin you’re in—whether you choose to wear a skirt or not.

Another case in point is the book—or what I like to call a manifesto for active women everywhere—Run Like a Girl: How Strong Women Make Happy Lives. With candid stories of nearly a hundred women ranging from professional athletes to normal gals you can relate to, the book eloquently and honestly shows how the challenges women face while playing sports—and the ways we meet them—translate into greater strength and the ability to overcome obstacles in our day-to-lives. Story after story, the book chronicles how sports and running can and do change women’s lives, along with real-life tips on finding balance (and defining what “balance” is for you), loving your body and having the guts to beat your boyfriend in a race without apologizing for it. (Now that’s girl power.)

The book’s author Mina Samuels may have written the line “Strong women make happy lives,” but it’s a philosophy that we live by here at FBG: We know that when we’re active and choosing healthy foods we’re happier, more confident and we can thumb our noses at the number on the scale because we know that our worth is determined by more than that number. We are strong. We love ourselves as we are. And dang it, we are having a darn good time doing it.

If you’re looking for an inspirational and informative read to motivate you to get off the couch or make that early-morning workout class, pick this book up ASAP. While the book is written for adults (it even includes a section on aging), I’d also encourage anyone with a teen girl in their life to pick up a copy. It’s the perfect book to girl-power up any woman’s active life! —Jenn

We have a total girl-crush on Kara Goucher. She’s an awesome mom, reps Nike and runs LIKE THE DICKENS. A World Championship bronze medalist for the 10K and a top U.S. marathoner, we actually got to meet her at the Nike Women’s San Francisco Marathon in October 2009, and learned first-hand that she is also down to earth and totally sweet. (Side note: She also rocks a bling-tastic wedding ring that darn near blinded me with prettiness. Her hubs did good—and then some.)

Kara recently added “author” to her title of her many accomplishments after penning Kara Goucher’s Running for Women: From First Steps to Marathons. We pretty much love the book, which features a healthy dose of running inspiration and know-how, including tips and advice on everything from getting started to training plans to speed drills to nutrition and even running during pregnancy. The book rocks for anyone who is a runner or wants to become a runner.

Kara graciously offered to share a few of her top tips on a topic that we get questions about all the time: What type of running shoe should I by? Kara has answers, ladies! (And they’re obviously working for her…)

11 Tips for Buying Running Shoes

1. Go to a running store. Visit a specialty running store, and remember that fit is everything. So keep trying them on until you’re satisfied with how they feel.

2. Spend the money. Shoe experts normally recommend that you spend at least $80 on running shoes—though many cost well over $100. Of course, you can find them cheaper on the Internet or in discount stores, but in the case of the former, you don’t get to try them on, which is vital. As for the latter, you never know what you’re getting at a discount store, and the staff won’t be trained to help you find the right pair.

3. Pay attention to sore or fatigued lower legs. I actually don’t need to keep track of how many miles I put on my shoes. I can tell my shoes are toast when I feel flat or fatigued from the knees down during two or three runs in a row. I call this “running on boards” because my feet and legs aren’t getting the support they need from my shoes. Experts normally say the time-for-a-new-pair limit is about 500 miles—slightly more if you’re a superefficient runner, less if you’re a bigger runner or less efficient.

4. Buy a slightly bigger size. When buying running shoes, go for a half to a full size bigger than your normal street shoes, and simply lace them a bit more snugly. This will give your toes plenty of room so that they don’t slam into the front of your shoe.

5. Have two pairs of shoes at all times. This way you’ll always have a dry pair ready to go. They can be either the same model or different; it doesn’t really matter. The one nice thing about two different types is this forces your feet and legs to deal with slightly different biomechanics. It’s akin to a more well-rounded education for your brain.

6. Wear women’s running shoes as a rule, but men’s versions work for some. Women’s running shoes tend to be designed with a slightly narrower heel and wider forefoot section, to accommodate the shape of most women’s feet. But be flexible about this. If your feet are shaped such that they feel better in a men’s version, go with it! (It’ll be a secret only your shoe salesperson will know.)

7. Go with a men’s version for “normal” colors. Following the previous tip, if your feet do feel fine in a man’s running shoe (and fit is the most important parameter), you’ll have more color options in normal reds, blues, grays, silvers and blacks. Women’s versions tend to be pinks and pastels.

8. Go shoe shopping at the end of the day. It’s kind of gross, but feet tend to swell slightly at the end of the day after all the normal wear they get. So it’s a good idea to get fitted for a new pair during this time, to give your feet and toes plenty of room inside the shoe.

9. Try on both shoes when you’re getting fitted. Your feet can be slightly different in terms of length and shape, so be sure your shoes fit properly on both feet.

10. Keep your running shoes only for running. This ensures they’ll stay cleaner and last longer. But it’s also good to think of your running shoes as special. And, in fact, they are. They’re your trusted companion and are literally with you every step of the way on your running journey.

11. Recycle your kicks. There are lots of great causes and charities that need used running shoes, so bypass the landfill by donating yours. Shoe donation charities include shoe4africa.org, nikereuseashoe.com, hoperuns.org and giveyoursole.com.

We couldn’t agree more with these tips, especially the one about running shoes being “special.” It’s so true! Want more words of wisdom from Kara Goucher? Watch Kara Goucher offer advice to runners and check out her book online! Happy running-shoe shopping! —Jenn

I’ve always loved the name of the Carrots ‘N’ Cake blog. First, because carrots are delicious. Second, because cake is delicious. And certainly, carrot cake is delicious. The word play is enough to make a writer like me giddy. And the message that a healthy eating plan should involve both vegetables and yumtastic desserts? Fully FBG approved. A few months ago I also got the chance to get to know Carrots ‘N’ Cake blogger Tina Haupert while doing an event for Thomas’ Bagel Thins in NYC. And she’s just like she is on her blog—down-to-earth, funny and totally fabulous to have a cocktail with. So when word came that Tina was writing a Carrots ‘N’ Cake book, we knew we’d have to read it! And read we did.

This book is like bundling the Carrots ‘N’ Cake blog into a cute little package that you can take to and fro. A mix of personal stories, advice about eating right and working out, along with actual exercise routines and Tina’s own recipes, it’s a book that you dog-ear every few pages because there’s either a tip or a recipe that you JUST HAVE TO TRY. (For me, that’s her pyramid running workout on the treadie and Cherry-Coconut Baked Apples.)

At times the format of the book is somewhat confusing in that she switches between personal anecdotes, which are told in almost like present-time fiction-like style, and a more objective tone that gives advice directly to the reader, but it’s also kind of cool because it keeps the book true to what it’s based on—a blog. Tina’s honesty in discussing her past challenges with binge eating and somewhat obsessive calorie counting lends more meat and candor to the book, making it feel part memoir and part self-help. Many of the tips you’ve probably heard before, but they’re presented in a new and interesting way.

Want to read the Carrots ‘N’ Cake book yourself? Leave a comment with why you want to win it, and we’ll select one random U.S. reader to win in about a week. The winner will be contacted by email. Now we’re off to have some carrots. And cake. And carrot cake! —Jenn

Before we really begin this review, let me be clear on one thing: I have not been barefoot running nor do I really desire to try running on the sidewalk with just my bare tootsies. However, despite this admission, I am fascinated with the idea of barefoot running. After all, man was not originally created sporting a pair of kick-ass Nikes. And the whole theory that barefoot running is more natural and allows you to better develop your natural gait and the itty-bitty muscles in your feet thereby leading to less injury, makes sense to me. Seriously. Have you seen the Kenyans?

This is pretty much the premise for the book The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Barefoot Running. And like other books in the Complete Idiot’s line, it delivers a how-to guide that covers pretty much everything you’d ever need to know about a subject with fun little facts and trivia sprinkled in. From learning how to gradually work barefoot running into your jogging routine to how to pick the right minimalist shoe (many are like these socks, but they’re not socks; they’re shoes—ahhh, they fascinate me with their webbed-toeness) to how to perfect your gait and run on any terrain barefoot, it truly answers any questions you might have about barefoot running. (And, yes, those minimalist toe shoes take some time to get used to—and, at first, some maneuvering to get on, according to the book’s authors.)

Even with all of my new barefoot-running knowledge—including the author’s knowledge that stepping on sharp stuff and hurting your feet is pretty uncommon and that actually running barefoot brings a new awareness (read: look where the heck you’re stepping) to your run, I’m still wary of jogging completely sans shoes. I live in an urban area, and running on my asphalt street and graveled jogging path just doesn’t seem fun to me. (Plus, I don’t have the best track record with injuries and the foot.) But minimalist footwear that gives you the best of both worlds? Now that you may see a review on soon…

Want to read this book for yourself and see if barefoot running is your bag, baby? Leave a comment with why you want to win, and we’ll select a random commenter. U.S. residents only, pretty please!  —Jenn