In his 2023 book, “You Can’t Screw This Up: Why Eating Takeout, Enjoying Dessert, and Taking the Stress out of Dieting Leads to Weight Loss That Lasts,” Adam Bornstein, one of the most well-known health consultants in the industry, offers realistic advice.
As CEO and founder of Born Fitness, former editorial director of livestrong.com and fitness editor of Men’s Health magazine, he has worked with celebrities including LeBron James, Cindy Crawford and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“We think of health as a choice, and while you can control what you eat and how you exercise, the environment you live in and the endless options available to you make it hard to see the real issues,” Bornstein writes. “There are dozens of diets out there, each with different opinions, meaning you never feel confident that you’re doing the right thing for your body.”
Bornstein emphasizes that the wellness industry, such as it is, feeds people negativity and that a “one size fits all” approach won’t work. The book equips readers with the tools to chart their own path and personalize the lessons to fit their lifestyle and goals.
It offers solutions like a six-week plan that lets you eat without counting calories and offers takeout suggestions from the 50 most popular restaurants in the U.S. to help readers make informed choices. It also includes 30 delicious, nutritious recipes that can be prepared in 15 minutes, including indulgent but healthy versions of French toast, sweet potato macaroni and cheese, and nachos.
The foreword by former bodybuilder turned actor and politician Schwarzenegger, who has known the author for ten years, is surprisingly thoughtful and informed, yet helpful.
“It’s frustrating to see so many agendas built around fear and negative motivation,” Schwarzenegger writes. “When I look at the amount of shame and guilt, I’m not surprised that so many people struggle to eat better and exercise regularly. When I sit and watch so many people struggle to be healthier, it frustrates me because I see so many people who want to change and are motivated to do so. No one has ever changed by beating themselves up. Change only comes from a positive vision.”