Fun Friday: The Great Fitness Experiment Book Review and Giveaway!!!
I’m afraid of flying. Once an airline attendent looked at my husband and asked, “Is she going to be okay?” as I stood next to him blubbering like a freak teary eyed. Thankfully, last month when I flew to Indiana, I had something to distract me from my irrational fear.
Charlotte Hilton Anderson, from The Great Fitness Experiment, has written and published a book aptly named The Great Fitness Experiment: One Year of Trying Everything
CHARLOTTE PUBLISHED A BOOK!!!!!!! A BOOK! A BOOK! A BOOK!!!! YAY CHARLOTTE!!!!!!
Ok, I’m back. (I get a little excited when people succeed at doing something they love.) Charlotte didn’t just write a book, she wrote a great book. A funny book. A heart breaking book. A hopeful book. An honest book. But most importantly, a book that made me forget I was flying!
Charlotte’s book is an hysterical and equally moving memoir about her year of fitness “experiments”. Her experiments run the gamut from Crossfit to the Tracey Anderson Method and she shares what worked and didn’t work for her along the way.
The joy of Charlotte’s book lies in its honesty. Intercut among the experiments are personal essays, “best”, and “worst” moments that will make you laugh out loud, cry, and wish you were (and sometimes thankful you’re not…teasing Charlotte…you know I <3 you! ) one of the “gym buddies”. In our airbrushed culture, full of smoke and mirrors, Charlotte gives a us a gift. A true and rare gift of honesty. She assures us we aren’t alone in our crazy and offers hope. No matter our past, Charlotte assures us, like a good friend, that the future can and will be beautiful…and so are our tummies, stretch marks and all.
If you are a fitness enthusiast, someone who has struggled with body image, or just like to laugh then you are sure to enjoy The Great Fitness Experiment: One Year of Trying Everything
Speaking of Charlotte and friends, Deb from Smoothie Girl Eats just put up a new post for the blogger calendar featuring pictures of lovely ladies from the cutting floor. Not only is Charlotte a writer but she may also be a contortionist. Please hop on over to Deb’s blog and consider supporting USC Norris Cancer Hospital by purchasing a calendar!
Lastly, Charlotte has offered to give one Girl-Hero reader a copy of her book. To be entered for a chance win leave a comment! Winner will be chosen by random. Simple dimple!
Contest ends next Wednesday, 12/15 at 9:00 PM, PST. Open to US residents only.
Have you ever done any fitness or food experiments of your own? What did you learn?
Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn
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This post contains an affiliate link. I bet you can guess which one. Amazon. Ahem. I only use affiliate links when something rocks my socks. Yes, Charlotte may be my friend but so are you and this review was written from the heart.
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This is my (almost) sane quest for insane health. Let's 
That sounds like a cool book. I really want to know what she says about the Tracey Anderson method. I did it and it is bogus. It’ll take you a freakin’ month to even learn the 10 stupid dance routines.
I want to read it! I love people who share their real experiences. Awesome job Charolette for getting a book published.
That books sounds really interesting, and I think it is a read that my husband would be interested in as well.
I kind of feel like my whole life is an experiment. Ever since I committed to changing my life and my relationship with food and exercise, every day feels like a test to find the right fit. I am still working on it, but am getting closer and closer everyday.
This sounds great– I hope strength training wins!
You know I love this book, and your review is great! There’s so much good to say about it and her! (Obviously, don’t enter me in the contest, but I wanted to post a comment anyway, because I just love the book so much!)
The book sounds fantastic. I would love to hear someone else’s thoughts on a lot of things I have consider doing, but just haven’t quite gotten around to….hopefully it will help me choose my next personal challenge.
As for my own personal experiment, I always told myself I could not run because my knees were too shot from years of dance class. Since June, I have run two 5Ks, one 5-miler, one 10-miler and I am running my first 10K on Sunday…and I am registered for a 1/2 marathon in March!
I want to say thanks for making a blog full of helpful info. I’m trying to get my butt in shape and learn to love it at the sametime. It has been an up and down road. But now I have a place to go when my motivation is lacking…thank you!
What a great giveaway! I love Charlotte’s blog and can’t wait to read her book!
ooh ooh ooh me me me!!! after having recently discovering Charlotte’s blog, and reading the shopping addiction blog from Wednesday, i made up my mind that i NEED her book. and possibly to stalk her. and will have it (the book, hopefully not the restraining order), one way or another… but as i won’t be able to budget it for a while it’ll have to wait.
that is… unless…
/shamelessness
I have never done any experiments…on purpose anyway. As a powerlifter, I suppose every training cycle is a bit of an experiment but there are so many variables that it is impossible to interpret the results. I would love to read about Charlotte’s trials and tribulations though!!
Would love to read it and then happy to pass it along. I’m a giver like that.
Oh that book is a “why didn’t I think of that?” moment!!
Sounds really cool. Would love to get a copy and putting it on my Amazon wish list right now!!
Don’t enter me, but I totally agree with your awesome review. And glad she helped you forget your plane woes. Then you can thank Crayola for helping you on the return flight.
I can’t wait to read Charlotte’s book. Winning one would be delightful! Have a great weekend, Jenn!! <3
I would lovelovelovelove the book!! I really hope to win, money is a little tight right now.
I would love the book! I’m tired of 99% of the people that I know thinking I’m crazy, so it’d be nice to know I’m not the only one!
The craziest thing I’ve ever done is just to decide to get my butt up off the couch and do anything and everything possible, including a Jillian Michaels cruise! I have loved everything though, even if it didn’t work, just for the learning experience!
This book sounds like it sums up my life for the last three years. Yoga to fitness dvds to running to weight lifting. But I have loved them all especially the running. It is the only thing I truly stick to.
I’ve been reading charlottes blog when she first started! She was one of my very first facebook friends! To be honest though, I’ve never really experimented, unless you call having an eating disorder “experimental”. I guess one of the crazy things I’ve done was eat splenda, instead of a meal!!!
When I first began my forays into fitness, I would start a program only to change as soon as a saw something that looked neater-better-faster. Same thing for diets – I think I’ve tried almost everything. Now I have found a way to eat and workout that make me feel great, and I am sticking with it! (For now…) 😀
Thank you so much for this Jenn! For your awesome review, for your kindness, for your friendship, for reading my book!
The reviews for this book on Amazon are all 5 star – can’t wait to read it!
Oh I really want to read this book! Just discovered Charlotte’s blog and very much enjoy her writing.
This book sounds really interesting!
Sometimes I feel like my whole life is one big fitness experiment! I’m constantly trying new things and adjusting my routine.
Sounds like a great book!
Yes, I have done quite a few “experiments” over the years… What I have learned is that extremes don’t work for me, and that what works is constantly changing as my life is changing.
Yay count me in! I have to agree w/ Erika above me. I totally feel like an experiment!
I experiment with running. Then I quit and then start experimenting again. over and over and over.
The book sounds great, interesting, fun and funny. I checked out her site also. Thanks!
I love Charlott’es blog and I can’t wait to read her book!
I’ve never tried a fad diet. Ever. But I’d be very interested to read about Charlotte’s stories!
I’d love to enter! Thanks!
That sounds like an awesome book–I’m intrigued!
I really want this book! Pretty obsessed with Charlotte’s blog but I have never commented…please please please I hope I winnnnnnnnnn…ok, enough creepiness.
I have not done any fitness experiments – but I would love to read about hers! If I don’t win, I hope to buy this in the futrure because I love to read Charlotte’s blog!
I love books like this, they’re so motivational. I hope to win!
I have done a couple of experiments, and the most important thing I have learned is that something that works for one person might not work for you! You need to compromise
Ooo, oo, pick me please! Trust me, I can use ALL the advice (and wise words of warning) I can get! – I’ve tried everything from anorexia to veganism to running 7 miles a day to barely moving for days. Snow has just dumped on my state so currently I am stuck indoors more than usual and miss bicycling and walking everywhere – I’d love to see what Charlotte has to spice up a long, cabin-feverish winter (and to ward off some of the weight gain that’s always plagued me this time of year!)
^^ so I forgot to mention what I’ve learned: a little bit here and there with every new endeavor, but most of all: I’ve learned that the body and mind go through cycles, and perhaps the best skill is awareness to recognize when what you’re doing isn’t working anymore, and the resiliency to pick something else and bounce back.
hopefully i am not too late! experiments? listen to your body and challenge the irrational thoughts. I will not gain 7 lbs if i take the day off….and then allowing myself to take a day off! more of a “mental” fitness experiment i guess!