BOOK REVIEW: EAT MOVE SLEEP

AUTHOR: TOM RATH – Business, Health and Wellbeing expert

Admittedly, I have NEVER been a healthy person. I haven’t had any health problems, I simply do not eat right. I have become very lethargic and don’t sleep well. I received an electronic ad for Tom Rath’s new book EAT MOVE SLEEP. As I read the reviews, I knew I needed to make some changes. I purchased the book and reading it has changed my every day life. I will let you read the book on your own, but here are my main takeaways and personalization’s of the book:

EAT – Tom states, “Making a commitment to eating the right foods every day is a lot easier than jumping from one diet to the next. The body takes a long time to react to these dietary changes, usually a year or more, according to experts.” PERSONAL ACTION STEP: Tom talks about “impulse eating.” We eat what we see. I’ve been intentional about keeping healthy snacks in eye level.

MOVE – Rath warns, “Sitting is the most underrated health threat of modern times, inactivity now kills more people than smoking.” His research concludes, “10,000 steps per day is a good target for overall activity. This equates to roughly five miles. On the other end of the continuum, people who walk fewer than 5,500 steps are considered sedentary.” PERSONAL ACTION STEP: I have made a habit of walking 10,000 steps a day and already feel better.

SLEEP – “Sleep is not a luxury. It is a basic necessity. Every extra hour of sleep is a positive investment. It is not an expense.” Tom cautions, “If you do not get enough sleep, it can lead to a cascade of negative events. You achieve less at work, skip regular exercise, and have poorer interactions with your loved ones.” PERSONAL ACTION STEP: I am implementing a consistent time to go to bed and get up.

MEASURE – “One little secret of medicine and social sciences is how measurement itself creates improvement. Asking people to track a specific outcome makes it more likely to improve.” As my wife says, “Anything you track, you change.” PERSONAL ACTION STEP: I purchased a pedometer, FitBit Force, and it has revolutionized how active I am. It tracks my steps, my sleep, and the app logs the food I eat. I literally measure how I EAT MOVE SLEEP.

SMALL CHOICES LEAD TO BIG CHANGES – Rath concludes by saying, “Choices count. You can make decisions today that will give you more energy tomorrow. The right choices over time greatly improve your odds of a long and healthy life.” He continues, “Small Choices Change Everything. Making better choices takes work. Movement comes in small changes. Small changes equals large growth.” PERSONAL ACTION STEP: Follow the “30 Days Challenge” and other tools to use with friends, groups, and teams.