“Another diet book?” That was my initial impression when coming across Liz Josefsberg’s “Target 100: the World’s Simplest Weight-Loss Program in 6 Easy Steps”. I’ve been on various diets over the years and I had settled on Weight Watchers as being the most effective for me. Still I struggle with maintaining a healthy weight, and the author’s simple approach appealed to me, so I wanted to read more.
“Losing weight should be about self-discovery, not blind devotion to somebody else’s rules,” Josefsberg writes in the introduction as she shares her own past issues with weight loss. I liked how the book addresses healthy living in general and not just the battle with the scale. The author had held a prominent position with Weight Watchers for many years, mentoring celebrity clients. The notion that her strategy could be an effective, yet simple, approach beyond Weight Watchers was appealing to me.
The Target 100 in the book breaks down healthy living in six simple steps:
- 100 grams of Carbs daily
- 100 ounces of water daily
- 100 minutes of exercise weekly
- 100 minutes of extra movement weekly
- 100 minutes of stress relief weekly
- 100 minutes of extra sleep weekly
I immediately realized my water intake was far below 100 ounces a day. That was the first change I made (drinking 20 ounces at 5 evenly spaced intervals, with none after 6 pm). This alone helped me lose a few pounds the first week. The 100 grams of Carbs daily and 100 minutes of exercise weekly were easy for me to add to my routine, as well as increasing my meditation time to 100 minutes weekly to meet target number 5.
The 100 minutes of extra movement weekly was something I hadn’t considered. I’m exercising 100 minutes – why do I need 100 extra minutes of movement? The author stresses the importance of not sitting most of the day (which I often do in my work at the computer). I’m taking extra walks and climbing extra stairs to work towards that 100 minutes/week.
The other point I liked about the book is that the “100” targets are goals to aim for, and not hard and fast rules. This allows the reader to personalize the program to fit his or her lifestyle best. I’m still not there on the 100 minutes a week of extra movement, or the 100 minutes of extra sleep!
Beyond the six steps the book is filled with exercises, charts, and suggestions to help with the process. I like the Target 100 private Facebook group the reader can join for more tips and where the author contributes frequently.
I recommend Target 100 for those who want to try a different and unique approach to losing those unwanted pounds and generally achieving a healthier lifestyle.
