Get your reading glasses on!

So as some of you know, I exhibited at the Book Expo America in New York City the past few days, with the publisher I work for. For those not in the know, Book Expo America (BEA) is the biggest annual publishing show in the country. Publishers large and small exhibit their newest titles, and bookstore buyers and librarians swoop in to grab as many free books as they can stuff into oversized tote bags. For those who love to read, it's like walking into a candy store, and sampling a gazillion sweet treats. Really. Its. That. Good.

This year I was drawn to the self-help books. Seems every Tom, Dick and Harry is publishing a "how-to-lose-weight" book this season. And I wanted every single one of them! While that wasn't going to happen, I did manage to scoop up a couple of books I can't wait to read and tell you all about. I plan to give you a quick and dirty summary, and my honest thoughts on them.

That way you can decide if they make sense for your own libraries.

Here's a list of what you can look forward to:

-The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged! by Tosca Reno. Ms. Reno has sever 6 other books in the Eat-Clean series and is a well known fitness and health celebrity. I had the opportunity to meet her, and she graciously posed for over 5 photos with me, until the guy taking the shot figured out how to use my I-Phone. She's even more stunning in real life. (that's she and I in the photo above)

-What the Yuck?! by Dr. Roshini Raj, M.D. The subtitle is The Freaky & Fabulous Truth About Your Body. It's about the embarrassing questions you wouldn't ask a doctor. Can't wait to unfold some truths in this book!

-And this is one I plan to read first...Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal by Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS. I still contend that I might have some thyroid issue, even though my doc felt most of my problems were due to low B-12 and malabsorption. I hope to learn more from this book, and seek out a new doctor who can get to the bottom of my symptoms.

There's also a yummy cookbook that provides simple recipes for homegrown foods, called The Heart of the Artichoke. I'll share some of the author's treats with you too.

Another book that's been on my shelf waiting for a read is by Jillian Michaels: Master Your Metabolism. I promise to go that a review in the near future too.

So, there ya have it, a few titles to savor and learn from.

Let me know if you've read any great books lately too. We can spread the gospel!

Wellness Authors and Velocity

Wanted to share a few things that I think are pretty exciting. First, I worked at a big book show in NYC today, and met several authors of new, about-to-be-published books on fitness, healthy eating and much more. I chatted with a few, and even got some great photos. There's one more day for the show, and after that, I'll be sure to provide a recap here, with photos, cover images of the books, and my thoughts on these great titles that might help us in our battle with the bulge!

Next - in just a few short days I am starting a new, intense 28-day fat-shredding program at my gym, called Velocity. It includes a personalized diet tailored to make me lose weight quickly, as well as a cardio program that spells out which machines to use each day, how long to use them, and at what speeds/inclines, etc. That's not all - I got to choose between 10, 12 and 16 personal training sessions. Each session will be 30 minutes and include an intense regimen that will introduce me to all of the latest and greatest training, like kettlebell workouts, TRX straps, boxing and more. I opted for 12 sessions, which will have me getting my ass kicked 3 times a week during this 28-day period. I know it will be tough, but seriously, does it get any harder than Shannon's bootcamp class??!!

So, stay tuned folks. I will be reporting back with all of the details of my Volocity program, like what I am supposed to eat, and how these training sessions torture me. Most importantly, I hope to share news of fabulous results. Keep your fingers crossed for me!