Guest Review: SIZE 2 FOR LIFE by Ashley Marriott and Marc L. Paulsen

Size 2 for Life

by Ashley Marriott and Marc L. Paulson

ISBN-10: 098210474X

ISBN-13: 978-0982104743

Paperback, 222 pages

Stance Publications

January 16, 2009

Reviewed by Cynthia Murphy

When I first saw the title, Size 2 for Life, I was dubious. It sounds like another fad diet book, and the market is already crowded with such books. Although the title didn’t impress me, the content of the book did. Size 2 for Life is the work of Ashley Marriott and Dr. Marc L. Paulsen. Both authors are experts in the fitness field, and their lifetime commitment to fitness shows throughout the book.

Despite its title, Size 2 for Life actually focuses on healthy eating and exercise habits. The “size 2” mentioned in the title refers to a frame-adjusted size that ranges from 2 to a 6 depending on frame size. (Their method of determing frame size seems oddly simplistic, but it does make sense.) The authors start by breaking down many of the weight loss myths. They also attack many of the popular celebrity diets. I found some of the celebrity diets downright scary. The authors do a good job of attacking the so-called “supercharged” weight loss plans and shifting the focus to healthy eating.

Size 2 for Life has a helpful chapter of “do’s and don’ts.” This chapter puts a lot of good information in one place. The authors follow up with a more detailed guide to their weight loss plan. The language is positive and motivating. From there, they provide detailed examples for the exercise and diet components of the program. The program is broken into smaller segments, so it never seems overwhelming.

The exercise program is well written. This is the section where Marriott’s expertise really shows. The exercise portion features step by step photos for each of the resistance training exercises. This would be very helpful to exercise newbies. The exercise portion also includes numerous options for the aerobic component of the program as well as detailed instructions for stretching. The photos and detailed instructions make the exercise part of the program seem approachable and unintimidating.

There is an interesting 21 day program included in the plan. This is designed to build healthy habits. My biggest complaint about the program is how extreme it sounds. It seems like it would be very hard for a lot of people to follow. The exercise portion requires a rather large time commitment even for beginners. This seems like a huge leap for an overweight person who may not get much exercise on a regular basis. I think it would be very easy for someone to fall of the wagon and abandon the plan quickly. I realize that the 21 day program should build new habits, but I wonder how many people can actually stick with such an intense program for the full 3 weeks. I would prefer to see the recipes written a little better for the 21 day program. It might make the program more enticing.

Size 2 for Life presents practical exercise and nutrition information in an easy to use format. Overall, it is a sharp, informative book on weight loss. It has a few flaws, but it’s worth a look if you are interested in taking charge of your health.