The Proactive Health Solution

A comprehensive guide to improving one’s physical, mental, and spiritual health through better education, motivation, and self-discipline.

A certified personal trainer boasting over a decade of experience in weight loss, nutrition, and strength training, Cavallini, in her debut, champions the need for health care reform. She means this not merely in the political and legal senses—she’s also referring to the lifestyle changes many people attempt, and too often fail, in the pursuit of better health. Emphasizing the erosion of health education, the titular Proactive Health Solution offers a five-level system to help people address the root of these problems, starting with taking responsibility for one’s health and proactively improving it. It then moves on to self-management, including one’s psychological balance and personal self-image, and then to cultivating motivation to pursue healthy goals and develop a program specialized for one’s own needs. The final level is developing the discipline necessary to achieve these goals, using often common-sense solutions of moderation, positive thinking, and time management. The book also addresses mental and spiritual health, encouraging readers to seek professional assistance for depression or anxiety, just as they might employ a personal trainer for their physical health; it also recommends seeking counsel with a higher power. The latter is presented in the book in largely Christian terms but does give passing recognition to a “universal spirit.” Much of the author’s philosophy draws from ideas present in yoga, and the book includes many tips for meditation and visualization as well as some basic exercises with helpful black-and-white photos. Although Cavallini draws on many anecdotes of her own clients’ struggles, readers looking for hard facts won't be disappointed, as the book uses formulas for calculating metabolic rates and monitoring one’s body-mass index; it also charts the benefits of various vitamins. All this information is well-cited, and there’s also a useful index.

A great starting point for readers looking to improve their health and a useful supplement for those already pursuing healthy lifestyles.