Book Review: Built to Move by Kelly Starrett and Juliet Starrett

Built to Move by Kelly Starrett and Juliet Starrett wasn’t even on my radar of books to read until my chiropractor suggested I check it out. I loved it and highly recommend it to everyone. It was an easy and quick read, well organized into "ten essential habits to help you move freely and live fully." These 10 items form the main chapters of the book, each accompanied by an assessment and a physical practice for each focus. Movement (walking, squats,etc.), breath, sleep, and balance are among the top 10 habits. 

As a nutritionist, I found the chapter entitled "Eat Like You’re Going to Live Forever" especially thought-provoking, particularly the first part on the 800-gram count. This challenge encourages consuming 800 grams by weight of fruits and vegetables a day and is based on the work of EC Synkowski. While I hadn’t heard of it before, it's a straightforward way to ensure you’re eating plenty of veggies and fruits. I tested myself two days in a row and was amazed by the differences (salads vs stir fries). Not surprisingly, as a WFPB eater, I hit the 800 grams target although it required a much more concerted effort on the salad day. There are a few rules, of course; check out this handy one-pager for them and then pull out the scale.

I breezed through this book and didn’t take notes or make a daily action plan (the authors do include a 21-day Built to Move challenge). I plan to sit down (on the floor!) and do this over the coming weeks. I definitely know I need to increase my range of motion. How about you?

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