James Smith - Not a diet book lose fat, gain confidence, transform your life

Extract from The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss. Reproduced by permission of The Random House Group Limited. Copyright Tim Ferriss, 2011. And by permission of Crown Books, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright Tim Ferriss 2007, 2009 by Carmenere One, LLC.

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First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2020

FIRST EDITION

Text James Smith 2020

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Source ISBN: 9780008374273

Ebook Edition January 2020 ISBN: 9780008374303

Version: 2020-01-14

While the author(s) of this work have made every effort to ensure that the information contained in this book is as accurate and up-to-date as possible at the time of publication, medical and pharmaceutical knowledge is constantly changing and the application of it to particular circumstances depends on many factors. Therefore it is recommended that readers always consult a qualified medical specialist for individual advice. This book should not be used as an alternative to seeking specialist medical advice which should be sought before any action is taken. The author(s) and publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors and omissions that may be found in the text, or any actions that may be taken by a reader as a result of any reliance on the information contained in the text which is taken entirely at the reader's own risk.

I know from experience that many books are never finished by the reader. They might be purchased as a gift, or at the airport before a flight; you may commit to the first chapter, but before you know it the book has become an ornament, gathering dust on your bedside table. Each day you see these books, and a little part of you tells a lie that one day youll finish them. The collection only grows over time, and youll usually tell yourself something along the lines of: Im doing pretty well, so I dont really need to read them right now.

I didnt read a book from start to finish until I was twenty-seven years old. Im not someone with an academic background, and it didnt come naturally to me; but in the last few years, books have been essential in changing, sculpting and building my mindset, attitude and approach to many things from lifestyle to relationships and my work life.

And, to be completely honest with you, writing this book was not difficult. If anything, I have so much I want to teach you that I wasnt sure I was going to fit it all in one book, so believe me when I tell you this: every single chapter in this book can affect your life in a positive way but only if you choose to read them. Nothing is in here just to make up the word count; its all important, and with every single page I have had you in mind your problems, your struggles and what I can teach you to make them go away.

For each of you, somewhere in this book is one simple sentence that will revolutionize your life for ever. However, that sentence is utterly powerless until you make the decision to read it. What I have written cannot help you if this book joins all the others the unread ornaments.

I have written this book not for me, but for you. Its all here everything you need to begin a new chapter of your life. Youll have a new lease of clarity to take with you every day, enough understanding to make change, not just in the gym, but in your relationships, your professional life and your general perception of the people around you.

I am confident when I say that when you turn the last page of this book your life will be different. Youll be more knowledgeable, more confident and more in control.

For those of you who may not finish the book, I believe you would be doing yourself and those around you a disservice. It is here to empower you, so if there is just one book you commit to finishing, let it be this one.

Quite simply, after this, things wont be the same.

Are you ready? Lets begin.

James

PART I

The first part of this book may be a little different from what you expect. At least I hope it is. Because if youve picked it up, I assume youre intending to achieve genuine, long-lasting change that will improve all areas of your life for good. So this is not the latest fitness trend or diet fad packaged up in book form to give it validity. And with this in mind, its important to set solid foundations before thinking or talking about what the end result is going to look like. In the coming chapters I am going to wipe the slate clean for you, eliminating all the unhelpful diet myths, fads and misinformation, and reset your thinking, so you can start to identify how your future is going to look and even how its going to feel.

With each new page, we will examine why perhaps you havent accomplished what youve set out to do before. I very much doubt this book is the first of your efforts towards a healthier, better-balanced lifestyle. And while it may seem a bit tedious to read an entire book when theres inevitably a one-size-fits-all plan on offer on Instagram, you need to trust me here: you have to walk before you can run, and if it was that simple to make lasting change, I wouldnt have needed to write a book. But once you have come to the end of it, you should no longer need me everything will slot into place and youll be ready to begin living the life youve always wanted and achieving your goals.

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.

Abraham Lincoln

REFERENCING

Throughout the book, I have referenced studies if you wish to know more about these, you can search online for the list, which I strongly recommend getting on top of.

The fitness industry right now

There are industries all over the world designed to give consumers what they want or need for an easier or better life. For instance, the automotive industry allows us to buy various transportation methods, such as cars, for commuting or transporting the family around. Its an industry that serves a purpose, and even though consumers are aware that there is a mark-up on the goods, they dont mind because they are getting a solution to their transportation problem: for the price they pay they gain freedom, control and enjoyment, and they generally trust the provider a win-win situation. This fairly straightforward analogy highlights the problems with the fitness industry people are more desperate than ever for a solution to their health and fitness problems, but they are being misled and mis-sold the dream by organizations profiteering from the consumer remaining in the dark about how to help themselves, especially when it comes to fat loss.