Guide to win the battle of the bulge!

The Pink Salt Weight Loss Trick: Simple Recipes to Boost Your Metabolism, Energize Your Body & Burn Fat Fast While Detoxing Your System Naturally All in Less Than 21-Days by Eva Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Weight loss has been the buzzword for a very long time. Ever so often a new trend comes up and everyone seems to want in on that and then it fades away. Then another trend explodes, that seems to be the order of the day. It was exercise, diet, meal supplements, protein shakes, and a plethora of programs promising readers fitness, health, and beauty. The Pink Salt Weight Loss Trick by Eva Wells presents an alternative to fad diets with a solid foundation in science, holistic health, and nutrition.
Wells an expert in holistic health, nutrition, Pilates, and organic natural remedies. She has been in the business for several years and is passionate about coaching and empowering people with the skills and knowledge to live the best life possible. This is done with a combination of nutrition, mindfulness, and exercise believes Wells. The Pink Salt Weight Loss Trick starts off with a detailed introduction in which she explains the science behind the program and the historical origins of pink salt. “Understanding the journey that pink salt undertakes once it is ingested is pivotal to appreciating its role in supporting overall health. When pink salt dissolves, its array of trace minerals is mobilized into ionic forms,” explains Wells writing about the biological processes that are initiated by pink salt inside the human body.
Organized into eight chapters and a bonus section on recipes, the book instructs the reader on the safety measures, limitations and benefits of pink salt, and most importantly how to store different types of salt. Chapters four to six are primarily composed of recipes for weight loss, healthy body, beauty, self-care, and exercise. Chapters seven and eight offer practical dietary solutions for complex problems such as menopause, and a comprehensive meal plan is presented in chapter eight.
I have tried recreating some of the recipes and it’s easy to make and delicious to consume. These recipes are easy to follow and provide a great plan for everyone to succeed in their health goals. The Pink Salt Weight Loss Trick is indeed just that, this book is all about evidence-based insights, easy-to-cook delicious recipes and practical tips on getting healthier and losing weight in the process.

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Healthy Digestion from Ancient Wisdom

Dr. Poop’s 30-Day Gut Reset: You will rock your bowels! 5,000 Years of Ayurvedic medicinal wisdom on how to poop better and stop getting constipated. by Dr. Poop
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A common, embarrassing, and annoying health problems that plague about 15-25% of Americans is constipation. It is a digestive issue wherein bowel movements become infrequent, difficult, or hard to pass. This condition affects people of all ages from infants to geriatrics and can often be traced back to lifestyle factors such as diet, hydration, physical activity, etc. A more concerning factor about constipation is the fact that it could be one of the earliest symptoms of colon cancer.
Moreover, constipation makes one feel bloated, uncomfortable, and disinterested in regular activities of life. In this scenario comes the book Dr. Poop’s 30-Day Gut Reset published by You Will Rock Books. The 96-page volume draws heavily on the principles of Ayurveda, one of the oldest healing systems that has origins in India. In the West Ayurveda is recognized as an complementary system of medicine.
Introducing the book the author is quick to place the disclaimer that this volume is meant as a guide and not medical advice or prescription. “The author and publisher are not licensed medical professionals, dietitians, or healthcare practitioners,” writes Dr. Poop, a fictional character created for the purpose of this book.
Organized into six chapters, preceded by a detailed introduction about ayurveda and principles covered in this book and followed by a section titled ‘The final flush,’ the book ends with a one-page bibliography with references/ further reading material for those interested to diver deeper into this science. The first chapters introduce the readers to a four-week ritual which is aimed at making the readers’ bowel habits easy, regular, and comfortable.
Peppered with nuggets of ancient wisdom Dr. Poop’s 30 Day Gut Reset, is a handy guide for those suffering from constipation to change lifestyle and get into a regular habit. This guide helps avoid unnecessary supplements, powders, and banks on healthy lifestyles and habits to improve bowel movements.

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Learning how to speak after debilitating illness

A Step-by-Step Aphasia Workbook for Adults: 125 Engaging Exercises & Progressive Activities to Boost Speech Therapy & Enhance Cognitive Skills for Stroke Recovery & Rehabilitation by Clare Thinkwell

A Step-by-Step APHASIA workbook for Adults by Clare Thinkwell; Matilda’s Magical Muse; 111pp.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aphasia, a speech disorder, usually results from an ischemic stroke that causes injury to certain parts of the brain that controls communication and cognition. The results of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or more commonly as a stroke, are often devastating for individuals. There is a significant rate of mortality associated with CVA, those who survive often have deficits and need to relearn basic human functions including but not limited to speech, eating, walking, writing, thinking, cognitive reasoning, among others. Recovery is slow and painful, but with the right tools and therapies many individuals make an almost complete recovery from the effects of CVA.

Aphasia can be mild or severely debilitating deficit resulting from a CVA. Individuals who experience aphasia cannot speak, communicate, and/ or make their wishes/ needs known to others. For these individuals a regimen of speech exercises, therapy, and consistency is the only road to recovery. In this situation books like A Step-by-Step APHASIA workbook for Adults by Clare Thinkwell can be a great resource to relearn, develop, and regain communication skills. Thinkwell is dedicated to helping seniors and adults improve cognition and communication skills. Her passionate engagement has resulte din several books that help stimulate minds, and nurture creativity.

The Step-by-Step APHASIA workbook for Adults features over 100 engaging verbal and non-verbal exercises, and activities that progress slowly which are aimed at enhancing cognitive skills and improving speech therapy results. Following these activities are crucial for recovering from stroke and rehabilitation to independent life after CVA. Divided into five distinctive sections, this book features exercises to help patients rehab quickly from CVA. Each chapter/ section of the book deals with a specific verbal/ communication skill such as vocabulary building, sentence formation, reading comprehension, daily communications, and practical skills. The final section provides answers to each of these sections.

There are no meandering passages or droning preaching in this book. Each page contains an exercise or puzzle that helps improve cognition, and communication. The book will be helpful for anyone that works with seniors in rehabilitation or individuals who are affected by this devastating condition.

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Romance in the age of technology and gaming

The Resonance Mage's Harem: A slow-burn LitRPG men's fantasy where love fuels magic and emotional bonds unlock world-shaping power by Marko Duskborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the LitRPG genre I have read, and I must say I am quite pleased with the theme, plot, and characters. The short novel is quite fast paced and can be finished in one sitting of few hours – a lazy Sunday afternoon. The story builds well right from the start with a description of Danny Walsh, a software support professional and a recluse in real life. He confesses to the fact that he is more comfortable with computers than people and the most intense moments of life are when he is navigating virtual worlds on his gaming computer.
The characters are built well, focusing on their core beliefs, fears, insecurities, etc. The romance aspect of the story is presented in a delicate manner. The relationship between Danny and Kira seems organic, natural, and with an emotional depth that intensifies the adventure. This story is not just about conversing with demons, transgressing worlds, but about building genuine connections, and real bonds.
I particularly liked the writing style, it is chatty, easy to read, and at the same time relies heavily on technology while depicting human emotions. “Danny crept closer to the mouth of the alley, his heart hammering against his ribs like an overclocked CPU fan,” writes Duskborn, a brilliantly enmeshed emotion and tech together.
On the downside the book could have been extended with some more adventure and romantic interludes. It would have made more interesting to read and attracted young people.

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Stories to Engage, and Educate Third Graders

Amazing Stories for Third Graders: An Adventure-Filled 3rd Grade Reading Book with Brain-Boosting Comprehension Activities by Mateo Sommer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Engaging third graders in any kind of activity is tough, their young minds are full of curiosity and they have a constant need to be on the go. Hence story telling/ reading can be tough as making them sit in one place and read/ listen is often difficult. Over the years teachers and educators have come up with ideas, tricks, methods, and content aimed at this age group to keep them engaged and involved in reading/ listening to stories.
Joining this list of content for third graders is the latest book by Mateo Sommer titled “Amazing Stories for Third Graders,” a 112-page volume featuring over a dozen interesting and engaging stories with quizzes at the end of each chapter. Each story is written to appeal to third graders and engage them with the characters deeply. Each chapter has several unique illustrations to provide relief from blocks of text and appeal to the readers.
I read some of the stories in this book to my 12-yr old niece and she was enamored by the illustrations and the stories. The story titled ‘The Crying Diosaur’ was a big hit with my niece as also the story about plundering pirates, and the crystal cave. Overall I think this book will be a big hit among third graders who like stories and will entice them to read more.

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March into the Armed Forces

ASVAB STUDY GUIDE: ASVAB Test Prep with 5 Full-Length Practice Tests, Diagnostic Test, and Proven Tactics to Ace Your AFQT Exam on Your First Try by Nolan Vexley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ASVAB Study Guide by Nolan Vexley; 288pp

In my opinion serving one’s nation by joining the defense or armed forces is the greatest way to show gratitude to the country that has given everything. It is an honor and privilege to be part of this elite group of people who are willing to sacrifice everything for the country. Not everyone who wishes to serve is accepted into the United States armed forces, it takes a certain amount of intelligence, education, and aptitude to qualify to for this honor.
To qualify to serve in the US armed forces one has to successfully attempt and succeed in the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and particularly in the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT). This exam places aspirants on tenterhooks as a first attempt passing is a great plus for entering the forces. One can find several guides that claim to help in the prepping for this unique test but not all books are the same. I came across Nolan Vexley’s ASVAB Study Guide, a 288-page volume featuring 5 full-length practice tests, a diagnostic, and several proven strategies to help you succeed in this important exam.
Vexley, a passionate tutor and test-prep expert has spent several years of his career helping students study and succeed in different competitive examinations including the ASVAB. He believes that given the right training each student will excel. This is the kind of person who should be working with students, coaching and encouraging them to succeed in the exams. The ASVAB Study Guide is organized into 11 units/ chapters followed by five full length practice ASVAB exams.
The first unit appropriately titled “Mission Briefing” comprehensively describes the ASVAB exam with information on scoring mechanisms, military career tips, goal-setting for studying, etc. The primary purpose of ASVAB is to evaluate the skills, knowledge, and abilities of individuals wishing to join the U.S. Armed Forces. “The ASVAB has two primary purposes: first, to assess a person's eligibility for military service, and second, to assist military recruiters in assigning recruits to suitable roles that match their skills and aptitudes,” writes Vexley. The chapter further delves into the types ASVAB such as the computerized adaptive test, paper and pencil ASVAB etc. while also detailing the differences between the types of ASVAB.
Unit 2 is crucial for all those intending on taking this test, it is a diagnostic exam which will help students find their place, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses so they know the areas to focus on while studying for the ASVAB. The following units deal with verbal ability, reading comprehension, general science, arithmetic, electronics, shop and automobiles, and assembly lines etc.
Overall I feel this book is a very comprehensive guide for preparing for the ASVAB exam. The final five units contain full length practice tests which will drive home the most important message of taking tests slowly and with patience. These tests provide important insights to the student about their preparedness for the actual ASVAB.

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Stories to Motivate Young Men!

Unbreakable Young Men: 15 Inspirational Stories: How Teen Boys Can Build Mental Strength, Find Purpose & Own Their Future by Northstar Stories
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Unbreakable Young Men – 15 inspirational stories;Northstar Stories; 221 pp.

Teenagers, particularly young men in any society are under constant pressure from family, peers, and society. There is an inbuilt judgement from society, expectation from family, and immense pressure in the workforce and academia to excel and conform to the norms. This often leads young men to feel anxious, lack confidence, and demoralized. It is important for young men to feel secure of their place in society at large, so they can succeed and transform into productive and contributing members of the community.

In this scenario Northstar Stories brings a compilation of 15 real-life inspired tales aimed at young boys between 13-18 yrs of age in the form of a concise 221-page easy-to-read book. The goal of this volume is to help boys build mental strength, overcome anxiety, develop confidence, find purpose in life, and own their future. Spread across 15 chapters, Unbreakable Young Men starts off with a one-page guide on how to use this book which provides a birds-eye-view of the content of the rest of the pages. There is a small note to parents and educators in which the authors detail that this an independent self-learning tool and there are reflection questions at the end of each chapter which serve as discussion prompts to discuss and resolve complex issues.

The introduction makes it clear this book is NOT a lesson-plan to become a “perfect teenager,” rather it is a supportive treatise aimed at helping teen boys navigate a complex world. “You're navigating a world that's changing faster than anyone can keep up with. You're expected to figure out who you are while algorithms try to decide that for you,” writes the authors explaining the complexities of modern life.

 
The authors also attempt to take pressure off the readers by stating that “Becoming unbreakable isn’t about being perfect, fearless, or motivated every day. It is about learning what strengthens you, what guides you, and what helps you grow – even when life is messy or confusing.”

Each chapter presents 2500-3000-word story which explains a particular quandary or dilemma facing the protagonist. The stories include human, down-to-earth, characters who struggle with the challenges of daily life and how they overcome it or just accept it and live their lives. The best part of the chapter in my opinion is the reflection section at the end. This section mainly addresses the reader to think back upon incidents in their life and relate to the events of the story. This provides an insight into life that is difficult to arrive at without story telling.

I liked all the stories in this book and found them to be very inspirational and full of important life lessons. I feel that this would be great reading material for teenaged boys and young men who are just setting out in life. Written in a chatty conversational style, it is an easy read and will capture the attention of teenagers. Lessons are ingrained into readers effortlessly. I would definitely recommend this book be placed in school and public libraries for the benefit of community.

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