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Book Review: One Rep At A Time

Today, I’m going WAY out on a limb and going out of my comfort zone. I am reviewing a book. Yes, a book. A physical, sit down in a chair and flip the pages type of book.

If you have ever read any of my product reviews, you know I usually review workout products and workout programs. But, today I have a little bit of a change. I’ll be reviewing a book, an actual book with a cover and everything!

The book is called “One Rep at a Time”, by Karen McCoy, from McCoy Fitness. What’s unusual about me reviewing the book, for anybody that that knows me, knows I don’t read a whole lot of books. I’m being transparent here is all.

So, let me tell you a little bit of history first. I got to meet Karen via an interview I did with her. It wasn’t a physical meet, it was a meet over the phone type of thing. Karen was, and is, a true professional. She poured her heart out in the interview and we had a ball! If you get the chance to listen to the interview, I highly encourage it.

One of the best things I can say about interviewing Karen is that she has an elegance about her that can be seen without actually seeing her, if that makes sense. She’ll tell you she is a normal person and all, but I will tell you that she is WAY beyond normal, she will inspire you whether you’re looking to be inspired or not!

Which brings me to her book, “One Rep at a Time.”

To start off with, when I do read a book, it usually takes me a while to read it. I’m not talking days, I’m talking WEEKS! In my lifetime, I can say I’ve only read one book cover to cover…until I picked up “One Rep at a Time.” Holy Cow! Not only did I read it cover to cover, I did it in ONE DAY! Needless to say, I was in a trance while reading it.

I will tell you this about the book, it will bring out your emotions. “One Rep at a Time” will inspire you, it will motivate you, it will break your heart and it will make you cry. Yes, I said cry. I literally had a tissue in my hand during some points. It’s the type of cry that makes you want to keep reading, and you’ll be glad you did.

Needless to say, I highly recommend this book to anyone, anyplace, anytime. I feel it’s that good of a read. But now I’m at a dilemma, how do I write a book review without going into details of the book? If I went into details, that would be a book report, not a book review, right? (I’m a book review novice!)

With workout programs, I could tell you about different exercises, different phases of the workout, my progress during the workout, and things like that. But a book? Totally different I’m finding out. I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, I’ll give a brief synopsis of it, ok?

The book is a journey of Karen’s life. From childhood to where she is now. But that’s only the first half of the book. The second half Karen takes you through a program she calls BLISS. BLISS stands for Body Life Integrated Sculpting System. It’s a complete coaching program that uses the power of weight training, cardio, clean nutrition and quality supplements to create a healthy body. (Yes, I took that definition right from the book, *grin*)

It’s unique because Karen actually gives you a password to log into a site where you can see videos from her, plus a whole lot more! I won’t get into details, but I can say it’s way cool!

So, there’s my synopsis of the book. But it’s so much more than that. There is so much in this book that giving it a brief synopsis like that just isn’t good enough for my taste, so I’ll tell you what I’ll do next, I will go through a little bit and tell you some of the things that stood out to me, OK?

• The personal struggles Karen went through and what she did to overcome them and become a world class mother and wife.
• The life changing experiences she had and how she pulled herself together, dug herself out of that hole and became an inspiration to countless people. (Oh, and I want to say this, and I’m only speaking from a gut feeling here and this is nothing that Karen has ever told me. Karen did not set out to inspired or motivate a bunch of people. If she inspires just one person, motives just one person, gives just one person the attitude of “I can change and become healthy”, she will be happy and consider it a blessing. Bottom line, Karen is a giver, plain and simple).
• The joy of becoming a bodybuilding champion when people told her she couldn’t do it.
• The travesty of finding out her son was diagnosed with a terminal disease and the path she took to accept it and how much her son can, and is, spreading a positive influence to the world.
• The courage to fluff off modern medicine and find the power of natural healing.

There is so much more in “One Rep at a Time”, but you’ll have to find out on your own.

Sure, we all have our own unique struggles. We all have our own unique story to tell. But not all of us are willing to put our story out for the whole world to read. Karen did that.

Yes, I’m going on and on about how good the book is, but that’s what I’m supposed to do, right? Again, this isn’t a book report, this is MY REVIEW.

In my opinion, the “8 week BLISS Body Makeover Program” is a bonus to the book. Karen did not have to include that section, the first half of the book is great on its on, but she did and it’s awesome!

Karen has a writing background and the way she writes and tells her story makes you feel you’re going through life with her. It’s hard to explain, but when I was finished reading the book, even though my life struggles didn’t relate to hers, I felt we were best of buddies. I felt like we could sit on the front porch drinking iced tea and talking for hours about anything. That’s the kind of writer she is, that’s the kind of person she is. Through her writing, you can feel her emotions, her highs and lows, her self discipline. She truly has a unique gift and she shares it with YOU!

Now, and when you read the book you’ll understand this next part I’m about to write, as much as an inspiration and motivator Karen is, I believe her son Tristan is even more so. This is not a knock on Karen at all, and I’m sure she will agree.

Through Karen’s writing about her son, I believe he is, and will continue to be, a HUGE impact on this planet.

Even though most would probably look at him and feel sorry for him, he seems to have a happy go lucky type of attitude with life. He takes that saying “When life hands you lemons, just make lemonade” to a whole new level. He not only makes more and more lemonade, he serves it to anyone who is thirsty! (I hope that reads as good as it sounds!)

I got the sense that when Tristan comes into a room, everyone starts to smile and they don’t know why. He seems to have this cheerful aura about him that is really rare, and when it is present, it’s contagious. Personally, I would like to one day meet Tristan as well as Karen.

So, bottom line with this book review is yes, it’s an AWESOME book you need to read it, plain and simple!

Karen, thank you for letting us into your life. Thank you for introducing us to Tristan and thank you for writing “One Rep at a Time.”

If you would like to order your own copy of the book, click the picture below.