December 1st, 2009
Book Review: Believe It, Be It
In anticipation of all my New Year’s resolutions that will undoubtedly revolve around losing weight, getting healthy, yada, yada, yada, I decided to read Ali Vincent’s book, Believe It, Be It, for motivation. Ali Vincent is the Biggest Loser from Season 5 of the popular NBC weight loss competition show, The Biggest Loser. She was the first female winner and according to her book, has kept off all 112 pounds she lost while a contestant on the show for almost two years.
I have read numerous books written by celebrities. Generally, I love reading these books because either I like the topic or the celebrity that wrote it. But these books are typically poorly written and contain myriad typographical errors and grammatical gaffes. They seem to be written at the speed of light, without a lot of thought. I take great delight in marking the typos and errors as I read, as if to admonish the writer. However, in Believe It, Be It, Ali Vincent manages to avoid most of the traps that first-time celebrity writers fall into, and she presents an interesting, detailed look at her weight-loss journey and subsequent success following The Biggest Loser.
As an avid watcher of The Biggest Loser, I was especially interested in the tidbits of insider information about the show, like how all the contestants get “call sheets” every night outlining the shooting schedule for the following day and most of the commentary filmed by contestants is not actually filmed in chronological sequence. Some of the contestants, including Ali Vincent, have formed lasting friendships or relationships with other contestants. Is the kitchen at the ranch really always stocked with healthy food and no one really has to go grocery shopping? Ali answers these questions and several more.
Released on November 10, just in time to get you into the right frame of mind for Thanksgiving, Believe It, Be It, is a very quick read at only 192 pages. Ali keeps a quick pace, going back and forth between her life experiences before the show and what really happens at The Biggest Loser ranch. She seems genuine, like someone you could be friends with, especially when she reveals past ill-advised behavior that explains how she came to be 234 pounds as a young adult, after a childhood as a competitive athlete. Ali also gives you a look at the tempestuous relationship she has with her mother, Bette Sue, who was her partner on The Biggest Loser.
If you are a fan of The Biggest Loser, or are looking for motivation to prevent those holiday pounds from creeping up on you, you will enjoy this book. Ali includes her workout routine and some of her favorite recipes at the end of the book. I was pleasantly surprised by this book that includes a little bit of everything; diet, exercise, motivation and family drama. It’s a perfect holiday gift for the person in your life seeking a little motivation.
