Okay so I just got the book yesterday and I'm already halfway through. no this is probably going to be a long review first of all the book is a lot thicker and goes through a lot more than I expected it to. but that's a very good thing a list of why this book is great for beginners and then I'll list off reasons why it's good for experts or people who are not new to the fitness realm.
Why it's good for beginners.
I have so many people ask me advice on how to get fit how to lose weight how to do this what to eat what to not eat and although I knew a lot of all the information already I just didn't know how to word it or had to help them some person that asked didn't even know what a calorie was which you know there was a point where I didn't know what a calorie was either. Well this book makes it very simple and makes it scientific reasoning and proof and understanding of what protein is of what a calorie is of what it does for your body of what carbs are. There is no lies or things made up to get you to buy more protein bars or protein shakes and he even gets down to the secrets of what's really behind all of the programs out there. The fitness industry does not want you to know these secrets because they're not secrets at all but the fitness industry has wanted to do nothing but make a money off of us so they make so many promises and half truths and use big fancy words and we get so many different advice and stories and sometimes they even contradict each other. This book digs deep into all of that so that you can understand the scientific truth to everything and to understand all that is a huge step. It will also help me know how to teach other people when they reach out to me for help because he wears it so simply and he sets it out step by step so that you can learn more easily and he validates everything through science so it's not just more information contradicting each other you know what's true and what's not true. so if you're a beginner and you're trying to lose weight get toned gain muscle whatever your goals are this is the ultimate book and I wish I would have gone at years ago because even though I knew a lot of the information already from doing my own research just as he did it was great to have it validated and to understand it so clearly. sometimes I yo-yo diet because I don't know what the truth is and where to go and I always learn something new and then this new program comes out and then they say it's the opposite of what I should be doing it's just all very confusing and I think we can all agree on that this book is not that. Please take a chance on this book and don't just judge it by its cover or read the first few pages read it from the start to the end. It will definitely be worth your time.
Why is it good for experts?
Okay so I've been a fitness junkie Fred I don't know how many years I'm also a recovered anorexic. Fitness is always been very important to me but it's never been more important to me than it is now for personal reasons so basically I knew a lot of this information already. But the reason why this book helped me so much is because sometimes even experts fall into the trap of a lot of the lies that the fitness industry tells us and we even pass it on to other people with good intentions. This book will simplify validate all the different things that you've been learning to know the exact science and to know exactly how it all works so you know exactly what you're doing and I do believe that they're even personal trainers out there who should read this book because you can also learn a lot on how to talk to people on how to motivate them it even has a section in the book on things that would help with having self-control and even explains the science behind the dopamine and your brain that you produce and release when you're craving chocolate and when you want that cupcake that's in front of you or that huge slice of pizza. And he's very real about everything.
Another few things that I'd like to add that's great about this book is that it makes me laugh quite a bit of times he's definitely got a sense of humor writing this book and that makes it a whole lot less boring and yes there are times where it does get boring but you know what it's worth it. If you read this book and you put it into practice into your life you will never have to make another program you won't need supplements and yes you'll still get to have your foods that you enjoy but you'll also know what you're putting into your body how your body is going to respond to it. and he has a good portion of the book that's all about how to work on the inside of you and not just the outside of you because if the inside is not working too then it's going to be hard to keep working on the outside because it does take a lot of self-control especially when that dopamine in your brain wants you to eat everything in sight or want you to skip that workout.
Almost everything you've been taught and all these programs and in the fitness industry and even on Instagrams are all a lie and a sham. And before reading this book like I said I already knew a lot of the information but I'd get so confused like what's true what's not true and so reading this really validated a lot of it sometimes I would see the title of a chapter and it'd be like oh I know about all this but then I decided to read it anyway because he really does get into the science of it he doesn't just share his opinions he shares facts.
I'm actually a little jealous that I did not come up with this book LOL another reason why I wanted to read this book is because my goal is to become a personal trainer but I have a hard time simplifying things for people and I make it far too complicated and people just get overwhelmed so that's something that I really have to work on in this book is really taught me on how to do that too so if you're a new it personal training or that's your goal this is another good book to read as well but again even if you're a beginner at this book is awesome as well. Getting fit doesn't have to be so complicated. when you're first learning about everything it seems a little complicated and it seems like a lot when you see how thick the book is but then once you get the hang of it it's really not. But again I'm only halfway through the book so I haven't even gotten through the workout part of it all I've only gotten through a lot of the nutrition lies in the fitness industry the facts of fitness. And there are a few things that I didn't know that I did learn since I'm recovering anorexic I had no clue that it was a lie that my metabolism was broken after reading this book I learned that that's false your metabolism just can't break. It only slightly slows down even when starving and is very easy to repair.
Just one more thing I want to add he does not sugarcoat things he says that the way they are even if you don't want to hear it. I bet there are so many programs in Instagram and stuff like that that can't stand this man for writing this book because he speaks the truth and they can't make money off the truth. the fitness industry wants you to keep coming back wants you to keep buying supplements want you to keep buying their secret special sauce and as he put it it's all hogwash! There is no secret there is only science and once you learn the science behind it all that's when you can really make progress. I can't wait to put this into practice and stop getting confused between all the different information that I've been getting because now that I know the science behind it all there's nothing that can stop me you can't argue with facts!
Thinner Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Female Body
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 8,970 ratings
Price: 13.08
Last update: 01-05-2025
About this item
The bestselling fitness book for women who want to lose up to 35 pounds of fat or more and gain whole-body muscle definition in just 3-5 hours per week—and without giving up delicious foods or doing grueling workouts.
Is Thinner Leaner Stronger a body building book that can give you a toned “Hollywood babe body” in 30 days flat?
No.
Is it a weight loss book for women full of diet and exercise “hacks” for gaining lean muscle and melting belly fat faster than a sneeze in a cyclone?
Absolutely not.
But is it a science-based weight training book (and nutrition book) that’ll demystify muscle building and fat loss and show you exactly how to get a lean, strong, and fit physique without spending hours in the gym every day?
And while still enjoying your favorite foods, like hamburgers, pizza, and ice cream?
Yes.
And you’ll see visible results in the mirror and gym in your first month on the program.
Because here’s the deal:
Muscle building and fat loss aren’t nearly as complicated as you’ve been led to believe.
● You don't need to: Obsess over "clean eating" and avoiding “unhealthy” foods like sugar, meat, and bread. Some foods are more nutritious and should be eaten more frequently than others. That's it.
● You don't need to: Grind through hours of punishing strength training workouts every week. Sweating buckets, getting really sore, training until bone-tired . . . all wholly overrated for gaining muscle and strength.
● You don't need to: Slog away on the treadmill. In fact, you don't need to do any cardio exercise at all to shed belly, hip, and thigh fat.
Those are just a few of the harmful fitness lies and myths that keep women weak, overweight, and confused.
And Thinner Leaner Stronger will teach you something that most of those women will never know:
How to cut through all the confusion and clutter and create clear, structured, no-nonsense diet and training plans tailored to your fitness goals, circumstances, and preferences.
Here are just a few of the things you’ll discover inside this health book for women:
● The 10 biggest fitness myths and mistakes that keep women from achieving the body they really want. For example, “only calories matter,” “carbs and sugars make you fat,” and “strength training makes you bulky.”
● The primary driver of muscle growth that forces your muscles to get fitter and stronger. And no, it has nothing to do with “muscle confusion,” “functional training,” or any other pseudoscientific fitness nonsense.
● How to create meal plans for building muscle and losing fat with foods you love so you never feel starved, deprived, or like you're "on a diet" (and especially a “bodybuilding diet”).
● 12 months of workouts for women created by the author to show you how to use principles and methods taught in the book to get tight legs and glutes, sculpted arms and back muscles, and a flat stomach.
● A no-BS guide to fitness supplements that’ll save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars on useless (and sometimes even dangerous) pills, powders, and potions.
And that’s not all, either . . .
● Thinner Leaner Stronger is one of the most popular women's strength training books of all time, with over 500,000 copies sold in 13 languages, and it has helped tens of thousands of women of all ages and abilities transform their body composition, fitness, and health.
● 367 peer-reviewed scientific studies support the Thinner Leaner Stronger system of eating, training, and recovering for losing fat and building muscle and strength.
● Thinner Leaner Stronger is regularly revised based on the latest findings in nutrition, exercise, and supplementation research, with the latest version (fourth edition) released in 2023.
Here’s the bottom line:
You can get that head-turning “beach-ready body” without following weird, extreme, or complicated diet, exercise, or supplementation methods or strategies.
And this women's weight lifting book shows you how.
So, get your copy now, and start your journey to a fitter, leaner, and stronger you.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Top reviews from the United States
Mommyoftwo5.0 out of 5 stars Whether an expert or a beginner please please give this book a chance!
S. Levesque5.0 out of 5 stars Every woman interested in health and fitness needs to read this book!
I am a 39 year old woman who has been chasing the dream of a "yoga toned" body for years and years without much luck despite regular exercise (exercise DVDs, running, yoga, pilates, zumba) and following various diets and cleanses. Like many women, I have always steered clear of heavy weights to avoid getting "bulky".
This past fall, I went on vacation, and looking pictures after returning, I realized just how "skinny fat" I had become. This is despite doing hard, exhausting workouts about 5-6 times a week (mostly Firm Cardio and Buti yoga dvds) and eating a Paleo diet in order to "get in shape" for months and months before going. How frustrating!! With my 40th birthday looming, I became determined to get into shape once and for all....which led me to Google...which led me to looking at books about weight training for women.
I honestly believe every woman should read this book even if they don't believe they will end up doing this program. Why?
1) Knowledge is power. It is easy to read, interesting, and will literally blow your mind about the "myths" many women have been brainwashed to believe about regarding weight loss and fitness. The fitness industry is full of people that just want your money and will give you "advice" that is a bunch of nonsense, period. I am still a member of some Facebook fitness groups of trends I have followed in the past, and it sickens me to see how these women are misled by these fitness "professionals".
2) Nutrition. If you don't have nutrition nailed down, it won't matter too much what you do in the gym. This book explains why it is important to figure out your TDEE and calculate a reasonable calorie deficit, how to do a proper cheat meal weekly, and how important it is to follow a custom meal plan (something I resisted at first and once I got on board, the scale started to move...more on this later).
3) Bulking. You will learn why it is really difficult for a woman to bulk up and impossible if you are in a calorie deficit. I never understood why men did cutting and bulking cycles. Now it all makes sense!
4) Big picture. This book really helped me to understand how important it is to build a strong metabolism, the role that diet (high protein) and muscle plays so that you see long term results. By learning the truth about the myths I mentioned earlier, you can avoid doing things that are actually causing you to HURT your metabolism. You will learn about what workouts are basically wasting time and WHY. I can't emphasize this point enough. Mike Matthews explains the why and backs it up...something that most fitness "professionals" do NOT do.
My results so far...
I started on December 8 at approx 24-25% body fat, (size 4, 5'6" and 134 lbs). I wasn't pushing hard with the weight....I was more focused on learning good form, and to be honest, I was still worried/brainwashed about "bulking up". I was resistant to following the custom meal plan and instead was tracking my calories as I went. As a result, my macronutrient ratios would be off, I would be sneaking bites of hidden calories that I wasn't accounting for, etc. All of that combined with the holidays led to December basically being a wash.
In January, I got more serious and ordered a custom meal plan from MFL (Muscle for Life - Mike Matthew's site), with the exception of my cheat meal, sometimes 2, I follow it closely, using measuring cups and the scale during food preparation. I started pushing hard on the weights and now the scale keeps moving in the right direction. I have lost about 8 lbs in the past 2 months and 4-5% body fat. My tummy is getting flat and everything is getting leaner and more toned - NO bulking whatsoever. Recently I started doing my workouts in a "fasted" state, which I think has started to accelerate my results further. You can find an article on the MFL website on how to do this effectively, using a few supplements to give you energy and avoid muscle loss.
My goal is to reach 17-18% body fat by June, and I feel very confident in my ability to get there since I now really KNOW what to do because of this book. Thank you, MM! :)
This past fall, I went on vacation, and looking pictures after returning, I realized just how "skinny fat" I had become. This is despite doing hard, exhausting workouts about 5-6 times a week (mostly Firm Cardio and Buti yoga dvds) and eating a Paleo diet in order to "get in shape" for months and months before going. How frustrating!! With my 40th birthday looming, I became determined to get into shape once and for all....which led me to Google...which led me to looking at books about weight training for women.
I honestly believe every woman should read this book even if they don't believe they will end up doing this program. Why?
1) Knowledge is power. It is easy to read, interesting, and will literally blow your mind about the "myths" many women have been brainwashed to believe about regarding weight loss and fitness. The fitness industry is full of people that just want your money and will give you "advice" that is a bunch of nonsense, period. I am still a member of some Facebook fitness groups of trends I have followed in the past, and it sickens me to see how these women are misled by these fitness "professionals".
2) Nutrition. If you don't have nutrition nailed down, it won't matter too much what you do in the gym. This book explains why it is important to figure out your TDEE and calculate a reasonable calorie deficit, how to do a proper cheat meal weekly, and how important it is to follow a custom meal plan (something I resisted at first and once I got on board, the scale started to move...more on this later).
3) Bulking. You will learn why it is really difficult for a woman to bulk up and impossible if you are in a calorie deficit. I never understood why men did cutting and bulking cycles. Now it all makes sense!
4) Big picture. This book really helped me to understand how important it is to build a strong metabolism, the role that diet (high protein) and muscle plays so that you see long term results. By learning the truth about the myths I mentioned earlier, you can avoid doing things that are actually causing you to HURT your metabolism. You will learn about what workouts are basically wasting time and WHY. I can't emphasize this point enough. Mike Matthews explains the why and backs it up...something that most fitness "professionals" do NOT do.
My results so far...
I started on December 8 at approx 24-25% body fat, (size 4, 5'6" and 134 lbs). I wasn't pushing hard with the weight....I was more focused on learning good form, and to be honest, I was still worried/brainwashed about "bulking up". I was resistant to following the custom meal plan and instead was tracking my calories as I went. As a result, my macronutrient ratios would be off, I would be sneaking bites of hidden calories that I wasn't accounting for, etc. All of that combined with the holidays led to December basically being a wash.
In January, I got more serious and ordered a custom meal plan from MFL (Muscle for Life - Mike Matthew's site), with the exception of my cheat meal, sometimes 2, I follow it closely, using measuring cups and the scale during food preparation. I started pushing hard on the weights and now the scale keeps moving in the right direction. I have lost about 8 lbs in the past 2 months and 4-5% body fat. My tummy is getting flat and everything is getting leaner and more toned - NO bulking whatsoever. Recently I started doing my workouts in a "fasted" state, which I think has started to accelerate my results further. You can find an article on the MFL website on how to do this effectively, using a few supplements to give you energy and avoid muscle loss.
My goal is to reach 17-18% body fat by June, and I feel very confident in my ability to get there since I now really KNOW what to do because of this book. Thank you, MM! :)