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How I Did It: A Fitness Nerd's Guide to Losing Fat and Gaining Lean Muscle

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Loved it! 😍

A great guide to healthy eating and exercise that is perfect for beginners

How I Did It is a really fun, engaging guide to healthy eating and exercise. The chapters are short and concise but are filled to the brim with useful information. Clark effectively breaks down a lot of information into easy, digestible chunks that those at the start of their health journey can understand. This also makes it easier to find a particular section you are interested in, for example, the importance of stretching and mobility work. Clark also debunks a lot of falsehoods or common misconceptions throughout, yet also provides the reader with healthier alternatives. This helps to guide the reader as we are being shown what not to do, as well as what we should be doing. The ‘take away’ sections at the end of each chapter also help to emphasise and reiterate the key points Clark wants to make, and provide an excellent checklist.


Yet the main highlight of How I Did It was Clark himself. He is a very witty, personable narrator and his narration helps to engage the reader. It is obvious that he is passionate about his subject, and his excitement is infectious. He is also very candid about his own experiences when shifting to a healthier lifestyle, and the highs and lows that accompanied it. Not only does this make him more endearing, but helps to reassure readers that it is ok to struggle and fail in this journey. He also weaves statistics into the book without it becoming bogged down and helpfully breaks down what the numbers mean. Ultimately, the reader comes away much more informed about food and exercise and can apply what they’ve learnt in their lives.


How I Did It isn’t a fad diet; there is no easy way out here. It doesn’t advocate any dangerous or extreme methods to lose weight. Instead, Clark breaks down different diet and exercise advice and gives tips on how to achieve your goals. It’s a warm, friendly, yet informative book that provides solid advice for long term change. A particularly great book for those new to exercise.  

Reviewed by

Lou has been blogging on Random Book Reviews Web for nearly 3 years, reviewing a mixture of books from historical fiction to romance to non-fiction. When not reading she can be found at her local cinema, theatre or in her kitchen attempting to bake.

The Hard truth

About the author

Nate Clark is a writer, comedian, filmmaker, and fitness enthusiast. In addition to his original work, he also directs content for brands including Louis Vuitton, the New York Times, FENDI, Cartier, Breeders' Cup and more. He lives in Los Angeles, CA, with his husband and their son. view profile

Published on July 14, 2020

Published by FITNRD

90000 words

Worked with a Reedsy professional 🏆

Genre: Health & Wellbeing

Reviewed by