The Path of Intention: Five Habits to Optimize Your Health and Create a Life You Love

What caught my attention about this book: A medical doctor (Dr Libby Wilson) and a CrossFit L-2 coach (Nathan Long) combining their expertise to help readers take charge of their health and how they age.What’s also noteworthy is that Dr Libby has moved far away from practicing the traditional medicine she learned at med school (cure everything with medication) to practicing functional medicine (first find the root cause then fix it).The goal of this book is to help readers identify where they are at in each of the five factors (sleep, diet, exercise, relationships, and mindset), determine where they want to go in the future, and implement daily action steps to get them there, p. 36.These are some of this book’s many diamonds:“We don’t drift to what is healthy. We drift to what is easy,” p. 26.“When you get a good night’s sleep, it starts the domino effect of positive action that leads to your daily health and wellness,” p. 41; “Poor sleep makes you hungry,” p. 44; and “Lack of sleep increases the risk of depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure,” p. 45.“There is no one diet to follow,” p. 65; “Eat real food,” p. 68; and “Stop buying low fat,” 71.“Exercise improves heart health, blood pressure, muscle mass, bone mass, and also helps to control weight,” p. 101; “Get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity, aerobic exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous activity,” p. 106; and do burpees, p. 106.Prioritizing relationships with those closest to us and making them meaningful is very important to our overall health and wellbeing, p. 131; we’re wired to only maintain around five close relationships and about 150 total relationships, p. 131; we shouldn’t take those we love the most for granted, p. 136; and forgive easily, p. 137.“Managing our thoughts, controlling our stress, and expanding our mindset are all parts of this very important factor of health,” p. 159; read books, p. 163; spend time alone, p. 165; pray, p. 166; and learn, p. 166.Do Dr Libby and Coach Long achieve the goal of their book? Yes. Their tone is friendly. Their advice is sound. Five stars out of five.

Dr Wilson was actually my Doctor for several years and I loved her. All her patients did. I was not at all surprised to see her leave her practice to pursue a more wellness approach to her pursuits. I was surprised to learn of this book and I am so glad that her and her co-author saw fit to share their insights and get us focused on some hard realities that we will be facing if we do not implement some of these practices asap. Kudos !

This book presents a blueprint that can be easily adapted with a bit of forethought and intention. It isn't preachy or strict and has suggestions that the average person can actually do! The ideas are presented by telling the story of two couples and how their seemingly insignificant daily decisions result in a drastically different quality of life. It's all about taking some control of your life instead of just letting life have its way with you. After each chapter on the 5 key areas- sleep, diet, exercise, relationships & mindset, there are the Daily Deposit & Withdrawl charts, which I love. They show how our daily decisions either add to or take away from our overall health. There is so much knowledge in this book but for me, the chapter on mindset really brought it all together. I'm reading it for the second time- it's that good!

Words don't do justice to how great this book is and how much it has helped me. It's a pocket manual full of inspiration and easy-to-understand concepts that break down mindset, diet, lifestyle and much more. Dr. Libby and Nate really go back to the basics while adding their own personal experience, insight and tips. I love the story of the two couples that is weaved into book's narrative as a comparison to help the reader understand the concepts. I highly recommend this book (and the accompanying workbook) if you feel stuck in a health rut and aren't sure where to turn. Turn to this book to gain some clarity on how to start taking small yet strategic steps toward managing your health. You won't regret it!

“Aging is inevitable, but how you age – that, my friend – IS within your control”. The two powerhouse authors of the newly released, best-seller book, The Path of Intention, share inspiring and thought-provoking stories, self-assessment surveys and easy to implement - actionable steps that inspire the reader to live life with intention!Dr. Libby Wilson, M.D. is a certified functional medicine doctor and owner of Best Life Functional Medicine as well as my trusted healthcare provider. She and co-author Nate Long, a CrossFit Affiliate owner, coach, and passionate trainer each contribute vivid stories and valuable insight on the 5 critical pathways to optimal health. Their combined healthcare expertise and years of coaching is evident in the easy-to-follow, flow of this book. Each section presents with scenarios based on one of the 5 pathways to intention that ultimately cause the reader to take pause and reflect on your life today. Yet, it doesn’t stop there, at the end of each section there is a quick self-evaluation survey. Then, the authors provide specific action steps and simple, yet profound lifestyle tips specific to your personal score!I highly recommend reading the Path of Intention, not only is it enlightening and inspiring, but it also offers you the opportunity to assess your current level of life and potential health span. By the end of the book, you will find yourself feeling empowered and equipped to act on the life you are living and with the mindset of intention, know that the choices you make today determine the quality of your life tomorrow!

Healing is not only about taking right food, medicine or supplements. As a FDN ( functional nutrition diagnostic practitioner) I realized another side of healing is how you deal with day to day relationship with others and how you control your emotions and stress.This book has a unique look at lifestyle changes which is not nutrition or medicine but how we fuel our soul in relationship with others or even with ourselves.

Rather than go into all the amazing inspiring messages Libby and Nate have to to give the reader on living their best life purposefully and with intention I would like to discuss the tone of this book. I felt as if they were my friends having a discussion with me. Many of these kinds of books are lecture types with so much advice you have heard hundreds of times. I find their style refreshing, their suggestions friendly, their habits easy to follow and their tips practical and sensible. You can hear their passion in their stories and experience. Thank you both for your very easy going approach to wellness that helps keep the reader comfortable and ready to take on the challenges with an open mind!

I found this an extremely interesting read and appreciated the inside secrets to living a healthy lifestyle. The advice was actionable and inspiring. Definitely recommend it to those who wish for wellness.