I like how this was a resource for encouraging small changes, but by bit, whilst being compassionate towards the reader. Not entirely for where I’m at with my illness, but I can see this benefiting others

Really helpful book for those of us who struggle with mental health, cause sometimes that means getting out of bed is an impossible task. Keeping your body active is so important and this book makes that more accessible for more people.

This is an absolutely outstanding book about why and, more importantly, how to incorporate exercise when living with mental health issues or neurodivergences. Zero judgement, practical tips, and guidance on how to create and modify a plan that works for you.

The reviewer who compared it to the exercise version of How to Keep House While Drowning is spot on--it really is. The moral of the story is that something is better than nothing, unless you have nothing to give, and then nothing is fine too. Do I think it was life changing and earth shattering? No. But I think it's useful to hear these things every now and again, especially in a world of tiktoks and instagram reels and posts about biohacking.

Really informative and interesting. Definitely good if you need a little bit of guidance of what to do.

Work it Out makes beginning exercise easy! A flow chart helps you decide the best kind of exercise based on your feelings and past experience. Tips for fitting exercise into your schedule are included. There are pages to help beginners build a workout through a step by step process. It is easy to understand the various exercises and tips being explained.

I loved the title straight off the bat. The tips inside were a terrific starting point for anyone wanting to get fit without over extending themselves.

I love this book! The tone, design, and art are delightful. I would love a whole series of these books as people progress. It's so motivational and makes decision making easy for the reader with some great flow charts. I think this will help a ton of people--to find an exercise they like, to just start moving, or even just to treat themselves kinder. LOVE IT!

How can you not love a guide to movement that suggests using an amenable pet for strength training?!? This is a wonderful resource and a joy to read. It meets you where you are, whether that's ultramarathoning or maybe thinking about starting to consider getting out of bed. Truly embracing the concept that fitness is for everyone, all ideas are on the table, from traditional gym/trainer to busting out a set of curls with your grocery bags before you put them away.

I love the affirming tone. It's funny, realistic, and positive without being patronizing. Focusing on what you CAN do is such effective motivation. It does tend to get a bit text-heavy, but it's easy to pick up and put down if that does get overwhelming. I'd heartily encourage anyone to give this a read--it's full of great suggestions and models a wonderful way to think about being active.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

As someone in their early thirties who has always struggled with finding the motivation to be physically active, I can appreciate this book's informal but realistic attitude towards physical fitness. I've seen enough "no excuses" and "get hard/skinny/strong/etc" fitness books that treat working out more like a personal calling than a basic human need. This book acknowledges that being fit is good and healthy, but it doesn't have to be the center of your day to day life. I especially like the flow charts that guide you to advice and parts of the book that are applicable to your particular situation.

If you're having a bad mental health day, but you still want to get some fitness in, this is the book for you. Sarah Kurchak is both a personal trainer and someone who struggles with mental health (oh and is also Autistic). Her book is organized from starting to exercise to how to exercise when the bed is the only place you want to be as well as the importance of rest.

From a mental health angle, this can be a helpful book. For anyone with physical limitations, you'll need to seek out a medical provider (I was reading this from a personal condition I have and was disappointed to be referred to a provider when finding a provider is already hard enough).

It is a helpful book. The biggest draw back of the book is the sidebars and where they are laid out. There are these "bust myths" and another type of one page side bars that disrupt the flow of the book. This is actually not good for some readers who are neurodivergent as these disrupt the flow of what's being explained and occasionally disrupted a sentence. For being a title focused on mental health and neurodivergence, I was disappointed in this design choice. This book could have also benefited from one more editing pass. Unfortunately there isn't much out there on this specific topic so it's an ok start.

This book gets it.

Working out can really suck. Pretty much all of us have serious baggage about it - especially gym-class related terrors - but Kurchak both acknowledges that and approaches exercise in a way that doesn't make you shiver when you so much as think about entering a gym.

This book gives extremely compassionate looks at how our bodies work, and adapts for what resources and abilities people have when trying to plan a fitness regime. Whether you've never lifted a dumbbell in your life, or you're fitness fanatic - there's something for you in this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quirk books for giving me a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I really wasn't very impressed with this book. There were a few good exercises, but as someone who is chronically ill, it wasn't exactly inspiring or motivating to make me want to work out more, especially when I'm already feeling like I just want to stay in bed, which is the premise of the book.

A fun guide to exercising when you just DON'T feel up for it!

This is a fun and colorful illustrated guide to help you work out when you just aren't up for it.

This book is very inclusive and covers mental health as well, which can be a difficult subject. It gives plenty of tips and motivation for various types and methods of exercise, ranging from bed stretches to intense workouts. This book can be utilized by everyone, whether you are just beginning your exercise journey or are a seasoned cardio-holic. We all struggle and can use some encouraging words every now and then. Exercises that can be done in bed are also covered, which I appreciate for those really bad days or for those that may struggle with other issues.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk Books for providing a digital ARC for review!

I never really know how to rate self help type books! But i do think this was a decent book! If you are someone who doesn't know much about fitness and is thinking for a good easy none stressful approach this book should definitely help you out!

Lots of practical support and an easy read. Sarah explains the science really well and helps make sense of it all. I also liked the fact Sarah spoke of the wider contexts and narratives that might stop us from getting us all to where we want to be.

The premise of this book sounded right up my street.
However, the actual book was a bit of a let down.

I'm definitely not an exercise expert, but a lot of this book was just common sense. I didn't learn anything new from it, and I don't think it needed to be written.

I'm feeling a bit lost as to what I was supposed to think and feel from reading this book - nothing special - nothing new!

Are you a fitness buff?
Always on the lookout for great fitness trends?
A gym rat or Peloton addict?

This may not be the book for you.

However, if you're fitness-challenged, or cannot find the mental stamina to get started working out, or think that what you're able to do might not be enough, then you need to read on. Kurchak puts together an easy to read AND implement plan for working activity and exercise into your life, no matter the mental or physical obstacles. She encourages readers to use what works and not worry about the rest. She acknowledges the roadblocks to fitness and gives workouts and tips for anyone, including those who can't hardly find the mental energy to get out of bed, much less run around the block or pump iron. A refreshing change from all those gung-ho, all-in, no-pain-no gain plans.

My favorite quote:

The best workout is one you can do...a good-enough workout that you can and probably will do...it might just make you feel OK about yourself when you can do it - which makes the next time a little less daunting.

A mood-boosting exercise guide for people who just want to lie down. The author points to opportunities to treat our bodies well and to work with them instead of against them, especially if we suffer from anxiety or depression and really have no motivation to do anything.

We live in a deeply flawed culture that bombards us with harmful messages about our work ethic, bodies, and health. From the moment we’re born into it, we’re told lies about ourselves and each other.

Exercise encourages new nerve cell growth and connections in the area, which could lead to more stable moods and can give you a sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy.
As little as 10 to 15 minutes of moderate effort at a time can make a difference.

The book is an excellent guide and motivator. We should unlearn the harmful lessons we’ve been taught about health and build more constructive programs and more inclusive spaces for fitness.

Sarah Kurchak gives us permission and encouragement to ignore any tip, suggestion, or idea related to fitness that stands in our way.

Our goal is to feel better than we do right now. Anything that negates any improvements we’re making or makes us feel worse is officially contraindicated.

The perfect exercise is one that we will actually entertain the thought of doing. The perfect body is a breathing one.

The book is written with understanding and tenderness for all who lack motivation.

I enjoyed the writing style of this book but found it to be more of a dip in and out rather than read cover to cover so it took a while for me to read. I think it would be good for people who aren’t into exercise or those that would like to be.