Now in Paperback: 'The Spark,' with Secrets to a Strong Start

By , SparkPeople Blogger
We have some great news! The paperback edition of Chris "SparkGuy" Downie's New York Times best-selling book, The Spark: The 28-Day Breakthrough Plan for Losing Weight, Getting Fit, and Transforming Your Life is now available. (Can I get a WooHoo!?)

We're really excited to share this new and updated version of the book with you--at a new low price (under $11 at some retailers!). In addition to all of the great features found in the original, the paperback contains our Strong Start Guide, written by SparkGuy and Coach Nicole, which shares the proven strategies to lose twice the weight in two weeks--and keep it off! What you do in the first two weeks can make or break your weight-loss program, and we found out what works. (The paperback version is updated and is the only place you'll find the all-new Strong Start Guide!)

Previous SparkPeople research that found that 50 percent of people report losing their momentum within two weeks of starting a diet, and 18 percent within three days. And once the momentum is gone, the diet usually fizzles. To discover the secrets of a strong start that builds momentum, SparkPeople did a new in-depth survey of over 2,000 of its members and found that ‘strong starters’ lost twice as much weight in the first two weeks and were five times more likely to reach their ultimate goal than 'false starters' because they took certain actions and avoided others in the first two weeks of a weight loss plan.

The survey's most counterintuitive conclusions: focus less on weight loss and you'll lose more of it, and shorter workouts lead to greater weight loss than longer ones. You'll have to buy the book to read the entire Strong Start Guide, but you'll find the key findings below--along with details on free deals and other cool extras (like a free bonus “SparkPeople Issue” of All You magazine with 100 pages of additional healthy living tips, advice & success stories!!) you'll get when you buy the book!

Key Findings of the "Strong Start" Survey

The Most Noteworthy Conclusion: Focus less on your weight – and you'll lose more of it!

About the survey
Having quantified in a previous poll the crucial nature of maintaining momentum in the first two weeks of a weight-loss program, SparkPeople conducted a 45-question survey of more than 2,000 active members to compare the strategies and techniques that members did and did not employ to get off to a "strong start" or a "false start."

"Strong starters” were survey respondents who felt they had a good start, reported meeting their initial expectations, and consistently lost weight for at least eight consecutive weeks. “False starters,” in contrast, did not feel good about the start of their programs and failed to meet their expectations for their first two weeks.

Weight Loss Results
  • Almost half of strong starters lost five or more pounds in the first two weeks; the remainder dropped 2-4 pounds.

  • 60 percent of false starters lost one pound or less during their first two weeks and fewer pounds over time than strong starters, as the momentum of a strong start proved critical to longer-term success.

  • Overall, strong starters lost twice as much weight in the first two weeks and were five times more likely to reach their goal by the end of the survey period.

Secrets to a Strong Start
  1. Track Food and Calories: Both strong and false starters ranked "food tracking" as the one action that made the biggest difference in their programs. 82% of strong starters tracked food every day vs. 65% of false starters, and strong starters were twice as likely to track their calories.

  2. Don't put certain foods off limits: Strong starters were less likely to label foods "good" or "bad" and forsake certain foods, and were three times more likely to use portion control techniques that supported consumption of unhealthier foods in moderation.
  3. Spend LESS time exercising: On average, strong starters exercised for 30 minutes during the first two weeks; false starters for 60 minutes, suggesting that false starters burned themselves out.

  4. Focus on both diet and exercise: 74 percent of strong starters made both fitness and dietary changes from the outset, compared to 50 percent of false starters.

    Want to know the rest of the secrets? Buy the book today!


When you buy "The Spark" paperback, you'll also get these extras:

FREE GIFTS For a limited time only, get a free bonus “SparkPeople Issue” of All You magazine with 100 pages of additional healthy living tips, advice & success stories from SparkPeople's members and experts! FREE with purchase.

FREE ONLINE MEMBERSHIP TO BOOK BONUS PROGRAM You’ll receive free access to EXCLUSIVE Online Bonus Book Program that includes new content, recipes, workouts and downloadable tools from The Spark.

EARN 500 SPARKPOINTS If you buy now, you’ll receive 500 SparkPoints when you get your book and login to the FREE Bonus Book site. Go to page 223 of The Spark to get further details.

Click here to learn more about the book, the bonuses--and where you can buy it (on-sale dates vary by retailer)!

Which of the secrets to a strong start most appeals to you?