• The Wellness Project

  • How I Learned to Do Right by My Body, Without Giving Up My Life
  • By: Phoebe Lapine
  • Narrated by: Phoebe Lapine
  • Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (473 ratings)

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The Wellness Project

By: Phoebe Lapine
Narrated by: Phoebe Lapine
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Publisher's summary

After she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in her early 20s, Phoebe Lapine felt overwhelmed by her doctor's strict protocols and confused when they directly conflicted with information on the best-seller list. After experiencing mixed results and a life of deprivation that seemed unsustainable at best, she adopted 12 of her own wellness directives - including eliminating sugar, switching to all-natural beauty products, and getting in touch with her spiritual side - to find out which lifestyle changes truly impacted her health for the better. The Wellness Project is the insightful and hilarious result of that year of exploration - part memoir and part health and wellness primer (complete with 20 healthy recipes), it's a must-listen not just for those suffering from autoimmune disease but for anyone looking for simple ways to improve their health without sacrificing life's pleasures.

©2017 Phoebe Lapine (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about The Wellness Project

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

1st World Problems & Naturopathy

Before I begin, let me start by saying I really really wanted to like this, and there were a few sections which I found quite interesting and well researched, but overall I wanted to quit, increasingly more with every passing chapter. It took me such a long time to finish this book and now that I have I feel I owe it to fellow readers to review since all the reviews that I saw before my purchase were 5 stars.

If Ivanka Trump, minus a few billion dollars, and an actual career/job, were to write a wellness book under the astute guidance of Gwyneth Paltrow and Marie Condo - this would be the book. Perhaps they would call it 'Women Who Do Wellness'; To be fair I will list the things I did like before I recount the anger I felt while forcing myself through these chapters.

Pros
1. Green Beauty - this is a journey I have experience with and I still struggle with it. (I totally understand my hypocrisy in calling out this book but saying this is a positive aspect - It's stupidly expensive to buy organic skincare, unless you just don't put on any makeup ever). I probably researched the same topic to death, and while I did not learn anything new myself from the chapter she included others who haven't considered the chemical crap in their makeup or skincare products may benefit from the information she has included. I think the topic is extremely important, and I commend her for researching this and including the information.

2. The chapter on probiotics and gut health - I actually learned a few things from her virtual meeting with some microbiology professors over skype. It only reinforces my obsession with kombucha. I also think our society downplays the overuse of antibiotics and how damaging it may eventually be to the delicate balance of our gut bacteria and the evolution of smart viruses.

3. From her book, I found her blog, and there are amazing recipes, which I plan to try. We may not agree on all wellness topics, but I'd absolutely buy a cookbook if she wrote one.

4. Charlie and Baron - I was so annoyed with her I felt camaraderie with the creatures forced to share their lives with her. Is that a pro? Not sure - but I’ll list it here anyway to balance things out. Charlie, and Baron the beagle - you both have my sympathy for your involuntary presence in this wellness journey.


Cons
1. HER ACCENT - I grew up in NY, while in upstate NY, but I've lived all over and I've traveled all over. I have a graduate degree in linguistics actually, so it's rare that I don't marvel at any accent as I LOVE language in all its forms and irregularities. This author choosing to read her own book .... why would her publisher allow this? She pronounces every 't' as a 'd' which just became extremely distracting after the first hour, and after the first 2 chapters I wasn't sure I could continue to listen to her talk about 'gluden'

2. A large portion of this book is specifically focused on hashimoto's syndrome, so if you don't have that you can discount 25% of the material as it won't be relative to your own wellness.

3. Naturopathy Medicine and Pseudoscience - The author seeks out a number of non-scientific not proven remedies. Some of these eastern medicine remedies like acupuncture have enough research behind them that I could agree with their inclusion, but she delves further into some woo woo aura/chakra-type crap (like if a certain part of your back hurts it's because of relationship stress) that I nearly had to forward through and almost had to stop reading.

4. Most Important : The book is supposed to be about healthy 'hedonism' and there is zero hedonism involved. Further she never solves the premise in the book's title. She ends the epilogue with 'Am I fully healed? Have I found the magic recipe for hedonism that allows me to feel good while indulging in all life's pleasures? How I wish..' I purchased this book because I expected someone to tell me how they found balanced or figured something out and the author ends this book by telling us she hasn't. Clearly, she has 'forgodden' the main thesis of her book.

5. Did not spark Joy

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71 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The best health book I have ever read.

When a lifelong diagnosis becomes a nightmare, Phoebe makes the most of it and tells us much more than her story, but shares advice on thriving with this condition. Health is different for us all, but when someone shares tips on how to live a gluten, caffeine and alcohol free life (and more), us deficient sisters can relate and empower one another and live fully.

I just sent this to the author and she responded with gratitude and gave thanks. Everyone should read this book.

Phoebe. Girl. You are amazing! My name is Anna and I just finished your book. I don't know if my words will ever do justice, but I want to thank you from a fellow diseased sister who needs to give my body a break. Your words lept on my stiffed-arm rebellion to truly reform my thinking about my version of health. I want to thank you for writing your words. I truly admire you more than you will know.

Thank you Phoebe Lapine. We all can learn from you! If you are feeling inadequate in the health aspect of your life, you must read this book. You will not regret purchasing this one.

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8 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

No real help

Not really sure she figured out exactly what she needs to do with her life and health. Also, her diction is 99% good but she does not pronounce her Ts. Says gluden instead of gluten and “dayda” instead of data. Noded instead of noted, paddern, not pattern, etc etc.

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4 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Misinformation

I listened to a couple hours of this. It seems to be largely an autobiographical tale of one woman's struggle with Hashimoto's Disease, and the various ways she tried to treat it, most notably by changing her diet. There's also a strong self-help/wellness guide aspect, with advice on more natural makeup, better hydration and better eating. The author is a chef, not a doctor or a nutritionist, but it seems like she did her research... right? She certainly sounded scientific, with her recitations of physiology facts and nutrition studies.

She maintains lemon water will flush toxins out of your system, that fluoride is bad for you and must be removed from your water, and that charcoal sticks will thoroughly clean water, just by being immersed in it for a while (without the water actually being forced through the filter).

This is not science. This has changed from a harmless and interesting tale of one woman's struggles to manage her illness and personal wellness, and has turned into a work chockablock with inaccuracies. Following this book could lead people to pursue useless, possibly expensive or even harmful tactics, all while believing they are taking care of their health.

I stopped listening once she got to the fluoride and activated charcoal sticks and deleted the book. There's no sense in filling my mind with untruths.

Turn to more accurate resources on nutrition for your wellness needs, and to other biographies for your entertainment.

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3 people found this helpful

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Alot of opinions not a lot of facts

The author tries to pass ALOT of unproven scientific claims as fact in this book. Some examples include gluten intolerance (the people who even funded this original study have since admitted they were wrong), only drinking water an hour before or after eating, fluoride affects on water and many more. She also seems rather obsessive with her “quest for wellness” and seems down right rude to a lot of people who don’t follow her unscientifically proven lifestyle (I can’t imagine why they might be resistant l......)

Don’t get me wrong, if she wants to eat this way that’s her prerogative. However I do have an issue with her presenting fiction as fact to fit her agenda. Would not recommend unless you are interested in the claims I previously stated.

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I enjoyed the personal account of her journey.

While everyone is different, there are protocols that serve people that have other conditions even though she has Hashimoto’s, I know I have done a few of the methods that she has and I know they work. I’ve already recommended this book to friends. Her pacing is interesting and the methods by which she approached all the modalities was very compelling, as I got the feeling that she really gave them each an honest try. Most people don’t. It takes a lot of discipline to embrace these different protocols as intensely as she did. And it takes a lot of discipline to write about it as nicely as she did. I like the honesty toward the end where she doesn’t say which protocol served her best. I think it’s a combination, and having the awareness to continually self observe and monitor where you’re at is also key. Definitely a worthwhile read! (whether you have a condition yourself or know someone who has, this book gives insight on what it’s really like to apply protocols throughout your regular life.)

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helpful for any hormone imbalance

listening to Phoebe was like having a girlfriend over telling me a story. i lives every minute of it. it was such a refreshing take on the experience of frustration and helplessness in the face of hormonal imbalances. very inspiring. i love felling that much less alone.

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Ties it all together

This book was a great way to tie the many health books I've recently read all together. The writing an narration makes it feel like you are speaking with a friend (random pop culture references and all!). I would highly recommend to anyone starting a new health and wellness journey or trying to stick to one.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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so so

Was a free read with my membership so I guess I can't complain. Was okay.

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Misinformation

I really wanted to like this book, but it perpetuates a lot of false information, proven wrong for years.

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