Michael Jarosky's "40 Days as a City Caveman" is more than just an inspirational, fat-to-fit story. It is a comprehensive guide entailing the ins and outs of the workouts, the recipes, and importantly, the mental support needed for anyone wanting to reclaim their fitness, their happiness, and their health and their life. 

GenQ put some questions to Michael about the idea behind the book, the Caveman Philosophy and why this isn't just another dieting book. When asked about the idea behind the book title, '40 Days as a City Caveman', Michael explained the situation he found himself in, approaching his 35th birthday.

"Prior to my 35^th birthday, I was tired of the man boobs, hangovers, and lying on my RSVP profile of ‘Body type: athlete’. I knew I was a ‘fat-hlete’. So, I looked myself in the mirror and said ‘Enough is f---ing enough; it’s time to make a change."

"I had the choice of using diet pills, lipo, the latest ab machine or weight loss breath sprays, but my thought was ‘if 60% of us are obese, how well are all these futuristic cures working for us???’ So, I decided to buck the futuristic trends and take a look in the past…the Caveman past. City Caveman isn’t about hunting my food or eating certain berries or types of meat. It’s more about a lifestyle of health/fresh food in a modern environment without all the chemical additives and preservatives and junk I’d been consuming for years. Caveman simplicity also relates to efficient workouts and proper water consumption" Michael explains.

Although the book title and whole life-change plan revolves around a 40 day cycle, it's also important for the potential 'caveman' to not only commit to the 40 day plan, but to make a long-term commitment to a lifestyle change and that can be a BIG challenge for a lot of people. Michael rationalised this 40 day period as only being .003% of his life at 35 years old.

"I’m confident that committing to that short of a period is do-able for anybody. Take it 10 days at a time, then another 10 – and you’re half way there and in the groove. By the end of day 40, you’ll have a better body, better skin, a clearer head…and so much more, that you’ll not want to go back to the old ways. Easy is ordering a pizza and eating it in 30minutes. Hard is a lifestyle of diabetes and heart disease. Lifestyle change is challenging…I will not lie about that. Remember, 40 Days isn’t a long-term commitment…it’s a short-term plan that helps you enjoy a longer-term life!"

"As childlike as it sounds, I signed a Caveman Contract at Day 1 detailing my commitment, and to hold myself fully accountable I created a ‘tick chart’ that had 3 boxes for each day of the week" says Michael.

As any counsellor/health professional will confirm, the Caveman Contract is a really clever way to start a commitment like this. And so, one is included in the book when you buy it, for you yourself to commit too. And the workout plan/food and water chart across the weeks is extremely handy, too. A definitely plus for any book wanting to inspire change through method. And as Michael re-assures, this 'lifestyle' change and contract is not all about shutting out any palatable pleasure from your life!

"Let me say…the Caveman philosophy is not ‘no drinks, no cheeky food’ for the rest of my life. Post-40 Days, I’ve now entered the ‘Control Phase’. Sure, I enjoy a beer or two and some pizza, but I’ve developed the tools and mentality to build health and it’s now about control and making the right choices, and I have my 40 Day experience to draw upon to make sure I’m making those right choices." Michael says.

Of course many people out there may be skeptical of such a book, writing it off as just another diet book on the block. Michael notes honesty and simplicity as two main factors his book has over the rest and what makes it so successful as a health and fitness tool. If you are looking for Arnold arms and a size 0 figure, you've come to the wrong place.

"Right off the bat, I don’t want people to think this is a plan based around developing Arnie’s biceps or Paris’ waistline…this is a book about being honest with yourself and finding your Happy Healthy Zone, where you look good in jeans and a tshirt and have mind-body confidence knowing you are a fit, healthy individual."

"I’ll never look people in the eyes and say ‘Do the City Caveman Plan, and you’ll lose XXkgs’ because those guarantees are everywhere on late nite TV, and we all know they don’t work. My book is not about dieting, it’s about proper diet, with efficient exercise and water consumption – a very simple formula that will provide successful weight loss" Michael explains.

The fact that the book is a personal account, makes it that much more relatable and effective. This isn't about a fantasty diet or taking a pill and losing 20kgs. And in turn, Michael takes inspiration from others as well. In terms of celebrating the successes along the way, Michael notes that it's important to 'feel' good about yourself, and to make note of them too.

"Noting the triumphs is just as important. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but the beauty of lifestyle change is to look yourself in the mirror while putting on your new jeans and tshirt and say, ‘Shit, I look great…and mentally, I feel absolutely amazing.’ I hope readers enjoy similar triumphs and a new/better lifestyle."

"One might think my ‘anyone can change’ statement is too presumptuous, but I truly believe in the power of people (and that includes everybody) to change."

"I now write for an Aussie fitness mag, and I recently interviewed a chap named Scott Rigsby. At 18yrs old, Scott lost both legs below the knee in a car accident, underwent too many surgeries to count, then dealt with depression and drug dependence. Why mention Scott? Because Scott’s inspiring story ends with him turning his life around and just becoming the first double amputee to ever cross the Hawaiian Ironman finish line. Scott Rigsby is inspiring. City Caveman folks should find their own inspiration, and let it motivate them through their 40 days of change."

"In the context of health and fitness, change is a journey…with its ups and down, triumphs and battles, laughs and tears…but it’s a pretty cool journey that provides an amazing new lifestyle at the end…one I’m certain that any man or woman can do, and better yet, enjoy."

40 Days as a City Caveman is available through bookstores nationwide and from the City Caveman website, http://www.citycavemanfitness.com/

As for Michael's personal mantra;

"In our current culture where we put so much importance on money and acquiring things …more things, bigger things…it took me 40 Days to realise ‘Being fit and healthy…is truly wealthy.’"

Tags: fitness, health, weight loss