Jog On

Amazing, amazing book , I feel like I should be sending a gift or something to Mackie, I picked this hoping to find motivation and exercise and I did.
She's one of us, and there she is explaining what she's been through and how she fought back: sharp, honest, brave. I want to congratulate her for turning around her struggle and producing such a powerful memoir/book from that.
Would highly recommend it to anyone, who struggles with physical activity, ANYONE not only women, highlighting.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a few of the authors newspapers / magazine articles and really liked her style, her honesty and her openness at sharing her story.. This continues in that same vein and gives good practical help for those who may benefit from exercise in helping their own mental health issues.

My own running has lapsed lately and this has actually given me a much needed prompt and reminder why I need to get back on it!

I absolutely loved this book. In sharing her own struggles with mental health and how running has helped her to manage them, Bella Mackie has written an inspiring, funny and insightful book that will encourage anyone looking to improve any aspect of their life to put their trainers on and give running a go. As someone who has suffered with depression since the age of 17 I found it really interesting to read about someone else's struggles and how the link between physical and mental health is too often overlooked. I have been working on the couch to 5k program for a while and Jog On has definitely inspired me to stick with it. This is a well-written, thought provoking and non-preachy look at how running has improved one life and how it could help many more.

'Jog On' by Bella Mackie is a very frank memoir saying all exactly the way it is. Bella writes about her premature divorce and battle with depression, all very honest but at the same time hilarious. Mackie shares descriptions of everyday struggle with depression and writes about running which helps her a lot in this uneven fight with mental illness. I really appreciated the genuine style of putting things the way they are, and most of all the sense of humour which is as outstanding as the one belonging to Mackie's now husband Greg James (the BBC1 Radio presenter). If you are fighting with depression this book will definitely be a nice support and inspiration to overcome the bad days and find peace in something like jogging even if you've never jogged before.

This is an inspiring book and I thought I had a vague understanding of mental health in particular OCD. The author in the book gives examples of her thinking and her OCD. Wow just wow. I had no idea how consuming it can be and how it limits their everyday life. This prompted me to reach out to one of my friends who suffers from the same anxiety as the author.

A real eye opener of the book and I thank the author having the courage to write this.

Being a runner/jogger myself, I really enjoyed Bella's insight into her reasons for taking up this physical activity. I'm a firm believer that jogging not only has huge health benefits, it also has a massive impact on your mental health well-being.

I enjoyed hearing about Bella's coping strategies and her struggles. She gives a good insight into, what is today, a common occurrence for many people.

It was a quick enjoyable non-fiction read that will appeal to many people.

If you're not sure whether jogging is for you, then all I would say is read this book, feel inspired, and give it a go. What's the worse that can happen?

I would honestly go as far as saying this is the best book I’ve read this side of the millennium. Bella has described, with such honesty, all the strange bits of anxiety that no one ever mentions and offered anicodes and ideas to back them up.
I was hooked on this book from the beginning, and truly believe it’s going to change my life, or at very least my perspective of it

This book is more than just a memoir- it is also a book that offers advice/self help.
It takes you through Bella’ life and how running helps her get through hard times in her life. I found that I was cheering Bella on with regards to her achievements through running- starting small distance and achieving a fantastic 13k
This is totally unfiltered. Bella writing style is so beautiful- her book is both inspiring and a joy to read.
Bella is raw, honest- She doesn’t leave anything out- I loved how she isn’t ashamed to talk about her mental issue. A subject that is sadly still a taboo,
Thank you to both NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is great for people who suffer with anxiety. Bella was very honest about her own struggles and that's very refreshing to read.

This book is a combination of memoir and running/mental health guide. I found the sections where Bella shared her own experience of running - from initially pacing up and down an alleyway to increasing her distance to an impressive 13k - to be honest, relatable and quietly inspiring. In much the same way as Bryony Gordon, Bella is a person who decided to run, therefore she runs. The tips for beginner runners at the end of the book are sensible and realistic for complete beginners and/or those with little confidence in their abilities. There were large sections in the first half of the book that described a variety of mental health issues. I read this book during an anxious period and skimmed these sections as they heightened my own anxiety. That said, for people who have little or no knowledge of anxiety/depression/PTSD and more, the detailed medical explanations may offer an insight.
Great to have a book about running that doesn't focus on long distances.

A beautifully written and inspiring book. Bella's style is approachable, her story is poignant and compelling, and her account of the mental health benefits of exercise is completely convincing. This is much more elegant than your usual self-help book. It's a memoir, but one which uses the first-person experience to reach out to the reader. Timely and honest. I can think of many people who I'm looking forward to recommending it to. Now, where are my running shoes...?

I’d like to thank William Collins Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Jog On’ written by Bella Mackie in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Bella suffers from mental health issues, agoraphobia, panic attacks and depression and when her husband leaves her eight months of marriage she finds it hard to get off the sofa let alone carry on with her life. She could stay on the floor feeling sorry for herself but instead she has a sudden urge to run despite having never taken part in any physical activity. She puts on her trainers and starts running and although her first run is barely three minutes it’s just the beginning and she gradually increases her distance until she’s running around London taking over control of her life.
‘Jog On’ is a well-written and moving account of one woman’s efforts to overcome her problems and get her life back on track. I’ve never been into running but I have nothing but admiration for someone who does and who can give such inspiration to others who may have similar problems to her own.

Jog On is refreshingly honest, witty and relevant. Bella Mackie’s battle with anxiety rang many bells with me - from the school days filled with worry and the constant ‘what ifs?’, to the failed relationship that derailed her completely. Her account of these dark times is so relatable.

Bella shares brave and inspiring anecdotes on how a discovery of running has helped to relieve and control her mental health issues, in one of the best books I have read on the subject. A powerful memoir that will do so much good, thank you!