A comprehensive weight loss journal to accompany Weight Loss Made a Bit Easier: Realistic and Practical Advice for Eating and Exercise by independent author Larry Zafran. This book includes seven pages of instruction including explanations of abbreviations and terminology, but is intended to be used in conjunction with the main book. Unlike many weight loss journals, this book does not provide the means to "count calories." The author, himself having overcome more than 30 years of overweightness, maintains the opinion that efficient and permanent weight loss requires a high level of awareness of eating, exercise, and emotions, but not in the form of "number crunching." Each daily journal entry provides space for the dedicated individual to notate his/her motivation, focus, and goals. There is space to track whether stretching and/or meditation was done, as well as brief descriptions of cardio and strength training exercises performed. For each meal/snack, there is room to notate the time of day as well as a brief description. On scales of 1 to 10, the reader is asked to evaluate his/her food choice, portion size, and level of calmness. More importantly, the reader is asked to evaluate his/her Fullness Level (FL) both at the start of the meal, as well as 20 minutes after. The goal is to keep FL between 3 and 8 by maintaining awareness, and opting for appropriate food selections and portion sizes. There is room to track water and alcohol consumption, activeness, and support/sabotage from others which may have influenced food or exercise choices. There are fields to notate moods and stress level, whether/why goals for the day were(n't) met, and space for general notes. The book includes special weekly/monthly questionnaires to cultivate mindfulness about plans, goals, and challenges for the upcoming week/month. Additional journal pages can be printed at no cost via the author's website which also hosts a discussion forum and contact form.

A book by independent author Larry Zafran who overcame three decades of being overweight. It is important for the prospective reader to understand for whom this book is NOT intended, and what this book is NOT about. This is not a diet book. It does not include recipes, menu plans, eating schedules, or calorie listings. It is not an exercise book. It does not include exercise schedules or routines, or pictures or detailed descriptions of exercises. It does not imply that losing weight is fast, fun, or easy. This book is NOT intended for anyone waiting for a weight loss solution in the form of a new food/drink, diet, exercise DVD/gadget, drug, or supplement. It is not intended for anyone hoping to lose weight via counting calories and regular weigh-ins. It is not intended for anyone morbidly obese or who has a medical condition requiring a doctor's supervision, or anyone convinced that s/he is "genetically programmed" to be overweight. This book is intended for adults with "typical" modern lifestyles, who are willing and able to accept that efficient and permanent weight loss requires basic effort and awareness, as well as small, gradual, practical changes to both eating and exercise habits. The author is not a doctor, celebrity, personal trainer, or dietician. After briefly describing his personal weight loss story, the book provides guidance for becoming aware of one's eating and exercise patterns, and slowly modifying them such that any changes are sustainable for life. The book includes chapters on emotional and interpersonal issues in weight loss, the impact of restaurants, fast food, advertisers, the news media, American culture, and myths. The author advocates using a detailed journal to track patterns and foster accountability. A companion journal is available but need not be purchased. The book describes how to make a journal oneself. Blank pages from the companion journal may be printed at no cost via the author's website which also hosts a discussion forum.

A planner and journal for homeschoolers and involved parents by independent author and math tutor Larry Zafran. This record book provides space for 180 days of comprehensive homeschool planner/journal entries spanning 20 subjects. They are self-explanatory and adaptable for homeschoolers or involved parents who are tracking or supplementing the education of traditional school students. The book also includes an attendance calendar, forms to document the syllabus, textbooks, and materials being used for each subject, and fields to document other pieces of information which may be requested and/or required by government or school officials. Additional printable pages from the book can be downloaded at no cost via the author's website which also hosts a discussion forum.

This is the second book in the Math Made a Bit Easier series by independent math tutor Larry Zafran. It is a workbook of practice exercises, self-tests, and review notes to be used in conjunction with the first book in the series, subtitled Basic Math Explained in Plain English. The math content in this book is directly aligned with the first book. It covers the topics which comprise the foundation of math. It begins with practice in basic arithmetic, followed by basic operations, negative numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, and basic probability and statistics. If these topics are not completely mastered, later work will prove to be quite difficult. This is especially true of algebra. An extensive introduction describes how to obtain the greatest benefit from the book. The book also outlines practical techniques for attaining the optimal mindset for studying math and improving scores on exams. An answer key for all exercises and self-tests is included.

America's education system is in a state of crisis. A growing number of America's youth cannot read, write, or do math at all close to grade level. In many cases, these students and their families do not realize this or care. The situation is compounded by the fact that American society no longer values education, and does not understand how learning actually works. Frequent reference is made to the illusion of learning in underperforming schools. The book explains the difference between true learning and just being exposed to material. It explains the essential role that parents play, and that even with encouragement, a child cannot be forced to learn. The book is targeted at parents, teachers, administrators, government officials, and concerned citizens. Older students may also benefit from reading it. Despite its frankness about topics which are often disregarded and avoided, there is nothing in the book that students don't intuitively understand. In particular, many students regularly experience the anonymity of being herded like cattle. The goal of the book is to raise awareness, and discuss whether we can fix the problem. We cannot address our nation's education crisis until people understand its underlying causes and scope. The book tells the truth, in contrast to the misinformation provided by the government and the news media. Suggested changes for improvement are made, including those that can be implemented quickly and easily, and those that require a great deal of money and coordination along with a fundamental change in how America handles education. This book is controversial, and covers issues that may anger, upset, or confuse some readers. The book includes curse words to paint a vivid picture of the way many students speak, and bluntly labels key aspects of our education system as bullsh*t where applicable.

An independent book written and self-published by former math teacher and private math tutor Larry Zafran. Students are justified in proclaiming that "math is hard," but there is a specific reason why they feel this way. The author maintains that the struggle can be lessened by following the roadmap presented, but it will take time and effort on the part of the student. Since math is often not properly taught, it is often not properly learned. Anything that hasn't truly been learned, regardless of subject, is "hard." Once the various concepts are more secure, and the student's gaps in understanding have been addressed, math will have been made "a bit easier" as promised by the book's title. However, the book does not imply that learning math is fast, fun, or easy. Most of the book's content is comprised of the roadmap of topics for a student to work through at his/her own pace. Like all paths, it begins at the beginning, in this case starting with a review of basic arithmetic, followed by basic operations, negative numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, and basic probability and statistics. This is the foundation of all math. The space devoted to each topic is proportional to how difficult most students find the topic, as well as how important the topic is in preparation for later math studies. The material is explained conversationally and "in plain English" as promised by the book's subtitle, without talking down to the reader, and without the use of contrived examples or cartoonish illustrations. The book concludes with a chapter on how to effectively study math and improve scores on exams. Like the rest of the book, the chapter takes a unique standpoint on the matter, and offers suggestions which include how to get oneself into the proper mental and emotional mindset for being successful with math.

This is the fourth book in the Math Made a Bit Easier series by independent author and math tutor Larry Zafran. As the second "main" book of the series, it builds upon the first book which covered key topics in basic math. Before working with this book, it is absolutely essential to have completely mastered all of the material from the first book. Continuing the roadmap which began with the first book, this book covers the basics of the following topics of algebra and geometry: Expressions, equations, inequalities, exponents, factoring, the FOIL method, lines, angles, area, perimeter, volume, triangles, the Pythagorean Theorem, linear equations, and the Cartesian coordinate plane.Again, if the prerequisite material from the first book has not been fully learned, the student will almost certainly proclaim that this book and its material are "hard," and will continue to feel frustrated with math. There is no way to avoid learning math step-by-step at one's own pace. This book emphasizes concepts which commonly appear on standardized exams. While it does not go into great detail about any concept, it explains the material conversationally and "in plain English." Some practice exercises and self-tests are included. Mastery of these concepts will likely be sufficient for the student to achieve his/her math goals, but more advanced exams may require some knowledge of material presented in later books in the series.