Forever Fit
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | January 26, 1991 |
| Founder | Cher, Robert Haas |
| Products | Lifestyle and wellness publication |
Forever Fit: The Lifetime Plan for Health, Fitness, and Beauty is a lifestyle and wellness publication co-written by American performer Cher and sports nutrition expert Robert Haas, published on January 26, 1991, by Bantam Books.
Background and contents
The focus of Forever Fit lies in combining nutrition, physical activity, and beauty to support enduring well-being. This book originated from Cher's intention to enhance her lifestyle habits after feeling exhausted from touring and poor dietary choices. Partnering with sports nutritionist Robert Haas—recognized for his work with athletes such as Martina Navratilova and Ivan Lendl—they developed a practical manual that merges Cher’s personal experiences with scientific knowledge. Haas provided the technical expertise, while Cher contributed her autobiographical perspectives. Promoted as a guide for lasting health improvements, Cher articulated:
The goal isn’t to concentrate on isolated muscles or restrict yourself by fixating on certain foods. Instead, it’s about adopting a fresh mindset regarding health and fitness and about ... your physical and spiritual selves working together in harmony, advancing simultaneously.
The book is divided into three main parts: diet, fitness, and beauty. The nutrition segment contains more than 75 recipes along with charts displaying calorie, fat, and sodium values—even including fast food options—to inform readers. It also presents a straightforward explanation of cholesterol levels. The fitness section discusses general exercise concepts without mandating specific programs but suggests workout videos like CherFitness: A New Attitude (1991) and CherFitness: Body Confidence (1992). The beauty portion offers Cher’s insights on maintaining one’s appearance, stressing the importance of discipline rather than relying solely on genetics. During promotion, Cher referred to the book as "a kind of self-help guide."
Release and reception
Susan Thomson from the Surrey Now-Leader regarded the book as more than a typical celebrity memoir, describing it as a comprehensive resource combining fitness routines, cooking advice, weight management strategies, and beauty tips designed for busy women. Lissa Larkin of the Asbury Park Press characterized it as an informative and positive health journey. The Item emphasized the honest health conversations between Cher and Haas along with Cher’s personal engagement, portraying the book as an encouraging tool for fitness at any stage of life.
On the other hand, Sheila Anne Feeney of the New York Daily News offered a critical perspective, questioning Cher's qualifications in fitness due to her cosmetic surgeries. Feeney dismissed the work as a commercially motivated blend of celebrity anecdotes, endorsements, and exercise advice, calling it a "functional free-for-all of plugs." Despite mixed critiques, Forever Fit achieved the number six spot on Florida Today’s non-fiction bestseller chart.