5 comments about Weight Training Workouts and Diet Plan that Work.

1. I'm a 62 year old retiree who stopped my workouts 3 years ago, ate all the wrong food, put on 40 pounds and 3 pant sizes. I bought the book and followed the author's workouts to the xnth degree. As I complete my 11th week...I've lost 30 pounds and two pant sizes and have never felt better. I did not however follow the author's diet plan because I thought it to be too rigid of a diet for a person of my age - I joined Weight Watchers instead. I highly recommend the book to anyone who seriously wants to lose weight, body fat, and inches. I will definitely keep up with my workouts after week twelve using the routines from this book. Buy it!



2. This book summarizes a few very simple but important rules about diet and exercise that really do work! What I love about this book is that it doesn't have too many words or long explanations. It just gives you helpful information that you can start using RIGHT AWAY! It lays out a 12 week daily menu and workout plan. All you have to do is follow the plan as closely as you can. It is that easy! I love the ease of mind the book has given me because I do not have to think or plan very hard what to eat and what to do for exercises because it is all laid out for me already. I just open the book and do what it says. The index includes full descriptions with pictures for each exercise prescribed, so if you are new to weight training rest assured that this book alone is all you will need to get into it. Also, the book is spiral-bound so it lays flat and stays on the right page for ease of reference when you take it to the gym with you.
   
   The hardest part for me getting started with this was overcoming the fear of "looking stupid" or feeling out of place as a woman doing free weights where usually I see only big, strong, guys working out. But I just did it anyway, and before long I was no longer worried about looking stupid because I am looking so GOOD now! After having my two kids I thought I'd never get my figure back. I am only in the third week of this plan and I am looking better than ever! I can actually see my abs again! Realize that results will vary, but have faith and stick with it, before long you are bound to see results too.
   
   Also, I have noticed a marked improvement in my mood and energy by abiding by the principles outlined in this plan. Eating every 2-3 hours and having a protein source with every meal has kept my brain and body supplied with the nutrients that it needs to function well, and my moodiness, anxiety, and mild bouts of depression have all diminished almost entirely. Not only am I looking great, I am feeling great too--and all this without ever having to feel hungry, or count calories!
   
   If you are looking for help getting back into shape, look no further--buy this book and follow it! You have nothing to loose but unwanted body fat, and you stand to gain beautiful lean muscle, an improved mood and energy, and healthy eating habits for life.



3. I have been using this book for a month and so far I have lost 26 pounds. It is a great book to get you away from the machines and to start using free weights. I am also very excited, because I am starting to see some definition. I highly recommend this book (it is spiral bound, so it is easy to take with you). Good Luck!



4. I started working out a little over a 1 1/2 years ago after not working out for 11 years and having lots of weight to loose. I worked out w/ a personal trainer for 2 months and then did it on my own for 8 months and I just didn't feel like I wasn't getting the best work out. I went to amazon and got this book and used it w/my own diet and loved it! I haven't been bored and I have learned a lot and have been challenged along the way. I switch every 12 weeks between this book and his #2 workout book and love them both. I get done each day and I'm exhausted in a good way. It's like having a personal trainer but not the cost!!



5. This a good book for basics about weightlifting and a good diet plan to coincide with your workouts.

5 comments about The New High Intensity Training: The Best Muscle-Building System You've Never Tried.

1. Nothing New - loads of crap stories during the arthur era ... total waste of time and money... Do yourself a favour ..buy some other book (or read nautilus bulletins available online for free - they have the real information)



2. I would recommend this book to anyone who has lost what they once had and want to regain it. I purchased this book a couple months ago and read it from cover to cover. Years ago I used to train for 2 to 3 hours a day and I was in pretty good shape. Then life got in the way (school, job, etc) and working out became a hassel. Over the course of about 6 years of not lifting a single weight, I lost the muscle and definition that I once had. The biggest thing that kept me from getting back in the gym was the fact that I didn't, and still don't, have the time to spend 3 hours a day in the gym; then I found this book. A friend and I have been following the ideas/principles set forth in the book for just under 6 weeks now. In that time I have lost 15 pounds and have regained most of the muscle that I lost in the 6 years of doing nothing. The biggest thing that really got me motivated to give the HIT ideas a try was/is the fact that it calls for 3 days a week of training and leaving everything you have (strength) in the gym. We lift 3 days a week for about an hour and fifteen minutes, max, for the two of us to get through the set. If you are wanting to regain the strength, definition and confidence that you once had, while still maintaining a life outside the gym, I highly reccomend this book!!



3. Having extensive higher education in the health/fitness field my review is this: Don't buy this book! It features bodybuilders from the 80's and before. Little of the information is accurate and useful. Some of the concepts don't even make sense. Bottom line: save your money for something else!



4. I've been using this program for about 3 months. In all honesty I am not really following a 'body builders' diet. No supplements. I drink my gallon of water a day and eat as much protein as i can, but not really the overage you need for serious muscle building.
   
   This training is incredibly hard to grasp if you really go all out. For one, you would need a spotter on roughly 10 of the 12 exercises you do. Personally, I workout alone and the only thing i can truly go failure on is a Nautilus machine or something similar.
   
   I think this is a good 6-8 week program to do in rotation with some more high rep/intense 6-8 weeks to keep your body guessing and developing. Book's ok, but i wouldn't guess you could do this for a year and really keep the results coming.



5. This was my intro to the HIT. I found it to be a good mix of entertaining stories and practical advice. In fact, much of the stories are presented in a way to help you understand how to apply the techniques in a way that simply giving step by step instructions for the exercises could never do. It contains a 12 month beginner/intermediate program plus another 6 month specialisation application program, which follows David Hudlow and how he gained 18 pounds of muscle in two weeks and more. There is also a section on routines for specialising on particular muscle groups.
   My criticism would be that all the information is there but you have to reread sections a number of times to put it all together. This probably reflects the fact that while HIT is a simple philosophy, there are still many subtle complexities. The other criticism is that the description of David Hudlows program is fairly high level. More attention to detail is spent on the results than how he got there. For example, why did he suddenly put on 18 pounds of muscle in two weeks in phase 2 after doing the HIT program for 66 days in phase 1, with little apparent change except for eating a few more calories, and doing a slight change to the exercise program. It would have been good if more detail was given, for example the way a description of Casey Viator's workout was given, where Arthur Jones commanded him do to more reps etc.
   But overall its an excellent book which I find myself rereading and still picking up new things.

5 comments about Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Running, Second Edition, (Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Running).

1. As a competitive runner I found this book to be extremely valuable to formulate a program that has giveing me that the edge I needed to increase my speed and muscle endurance. I recommend it to any serious runner wanting to improve their performance.



2. I was disappointed in this book. I was hoping to find out more on the difference in weight training between distance runners/sprinters. There was very little useful information on this topic. I know these drills, weights, but as a distance coach, this didn't help at all. It made me think of how to train my pole vaulters/long jumpers a little more, but no distinction is made for sprinters, middle distance, or long distance. That's what I was hoping for when I bought this book.



3. All of the books in this series are nearly the same which can be a bit annoying. However, I view any weight-training programs offered as just a start rather than as the end all of what to do.



4. First, you must be aware of the fact that this book is part of a series of about 30 books called "Weight training for...", including diverse activities such as rugby, bowling and cheerleading, and which are very similar one another. The author had the wonderful idea of writing basically one book and selling 30. Genius.
   
   The book is structured as follows:
   - A running-specific introduction
   - Generic advice about gym workouts: basic stuff like the necessity of warming up and cooling down and making sure you don't lift more weight than you can
   - Tons of (generic) exercises
   - Two pseudo-scientific articles (one about technique and another about nutrition). These were the only remotely useful bits of the book, and they were written by other specialists.
   
   From the above, it doesn't sound so bad. You could even thing this book was worthwhile. This is why it is not:
   
   - The only running-specific advice is contained in the introduction (and the two articles), which is just 9 pages long (with huge font and big tables!)). All the rest of the book is totally generic, addressed to runners, racquetball players and golfers alike. Seriously, there is no other running-specific advice anywhere else, meaning around 85% of the book.
   
   - The explanations to the exercises are pretty basic, similar to what you'll find printed in most decent gym machines. No value added there.
   
   - Even worse, not even the selection of the exercises seemed to be really thought for runners. Only 20% (12 out of 60) of the exercises are for legs. I'm totally for a balanced work-out and training the core muscles, but you'd think runners would want to focus just a little bit more that 20% on the legs, right?
   
   - There is no distinction between sprinters, hurdlers, marathoners, ultramarathoners, etc., which you'd assume would require "slightly" different training routines. You are left wondering whether the author even knows that there are several kinds of runners.
   
   - Most annoyingly, the text is full of ads inviting the reader to join the author's (paid) website. Which I will not.
   
   I truly do not know what the other reviewers based their reviews on, but IMHO this book (and the whole series) is pretty much a waste of your hard-earned money.



5. First off, this book has about a 16 point font and is very short. It looks like my 6th grade book reports where I was trying to fill as many pages as possible. The author is a weight-lifter first and foremost and doesn't seem to have any particular insight into running. He just lists basic exercises and training programs.
   
   The programs are very specific, and there is little advice on how you would tailor your own if you don't plan on lifting weights according to his strict schedule.
   
   Skip this book, get a good book on basic strength training instead.

5 comments about Lean, Long & Strong: The 6-Week Strength-Training, Fat-Burning Program for Women.

1. I just received this yesterday and have read it pretty much from cover to cover. This is a wonderful tool for people who are committed to their workouts and really want to see results. The photos, explanations, etc. are excellent. It is laid out in a very systematic and organized way. I love how she includes both easier and harder options for each exercise and stretch and how she integrates stretching throughout the workout rather than just at the end. I've been teaching fitness classes for years and thought I would breeze through the workout I did this morning, but I found it challenging. I'm looking forward to seeing changes in my body. I like having a guide to go by in choosing what exercises and stretches to do each time. This book is a great find!



2. I love this book. It truly is geared toward all levels of fitness. I especially like that there is not a lot of expensive equipment to by. And, who can say they don't have time to exercise when it's only 12 miniutes a day for the strength training and 20 minutes 2-3 times a week with cardio.



3. I was looking for a range of exercises to try, and this book did a great job showing them to me!



4. I just finished my 18th week of workouts and wanted to write a review to say how much I loved this book. The workouts were short and fun, and I was able to do them every week without missing a workout, even on vacation. This is the most toned I've been ever!



5. So I got this book 5 months ago, but then started grad school and didn't get started until this year (2010) -- so sorry I put it off so long. The workouts in this book are wonderful and so effective. I completed the first 6 week track last week (did the "fat blasting basic" track first) and I'm amazed at the results after only 6 weeks. Just to give some background - I'm in my late 20's, not overweight, but terribly out of shape and starting to feel the changes that come with age (slower metabolism, slowing increasing weight, etc). I wanted to halt the weight gain before I became overweight, but I also wanted to get in better physical shape and look better as I got older.
   
   The first 3-4 weeks were the hardest because I've never done a regular workout regimen (used to go to the gym sporadically and used other books and videos but not with any commitment), so getting used to regularly working out is tough and it takes some time before it's a habit and before you really want to do it. But I stuck to it and never missed a workout (Wini makes it all so easy, you just have to decide to start doing the workout and she's guides the way). Now I look forward to my workouts! I never thought I'd be one of those people but I'm lovin' it! However, one "warning" -- these workouts have NEVER taken me only 12-15 minutes. Always takes around 30, which is totally fine with me! Who can't afford to give 30 minutes, 4 times a week to better health and a stronger body. Perhaps I'm just slow or something.
   
   This really is the full package. Great strength training... great stretches (I have a separate stretching book for dancers and many of these are incorporated into Wini's program already, I was so impressed) and both are so important for changing your body. I really can't say enough to express how happy I am with this book, with Wini, and with the amazing changes in my body over the past month and a half. I've already started the next 6 week track - this time with the core focus. I highly recommend keeping the logs as she suggests because it's a great encouragement to see how much progress you've made and how much stronger you've become. Get it, stick with it, and enjoy the results!

4 comments about Anatomy For Women For Strength and Fitness Training.

1. As a personal trainer and athlete this book is wonderful. I can
   really get the bird's eye view on a women's muscles.



2. This book really helps me see my body, and work the muscles I need to in the gym. The pictures are great, the instructions clear, and the exercises chosen are safe, fun and effective.
   
   It also helped me get much more out of the services of a professional trainer. I read ahead and knew what I wanted to work on, had practiced the exercises, and knew how they felt. The trainer then could add his broad knowledge and experience to my program. I've had a lot of injuries, and so I needed to be cautious about being pushed. This book helped me have the clarity to ask for what I needed and work out in a way that is safe for me.
   
   It's a great supplement to an Anatomy and Physiology class. Why not visualize and feel in your own body what you are learning in class?



3. I teach a fitness class for women over 50 and although this is not targeted to that age group specifically, many of the exercises parallel what we teach and passing the book around class and showing the women what muscle groups are being worked has help to motivate our group.



4. Worth every penny. You learn the correct way & can reproduce it at the gym. It's easy, it's well put together & I take it w/me to the gym.
   Every woman should read this before attempting w/o a trainer. It's also nice to show your trainer when he is doing it all wrong, LOL
   Suzanne

5 comments about The Workout Log.

1. Strait forward and simple to use without all the filler material you find in other journals. I only used it for a short while until I got an IPhone and the iFitness app. Now I use my Iphone exclusively. If you have an Iphone I recommend that app.



2. I couldn't have chosen a better, manual workout log to use. I'll be waiting for an electronic version, though. (smile)



3. I bought this book for my son who is a serious weight lifter and power lifter. He records all his routines and workout sessions in it. He loves it and gave one to his friend to use.



4. Very easy to use. It has a great layout and doesn't waste a lot of pages with useless front matter. The laminated front and back plus the spiral bound pages make this log very durable. Highly recommended!



5. I am starting to concentrate on strength training and this book is great! I love how easy it is to track and there are no advertisements - just simple. It gives an example of how to log and use the book in the front. In the back it has a male with muscle groups shown in an image - it'd be nice to see a female one also.
   
   But, no frills - this book has what you need - blank pages to log.

5 comments about 101 Ways to Work Out with Weights: Effective Exercises to Sculpt Your Body and Burn Fat!.

1. I decided to purchase dumbbells instead of renewing my gym membership, so I was looking for fresh ideas for home workouts. This book has a lot of compound exercises that are great at breaking up the monotony of the usual sets. The challenge of learning new techniques brings such a breath of fresh air. I intend to buy her book of stability ball exercises as well since I've found this book so valuable.



2. There was far more information in this book than just weights. The author really has put a lot of effort into creating a rounded book filled with relevant information. I'm very happy with this.



3. 101 Ways to Work Out With Weights got me started lifting weights again after several years of neglect. I don't care for gyms and this book has helped me develop a great weight lifting program in the comfort of my own home. And I never get bored because there are so many exercises, combinations and routines I can do, many of which I'd never done before. Excellent descriptions and photos ensure I'm lifting properly.



4. 101 Weights is one of the best I have seen as a Head Coach & Trainer in 30 years... specifically targeted for women. Makes knowing how the body works ...easy.



5. This is a great book for creating workouts when you don't have access to a gym. All you need are a few simple props, a few hand weights, and you're good to go!

5 comments about Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff.

1. I could have saved over $1500 in doctor and physical therapy bills had I read this book after the first Dr visit. If you have shoulder pain, please don't hesitate, buy this book! I now have an immense respect for Jim Johnson.
   
   After 5 months of little progress, I finally found this book and about 6 weeks later I'm back to all my normal sports, full tilt.
   
   The research on strength building and stretching in general was mind blowing! Wow, how could this information be so hidden? Unfortunately, too many people profit from non-health.
   
   JJ will show you the absolute fastest and most efficient way to fix your shoulder. By all means, get several opinions before getting surgery. Both doctors left surgery on the table when my tear was very minor.
   
   Yes, they do not want you to read this book!
   
   Jim, if you're reading this, thank you from the bottom of my heart! You are a great man.
   
   P.S. Even if you never had any back issues, buy his back book. After you build up core strength in your back (2 minutes, 3 times a week, yes, really) then you only need to do it once a week to maintain that strength. And no stretching needed. A small price to pay to avoid back pain.



2. Unlike another critical reviewer here, I think that there is great benefit to understanding how your rotator cuff works before detailing exercises for strengthening it. To this aim, Wikipedia can help greatly. If you can't seem to grasp the information on Wikipedia, maybe this book would be a good bet.
   
   However, I, for one, didn't care for having to sort through pages substance-anemic content to cherry-pick the useful bits; it took me a day to review what I should have been able to glean in one hour.
   
   For example, do I need, in my book on rotator cuffs, to read three pages about how a randomized controlled trial works? IF I don't already know, then I can look it up. Or put it in a glossary; that's what glossaries are for. Do I need to read wordy, precise details of each study? Cite the study, describe the outcome, and be done with it. _Maybe_ put the details in an appendix; either way, I can look it up later if I like. Do I need constant repetition, reminding, and teaching that appears to be geared toward a child? If you read each of these critiques thinking, "that's exactly what I need!" then you won't be disappointed.
   
   "Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff" is not a cheap book, and there honestly isn't a whole lot of content. It _does_ contain some useful information, but getting to this information with the limited table of contents, without section references, with no table of diagrams, with random pointless tangents, and with NO INDEX, can be frustrating.



3. I BOUGHT THIS TO HELP ME WITH SHOULDER PAIN FROM TOO MUCH SQUASH THE BOOK IS FULL OF GREAT EXERCISES AND I WAS ENCOUAGED TO USE IT MORE AND MORE WITH THE EXERCISES AND SOME MASSAGE THERAPY I WAS BACK ON THE SQUASH COURT WITHIN 8 WEEKS I FOUND IT EASY TO READ AND VERY HELPFUL I SUGGEST ANYONE WHO USES IT WITH MASSAGE THERAPY WILL HAVE POSITIVE RESULTS



4. This book gives great insight as to the working of the shoulder,as well as all of the connecting tissues. This is not written on such a level that you will not understand the text, it is clear cut with direct ideas, that will save you having to go to a rehab center and pay big bucks to learn. I would suggest buying this book if you ever had a shoulder injury.



5. A thousand thank yous to Mr. Johnson for being one of the very few self-help-book authors to base all of his recommendations on well-designed scientific studies. On this point alone, Mr. Johnson's book stands head-and-shoulders above nearly all others of its ilk. A job very-well done!
   The next reason that I really like this book is that it only takes a few minutes per day to do the exercises. Yes, folks, rehabilitating your shoulders can really be done without needing to place the rest of your life on hold to make time for endless physical-therapy visits and countless mind-numbingly-boring exercises. While the exercises are still mind-numbingly-boring, you can finish them up well before your favorite news program has finished its coverage of the war in Afghanistan and moved on to the war in Iraq!
   And are the exercises in the book effective? I have to admit that as soon as I realized that they were based on actual scientific evidence, my placebo response went into full swing, and my shoulders felt better before I had even started the exercises!
   However, I've now been doing the exercises for around three months, long-enough for the placebo response to wear off, and my shoulders have definitely improved. The trick for me is to be consistent and do the exercises as specified. I found that it helped to read the book a second time, because I had missed and forgotten important details.
   I highly recommend this book!

5 comments about The New Rules of Lifting: Six Basic Moves for Maximum Muscle.

1. This is a great primer in getting back to basics when it comes to lifting. Like most recreational lifters I was educated by Arnold and his Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding. The fact is most people don't need to train at that level. You don't need to evaluate your physique and hit the lower, outer quadrant of your bicep. You probably just want to pack on some lean muscle, this book helps you get there.



2. I bought the "Mens Health Book of Muscles" lame title but exeptional book by Lou Schuler and Ian King. Now I think it should be mentioned that Lou Schuler is not a strength coach but a fitness writer. He obviously put Ian King concepts and routines into some cohesive book form but did not formulate any of the ideas. I decided to buy "The new rules of lifting" hoping that as a successor it would be the next step and an improved approach to the earlier book. If anything you would hope that Lou is doing enough research to figure out who's lifting ideas he should be writing about. I was dissapointed instead. Many Weeks of the same routine with only variation in reps along with uninspired writing and ideas. Not working muscles in isolation has been a concept supported by more than a few strength coaches in the now not so distant past but this book seems to dummy down the approach. After reading this book I decided to start back on the routines in the first book and will probably seek out some Ian king books. Only good I think for building a base.



3. Overall, I liked this book. Right off hand, the actual six 'new' moves - squat, deadlift, lunge, push, pull, twist - didn't feel so new after reading them. This being the main premise of the book, I felt it was somewhat of a let down. If you haven't been exposed to any information on weight lifting or fitness, this is a great break-in/introduction for you. The moves are basic and are usually the moves that many lifters and trainers overlook. The authors do a great job of illustrating each move and offering some variations of each move so that you'll get varying results and won't grow bored with each move. If you've read some of the popular fitness magazines like Men's Health, Men's Fitness and Muscle & Fitness then some of these moves and the advice don't seem all that new at all. The authors do a great job of pointing out what some trainers or casual lifters may be doing with each of these exercises that make them less effective or unsafe and point you in the right direction. As I said, even though the moves aren't new (to me at least) there were definitely a few tips I had not read or heard before that I've tried and have enjoyed reaping the benefits from.
   
   There's a lot more information packed into the book beyond the over-hyped 'basic moves for maximum muscle'. This book includes a great chapter on nutrition that's curiously tucked into the end of the book. In my view, the nutrition chapter was probably the most valuable and should have been placed closer to the start of the book. In my experience, you can exercise all you want but if your diet and nutrition is off track, you won't see the results you're hoping for. The nutrition chapter contains to-the-point lists about the foods you should eat and those that you shouldn't if you want to either gain muscle or lose fat. It also includes a chapter on 'clean eating', a subject that many health and fitness magazines and books written for men often bypass. To me, this was the most valuable information the book had to offer. For those who wanted to apply the exercise moves to an actual fitness program, the authors offer up 4 different programs that have different target results (one for beginners, fat-loss, muscle gain and strength).
   
   Besides the minor complaint that the exercise moves suggested aren't really new, I felt like the organization of the book made it somewhat weak. You are at once thrust into the exercises and fitness portion of the book, then you're offered a somewhat hard to follow series of charts showing you different series of the exercises you can do based on what your overall goal is, then nutrition is explained last. It would have made it a bit clear if the programs had been explained before the exercises so that as you read about the exercises, you have more of an idea of what you're reading for and how you plan to apply it to your own workout routine, then it could have been wrapped with a suggested order of exercises to do. As someone who's gone through different exercises and has read different articles over the years, I feel the nutrition and final chapter on life should have actually started off the book. Having them come last gave the impression that these areas of the muscle-building program weren't as important as the actual exercise moves. Again, without the nutrition, no routine or exercise is going to get you the results you want so I recommend reading the nutrition and life sections first before getting into the exercise and fitness material.
   
   In all, it was still a good book with a lot of good tips. What you end up taking away from the book will be dependent upon your fitness level and exposure to workout and exercise material. If you've read a lot of health/fitness magazines or even other general books like this about exercise and routines, you may not get so much new material to work with from this book. If you're new to weight lifting, this is going to be a great primer. This is definitely written for everyone in mind; the language and tone is casual and friendly and it's an easy read to get through. I can see myself referring back to this book and it having some use to me having now finished it. Definitely one worth considering if you're looking for information on exercise and weight lifting specifically.



4. I have been weight training (mostly bodybuilding style) for over 30 years now. Genetically I am average so as far as looking like a bodybuilder-no it just ain't gonna happen. My build is muscular and athletic but whenever I make a quest for size I tend to gain too much fat. So I saw this book read some reviews about it and decided to give it a shot. I have only been through the first two programs-fat loss 1 and fat loss 2. The book actually has 3 fat loss programs, 3 muscular hypertrophy programs and 3 strength programs. All of the programs are beautifully periodized to keep you from stalling and hitting a plateau. Before you even begin to think about boredom the exercises, sets or repetitions change. The two fat loss programs I have been through are brutal (if you work intensely enough). I have lost some fat (not as much as I wanted too-I ate too much), and gained an incredible amount of energy! My energy levels are off the charts, and I'm no youngster at 48 years old. I am excited about moving into some hypertrophy and strength programs-since that is where my real interests lie. Also the workouts are designed so you can train either 2,3,or 4 days a week. So for busy people (and who isn't anymore) its great. A highly recommended book!



5. I am not an experienced weight lifter and kept in shape by running distance and circuit training. Now that I'm retired from the Marine Corps and can not run any long, I had to do something to keep the weight off and stay in shape. Being new I decided to do some research. I've read other books on weight lifting, but this book really explains the science of weight lifting and muscle growth. Most of the book was easy to understand, although I had to think twice on figuring out the work out programs, but once I started building my workout charts, it click. There is a website that allows you to download and print off workout charts, but I decided to build my own in Excel so I could go back and enter the actual weights and reps I performed. I'm four weeks in the program and I can honestly say I am very impressed with the program. A big issue I learned was the time break in between sets, I had to force myself to slow down and use the whole rest period. Now I find myself actually finishing the reps and sets easily. This program works muscles in groups and sets and slowly builds, so if you follow the program, you do leave the gym exhauset and knowing you did a good workout. Highly recommended for the beginning and intermidiate weight lifter. Although some experience serious weight lifters would also benefit from reading this book as well. Best of luck.

5 comments about The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess.

1. This book has good ideas and of course it does a good job of outlining why women should weight lift and not avoid it for fear of "bulking up" like a man. It would take a lot more effort to even try to look as large as the average fit man. I was confused by the food plan and wasn't exactly sure how they established the rations for protein to carbs to fat for each of the snacks and meals etc. Also I would have preferred more recipes and examples to go by, as someone who doesn't normally eat healthy it can be overwhelming to attempt to set up your own diet plan. For myself I do better with a more detailed plan with daily menus for at least a couple of weeks. Overall I liked the book but the exercises and meal plan just didn't motivate me the way I thought they would.



2. I am a personal trainer and decided to give this program a try so I would know whether or not to recommend it. I have not deviated from the program in any way other than maybe not resting as long as it says to between sets. So far this works surprisingly well. It's simple, straight forward, yet thorough and progressive. Don't let the 'simple' fool you, it can be extremely hard at times, but not impossible. I would recommend it for anyone who doesn't have access to a gym and has to make do with items found in most home gyms. You'll need a variety of dumbbells, a stability ball in place of an incline bench, some bands or tubes for the pulldowns. Little space is required. If you're looking for isolation moves, you won't find them here. It's all about training smarter, not harder. I've made it almost through Stage 5 and I can tell you my arms, shoulders and core have been transformed. Legs show more definition and feel stronger; butt is taking on a leaner look. My body was strong before but never this proportioned.
   The book leaves it up to you to decide at what weight to start with. I chose fairly light weights so I wouldn't exhaust my dumbbell assortment - and I slowly creep up, sometimes only a pound or two at a time. You'll be as sore as you want, depending on how heavy you lift. I was surprised at the one exercize that never fails to make my triceps sore - the prone cobra. Who khew?
   Only piece of equipment I did purchase for this program was a pull-up bar. It was inexpensive and something I'll be using for years to come.



3. Seldom are there "training" books that actually go right into the heart of the matter than this. Usually you would get motivational speeches, excerpts, stories from their previous successful clients or whatever to fill up more pages of honestly, stuff you can go without. Not that it is totally devoid of any readable text, the writing is actually enjoyable and friendly, and it comes in a very balanced tone. Ive taken Weight management sessions with a coach and this definitely has a same philosophy of getting it right but being flexible as to where you are, but nonetheless committed.
   For beginners its pretty friendly in terms of explanation, but you may need a pen and paper to write everything down to keep everything in mind. It became a habit of mine to plan my workouts after my weight management sessions so I can really attest to it that writing it down cements it in your brain and therefore makes you more committed. Just be patient with yourself and just think of it as learning to play an instrument (only easier) and getting used to how it feels. Before you know it you'll master it.
   
   Not many trainers would give this kind of information since many would just hire them and not think about what they are doing in the gym. If you're like me, and your actions are dictated by your understanding, then this is the right book for you. I can probably call myself an intermediate person in terms of know how so I feel that this book can be of great help to me. But if you're more advanced, maybe it could help, but after reading tons of stuff from figure athlete dot com it looks like you would probably be better of going there for more advanced stuff. Although I always believe that going back to the basics always keeps you successful in whatever you do.
   
   Anyway, I bought this as an e-book from B&N since I didn't want to carry a book around with me. Thank God for that so I could read it right away and not have to go to a store and get it.
   If I lose this book I would definitely buy it again for repeated reference to it, and I'd definitely recommend this book to others.



4. I bought this book a year and a half ago in hardcover form. I trained martial arts and bodybuilder style in the past, but for a variety of reasons I let myself get very fat following a knee injury. Enough was enough and when I decided to burn off the lard, and this was just the thing to get me back into the game. I also recommend Tom Venuto's "Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle". These days I'm back to my usual 3-day split with at least two workouts per day. So the workouts in this book aren't intense enough for me. But if you're recovering from an injury or you're new to bodybuilding it's great.
   
   One of the things I like best about this book is the fact it's not patronizing. Instead of a bunch of drivel about "toning" and "sculpting" like you find in so-called women's magazines, the authors get right to the point. YES, we DO want to look like we lift weights. There is absolutely no point in putting forth the effort to work out if there's not going to be any reward. A workout program in which a person still looks and feels like a ball of Jell-O afterwards is not effective or worthwhile.



5. I love this program. It has done my body a world of good. I'm 68 years old and in good general health, but needed a program to stengthen my body. This program hits all areas of my body and has made a new woman out of me. I love the workout recording sheets, which are a great help in keeping track of my program. I have participated in many fitness programs over my lifetime and I can say this one and Rachel Cosgrove's program are the best.