The Complete Book of Fitness: Mind, Body, Spirit

• Strength Training offers effective, illustrated workouts for every muscle group.
  
• Cardiovascular Training includes invaluable information on fat-burning and metabolism.
  
• Diet and Nutrition demystifies eating for health, strength, and athletic performance.
  
• Wellness provides an introduction to alternative therapies and healing, rounding out your total fitness package of mind, body, and spirit.

Grabbing The Complete Book of Fitness would be a more rewarding choice. The Editors of Fitness Magazine have done an elegant job of explaining all the terms and conditions related to fitness, summarizing current research, and advising the most healthful paths. The book is divided into four sections: Strength Training, Cardiovascular Training, Diet and Nutrition, and Wellness. Within each chapter, the pertinent topics are arranged in alphabetical order, so Wellness runs from acupressure to yoga, Diet goes from alcohol to weight, and Strength Training covers everything from abdominals to "Weights and Aerobics: Which to Do First." Explaining how consumption of alcohol leads to weight gain (answer: calories from alcohol get burned first, so calories stored as fat are less likely to be needed), which exercises work the buttock muscles (and how to perform them), why eggs make a healthier meal than people have been led to believe, and how to avoid or overcome fatigue and stress, this is a great resource when fitness becomes too complicated to figure. --Stephanie Gold

Every women wants the answers and know how to speed up their metabolism and want to know what to eat before and after their workouts. Everything is here. Plus, do you know how hard and how long you need to workout to burn fat vs. build muscle or stay burning suger. This book will tell you. I could never say enough about this book!! It makes you understand what you should do and tells you how you can acheive it.


Get the most from your workouts... maybe even enjoy them!   October 8, 2002
Stacy E. Braxton (San Antonio, Texas USA)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

There's nothing more frustrating than diligently adhering to a fitness regimen and not getting the results you expected. If this has ever happened to you, you must read this book.

So many times we start with good intentions but bad advice. Or our bodies work differently than we expected them to. Knowledge is very powerful, and it helps you take control of your health and really understand your body. Instead of getting frustrated, blaming yourself, and giving up, get some facts.

Here are just a few of the fitness issues this book resolved for me:

Q: How long do I need to do aerobics to burn fat?
A: (p.160) 15-25 minutes for men, 25-40 for women.

Q: Why aren't my muscles getting big, like men's muscles?
A: (p.147) Women's muscles get denser, not larger.

Q: How often should I strength train?
A: (p.113) Two or three times per week, for 30-60 minutes.

Q: What is this pain I get down my arm during lateral raises?
A: (p.79) Sounds like impingement syndrome, a swelling of the rotator cuffs.

I have yet to approach this book with a question and come away without an answer.

To review the contents briefly, the book is divided into:

Strength Training, including
- Muscle charts
- Exercise guides
- Equipment
- Posture and breathing
Cardiovascular Training, including
- Energy and burning fat
- Stretching and flexibility
- Pregnancy
- Injuries, muscles and ligaments
Diet & Nutrition, including
- Alcohol, caffeine and food additives
- Phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins
- Dieting and digestion
- Fat, protein and carbohydrates
Wellness, including
- Yoga, tai chi and chi kung
- Aromatherapy and homeopathy
- Chinese medicine and ayurveda
- Depression and stress

And much more, of course. Fantastically useful. If you own one fitness book, let this be it. Odds are good that you'll never need another.