Great Books

All you need to get fit is your own two feet--and a copy of Mark Fenton's classic Walking book, now fully revised.

Muscle & Fitness HERS magazine has provided a program of rapid-fire core workouts for those seeking to "get moving" on a weight-training fitness program or for those who wish to expand, freshen-up, and enhance their workout regimen. There are 101 fully photo-illustrated workouts presented almost one per every page spread. This concept allows the enthusiast the opportunity to glance at the photo during a workout to check their faithful following of the routine. Whether one is a novice or an experienced weight trainer there is a chapter that focuses on a workout plan just for your progress level. And there is a guide to designing your own personalized workout system. Your fitness and well-being are considered with section presenting a cardio primer and there's a feature on basic fitness nutrition, as well. 101 Workouts For Women provides a complete one-stop get-fit package for fitness enthusiasts.

Muscle & Fitness magazine has provided a program of rapid-fire core workouts for those seeking to "get moving" on a weight-training fitness program or for those who wish to expand, freshen-up, and enhance their workout regimen. There are 101 fully photo-illustrated workouts presented almost one per every page spread. This concept allows the enthusiast the opportunity to glance at the photo during a workout to check their faithful following of the routine. Whether one is a novice or an experienced weight trainer there is a chapter that focuses on a workout plan just for your progress level. And there is a guide to designing your own personalized workout system. Your fitness and well-being are considered with section presenting a cardio primer and there's a feature on basic fitness nutrition, as well. 101 Workouts For Men provides a complete one-stop get-fit package for fitness enthusiasts.

From the expert editors of Fitness magazine, here is everything you need to know about exercise, nutrition, and well-being in one comprehensive volume, The Complete Book of Fitness. Hundreds of entries are organized alphabetically in four sections: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.So whether you want to flatten your abs or firm your thighs, you're looking for a stretching routine or cross-training ideas, you want to carbo-load or unload a few pounds, or if you wish to increase your energy or reduce your stress, finding the answers is literally as easy as A-B-C. Clearly written for the layperson, The Complete Book of Fitness serves as a primer on fitness basics, from biceps to water aerobics, from antioxidants to yoga. Packed with easy-to-access information, it is also a gym bible and can be used to customize a detailed fitness regimen to suit any lifestyle and body type.This first-of-its-kind fitness encyclopedia is a must-have for every health-conscious household.

Can reading the newspaper be hazardous to your health? No studies have proven so, but anecdotal evidence indicates that when the health-conscious individual reads too many conflicting articles about what foods should and shouldn't be consumed and which exercises are mandatory or else fraught with risk, that already harassed, overly stressed fitness neophyte may throw in the towel (thereby burning an insufficiently few calories), plop down on the couch, and reach for the remote. 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

The Golf Magazine Golf Fitness Handbook presents a simple six-step exercise system that will enhance your performance, reduce the likelihood of injury, and promote golfing longevity. All of the exercises in this book have been designed especially for the golfer's needs and can be done in twenty to forty minutes. Whether you are a pro or a weekend player, you will find the keys to becoming a more fit, flexible, and better golfer. You will learn to: utilize three incredibly effective warm-up options; increase your range of motion and maximize your power; build stronger muscles and increase your potential for distance; dramatically improve your endurance for better performance throughout the round; master fitness activities that you can insert into your daily routine without sacrificing time; and employ strategies for protecting your back. Filled with invaluable tips and advice gleaned from intensive study and play, this book will help you get the best out of every round golf and keep you playing for many years. (5 1/2 X 8 1/4, 96 pages, b&w photos, diagrams)

In Fitness Stretching, the authorities on fitness present a comprehensive guide to the most important -- but often neglected -- aspect of any fitness regimen.Whether you're running a marathon, biking around the block, or simply getting the kinks out after a long day of sitting, stretching is a proven way to improve your sense of fitness. By lengthening muscles and lubricating joints, stretching prevents injury, promotes recovery, improves posture and balance, and refreshes the body. Plus, learning to stretch correctly can help you to maximize the benefits of your workout.Fully illustrated and easy to use, Fitness Stretching takes you through every muscle group in the body with step-by-step instructions for more than 100 yoga- and sport-inspired stretches. Clear explanations accompany each stretch, allowing you to customize your own stretching routine.For all levels of fitness, Fitness Stretching features an activity-by-activity breakdown to help you find the best stretch for every workout, from aerobics to windsurfing. While you'll find innovative suggestions for stretching in the pool or with poles, barres, and balls, most stretches can be done without any equipment at all. At home, at work, or at the gym, the experts at Fitness can help you make stretching a fun and easy part of your daily routine.        Special sections include stretches:        to heal and prevent lower back pain        for people working on their feet        to do during pregnancy        for individuals over fiftyFor every age or level of fitness, Fitness Stretching is essential to your well-being.

Stretching is an often-overlooked component of total fitness, although it's an essential step to help prevent stubborn muscle and tendon injuries that require long periods of time away from the gym. "Stretching is like the neglected middle child in the 'fitness family'; it is just as important as the other two siblings--cardiovascular conditioning and strength training. And the older we get, the more important stretching becomes," say the editors of Fitness magazine. Next to a lack of time or knowledge, what probably deters most exercisers from stretching is confusion over the five schools of thought on technique: static, ballistic, active, and passive stretching, plus PNF, or Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation. The folks at Fitness explain each of these stretching methods and make a strong case for stretching the recommended minimum of two or three times a week. (While stretching won't help you lose weight or increase the strength of your muscles, it does improve posture, circulation, and balance; lengthens muscles; soothes painful joints; lowers blood pressure; minimizes postworkout fatigue and pain; and prevents or helps relieve lower-back pain.) In this Stretching 101 course, you're given tips on when to stretch, proper alignment, how to breathe during stretching, and when to back off. Each of the more than 100 stretches include clear illustrations and explanations--you'll know exactly when you're doing each move correctly. All major muscle groups are covered, including the lower back, the buttocks and hips, quads and hip flexors, hamstrings, inner thigh, calves and Achilles tendon, abdominals, the torso, upper back, chest and shoulders, arms, neck, wrists and fingers, the ankles and feet, and even the face. A short section on specialty stretches requires a wooden pole, exercise ball, ballet barre, and suspended horizontal bar, all available at sporting-goods stores. You can customize the stretches into your workout routine using the book's suggested stretches for various situations: for the morning and the evening, for those who stand all day, for pregnant women, for those over 50, and nearly two dozen sport-specific stretches. Fitness Stretching is highly recommended for both beginning and experienced athletes and fitness novices. --Erica Jorgensen

Everything you need to know to get fit with your favorite sport. This pedal-pumping primer is for those who want to improve their physical condition through either road cycling or mountain biking. With lots of information on how to lose weight and get in shape, this guide will speed you on to your fitness goals.Discover how to:* Choose the perfect bike by using 10 essential pointers.* Fix the five most common riding mistakes--fast.* Recognize the signs of overtraining.* Get your upper body into peak condition.* Stay strong and limber by learning to stretch throughout the day.* Spice up indoor training with boredom-busting routines.* Keep your knees healthy-- guaranteed.

About this Fitness Book on Abs and Ab Workouts:Do you want to have the body of your dreams, including six pack abs that are sculpted and perfect? Do you look at other people on the beach and envy their good bodies and wish that you had the body to wear the bathing suit you have always wanted? Have you tried starving yourself and exercising, only to find out that you did not achieve any sort of results?You are not alone. There are a great many people out there who would love to have perfect abdominal muscles. A flat stomach and perfect abs not only make you look nicer, but they make your clothes fit better, too.There are plenty of abdominal machines and exercise gadgets that promise results, but fall flat. How much money have you wasted trying to get the perfect abs, only to have some gadget sit in the back of your closet? This can be very frustrating, especially when you feel as though you are throwing your money away and not getting results.Most of these products fail because they only give you one way to get to the abs of your dreams. And if this way doesn't work for you, you're out of luck. But it seemed that all of the advice to get flat abs was geared towards buying some type of gadget or some magic pill.The only advice....until now!...What if someone were to tell you that getting the perfect abs is possible for anyone and can be accomplished by using a number of different techniques and methods? What if someone were to tell you that there was a way that you could learn exactly how to get the abs of your dreams, step by step, by not only learning exactly how to exercise and diet, but also how to think?Well, say goodbye to those abs that are holding you back and start looking forward to the summer at the beach because now there is a way where you can find out the secrets that only a few people know about how to get the abs of your dreams...The Complete Guide To How to Get Perfect Abs is Here!While other books gear you towards buying a product or a service, this book actually tells you exactly what you need to do to get the abs of your dreams. Getting a six pack and looking good is easier than ever if you follow the instructions in this book. This book does not just tell you what workout machines to use, but how to think, what to eat, what not to eat and how to exercise to get the six pack abs that you have longed for but never thought that you would get!This is the only guide of its kind that tells you exactly how to get what you want...Tried And Proven Successful Method! 1) Learn what to eat to get the abs of your dreams!You will need to eat certain foods in certain ways in order to get the abs of your dreams. This book outlines all of the foods that you need to eat, as well as the foods that you need to avoid in clear detail. Not only that, it also goes into when you should eat as well as how much and even what to drink. 2) Learn what exercises to do to get the abs of your dreams!Exercise is a key factor, as you might imagine, when it comes to getting the six pack abs of your dreams. But there are many exercises that you can do to sculpt your abdominal muscles so that they give you that six pack look that you have always wanted. This book explains, in detail, exactly what you need to do and how to achieve the sculpted, flat stomach look of the six pack abs.Learn this and more in this fitness book on abs and ab workouts...

Pregnancy Fitness, by the experts at Fitness Magazine, provides expectant mothers with all the information they need to exercise safely and effectively throughout their pregnancy.Whether you're a hard-core triathlete or just starting a fitness program for the first time, proper exercise can ensure a healthier pregnancy, an easier delivery, and a faster recovery. Pregnancy Fitness guides you carefully through every trimester, covering the physical changes and common complaints for each one, from shortness of breath to dizziness to morning sickness. In each section, chapters on Cardiovascular Fitness and Getting Stronger help you develop the aerobic capacity and muscles to carry your growing child with greater comfort and prepare you for labor. Illustrated exercises show you how to enhance flexibility, build strength, and relieve pain as your pregnancy progresses.Q&As throughout the book cover specific concerns: Can I continue running in the second trimester? Can I lift more than ten pounds? And How to Cope sidebars address common conditions from swollen joints and sleep problems to cravings and gestational diabetes.Based on the latest medical research and designed for women of every fitness level, Pregnancy Fitness is the ideal and essential exercise resource for every mother-to-be.

With everything we know today about health and physical fitness, it's surprising to learn that American men are nearly 10 times more likely to be overweight then they were a century ago. Now, with the publication of Men's Fitness Magazine's Complete Guide to Health and Well Being, the editors of Men's Fitness magazine with the aid of a distinguished 22-member editorial board have put together the ultimate reference for men seeking to maximize all aspects of their well-being, whether physical or psychological. Stressing a "total health" approach, the book addresses a broad spectrum of issues that affect and concern men of all ages and lifestyles. Men's Fitness Magazine's Complete Guide to Health and Well-Being is a one-stop resource for men who want to take charge of their total wellness. The book covers the full range of men's physical and psychological needs from exercise, health, diet and nutrition to self-improvement, body image, stress management and personal relationships. Filled with charts, self-tests, and sidebars, this book links physical and emotional health and fitness to give an informative and unique perspective on the increasingly popular topic of men's health.

What does it mean to be a man? That definition is constantly changing. So are men's health concerns. This comprehensive manual takes on even the most intimate of issues that men (come on now) find important, like penis size. But more than that, it's a common sense guide to obtaining health, happiness and well-being.