Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This book features a comprehensive approach to fitness...cardio, strength training, stretching and healthful eating. Each body type has a slightly different recommendation, in order to target (with toning exercises) particular problem areas. Denise's manner of writing is informative, friendly and encouraging.
What I liked best:
The cardio workout recommended is walking, which is nice because it can be done any time, anywhere. There are four walking workouts per week: an endurance walk, an interval walk, a walk with toning exercises incorporated and a combination interval/toning walk. Every two weeks the length of the walk is increased so that if you follow the schedule you will be walking 45 minutes/walk four times a week at the end of six weeks. There is a modified schedule for those who are quite out of shape, starting out. The fact that there is variety in the workouts makes it more interesting and less likely to result in a fitness plateau.
There is a wonderful chapter on emotional eating. Basically, Denise's suggestion is to keep a "hunger" journal...noting down what time you eat, how hungry you were (on a scale of 1 to 5) and what the surrounding circumstances were. I have tried this myself and keep going back to it occasionally as a touchstone. I've found this a very helpful tool as far as modifying my habits.
There are three eating plans along with suggestions for which would be most appropriate: a 1,400-calorie-a-day plan, a 1,600-calorie plan and an 1,800-calorie plan. Denise also has suggestions for modifying them. As one example, Denise explains why some women might find it most successful to alternate between the 1,400-calorie plan and the 1,600-calorie plan.
The food on the included menus has lots of variety and is delicious. I don't think anyone would feel deprived. It's also quite flexible, making it user-friendly. For instance, the shopping lists note which foods not to buy if you're planning to eat out on a given day during that week.
Finally, following her three-times-a-day stretching routine has been one of the best things I've done for myself. I've always stretched before and after workouts, but never throughout the day, every day. In the past month or so, little aches and pains that I used to have by the end of a day in the office have melted away.
As I get older, I find myself less concerned about a number on the scale, per se, and more concerned about maintaining strength and flexibility so that as the years go by I will continue to be able to do with ease the activities I love. I found Denise's advice in this book fit right in with my goals for a lifetime of fitness.
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