Bodydoctor: Trust Me, I'm the BodyDoctor. [Paperback]

The nutritional advice in the book is sensible, and not at all faddy. The exercise programme is great, but it does take a lot of time. The book says that you can do the exercises in an hour and a half, but I haven't managed in under 2 hours yet, so it's not ideal if you don't have a lot of time.

Having said that, from the changes that I've had since starting the programme, I'm going to make sure that I make the time to follow the exercises from now on.

Though the exercises seem simple, what's unique is their combination and sequence. As a gym rat, I've tried most of them already and am usually left aching and exhausted after each workout. However, the sequence recommended helps you 'clean as you go', with each exercise stretching out the muscles used during the previous exercise, preventing lactic acid build-up. Result? No more aching! You get a thorough work-out without having to suffer the usual aftermath of such an intense workout.

Furthermore, the simplicity of the exercises is a big plus because I'm too busy to memorise a new workout every so often. Maintaining the same easy exercise routine allows you to concentrate on your form, which is essential to getting the most out of your workout (and not hurting yourself!). Yes, the exercises will need equipment. But the equipment (a swiss ball and a couple of weights) aren't that expensive, especially when you consider it an long-term investment for your health. Furthermore, if you do belong to a gym, it doesn't mean this book's obsolete. It tells you which exercises are worth doing and the best order to do them in - that's something most gyms won't give you!

However, this book is largely for people interested in losing weight and decreasing their body fat, hence he recommends 25 reps per exercise. This makes your body burn more fat but with minimal muscle gain. If you're more interested in bulking up, you might want to change that to 8-12 reps (of course, with heavier weights!). I believe that we need a combination of both - you need to gain muscle, but you also need to decrease body fat so your muscles can be seen! You could probably try alternating between a 'heavy' (8-12 reps) and 'light' (25 reps) version of his routine to get the best results.

Finally, the book's written in a conversational, chatty tone, which makes it seem more personable and less intimidating. It's included a lot of pitfalls to avoid, which I've found very useful since they're pretty easy to fall into! It's definitely not as good as having a personal trainer walking you through your workout, but it comes as close to that experience as any book can.

Exercises are the backbone of the book, but it also has very useful nutritional advice and even recipes. You're supposed to alter both your exercise and eating habits, but I've chosen to start the former first before moving on to the latter, so I can't really comment on his advice on food.