Getting in Shape: 32 Workout Programs for Lifelong Fitness [Paperback]

Getting in Shape does a wonderful job of taking you gently from doing no exercise through a complete and well-explained path to being in shape. There are eight different levels of workouts, arranged in order from easiest to hardest, plus special workouts for focusing on particular areas of your body or dealing with special challenges (like traveling or having no time to work out). The easiest workouts are designed so that even people with significant health or weight problems can start exercising at a level appropriate to their current abilities.

Each workout has recommended stretches, strength training exercises, and aerobic exercises (with a number of different options presented, depending on what you enjoy doing). The instructions are clear, and the increases in difficulty gradual enough that I actually began to enjoy working out, rather than dreading it.

Everything is designed so that a minimum of equipment is required even at the most advanced levels: a weight bench, a few basic weights, and decent shoes for your aerobic workout of choice are about all it takes. This is the best book of its kind, in my opinion: it is a practical and reasonable guide to getting in shape for those of us who have lives that otherwise don't include exercise.

This book has it all. If you could only have one book to get into shape with, this would be it. It has many excellent basic programs for all around fitness which include lifting (weight training), moving (aerobics), and stretching. In addition to the basic fitness programs, it has "fine tuning" programs which are total programs that focus on specific body areas, and it also has programs for people with special medical conditions, i.e., arthritis, pregnancy. You can also find programs for people with busy schedules, and a program to do when you're traveling. It also has information about diet, health issues, and tips for staying fit and healthy. The illustrations are great. This book is perfect for the average Joe (or Jane) who doesn't want something too overwhelming but wants to be fit and healthy. It's written in a very straightforward manner, is enjoyable to read, and is jam-packed full of totally useful information. EVERYONE could get something out of this book!

In 1996 after I went to US from India, within a year, I was overweight and then the fitness blues started. I went thru several cycles of extreme exercising, dieting, pain and give-up. During the same time I wanted to find a no-nonsense fitness literature. One of the criterias of my search was to avoid the books boasting photographs of ideal bodies. When I saw this book, I trusted my instinct and bought it. For four months I followed the programs (from this book) from "program before program" to "basic program 2" and reduced several kilos. During this time, I did not clearly follow very important advise from the book about increasing the training progressively. I had to give up because I was doing too much after getting encouraged by initial results.

It is 2006 now. Almost 10 years are over and the book itself stayed with me all these years. At the back of my mind a dream stayed to complete first 5 basic programs from this book. The authors claim that after completing the fifth basic program, a person will be physically fit as per the American College of Sports Medicine's guidelines for an healthy adult.

From Feb-2005, I started following programs from this book again (from the beginning). I was then 82 kilos. I had promised myself to write an amazon review of the book after losing 10 kilos. Now after one year I have lost 12 kilos. In November, after completing "the basic program 5" and after getting in good shape I took up serious running as a sport/hobby. Recently from Amazon, I bought a copy of this book as a gift to a friend.

If followed methodically by listening to all the advise by the authors, this literature has capacity to build a foundation for serious athletic capability in a person. The programs are designed with purpose of letting you focus on performance (training) without letting you worry about what next. Every exercise is explained in easy to understand words with crisp clear illustrations. The illustrations and explanations are precise and it is strongly advisable to follow them correctly for best results.

As I started losing kilo after kilo, I developed interest in nutrition, general fitness and subsequently invested into other related resources. Everything is paying off now. I have told myself to continue the training as I have realized that fitness is always a journey and not a destination.

From last November, I started preparing for marathon and have already run couple of road races with lesser distances. These days, I feel euphoric when I hit the road or when I go to the gym and follow the last set of programs named 'fine tuning' from this book. While following the book, I have also developed great respect for the authors.

In my opinion, the front page (cover) of the last edition was better than the latest edition. The front page of the last edition has coloured illustrations by Jean Anderson who also made the illustrations for the entire book.

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