The worst fitness book I've ever seen
933433
This book outlines very basic exercises for women, and a very dangeous nutritional plan.

There is no part of this book specifically tailored for women, except the photos of some women who look like unhealthy steroid users (with 5 o'clock shadows).

I would have liked to see pregnancy, breastfeeding and menstruation addressed, in the exercises as well as in the nutrition plan.  (Can a breastfeeding woman live on 1200 calories per day?)

The authors' indroductions and histories of eating disorders suggest emotional instability with a hint of misogynism.
581393
There is truly not one sentence in this book that makes any sense. It is clearly a very bad translation into English from some other language. Read the "look inside", and like me, you will be wondering if this is a joke. I can't even choose a sentence to include in this review, but here are a couple word for word:
"If you want to stay consistent you need to address this issue and I supply you the problems for free." (Thanks, I need more problems)
"As said by Dr. Atkins, mass gain besides various health conditions stay caused through excessive consumption of carbs." (HUH?)
"Thus, he specified that bulk issues remain unrelated to the quantity of lipid taken, but the manner the body of a person processes, as well as metabolizes carbs." (WTH?)
"With weighty people, insulin falls short to operate as it ought to, and that exist the cause why carbohydrates remain stowed in the physique in place of happening expended for fuel." (What on earth does that mean?)
So folks, look inside and get ready to laugh because this surely is a joke on us. Also notice that this so called author has the same word for word introduction in all his books, all with the same broken English whether it is paleo, atkins, whatever. scam
1496228
Mailman from Jacksonville, FL said it best in a prior review:
"... this hypocritical piece of drivel merely repackages (in between the lies) the following old concepts:

1. Exercise regularly
2. Eat sensibly
3. Enjoy your friends
4. Find a job or hobby that you can be passionate about

Sadly, Crowley's and Lodge's passion, like so many other salesmen before them, is focused primarly on separating your money from you with little to no return on your investment. "

I bought this on a whim in an airport bookstore. Nothing on the cover gives a clue that it's written for men. Oh well, at least I hoped I could pass it along to my husband for inspiration. I changed my mind after a few dozen pages - he is a health professional himself and likely to find this book even more insulting than I did! I found most of Lodge's Prevention-Magazine level information somewhat interesting, but Crowley's good-old-boy, backslapping tone terribly offputting.

I give it 2 stars rather than 1 only in that it might be a good motivator for guys who need to improve their lifestyle yet are not already reading health/diet/exercise/lifestyle information. It's possible that a book format may reach audiences that have not already found this commonly available information via the internet, newspapers, magazines, TV, etc.
3729834
Because this book is terrible. JUST TERRIBLE. Want to know how to be a model or at least get a model body? Just don't worry about it! Don't worry about exercising--modercize (yes, I wanted to vomit upon hearing this word OVER and OVER throughout the book). I assume that "modercizing" is what normal people would call "walking" or "climbing the stairs", but I guess when you're a model it is called something else? And then she goes on about the intuitive eating. ON and ON and ON, really. Intuitive eating is this--ask yourself "Self? Are you really hungry or just bored or stressed or something else?" and if your self answers--"Why yes, self, I AM actually hungry." Then you should eat something that is not crappy for you like fruit or something. And then take yourself to the psychiatrist because you are crazy. That's literally what the ENTIRE book is about. I wish I had more to say, I honestly do. I also was totally disgusted by the absolutely snobby/but pretending to not be snobby tone of the book. I imagine it was more the ghostwriter's fault than Sarah's. She seems like a nice girl who wanted to write a helpful book. And I wanted the same thing---soooo very badly. But this isn't it. This is a really vapid book that makes you want to facepalm yourself every time you turn the page--and that's a total bummer.

Also, I NEVER get rid of books. NEVER NEVER NEVER. And this one is in my Goodwill box. So that should say everything really. If you want ACTUAL helpful information that this book should've had, keep reading beauty blogs or do a good ol' google search.

P.S. I'd forgotten about the word "skealthy" that she sorta made up for this book too. Skinny+healthy, y'all. Whoa. It's like a whole new language of annoying terrible crap.
1767021
This book is NOT helpful.  The descriptions are too anemic to promote good form and the WODS have way too many reps. This is entirely contrary to proper KB training.
820025
I was excited to order this book since Margaret has been posting updates on its completion on the spartan chicken page and she tends to give good racing advice.  If you are looking for training manual skip this book.  If you want a coffee table book, then this is your purchase.  Sensing my disappointment, my German Shepherd shredded it while I was sleeping.  Good dog.

 The four week workout schedule is a farce.  Day one is a good intro workout then I guess it was decided that since you got into such good shape doing the first workout on day two lets give you a workout that is exceptionally hard for even someone in near perfect shape.  And the rest of the schedule mimics the silliness of the first week.

The three page nutrition section would have better just been not placed in the book because it is god awful and really could have been a three sentence paragraph placed in the intro.
364686
I hated this book.  Hated it.  I got it because I loved Born to Run, thought I'd check this one out.  A large part of it seems to be a visitors guide to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  The training plans he comes up with are unnecessarily complicated.  The whole tone of the book he talks down to the reader, he's the super coach, you're doing it all wrong.  He doesn't explain why on anything, just that he's the coach, trust him.  He says he can write a whole book about sports physiology, isn't that what you're doing?
The worst part though is he keeps saying to run like the Tarahumara Indians, a stone age tribe that lives in Mexico.  Apparently the only way to do that is to buy stuff from his website, like a block of wood and some ski poles, retails for 80 bucks.  There's a whole list of things you need to run like the people who run in sandals, like a gps with a heart rate monitor, another block of wood, a fit ball.  I'm sure it's all available through his website.  Save your money on this one, there are a lot better running books out there
1653615
I've been an Amazon prime subscriber for a few years and have ordered countless items without issue. I have probably returned 2 or 3 items throughout that entire time. This was one of the items. I should have heeded the warnings of other reviewers, but I wanted to try it for myself. If I could give this item less than one star, I would. The workouts were pointless and without direction. She did not cue any of the moves and I am fairly certain some of the exercises could cause more harm than good over time. Please, please, please do not purchase this item. It's a complete waste of time and you could end up injuring yourself. Stick to programs endorsed by certified trainers with well documented education and experience. Don't waste your money.
3886846
I really wish I could get my money back. This book had some decent insights, but nothing I haven't heard before. I kept reading, hoping it would redeem itself. It didn't.

My issues with this book:

1.) Poorly organized - it felt like I was reading a bunch of stories from her seminars intermixed between stream-of-consciousness type ramblings.

2.) Concept of God - Personally, I feel like she is capitalizing, even preying upon, people's vulnerability. They see a title like "Women, Food, and God" and think that maybe this is the answer to all their struggles as she invokes God into the equation. She doesn't. She is an atheist. Nothing wrong with that, but she is selling a book that portends to be about women, food AND God except the "God" part is missing. Too new-wave "feel the tingling in your elbow and embrace it!" for my personal tastes.

3.) Profanity - really? Do we really need the F-word throughout and an entire chapter with a swear word in the title (and all throughout) so you see it printed on every page? Is her audience suddenly 14 year old boys???

4.) No real application techniques - She goes on and on and on (and on, and on...) about these different inquiry techniques, and breathing and being aware concepts but she never really tells you how to do it. Finally, after 200 pages of thinking, "Okaaaaaaay, are you ever going to share these secrets with me instead of just telling me stories?" There is a 3 page appendix that actually gives the guidelines of what she was even talking about. Finally, in one of the last chapters she mentions these Eating Guidelines over and over. I actually flipped back through the book - did I miss them? Was I not paying attention? No, she never actually tells you what they are unless you read the last page of the appendix. There they are in all their 7 line glory. Really? That's it? (For more in-depth coverage of these "guidelines", which are excellent she just doesn't bother to educate the reader as to why, see book suggestion in point #5, "Intuitive Eating".)

5.) Nothing new - really, there was nothing in it that I hadn't heard before. If you really want an excellent book on dealing with overeating, try "Intuitive Eating" by Evelyn Tribole and E? Resch (I think??) It was actually assigned as a text book in one of my master's classes in Dietetics. It is an excellent book and is actually written by dietitians.

Don't listen to Oprah - this book is not worth the paper it is printed on (which is ironic, because the paper is of really cheap quality.)
3907425
Decent book, but it does have a major problem if you are new to working out or more specifically, new to these forms of exercises. There are zero demonstrations or descriptions of how to do an exercise correctly. Pretty much every exercise in this book has a single correct method for doing the exercise to get the maximum, or in many cases, any benefit out of the exercise. Do it wrong, and you are wasting your time, or worse, risking injury. Done with correct technique, you will reap the benefits. The technique is the critical aspect and no mention or explanation of it is to be found here.
Combine that with what the book is, an assembly of numerous exercises in various orders, and time frames thrown in for targets and you get a book you could have written yourself. Unless of course you need the positive verbage included in each routine's outline to find your inner warrior.
3138506
I just bought this book a couple of weeks ago and was very intrigued and motivated about starting an actual training routine. However I was very dissapointed with the book in many aspects that should be weighted before buying the book.

Positive things first:
-the methodology and routines described in this book are great and pretty much proven scientifically which is rare in this kind of books
-a bunch of tables, statistics, etc.
-different programs for 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon
-lots of letters from runners and answers to their questions makes this more human and you feel less like a guinea pig for an experiment
-stretching diagrams are very detailed and well explained

Negative aspects:
-almost all the tables and programs are available for free from the FIRST web site: [...] so is it really necessary to write a book this extensive to repeat the information?
-I absolutely HATED that they use english system and then metric system at will.... I was completely lost at some points regarding the distance I was expected to run or my tempo... again, this is solved in the website where you will find the same information in metric units or english units but not mixed together
-first chapters are terribly repetitive, the insist on how less is better and it avoids injuries but is it necessary to repeat it over 50 pages?
-The book seems completely oriented towards qualifying for the Boston marathons... which is fine by me but not every reader cares about a marathon that is mentioned every 2 pages as reference against which all times are measured. I don't see why you cant focus only on 5K or 10K training and enjoy the same method created by FIRST. Yes those 2 programs are available but only about 5% of the book is dedicated to them.
-editor's did a lousy job and some tables go on for pages and pages or sometimes text is interrupted by a runner's letter and then a table and you are suddenly lost and need to focus on what page and what text you were reading

Overall I think its a pretty good running method and program but think twice if you really want to read or buy a book for a program that is already detailed for free in their website and occasiona Runner's World articles.
2233816
Nowhere on the book's cover or in its description will you find the disclaimer, "We suggest that you run or walk on a regular basis - and by that we mean getting out and moving at least 30 minutes, three times a week - for at least a year before embarking on any long-distance training program" until you get to the third paragraph of Chapter Five.  Even in the beginning of the book, page 3 to be exact, you read, "So you've never run a step before in your life? No problem. One of our plans will work for you."  Hmm, doesn't quite compute, does it?  In the introduction to the book, they say they have a program if you're an absolute beginner, then five chapters later tell you they want you to have a foundation of fitness for a year before starting one of their programs. Huh?

This is misleading and obviously disheartening for the never-ran-a-step-in-your-life absolute beginner that goes out and buys this book.  Even if you've been running for six months, you're apparently not ready yet.  "Not a problem," you say, as you then try to find that year-long foundational training program in the book. Guess what? It doesn't exist. There are eight programs, mind you, but the authors would like you to have that year under your belt before starting any of them. Sound advice, for sure, but something you won't find out until you plunk down the money for this book (or take my comment to heart and not buy it...yet).

So, if you make the mistake of buying this book and you're an absolute beginner, put it back on your bookshelf, pick up an actual beginning runner's book (I recommend&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Runner-s-Handbook-The-Bestselling-Classic-Fitness-Guide-for-Beginning-and-Intermediate-Runners-2nd-rev-Edition/dp/0140469303/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Runner's Handbook : The Bestselling Classic Fitness Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Runners (2nd rev Edition)</a>), follow its programs for a year, then follow its marathon program or dust the cover of your Marathoning for Mortals book and start one of its 3 - 6 month long half-marathon or full marathon programs. The rest of the book is good, but I've got to give it only two stars for this misrepresentation.
1978045
From terrible metaphors to buzzwords every other sentence this book reads like a bad infomercial.  Intermittent Fasting is a tried and true dieting technique but the methodology is so poorly portrayed in this book it is not worth buying.  The emphasis that the book places on "cheating" and eating "whatever you want" will never help its readers obtain optimal fitness and promote poor eating behaviors.

This diet may work well for you, but you would be better served by finding information elsewhere.
868586
I was really disappointed. I had been really looking forward to a new method to try out...and, no exaggeration, it was a waste of time. Very hard to follow, and I'm a professional dancer and fitness instructor that picks choreography up pretty quick. Her choreography is sporadic and she takes no time to break anything down. Tracy also lacks motivation. She hardly talks during the workout so you easily get bored. It is also extremely repetitive. She has you doing maybe 3 different exercises in the span of 20 minutes over and over again. Her form is terrible as well. Tracy constantly bows her back and doesn't engage her core muscles. The music, her cues, the choreography, it's all really hard to get through, and I don't mean physically, I mean mentally, it's mind numbing.
3588121
Oh, no, no, no. I cannot believe the positive reviews on this DVD convinced me to buy this horrible workout video. First, it shouldn't be called "for Beginners", it should be titled "for the Nearly Dead". I am relatively out-of-shape and I could not believe how slow and basic the first 50% of this video is. An hour into it, I still hadn't done anything more taxing then walking from my sofa to my refrigerator. Seriously, getting out of bed in the morning takes more effort. Finally, the "mat work" begins and it is SO ANNOYING. She has three different levels (which is nice, okay, thanks) but she overtalks everything. "Level One, bending your knees, keeping arms on the ground, Level Two, keeping legs straight, arms outstretched, Level Three, lifting legs, arms outstretched, and inhale up, Level One, lifting head, Level Two, lifting shoulders, Level Three, all the way up and exhale down." But imagine all that said at the speed of an auctioneer. On and on and on. You're laying on the floor, so it's not like you can really watch/see the TV. You have to rely primarily on this ridiculously fast instruction. I bought this video to replace the Winsor Pilates DVD that was lost in our most recent move, but after two hours of this monstrosity I ended up tracking the Winsor DVD down on eBay. The only redeeming feature of this mess is the lovely setting it's filmed in. Keep searching - this ain't it.
946555
I bought this book based on the reviews here. The theory part of the book is good, and the author will make you enjoy reading the book no doubt (2 stars for him). But the workouts are not that good.. totally different person who wrote the workouts. My example is workout B for Fat loss I. You begin with deadlifts (which are good), and you end up with another Romanian deadlift which is basically a half deadlift. And I was wondering, have we run out of workouts already? Or do I have to split the weights on the 2 workouts to make it to the end? Another weird workout is the Bulgarian Split Squat where you have one foot up the bench behind you and leaning forward and down on the other foot. Now what happens if you lost balance? fall on your face most probably.. I never seen anyone in the Gym doing that awkward workout! Not done yet, in the same workout there is mixed grip lat pulldown.. with overhand it is ok and natural, but underhand doing lateral pulldown? weird .. Not done yet, in the same workout there is the swiss ball lateral roll where you hold a broom stick and lay down on a ball. well, i never seen a broom stick at the gym and they don't have one, and i even don't have one at home since i use a vaccum machine. In my opinion, it is waste of money if you are looking for good workouts, but it is a good book if you want to read about fitness theories.
2237455
This book reminds me of the old Honeymooners sketch where Ralph was trying to wrap a package, but kept needlessly stalling: it never gets to the point.

The first three chapters are dedicated to why you should begin a resistance band workout. You'd think that if people are buying a book on resistance band workouts, they don't need to be convinced of the "why"s anymore.

Next, we move into a description and benefit of various sports (including bowling!). Again, no mention of resistance bands.

When the book finally gets around to bands, the information is weak and poorly thought out. Save yourself the time and money and just do a Google search.