Rating: 
Summary: A great plan for someone willing to commit the time
Review: I bought this book because I had decided I wanted to "get back in shape", but just going to the gym wasn't working. I needed some structure to follow, and a plan to make a commitment to myself with. This book provided that needed structure.While not a perfect system, it does offer a relatively straightforward approach to total body fitness. No diet or exercise BOOK will get you in shape, that is up to the individual to commit and follow through. I made that commitment to myself and followed through. Now that I am at the end of the 12 weeks, I do not look EXACTLY like the models on the book jacket, but I do feel and look great, lost 25+ pounds of fat and have muscular definition that I never had when I was younger. The best part is it instilled better eating and exercise habits in me and dispelled a lot of the wrong impressions I had about what it takes to get in shape. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to look and feel better and is motivated to commit the time and effort to get there.
Rating: 
Summary: Bill Phillips Gives the Answer!
Review: This is a marvelous 12-week program for eternal health and well-being. Before my brother and I started the program, we found it a bit overwhelming. Especially the parts on nutritional spplements. But we did the program anyway and we both have never felt better in our lives! The main point in Phillip's book is to follow it totally. He gives you all the answers for fitness and health. But I believe that if you add any of your own modifications or changes during the 12 weeks, I don't believe that you will get the full impact of the program. It's pretty easy once you get into it. And the results are devastating! To say the least.
Rating:
Summary: Good book!
Review: I've read so many workout/diet books that never seem to catch on with me. I WAS very suspicious of this book before buying it. The book is very motivational and is written for everyone to understand (not a lot of tech. lingo.) This program is also very simple to follow and could easily be continued beyond the 12-week period (and intended to do so.) The only downfall I think is the lack of guidelines for the novice as far as the workouts are concerned. BUT, the author really wants the reader to succeed and even offers a 24-hour phone line, and a web site for support. Also, you do not have to use the food supplements mentioned. I've only used REAL food and a multi-vitamin and am seeing results! I am on my fourth week on the BFL Program and feel so much better, physically, mentally, spiritually. I would and have recommended this book to others. A good buy in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Body 4 Life is a guidline on what you need to do
Review: I liked Body for Life because it shows you what you need to do in order to get healthy. Like a lot of people, I just went "downstairs" to my weight bench and worked out. I had no plan on how I lifted nor the knowledge for my body's nutritional needs to build muscle. The book also stresses the importance of not overtraining. The body doesn't build muscle while you are lifting weights but when you are at rest AFTER you lift weights. It all makes sense I just never knew. I've been on my own modified version of the book's program for about 5 weeks now. I've lost 25 pounds of fat and my abs are starting to show. A lot of people here have said that it's nothing but a lot of hard work. ACTUALLY, it's not that hard. The hardest part for me was the eating. I loved MacDonalds, candy, cake etc. The funny thing is, I'm allowed this junk food once a week. The book concentrates on rewards. If you look at the cardio system it makes you say to yourself.. OK 1 more minute.... I can make it.... OK 30 more seconds.... I can do it... and once you finished it you get that little break and it feels good. Just like the food... OK it's Saturday, 1 more day and It's my free day. The book is a good investment. If you don't follow the program it's still good knowledge.
Rating:
Summary: The old story superbly repackaged for our times
Review: Sure, there is no way to loose weight and get fit other than by exercising more and eating less. Almost every adult knows this. But few can behave consistently according to this fact. Phillips' book is a superb attempt to motivate the overweight/unfit to apply that simple fact conscientiously in their lives. The book is of first rate design, has excellent illustrations, and should appeal to those 30 y.o. plus who appreciate a quality package that speaks directly to them in 2000. Being a happy vegetarian, I could quibble with the meat bias of the book. Being of a skeptical frame of mind, I am sure that many of the transformations depicted in the real life stories actually took more than 12 weeks (Bill doesn't say they were achieved in 12 weeks; all he does is to tell us that real transformations can occur in 12 weeks). Bill does not hide the fact that getting fit and loosing pounds is hard work. But he gives the reader the motivation to push through that hard work. I'm Australian and find myself turned off by "yankee hype", but must say that the motivational sections of Body for Life were not (as some other Amazon.com reviewers assert) over the top. I found them persuasive and to the point. Two more pluses: (1) I don't think anyone could be driven to anorexic/bulimic eating behaviours by this book. It gives coherent, practical commonsense advice. (2) The photographs and descriptions of exercises are well-chosen, leaving little scope for error by the inexperienced. Even for people not interested in health, diet and fitness, I'd recommend this book as a first rate example among the best of the voluminous self-help literature.
Rating:
Summary: A Well Communicated Program for Changing Fat into Muscle
Review: I liked the way this book addressed the number one reason most people want to lose weight: to look better to themselves. The before and after pictures are pretty amazing, and certainly got my attention. Phillips' program is bound to improve your appearance. You will be doing a lot more weight lifting for each major muscle group and aerobics than most have ever done in our lives. The main thing that was new to me was the idea of going to peak performance several times during an exercise and then ending at the peak. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds interesting. The nutritional advice doesn't have much behind it to help you understand why it will or won't work. It certainly doesn't seem extreme, although 350 pound people eat the same portions as 80 pound people. I can't figure that one out. Maybe you can. Whatever the merits of this program, it certainly is well explained. He deals with being ready to change psychologically, setting goals, getting goal reinforcement, changing your attitudes and ways of living, and how to deal with setbacks. There are lots of heart-warming stories. I already mentioned the before and after pictures. There's a good q and a section with FAQs. Although I tend to get lost in the weight room, I think I could follow this program. There are lots of photographs to show the right methods, and charts to fill out to see how you are doing. You also get a lot of support. He has a Web site where you can chat with others going through the program. You can also call and talk to a counselor who will encourage you. You get the sense that Phillips really cares. I don't remember reading a fitness book that shows its heart as well as this one does. My main reservation is that the program may be too much for those with more modest goals, like people who read a lot and write lots of book reviews on Amazon.com, such as me. I would be curious to do a mini version of this, but I'd have to design my own program, I guess. This one is for those who really want to look absolutely great! So if you do, this book may well help you. I'm sorry I don't have any personal experience with the program to share with you. Good luck with being healthier, regardless of whether you read and follow this book's advice or not!
Rating:
Summary: Throw out your Fat clothes!
Review: This book is a comprehensive, step by step, structured program for achieving a positive body transformation in a specific amount of time. And that was exactly what I was looking for. Afterall, what is less than 3 months to finally get back into shape? But make no mistake, there is loads of discipline and hard work involved with this if you intend to go the distance. So, who said losing fat was easy? This book sets up a program for the reader to follow, day by day for 12 weeks; including food and exercise routines. Every 7th day is a day off, both diet and exercise. All routines are trademarked by Bill Phillips and he suggests that you must follow the program "to a T". All meals (and there are 6 a day) are precisely combined protein and carbohydrate based on portion sizes and he advocates using his company's liquid meal replacement for 3 of those "meals", which I did not do. You cannot eat all you want at one meal. There is a heavy reliance on animal based products for protein of course, and he categorizes vegetables as it's own food group. However, all that seems trivial considering the results you'll get if you follow this method. There are no exercise videos to buy or follow other than QuickTime demos for exercises available on the website, so this may seem awkward to anyone with an aversion to learning exercises quietly through text. (The old fashioned way). The weight exercises are simple and dull, and most can be performed at home if you have a good range of weights and a bench, but you must follow the rep routine as outlined in the book. "Aerobics" are short, intense 20 minute sessions 3 times a week. Believe me after doing at least 4 hours of cardio per week previously, this was a big selling feature! Also, you exercise, preferably, in a "fasting" state, ie. first thing in the morning, to burn fat. This definitely was a new way to do things for me and took some adjusting to, but the weight training component alone was worth the trouble. Overall, I consider this an excellent program to follow for anyone who wants to get back on track with fitness and eating and to find muscle you never knew you had. Also, the Free Day every 7th day is the most fun of all! What other diet and exercise program gives you that? But I would suggest to anyone reading this that you may not get the Championship results advertised in the "before and afters" with this book program alone especially if you don't use the liquid supplementation or if you binge on 10,000 extra calories every Free Day. But, you will get fit and get leaner and you will be able to throw out your "fat" clothes.
Rating:
Summary: This Book gets you started
Review: This is one of the greatest workout/ diet books ever to come out.I've read alot of the others ,but this one has everything,from Mental,to physical strength trainnig,and the foods to eat,and not to eat. I use to weigh 380,and now I'm down to 200.I lost this weight on my own by starving,and nearly killed myself.This book has helped me to regain the muscle I've lost,and keep the fat off.One problem I do have is the Creatine. It's great for building muscle,but gives me the runs.I had to stop taking this product.I did find out,on my own,by eating more Steak,at least twice a week,I have gotten stronger,and the muscles are starting to grow more. This book helps you to become the best you can be,not someone else.Not all of us are going to look like the models we see on TV,or in all thoes muscle magazines.Also,I love the idea of cheating once a week.Bill tells you to eat anything you want, and not to workout.There's only one thing Bill,or any of the other diet books out there doesn't tell you. If you weighed over 350 at one time,and lose the weight,your going to have hanging skin and fat for the rest of your life.You can't get rid of this through workingout. I'm finally getting this operation done the last of June. You can see pictures of myself,before and after when my operations complet,and how I went from 380 to 200 in my web-site on my members page.
Rating: 
Summary: Been there, done that
Review: Waste of time, waste of money. This is basic body building repackaged with a high protein diet. I still have a pamphlet from the 1970s by Joe Weider that espouses exactly the same thing that is being said here at a fraction of the cost and without the contest hoopla (what a 90s thing! sheesh). No doubt about it, if you follow this plan, you'll loose weight and buff up. But how many people are actually going to stick to this? Yeah, yeah, I got suckered into buying this book cause everybody everywhere is talking about it. But being a veteran of the diet wars (anyone remember the grapefruit diet the first time around?), I should have known better. There are NO magic bullets and NO magic cures. Losing weight is tough, hard work. This author isn't saying anything you haven't heard before: eat less and exercise. It's just got a very slick package going for it. Your money can be better spent on a new pair of walking shoes.
Rating:
Summary: Body for Life
Review: Bill Phillips is amazing! This is the most fun I have ever had losing weight and getting in shape.I feel so much better and and husband and children are getting involved to. It has become a "family project", with many positive benefits. THANK YOU BILL PHILLIPS!
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