Rating: 
Summary: A great book for beginners to gym instructors. . .
Review: "...This clearly written and comprehensive book shows how anyone can make weight training a safe and beneficial part of their fitness life." -Peter Sikowitz, Editor-in-Chief, Men's Fitness MagazineWould you like to add weight training to your fitness routine, but don't know where to start? Are you interested in toning and developing your muscles, but aren't sure which exercises work? Don't sweat it... roll up your sleeves and get ready to flex your muscles with "Weight Training for Dummies™". This handy reference gives you the scoop on the most effective exercises for all your muscles-with tips for how to get the best value for your money. By reading "Weight Training for Dummies™", you'll discover how to: *Develop a personal weight training program based on your personal fitness goals *Test your current strengths and track your improvements *Use proper techniques to lift weights safely and get great results *Distinguish the great weight training gadgets from the rip-offs *Evaluate the polls, potions, and powders you hear about in the gym *Choose trainers, videos, and classes to fit your schedule and your budget *Adapt a weight training program for young kids, pregnant women, and seniors IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., headquartered in Foster City, Calif., is a leading global knowledge company featuring a diverse portfolio of technology, business and self-help books and computer-based learning tools, including the best-selling ...For Dummies®, ...Secrets® and Teach Yourself® and Cliffs Notes™ brands. IDG Books Worldwide has more than 700 active titles plus translations in 36 languages around the world.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book for beginners
Review: A great book for those looking to get into moderate weightlifting. The narrative is humorous and detailed. Serious weight lifters avoid this title because it is doubtful you will learn anything new
Rating:
Summary: Good book for beginners
Review: A great book for those looking to get into moderate weightlifting. The narrative is humorous and detailed. Serious weight lifters avoid this title because it is doubtful you will learn anything new
Rating: 
Summary: An absolute weight training beginner's must!
Review: A great book for those who want to know everything about training with weights. Very 'user friendly' with easy to understand exercises and great illustrations. A must have for all of us!
Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING!!!
Review: An outstanding book for beginners to weight training. I found it highly useful and very informative.
Rating:
Summary: Good for the body, good for the cerebellum
Review: as i jogged the bike paths of peachtree, i noticed that looking down at my chest and my arms i was weak. although no one was likely to jump me here, unlike in queens - i as a jewish doctor wanted to improve my chances. now i will admit i felt silly reading a book called "for dummies" however it did the trick to get me off to a great start. with drugs and nutrition this little jewish boy from NY now weighs 225! alright america!
Rating:
Summary: Valuable, but often too true to its title
Review: At most times this book is a clear and valuable guide for the novice weightlifter. But there are others when it bogs down in condescending simplicity and reveals the petty contentiousness of the co-authors. They explain that free weights are not the gift of philanthropists and that dumbbells can come in many configurations and materials. They give two examples -- shiny chrome and gray steel. Ok ladies, I think I'm getting it now. Co-authors Liz and Suzanne are not the patient sort and it doesn't take much for others at their gym to get under their muscular skin. In an anecdotal chapter on gym etiquette, they advise to share equipment with others, a common and expected courtesy. But they tell us that Liz physically removed a woman from a bench who refused to share with another member, an uncommon and hostile act that they present as humor. I don't get it. They also advise that if you find gum in the fountain, remove it yourself and if winded and taking awhile at a crowded fountain, take a drink and go to the back of the line. They offer no advice if you're lingering on the gym's toilet. There is at least one significant error in editing. In one chapter they provide a list of exercises they'll cover, but fail to provide any information whatever on the last exercise. How did I feel after buying the book and reading this kind of material? Like a dummy. I'm sure you will too. But I also think you'll agree with me that there's enough worthwhile material to redeem this book and make it one of the better books of its kind. The chapters describing the exercises are where the co-authors shine. Before dealing with individual exercises, they provide simple line drawings depicting the muscles involved and explain the role these muscles play in everyday life and sports, as well as why their development is important. Each exercise description begins with cautions against performing the exercise if you suffer from certain conditions, such as back or elbow problems. The exercise descriptions are complete and easy to follow. They are accompanied by two photos, usually showing the start and finish of the exercise. A do's and don't section helps you fine tune the exercises and avoid common mistakes. Each exercise, laid out in a neat two-page spread, concludes with variations on the exercise and often alternative exercises to work essentially the same muscles. After reading this, I felt more self-assured in performing exercises I was already doing and confident in attempting new exercises. Early chapters help you choose a gym and better know your way around it, or buy equipment for the home. Later chapters bring the exercises together into a beginner's program, as well as a periodization schedule that facilitates workout changes as you grow stronger and more experienced. The book is indexed, a useful feature that's often omitted in books of this type. If it weren't for the condescension and the dreadful and insulting chapter on etiquette, this book would make for more pleasant reading. As it is, there's still plenty of useful advice from the usually lucid and knowledgeable co-authors. But here's one more bit of advice from them to mull before entering a gym or buying this book: "Don't dress like a porn star". Now what will we do with our g-strings and leather collars?
Rating:
Summary: Valuable, but often too true to its title
Review: At most times this book is a clear and valuable guide for the novice weightlifter. But there are others when it bogs down in condescending simplicity and reveals the petty contentiousness of the co-authors. They explain that free weights are not the gift of philanthropists and that dumbbells can come in many configurations and materials. They give two examples -- shiny chrome and gray steel. Ok ladies, I think I'm getting it now. Co-authors Liz and Suzanne are not the patient sort and it doesn't take much for others at their gym to get under their muscular skin. In an anecdotal chapter on gym etiquette, they advise to share equipment with others, a common and expected courtesy. But they tell us that Liz physically removed a woman from a bench who refused to share with another member, an uncommon and hostile act that they present as humor. I don't get it. They also advise that if you find gum in the fountain, remove it yourself and if winded and taking awhile at a crowded fountain, take a drink and go to the back of the line. They offer no advice if you're lingering on the gym's toilet. There is at least one significant error in editing. In one chapter they provide a list of exercises they'll cover, but fail to provide any information whatever on the last exercise. How did I feel after buying the book and reading this kind of material? Like a dummy. I'm sure you will too. But I also think you'll agree with me that there's enough worthwhile material to redeem this book and make it one of the better books of its kind. The chapters describing the exercises are where the co-authors shine. Before dealing with individual exercises, they provide simple line drawings depicting the muscles involved and explain the role these muscles play in everyday life and sports, as well as why their development is important. Each exercise description begins with cautions against performing the exercise if you suffer from certain conditions, such as back or elbow problems. The exercise descriptions are complete and easy to follow. They are accompanied by two photos, usually showing the start and finish of the exercise. A do's and don't section helps you fine tune the exercises and avoid common mistakes. Each exercise, laid out in a neat two-page spread, concludes with variations on the exercise and often alternative exercises to work essentially the same muscles. After reading this, I felt more self-assured in performing exercises I was already doing and confident in attempting new exercises. Early chapters help you choose a gym and better know your way around it, or buy equipment for the home. Later chapters bring the exercises together into a beginner's program, as well as a periodization schedule that facilitates workout changes as you grow stronger and more experienced. The book is indexed, a useful feature that's often omitted in books of this type. If it weren't for the condescension and the dreadful and insulting chapter on etiquette, this book would make for more pleasant reading. As it is, there's still plenty of useful advice from the usually lucid and knowledgeable co-authors. But here's one more bit of advice from them to mull before entering a gym or buying this book: "Don't dress like a porn star". Now what will we do with our g-strings and leather collars?
Rating: 
Summary: Great for beginners...
Review: but I really needed the next level. Don't get me wrong, it's a great book and is loaded with information. Unfortunately, the first third of the book was basic, like "this is a weight" and "these are barbells." The last third didn't really involve weight training at all, but talked about yoga and Pilates. The sections that covered actual weight training and exercise routines was very good, but not as in-depth as I would have liked. I seems to me that "Fitness for Dummies" should have covered the stretching and yoga. I would have liked to seen more on just weight training. But, if you've never - and I do mean never - been exposed to weight training, then this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Well written, interesting, and detailed introduction
Review: First, I should mention something of my background. I've been very physically active most of my 50 years, mostly as a martial arts student and instructor for 38 years, so I'm no stranger to very physical activities and athletics. However, I didn't have much background in weight training, and this book really helped me get a better background on how to best design, organize, and optimize my weight workouts. I'm interested in toning up and gaining maybe a little strength, but I'm mostly concerned, at my age, in preserving and enhancing endurance. I've found that putting on too much muscle slows me down, and as a martial artist, that's my main concern. The authors discuss a number of different special techniques used by experienced weightlifters to continue to gain strength despite their already extremely well-trained muscles which become accommodated to the movements, which is apparently a well-known problem, so this book would be helpful for them as well. But it was also useful for my more modest goals and needs. The authors include some chapters on other things you might not think about but that were also helpful, such as the pros and cons and ins and outs of fitness centers and health clubs, joining a health club versus buying a home gym and working out at home, and even such things as proper etiquette at the gym. Since I'd joined one for the first time just before I purchased this book, I found this advice useful as well. Last but not least, there are good chapters covering alternative methods like yoga and Pilates. Overall, I found this a practical, well-written, useful, and informative book and well worth the money. For a very experienced lifter it might be too basic, but for me it was exactly what I was looking for.
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