Pushing Yourself To Power

Rating:
Summary: A great supplemental book.
Review: All of the techniques presented in PYTP, I feel, are supplementals great for doing if you have some free time throughout the day, that is, as long as nobody is watching.

If you want a Peterson book _The Miracle Seven_ is all you need and cheaper. It covers what's in _PYTP_ and provides daily routines as well, as nice additions to your main workout.

Peterson suggests that the most beneficial exercises are the Hindu pushup, Hindu squat, Atlas pushup and power calisthenics. All these exercises are given in greater detail in other books.

Peterson's books consist of Isometric, Isotonic, joint mobility and flexibility while he also talks about Matt Furey's bridge, pushup and squat. He basically suggests you use Furey's exercises, leading me to believe I should also buy books from Furey. It's also suggested that you get in plenty of cardio. Personally I find Ross Enamait's web site and products to be all that is needed for total body fitness.

I'll be using many, if not all, of these supplemental techniques throughout the day, but more likely at night after the kids are in bed when I can get some privacy. While these movements would make me feel silly if I were actually seen doing them, I can see how they will benefit my daily workout so I will try take the time to incorporate them into my routine.

The meat and potatoes of my daily workout will be done in the morning. There will be heaping piles of Furey (Hindu) push-ups, Furey (Hindu) squats, Atlas push-ups, Bridging, dips and an assortment of pull-ups. Sadly this book doesn't get into the (Furey) meat and potatoes that I was looking for, only touching them briefly and providing no routines.

John Peterson does however represent something more than an exercises guru. He does make a fantastic mentor, a man's man, and one I'm please to call a roll model for myself. I greatly enjoy his honor and dedication to his spirituality (which is not the same as mine)


Rating:
Summary: For Home Workout Fans
Review: Great book, easy to follow and works.

I'm fitter, stronger and feel great.

Results can be seen within a month but you have to Push Yourself To Power.

Rating:
Summary: Just what I needed
Review: I bought this book based on a friend's recommendation about four months ago. Up until very recently, I had been treated for sciatic nerve pain off and on for almost ten years. It wasn't until I read this book that I understood anything about the compression and joint trauma I was causing myself by using the methods of training I had been following for so long. I started out by performing the deep breathing and joint mobility exercises of Chapter One for the first few weeks and noticed a marked improvement with my sciatic condition then moved on to include Lessons 2 and 3 which focuses on nutrition and Twelve Dynamic Visualized Resistance exercises that strengthen and sculpt the entire body without causing compression.

My results have been more than pleasing. My body is stronger and visually more muscular than it's been in years. More important to me, for the first time in more than a decade I have none of the sciatic pain shooting down my leg or waking me up at night. I am not saying that it is all the result of following Mr. Peterson's methods exclusively because in addition to following his program, I have also followed the advice he gave to another person on his exercise forum and that was to obtain the services of a qualified chiropractor who deals with athletes and sports related injuries. Even though it was meant for another person, I followed his advice.

Up to this point I have not tried a single one of Mr. Peterson's routines for sculpting individual body parts, yet based on my friend's results I have not the slightest doubt that those routines will work very well. At present I'm so pleased with the results I have already had that I just haven't gotten around to the other exercises yet. So based on my personal experience, I can say that this book has been a worthy investment in my health and strength and a much better outlook for the future than I have had in some time.

Peter Lindell
Atlanta, GA


Rating:
Summary: Neither of the previous two reviewers have used this system
Review: I can't believe that either of the previous reviewers have used John's system. I am not what most would consider an "old fart". I am in my late 30's. I have made substantial gains in both strength and size by using PYTP. It seems that competitors are finding Petetson's popularity threatening. Oh well. Take my word for it. It is the best body weight program on the market. I am very happy that I bought it and that I have used this program and you will be too.

Rating:
Summary: Update on Earlier Review
Review: I had the privilege of being the first person to write an on-line review of Mr. Peterson's book, _Pushing Yourself to Power_ (PYTP), for amazon.com. It is now approximately six months later and I wanted to share the some updates on my October post.

First, PYTP has not only proven to be one of the most insightful books of its kind on the market but also most flexible. For the very beginner, PYTP offers safe, useful ways to get started with bodyweight training without the need for weights, chinning bars or expensive equipment. For the very advanced, PYTP offers enough of a challenge for even the toughest trainees. How is this possible? Mr. Peterson covers a diverse spectrum of exercises that will appeal to all levels.

Second, PYTP will transform you and build muscle plus strength safely and effectively. Consider the cover: Mr. Peterson--who is now 53--has a physique comparable to many natural bodybuilders (probably better than most) yet he has never lifted weights! Yet, this same gentleman has run a sub 2:45 marathon, performed over 39 chins and is able to effortlessly do 100 pushups at a time. By applying the techniques and methods outlined in PYTP, the reader can strive to these same numbers...perhaps not in months or a year, but over time, it will come. Simply check out what readers of Mr. Peterson's book have posted on www.bronzebowpublishing.com...the numbers speak for themselves.

I'd also like to note I have purchased several additional copies of PYTP and given them away to friends and family members, many of whom have written Mr. Peterson and thanked him for the program.

It is a shame Mr. Jones (?) chose to misrepresent Mr. Peterson's book in his review. If I could share, John Peterson goes out of his way to recognize people such as Earl Leiderman, George Jowett, Charles Atlas, Matt Furey, Herschel Walker and many others along with family members and friends for what they taught him over the years about bodyweight training. In fact, Mr. Peterson repeatedly goes out of the way to give credit where it is due--chapter after chapter. (And one would have to question how Leiderman, Jowett, Atlas, etc., would be able to 'worship' Mr. Peterson since many of these people are deceased(...) In fact, Mr. Peterson shares accomplishments of many, many others in PYTP.

Mr. Peterson overcame polio as a child and used that inner strength to become a successful businessman, martial artist, marathoner and family man. He is also one of the most helpful people you'll have the privilege to meet...got a question on his book or any of the programs he suggests? Post a question on his board and you'll have your answer in 24 hours.

A class book and a classy guy. Check out Pushing Yourself to Power...I bought it six months ago and I'm not disappointed. You won't be either.

Rating:
Summary: Empowered
Review: I have been involved with gyms and health clubs since I was 18 years old and have tried all they have to offer. I spent years building my body using weights and machines and sincerely believed that I had put all the strength and muscle into my body that it would ever need. I was wrong. I had succeeded only in building a bulky, stiff set of muscles on a young, active body. I spent hours each day at the gym trying to create a feeling of well-being that eluded me at every turn. Worse yet, I had aches and pains that no amount of training would alleviate and oddly enough it had not occurred to me that the very training I was doing to become strong was in fact the same training that was becoming a continual source of disabling pain.

Finally I was in so much pain I had to find something else or stop training altogether. A friend told me about this book Pushing Yourself to Power. At first read I was skeptical but I put aside my skepticism and tried the method outlined in spite of it. I'll be honest. I thought Peterson's DVR's were a joke until I tried them and started to understand what he meant by "thinking into the muscle." Then within a few weeks I began to feel the internal strength that I had craved. I noticed my movements becoming more controlled and responsive. I was standing straighter and feeling more energized than ever. After a few short months my bulky muscles began lengthening and taking on graceful lean contours as my flexibility increased ten-fold. The Furey push-ups that I had a hard time of performing ten times in succession at the beginning I could now do 57 times without stopping. I suddenly felt as graceful and lithe as a gymnast or dancer. Subsequently my aches and pains vanished and I found myself enjoying my activities more. Most important I feel empowered by my newfound knowledge and for the first time feel that I'm in control of my life. Thanks, Mr. Peterson. Your book is every bit as much of a motivational classic as it is on fitness.


Rating:
Summary: Very impressed
Review: I have been looking for a book like this for years. I basically just wanted to lose some fat and put on some muscle without sending all my money to a local fitness center.
This book is absolutely great. I have been training sporadically for about two weeks. I rarely even complete 45 minutes a day and yet I (and my wife) have noticed great improvement. My chest, shoulders and arms are becoming much stronger and defined. My waist still has some extra padding, but I haven't really gotten to that part of the book yet :)
The exercises are very effective and I actually enjoy them (something I have never been able to say before). I don't mind the occasional Biblical reference, the pictures are usually quite clear and it is a great value.
The one part of the book I am unsure about is the Nutrition section. I haven't tried this books recommendations, so I am unable to say if it works. However, in the past I have tried similar dietary guidelines and gained weight. Low carb works for me, so I'm not following the PYTP nutrition guide.
A truly body changing/life changing book.

Rating:
Summary: Physically transforming, spiritually inspiring ...
Review: I have trained exhaustively in the martial arts for more than 35 years, and I have endured and experimented with dozens of methods to increase my strength, endurance, and skill, but had recently come to believe I'd reached a physical plateau. And then I discovered this ground-breaking approach to physical conditioning written by John Peterson.

John Peterson's book, "Pushing Yourself to Power" is a brilliantly conceived, revolutionary method of physical training known as "Transformetrics." And upon implementing Transformetrics into my personal training program it took me little time to realize how much more I had yet to accomplish physically, mentally and spiritually.

The God-given genius of Peterson's approach lies both in its simplicity and the amazing progress one can quickly achieve without expensive equipment. The exercises require little or no apparatus, can be done almost anywhere, and take only a moderate amount of time from our busy days. And yet, upon implementation, you will almost immediately notice differences in how you feel and react that are nothing less than amazing.

While training with John Peterson's methods, I was moved to ponder ancient gladiators, and great warriors of Biblical reknown who gained their prodigious strength and superhuman endurance with little or no equipment. And just how they could have achieved such legendary might had been a mystery to me, until now. But not any more. Because now I have glimpsed the heroic image a man can embody by training only with the weight of his own body, the iron determination of his mind, and the strength of his spirit.

I will say "Pushing Yourself to Power" has revolutionized my life in more ways than one. Thank you, Mr. Peterson.

Rating:
Summary: Bogus
Review: I was very disappointed with my purchase of Pushing Yourself To Power. Yes, the book illustrates some quality movements, but is very weak in several areas.

1. The book is clearly tailored to the beginner. Unfortunately, the author fails to realize this point, hence markets his program to the entire stratosphere.

2. The author suggests that weight training is dangerous. This is completely untrue. If the greater percentage of adults and seniors began weight training, they would be much better off. It is dangerous to live our lives. Weight training coupled with a side dish of common sense makes for a safe, health conscious style of living.

3. DVR is boring, boring, ... did I mention boring? How do you measure progress when you stand in front of the mirror flexing your muscles all day? It is quite boring to stand still all day flexing in tight spandex pants. Exercise is supposed to be enjoyable. When exercise becomes enjoyable, one is more likely to dedicate their lives to fitness. This program is extremely boring.

4. Beware of the Over-50 testimonials that will come pouring in after this HONEST review. It appears that many readers of the book fall in the over 50 yrs. old category. Perhaps you are new to exercise. There is nothing wrong with that, but let's not knock the entire weight training world. Weights are only as dangerous as you make them. This program is quite comical. Let's squeeze our butts in tight spandex all day because we don't want to touch the dangerous iron weights. It is even more ironic that the author demonstrates dangerous movements such as the nose-to-floor Wrestler's bridge. Perhaps he should read up on the dangers of compressing the spine. Even the sports medicine doctors at the Mayo Clinic recommend avoiding such movements. This is the problem when a genetically gifted person reads a few Charles Atlas courses and suddenly considers himself an athletic trainer. His accusations towards weight training are ridiculous and unsupported by any real science.

Save your money

Rating:
Summary: The New Charles Atlas!
Review: John E. Peterson is without doubt the new Charles Atlas. His book, Pushing Yourself To Power, is the finest and most comprehensive work ever published on non-apparatus training. Not one to make any outlandish claims for himself, Mr. Peterson includes his childhood heroes in the book, such as Charles Atlas and Earle Liederman who have pioneered this form of training.

The beauty of PYTP is the unique way in which John Peterson guides the reader through the combination of many different forms of exercise. The photographs are excellant, the exercise combinations are wide-ranging and thorough, and the health & nutrition advice are up-to-the minute and straight forward.

The book is well laid out and makes for very absorbing reading. The beauty of John Peterson's system of training, known as Transformetrics, is it's simplicity and effectiveness. Experienced weight-trainers with joint and ligament injuries, including those who suffer from lower back pain will find the Transformetrics system extremely benefical and very theraputic.

Transformetrics involves a range of highly effect non-apparatus training methods, such as DVR (Dynamic Visual Resistance), DSR (Dynamic Self Resistance), isometric and isotonic exercises. John Peterson has combined these into the most effective non-apparatus training system I have ever seen (or tried). If you truly desire to possess a strong muscular body, coupled with speed, fitness, stamina, functional strength AND without the injury risks of lifting weights, then PYTP is for you.

Forget the bewildering array of machines, the infomercials, the TV personal trainers, the fad diets and expensive over-priced gyms. John Peterson has created the very finest and most effective non-apparatus training system in the world that will transform your physique faster than you thought possible, and in the privacy of your own room. I know, I have tried them all!

If you are serious about building a strong, healthy, muscular body quickly AND naturally, then do yourself a favor and purchase a copy of Pushing Yourself To Power, by John E. Peterson, the new Charles Atlas for the 21st century.

Do it today. I know you won't be disappointed.

William J. Gibbons, Ph.D.