Weight Training Workouts that Work:Volume II

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I am a 44 yr old woman, and I went through the 12-week plan in Volume I twice, and then bought Volume II. Still trying to get my husband to try it! The ONLY reason that I did not give it 5 stars was because the new book is not spiral bound like the first volume. Use it at the gym, but where do you keep your pen? I love both books; they got me into a consistent workout routine. The workouts are definitely progressive (they get a little tougher and they vary each week) as they should to keep you improving.
This is not an all-encompassing health and well-being book (as it sounds some other reviewers were looking for)it is a simple straight-forward workout book. Follow it exactly, as you would a trainer standing there coaching you - don't cut corners! There is no math to figure, no advance planning, no complicated formulas. JUST DO IT! And then record your progress and watch yourself become sculpted and strong! Then keep the book, because in the future you will want to go back and select a weeks-worth of workouts to repeat.

Rating:
Summary: Right On Target
Review: I am a 44 yr old woman, and I went through the 12-week plan in Volume I twice, and then bought Volume II. Still trying to get my husband to try it! The ONLY reason that I did not give it 5 stars was because the new book is not spiral bound like the first volume. Use it at the gym, but where do you keep your pen? I love both books; they got me into a consistent workout routine. The workouts are definitely progressive (they get a little tougher and they vary each week) as they should to keep you improving.
This is not an all-encompassing health and well-being book (as it sounds some other reviewers were looking for)it is a simple straight-forward workout book. Follow it exactly, as you would a trainer standing there coaching you - don't cut corners! There is no math to figure, no advance planning, no complicated formulas. JUST DO IT! And then record your progress and watch yourself become sculpted and strong! Then keep the book, because in the future you will want to go back and select a weeks-worth of workouts to repeat.

Rating:
Summary: Complicated and incomplete
Review: I am so excited that Volume II has arrived! I found out while showing a friend Volume I online. I am a 42 year old woman and this book has changed my fitness life. It is simple, straightforward, unintimidating...and it works! People are commenting about how "sculpted" I am becoming. The workouts are not too long, (45 minutes or so) which makes it easy for a busy mom to pop into the gym for an hour 3 times a week and accomplish. I love James Orvis' approach and tell everyone I can about it. I am buying Volume II right now!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I have been weight training for 2 years now (with a personal trainer) this book not only saved me a lot of money, but has the best workout routines I have ever done. It is fantastic.

Rating:
Summary: Change the way you go to the gym.
Review: I never really went to the gym in high school or college, so I never learned how to work out. Later, when I got to be around 26, I started working out and gained some muscle, but then hit a plateau for the next five years, never really changing. Well, I'm on Week 8 of the 12-week workout plan, and I'm finally seeing some muscle gain after five years. It's a good feeling.

The book has two very important things going for it. First, the description of the weight exercises are very clear and illustrated by at least one picture each (often more than one picture). I feel confident doing the exercise from reading the book. Second, the week-by-week workouts are very good for keeping your muscles guessing. It's also good because it keeps you guessing. Each week in the gym is different, which makes it more interesting.

The other nice thing about this book is that most of the exercises use free weights, which makes it easier to go to the gym during peak times because you don't need to "wait" for a weight machine.

Overall, I love this book and tell my friends about it.

Rating:
Summary: Never received book
Review: i never received this book. i ordered one day delivery and its been about five. you guys charged me $16 for one day shipping.

Rating:
Summary: Jimmy does it again!!!
Review: I was lucky enough to have Jimmy Orvis as my personal trainer for 2 years. He was working on this book at that time. With him as my trainer I lost 78lbs. and Finally was in the best shape of my life.
Sadly Jim moved away or as I like to say "broke up with me!!!!" But I have been able to maintain my weight loss with this new book.I find it is easy to use even if I don't have Jim pushing me (and believe me somedays he ran me ragged). I am following the 12 weeks and I really enjoy the tips and nutrional info. (Who knows what the previous reviewer is reading, this book is far from complicated.)
Way to go Jim....when are ya moving back???

Rating:
Summary: THE RETURN OF THE KING!
Review: James Orvis has done it again by providing the people with what they want....expert advice, instruction, and a functional manual to take it all with you anywhere!!!! In short he does what evey other exercise book doesn't or won't......he tells you exactly what to do!!!!! That includes; how many sets, reps, and proper form hints. Best of all, once again, NO NO NO NO NO math, funky tables, or guesswork!!!! The only thing better than this or book one is to have a trainer right there with you to do the exact same thing....tell you what to do, how to do it, and for how long. The difference? James Orvis gives it to you for alot less money! Face it he is the King and no one beats him. I've read em all and still do and while every book out there tries to put a new spin on weight training they still won't ever never ever tell you this is it! This is what you do for the next 8-12 weeks period!!!!! Instead they fill their books with options, charts, graphs personal philosophies, and the biggest charletains of all.....supplement company recommendations?????!!!!!!!!!! At that point I really toss the other books against the wall, good and hard, before they land in the dumpster!!!! I mean come on! In todays fast paced world everyone everyhwere is getting back into the resurgence of the total body 15 or 20 or 30 minute workout in local gyms across America. James Orvis did it for you before, for any gym at a much lower price and now he is doing it again!!!!! I cannot tell you how many personal trainers have seen me with Book 1, getting results, and tried to not only sneak a peak but sell me on the idea they could do better.....FAT CHANCE and even if they could not at this price!!!!!!!! I've even purposely left it on lunch tables at my job for 10-20 min only to have the "discoverers" beg me to lend them the book or make copies on a daily basis...NO WAY! Jimmy JAMES Orvis Congratulations! Again!!! on providing myself and millions of others with exactly what we always wanted........A DEFINITIVE BLUEPRINT OF WHAT TO DO WHEN WE GET TO THE GYM WITHOUT ANY INTERFERENCE OR COSTLY HELP OR, IF YOU WILL, THE CURE FOR THE MOST BASIC FUNDAMENTAL REASON PEOPLE HAVE FOR NOT GOING TO THE GYM.....WHAT WILL I DO WHEN I GET THERE? HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? HOW MANY SETS/REPS? AM I DOING THIS RIGHT?
IT'S ALL HERE!!!!!!
PS
For those people who prefer to collect or follow books that are shall we say "more flexible"=wishywashy. Contain tons of data on building the perfect abs or biceps, supplements, philosophies, scientific studies, tons of pictures, personal interviews with competitive pros, posters, dieting tricks, etc. In short all you gym rats with no life outside of the gym, gobbling down supplements (or worse)dreaming of a flawless image you saw in a magazine or the aforementioned books ...Don't read this book! It's too simplistic or basic for you. It would only shatter your idea that fitness should always be a part of your lifestyle and not your whole life! Plus worst of all gym rat fears....You'd only be outside in the real world among the rest of us alot faster with terrific results to boot if you did! No mad science here! Just like the title says.....these are simply "WEIGHT TRAINING WORKOUTS THAT WORK"!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Simple-minded approach to weight training
Review: James Orvis is not alone in bringing bad reputation to all personal trainers. In this book, he does better than Gunnar Peterson, in his book "G-Force", by adding deadlift, which strengthens spinal erectors - though he categorized it as a leg exercise. He also does better than Bill Phillips' "Body for Life" by not stating bizarre historical facts about nutritional habits of 8000 years ago. However, like many personal trainers, James Orvis does not realize the limitation of his qualification. Almost anybody could fulfill the requirement of certification of personal trainers. Yet, writing a book with very general poor understanding of biology hurts the reputation of many hardworking trainers.

Here are some inappropriate concepts in this book:

1) The author claims that adding one pound of muscles burns 60 calories and that it is possible to add 10 pounds of muscles in 12 weeks by his routines. This is very "funny" way of perceiving biology since muscles would not burn calories without physical work. The author does not cite a credible source for such naïve generalization or explains how long would it take burn those calories.

2) The author contends "weight training is essentials to losing weight, keeping it off and looking your best. Period!" and that "a great workout is needed for maximum results. Period!" That "Period!" is a great enrichment to the English Language!! The author must be kidding, since aerobic exercises not only entail endurance, but also momentum generated by the inertia of the bodyweight. For example, runners have stronger lower limbs due to running and fast runners have strong shoulders due to aggressive arm swinging. Thus, weight training is no different from aerobics, as far as weight loss is concerned. The muscles added by weight training promote strength, but are not a substitute for aerobic exercises and caloric restriction, which are essential for lowering bodyweight.

3) The author replicates the same isolation exercises based on individual muscles that are used by all commercially motivated weight training books. This devoid of any educational or long-term strategy of making athletes. Had the author have advanced his education, by few years in a community college or so studying biology, he would have discovered the basics of muscle physiology, such as reflexes, adaptation to resistance, and metabolism. The best athletes do not waste their time dealing with individual muscles, but rather with complex exercise activities.

4) The book is entirely devoid of key words such as "spinal", "erector", "cuff rotator", "abdominal oblique", "abdominal rectus", which shows the complacency of its author with his meager understanding of strength training.

Aside from these general drawbacks, the author presents simple and effective exercise routines for common folks.


Rating:
Summary: Content is fabulous, binding needs help.
Review: The first volume was spiral bound, why oh why wasn't the second. I know that the book claims to be able to stay open on its own, but that is just not true in my experience.

The binding is the only downside to this book. If you have ever been intimidated about walking into the free weight area of your gym, buy Volume One. When you're done with that you will be thrilled there is a volume two.

Do I hear Volume three anywhere??????????