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Rating: 
Summary: A good, honest book but...
Review: ...a little disappointing. For women who are 50+, very obese, or who have never done any serious exercise before, this book is very good. If you're moderately active or fit, though, it's probably too basic for you already. While the information on diet is valuable for women (without any of the hype or junk science found in many books targeted toward men), the exercise program is very, very basic and is unlikely to challenge advanced beginners and beyond. Even as a beginner, if you follow it regularly, you may find yourself outgrowing it quickly. I'd recommend borrowing this book from a friend or from your library, and definitely read the nutrition information. But for exercise, I'd suggest one of the books by Suzanne Schlosberg and Liz Neporent ("Fitness for Dummies" or "Weight Training for Dummies") instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing New
Review: I did not like this book. It was just more of the same information that has been in countless books about self-help.
The pictures to show the exercises are not helpful at all.
There is a drawing and not much more. If you have never read a
book that tells women they need to eat better and exercise more
then this book is for you. If you have heard this all before
then buy a book that gives you more for your money.
Rating:
Summary: good beginning
Review: I have found this book very heldpful in getting me on the road to being fit. I have followed the ten week program which is simply laid out and easy to follw. I am much stronger, I've lost 7 pounds (I'm not over weight) for the first time in my life I excercize reguarly and look forward to it. The weight lifting is very simple and definetly for beginners but as time has progressed I have added more excercizes, while keeping the basic program. I am really sorry to read the negative reveiws as it might keep some one who really needs some help motivating from buying the book. I personally think the simplicity and ease of the program is what has kept me motivated. Also the food part of the book is very easy, and for once it does not have starvation in mind.(like so many diet books)
Rating: 
Summary: Chock full of Great Health Informaton
Review: I read this book after my doctor recommended it for the second time. I was at a point of desparation as far as my health and weight loss were concerned. The book starts out giving documentation for a healthy lifestyle as well as specific test groups who used the program and succeeded. By the time I got to the chapters dealing with food and exercise, I was quite motivated to begin the program. The weight exercises are so simple that almost anyone can do them. I made my own versions of the food and exercise charts, and began my logs 3 1/2 months ago. I have dropped about 30 lbs and continue to be motivated to get strong. I am now using 8 and 10 lb weights and have added additional exercises to my routine as well as regular aerobic exercise. My focus has changed from losing weight to getting strong. I also am encouraged that the food chart is a positive tool. I am "filling up" the categories on the chart instead of feeling like "I can't have any more to eat." I use the chart loosely, because I want the changes I have made to be permanent. This book is full of practical advice, from how to "eye" portion amounts, to low-fat, low-calorie recipes, to what vitamins you should be using to supplement your food intake. I began the program in the "extremely overweight" category, but I look forward to qualifying for the "slim" category before I am done!
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!
Review: I was at my wits end. Fat and getting fatter, then I ran across this book. The exercises are easy, simple, and they work. There are daily exercise, 7, that get you focused onto your muscles, a weight management dietary plan, as well as great suggestions for dealing with various challenges. A year later, and I am working with a personal trainer, and Fat women do get slim!!
Rating:
Summary: Not for athletes, but a good place to start
Review: This book is written for those who are sedentary to at most
moderately active, and want to change their behavior so as to
accomplish long-term weight loss. It is a good motivator for
getting started with strength training and keeping track of
what you eat. It is definitely not intended for athletes,
but rather the 75% of American women (so it says) that don't
get regular exercise 3 days per week. The strength training part focuses on 6 exercises, most of
which usedumbbells. This is not a whole lot, but for the
intended audience it is helpful in keeping the program from
being overwhelming. For more intense exercise, you will have
to look elsewhere. There are a few illustrations; it would be
better if they showed the exercises step-by-step, but the
written directions are acceptable and it's easy enough to
figure things out by just trying it. One nice touch is that
a variety of people are shown doing the exercises -- they
don't all look like young fitness instructors. This section
also explains the importance of strength training for
strengthening bones, raising basal metabolism, and making
other exercise easier. The book discusses a variety of different aerobic exercises,
but points out that the most important thing is to find
something convenient enough that you can do it several times
a week, and to make sure it's intense enough to get results
-- it describes how to tell when this is happening. The food plan part is probably the most complex and largest
section, but it is based just on the food pyramid. It's
nothing new, but it provides a good way of keeping track of
how balanced your diet really is. This food plan allows 25%
fat, which is probably going to feel low to anyone who's been
eating a Western diet and not thought about fat much. If you want a short-term diet, this is not the book for you.
If you're not active and want to change, this is a very
useful book. If you already do strength training, it seems
likely that you're already doing much of what this book says,
so try to borrow it and have a look before you decide to buy.
Rating:
Summary: Not for athletes, but a good place to start
Review: This book is written for those who are sedentary to at most
moderately active, and want to change their behavior so as to
accomplish long-term weight loss. It is a good motivator for
getting started with strength training and keeping track of
what you eat. It is definitely not intended for athletes,
but rather the 75% of American women (so it says) that don't
get regular exercise 3 days per week. The strength training part focuses on 6 exercises, most of
which usedumbbells. This is not a whole lot, but for the
intended audience it is helpful in keeping the program from
being overwhelming. For more intense exercise, you will have
to look elsewhere. There are a few illustrations; it would be
better if they showed the exercises step-by-step, but the
written directions are acceptable and it's easy enough to
figure things out by just trying it. One nice touch is that
a variety of people are shown doing the exercises -- they
don't all look like young fitness instructors. This section
also explains the importance of strength training for
strengthening bones, raising basal metabolism, and making
other exercise easier. The book discusses a variety of different aerobic exercises,
but points out that the most important thing is to find
something convenient enough that you can do it several times
a week, and to make sure it's intense enough to get results
-- it describes how to tell when this is happening. The food plan part is probably the most complex and largest
section, but it is based just on the food pyramid. It's
nothing new, but it provides a good way of keeping track of
how balanced your diet really is. This food plan allows 25%
fat, which is probably going to feel low to anyone who's been
eating a Western diet and not thought about fat much. If you want a short-term diet, this is not the book for you.
If you're not active and want to change, this is a very
useful book. If you already do strength training, it seems
likely that you're already doing much of what this book says,
so try to borrow it and have a look before you decide to buy.
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