Rating: 
Summary: Great Log!
Review: This log came oh-so close to getting a 5-star rating! UP SIDE: From the introduction "Why Keep a Log?" to the very end of the book where there are all sorts of charts to record your own personal records, this log has all the information I'm looking for in one place. How many calories did I burn in that aerobics class? Turn to page 153. What should I do if I get injured? Turn to page 45! It's all right there! DOWN SIDE: I agree with other reviewers... first, there's just not enough room to write everything down. Personally, I'd like more room for strength training, nutrition notes, and perhaps a small section where I can jot down how my day went overall. A combination fitness log/mental health jornal! A page a day would be able to accommodate all that. Second, the log itself needs to buff up! I take this book with me everywhere...after only a month and a half, it's falling apart! I would definitely be willing to spend more money for this book if it had a more durable cover and back and a stronger wire spiral binding. Other than that...I love it!
Rating: 
Summary: A gift of fitness to yourself!
Review: When the last book had been filled, my exercise routine tapered off and then fizzled. Was having a book around to record cardio exercise, strength training, stretching, a rating, how many sets, the reps and the weights used giving me the motivation I needed? Or was it how guilty I felt about not exercising and having to write down...ahh...nothing that day the real problem. So, when my husband gave me the evil eye and said I was sitting around reading too many books, I bought another one. Ideally the plan is to buy one book every 23 weeks so you have a fresh one ready to go at the end of week 24. So, the first thing to do is to write in "order new book" under week 23, so you never forget and end up getting out of your normal workout routine. Do you remember writing a diary? Well, if you exercise...this will be one you don't mind having everyone read. It is like writing a review of yourself, of your goals and your accomplishments. The benefits of keeping a training diary is so you can feel guilty when you don't, see when you did well and find out what on earth you did last week that helped you to lose a few pounds. Something you might want to repeat! Suzanne Schlosberg believes this book will get you results. There are designated spaces to record your goals for the next six months and more specific objectives for each individual week an then day. "It is hard for anyone-accomplished athlete or complete novice-to stay motivated without a mission. Research confirms the importance of setting concrete workout goals." -pg.8 This edition differs from the first log I owned in that now there is a space for daily nutrition notes (like if you are on the Suzanne Somers' diet). There are training tips based on current research and a batch of fun sports slang and inspirational quotes. There is a new question-and-answer format and a resources section on page 157 of essential books to help supplement the information presented. A section on how to use the log is very helpful. Suzanne also has a delightful sense of humor. Her writing flows casually through the pages, making you feel that she is almost your personal trainer. So, what will you be recording? First...your goals for the next six months. This is called the Big Picture. On the Workout diary page, may I suggest a "before" picture. There is just enough space for an "after" picture on the last page. That way, you can look back on your achievements and realize how much you changed. At the start of each week, you identify your mission. The Cardio section lets you record say: Bike, 15 minutes, felt energized! The Strength Training area has room for: Chest Press wt. 80, sets. 3, reps 10. May I suggest Karen Voight's book: Precision Training for Body & Mind...to help you out on this area. She describes the workout moves so well and in pictures. This book doesn't go into detail about any specific sport, but is your log to record all those activities. Finally, you give yourself a daily rating on a scale of 1-5. Hey, that is like giving yourself a daily "body" review. I can do this...I can do this... Do you know how to measure your heart rate? And what is your target zone? Will I burn more fat if I exercise at a slow pace? How often should I check my heart rate? What are the most effective cardio machines? How long will it take to see results? Does the order of my routine matter? Should I hire a trainer. How can I keep from getting injured? Suzanne tells all. The next two chapters explain strength training with a picture of all the muscles of the body (and labels) so you can easily learn the main muscles so you can understand that the lat pulldown is a back exercise. A special chapter on "fueling up" leads you to the path of enlightenment on how many calories to eat a day, what vitamin supplements to take, how much water to drink and if it is a bad idea to eat before a workout. Essential information takes up the first third of the book and it helps to read this information again and again throughout the six months. The workout diary follows and is a beautifully set out with a plum "day" title and then lines for your diary and blocks of gray under wt. sets reps. At the top of the right hand page there is a training tip or sports speak (for the adventurous) for the week. On the top left hand pages following the first page of each week, there is a inspirational quote. This might just be the motivation you need. I know it worked the last time I had this book and I am ready to get back to a real exercise routine again. I looked around at some sites where you could log in your workouts, but it seems that if you turn on the computer, you are never going to get to that workout, so this book is a better solution. If you leave it on your kitchen counter...open to the next workout day....who knows what might happen. Monday will be the start of a new fitness adventure!
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