Rating: 
Summary: Sedentary lifestyle --
Review: I recently purchased this book in hopes it would help me with
my deconditioned muscles, due to years of chronic hip and back pain and a very sedentary life. I'm more than willing to give this a try,as it sounds like an exercise program that one can stick to and it's not too intensive for someone who isn't very physically fit. I would be interested in hearing from other
women (age 50+) who also have some limitations on the amount of
exercise they can begin with and how their bodies reacted to this program of weight lifting and what kind of results they had...
Rating: 
Summary: This Works
Review: I started Nelson's program last July and now, almost one year later, i am still following the program with great results. I am 42 and have not followed a regular exercise program for more than a few months since high school. I am always skeptical of the latest fad, but this is not a fad! This book is a must read for anyone older than 40. Learning that you systematically lose muscle mass from age 40 on should be inspiration enough to start strength training. Another bonus from following the program: my young daughter tells people that her mommy is strong. Isn't that the image you want to portray for your kids? I am fully persuaded, too, by Nelson's argument that once you start strength training that it is an upward spiral. That is, aerobic activities become fun again (because you have strong muscles to use, not flabby ones to strain).
Rating:
Summary: Incredible fitness book for women over 35!
Review: I'm 37 years old. I've been following the simple weight lifting guidelines of this book for 3 months. I've lost 20 lbs, and gained overall muscle body mass. The success is so great, I'm now buying a copy for my 60 yr old mom. She's excited about trying this also!
Rating:
Summary: Weight training for those intimidated by other programs
Review: I'm an out-of-condition, fiftyish female who does not want HRT but needs to do something to maintain bone density, strength, etc. I got this book after reading Jane Brody's positive discussion of it in the New York Times. I've been doing the exercises for about a month now and am beginning to see the results predicted by the author. I feel more active, grocery bags are easier to carry, and I'm seeing definition in my arms and legs.
The program may seem too basic for some people (as several earlier reviewers have said), but for me that's one of its good points. It's not designed to be fancy, but to be non-intimidating to people who equate strength training with going to the gym and getting buff on exercise machines. These exercises can be done at home, with a minimum of equipment and a maximum of reassurance by the authors. With any exercise program, the big problem is getting people to commit. If a simple program make it easier to do this than fancier, more challenging programs, then go with the simple. Nothing says you can't go beyond the basics when you get comfortable with them and the authors suggest how to do this.
Rating:
Summary: Update: 33 months, 351 workouts, and still 30 lbs later...
Review: I'm still following this exercise program.
I'm still in my size six jeans.
I'm still thirty pounds lighter than I was when I started.
I'm still seeing improvements in muscle definition.
I'm still not dieting, just eating reasonably.This works.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Good Book
Review: Interesting and usefu
Rating:
Summary: Very convincing research.
Review: Lots of great information. Exercises are not for serious already-in-shape strength-training enthusiasts - they are too limited and too basic, and look like they are geared to the 86-96 year old nursing home subjects in the original study! However, it was encouraging to read the reports that people in the original research who only did the basic 8 exercises 2 times a week had such amazingly dramatic results - this gives tremendous justification for doing AT LEAST that amount of weight-training on an on-going basis. I am already doing more than that, and plan to continue - and live a long, strong and healthy life!
Rating:
Summary: Great Introduction to Strength Training
Review: No quick fix promises here...just medically sound information and techniques. Down to earth, easy to read--a very good book!! Strongly recommended to anyone looking to get fit!
Rating:
Summary: A middle-aged lady like me start lifting weights???? YES!!!!
Review: The book was recommended to me by an orthopedic doctor I was seeing about my frozen shoulder. She told me that being a blue-eyed blonde woman, I fit the high risk profile for osteoporosis and could benefit from doing the exercises in this book. I read it and it seemed to make sense. I bought the weights (a set at a time as it wasn't easy to carry the 20 lb. set for one leg let alone having to carry an additional 20 lbs. for the other leg -- and then the ones for the arms!!!!) and have been doing the exercises for about 3 months. I am increasing the arm weights slowly because of my shoulder, but am progressing well. The exercises are described well, and since there are only 8, they do not take too much time and are easy to remember. The exercises are done slowly and you mostly do only 2 sets of 8 repetitions. If you are doing them right, that is all you are able to do. The book suggests doing the routine 2 times a week, but I find I like to do it every-other-day if I have time. There seems to be the extra benefit of relaxation which results by the time you finish the routine. There is also a video you can order which is helpful to check to make sure your form is correct. I am 47 and was in fairly good shape before starting, but I have noticed my body is more toned since doing the exercises and my balance is improving, something I didn't realize I was beginning to lose. However, I also do some stomach crunches and the like in addition. The lifting seems to give me the energy to do more. I definitely am getting stronger as I now can lift heavier weights than I could before I started. I probably would never have thought about using weights before reading this book, but the exercises seem to be doing me good and I intend to keep doing them. It is easy to make the time because you can do them while watching TV or reading or just talking to someone.
Rating:
Summary: Anyone can follow this program easily
Review: The exercise routine described in this book can be followed easily while watching TV. A perfect couch potato program! Eight basic exercises are described very clearly for proper form and how to know when to increase the weight. The equipment can be kept in a basket and the program is only a small investment in time and money, and if the benefits are as described, very well worth it. My daughter and I are working on it together. I think this is a program I will be able to stay with.
|
