Rating: 
Summary: No Free Lunch
Review: This book gives a somewhat more in depth explanation of the bio chemistry of nutrition than "Fit or Fat", Bailey's other best selling fitness book. That said, this book is very accessible in its ability to explain a complicated subject to the layman. I disagree with another reviewer's notion that this book is discouraging to fat people. Bailey makes the point that the more out of shape you are the more progress you make for any effort that gets you in the activity zone. People looking for some kind of panacea are warned that the focus of Bailey's solution set for fitness requires a life-long commitment to activity such, that your body starts using fat to meet its energy needs. The tradeoffs are numerous in favor of both physical and mental health, but requires discipline and commitment for the long haul. I read this and other Bailey books as part of some personal research on diet, fitness, and weight loss. "Smart Exercize" was the best of the lot and I am purchasing the book for my friends and brother.
Rating:
Summary: No Free Lunch
Review: This book gives a somewhat more in depth explanation of the bio chemistry of nutrition than "Fit or Fat", Bailey's other best selling fitness book. That said, this book is very accessible in its ability to explain a complicated subject to the layman. I disagree with another reviewer's notion that this book is discouraging to fat people. Bailey makes the point that the more out of shape you are the more progress you make for any effort that gets you in the activity zone. People looking for some kind of panacea are warned that the focus of Bailey's solution set for fitness requires a life-long commitment to activity such, that your body starts using fat to meet its energy needs. The tradeoffs are numerous in favor of both physical and mental health, but requires discipline and commitment for the long haul. I read this and other Bailey books as part of some personal research on diet, fitness, and weight loss. "Smart Exercize" was the best of the lot and I am purchasing the book for my friends and brother.
Rating:
Summary: If you want to loss weight and feel good read this book
Review: This book if for those of us who think that exercise has to be hard and long. He has a sense of humor and explains that exercise should be of your own chosing and something that you'll stay with. His emphasis is "Exercise should be FUN". Once you get started your keep going. I really learned a lot from this book, read it, it could change the way you view exercise and fitness.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid, accessible information
Review: This book is for anyone who wants to get in shape permanently and learn about the theories underlying different workouts. With Covert Bailey's help, you will be able to design a program based on your goals without having to hire a personal trainer. Not that I have anything against trainers, but I am not a fan of paying people do what I can easily do for myself. Also, personal trainers will often just tell you to do x, y and z without ever explaining WHY you should do it or why a particular workout is the most effective. After reading this book, I incorporated wind sprints into my training instead of just plodding along at the same pace for the duration of my run. Following his advice, I concentrated on running faster for a set period of time --not necessarily at top speed -- and then slowing down, hence forcing my body to learn to recover under stress and increasing my fitness level in a shorter amount of time. I now understand why you are burning sugar and not fat if you are exercising to the point that you are out of breath and why your body produces lactic acid when you tax it. I am not saying that I could now go out and teach a course on biochemistry, but I've been able to use the information to work smarter in the gym. And that was the whole point of my reading this book. The author does get a little technical in some parts, particularly in the discussions about Krebs Cycle and ATP, but you don't have to get bogged down in every little detail to be able to make this book work. If you can just grasp the basics of what he is saying, you will be far ahead of the average exerciser. The best thing that I took away from this book is the understanding that the benefits of exercise occur not just during the actual activity, but also in the aftermath while your body is recovering. You may only burn 350 calories during a workout, but you will also change your metabolism. Not bad for a 30-minute investment of time. Thank you Covert Bailey!! I've been recommending this book to all my friends and family who are trying to get in shape.
Rating:
Summary: Well titled
Review: This book really will help you be smarter about how you exercise. Smarter, at least, in the sense of targeting your exercise program to reduce fat. Bailey doesn't spend a lot of time talking about cardoivascular fitness as a goal unto itself or building a hard body or other exercise goals you might have. I think he assumes these subjects are by now thoroughly covered by others. And although he does talk some about diet, this is no diet book. He focuses on the correct exercise approach to getting rid of fat. For the most part, this book succinctly describes Bailey's account of the biochemistry of burning fat. He describes how fat is (and isn't) burned by the body and how to increase its fat-burning efficiency. The book is somewhat technical and therefore dry for those not fascinated by biochemistry. Bailey tries to make up for this with insufferable cleverness. But the book is well worth toughing it through. It's not terribly long, and an investment of a couple of hours will arm you with enough knowledge to structure your workouts for maximum fat-burning efficiency, if that is one of your goals. Which kinds of exercise increase the body's ability to burn fat? Which kinds of exercise actually burn the fat most efficiently? They are not the same kinds of exercise, and both kinds need to be developed. There are also sections on improving athletic performance that are probably insufficient for serious athletes but which are very helpful for active amateurs like me. I read the book about a year ago, and, although it wasn't the most entertaining book I've ever read, it has really helped my understanding of how to train and (yes) how to burn fat. I've really benifited from it.
Rating: 
Summary: Basically Good but lots of little errors.
Review: This is quite a good book and is very good at covering the details. Most of what is said is accurate and well thought out. However, there are a lot of sections that show some unfortunate inconsitancies and the main thrust is very much against what is becoming the more "modern" way of looking at diets and exercise. There is a complete disregard for any form of nutritional supplement hype which is good and the approach to steroid use is excellent - a big change from the books that try to stop you by pretending they dont work - Covert's books explains the risks. Overall, a good book but there are better - look for "The Ketogenic Diet" - also, this book seems mainly aimed at people who want to get into the aerobic types of fitness.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book On Exercise and Weight Loss Available!
Review: Tired of reading all those diet books (Sugar Busters, The Amazing Just Eat Protein And You'll Permanentely Lose Weight) while you continue to get hopelessly fatter? Then I have good news, my temporarily over-fat friends: Covert Bailey's "Smart Exercise!" Why? Because as Covert explains time and again in this wonderful book "THE ONLY WAY TO PERMANENTLY LOSE FAT IS TO BECOME A BETTER 'BUTTER BURNER', AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO EXERCISE--PERIOD!" Save yourselves the money and heart-ache, people. No diet plan ALONE is going to keep you thin and fit. Diets will only promote temporary weight loss. Unless you plan on starving yourself the rest of your life, you'll gain all the weight back and more. Just read Covert's book and he'll explain why--in easy to understand terms. He's got a degree (in biochemistry, I beleive) from MIT. I think he knows what he's talking about. If any of you have read Bob Greene's book (The Oprah book--another excellent choice) I think you'll be happy to see that he and Covert recommend the same things (Isn't it nice to see two experts in the field actually agreeing?) Do what Covert says, and you'll lose weight and feel better than you ever imagined. I guarantee it. Oh, and a note on a few of the hot diet books mentioned above. Skip 'em. Sugar Busters is fine, but you need to worry about exercise first! ( For MUCH better dietary advice, Read Dr. Dean Ornish's books) And when are these "high protein diet" people going to quit? High protein diets are not only hard on your body, they also dehydrate you--which is where all that miraculous weight loss comes from. Exercise and eat a balanced diet as outlined in Covert's and Bob's books and you'll be fine.Best of luck!
Rating:
Summary: The Essence of Beneficial Exercise
Review: What Can I Say ... this book is changing my life. I re-read sections of it daily for best results. I now find that (1) lifestyle changes, (2) exercise for strength and endurance, and (3) nutritional diet balance are UNIFIED ELEMENTS for a more healthy life. ALL three must be in place if desired results are to be achieved. The work is substantial primarily because it complements other writings by the author. The author has created a body of work in this weight-health discipline that sets worthy standards. I would recommend to the publisher, editor, and author that an abstract of this work be prepared and widely distributed to the general public. The abstract, "Covert Bailey's Synethesis, would make an excellent daily reminder.
Rating:
Summary: Uses chemistry to prove his point. Gets technical but good.
Review: You have to look at charts and trust that the info that he supplying you is accurate. Got a little ho-hum in several parts. Learned something about short sprints benefits and sugar vs. fat burning though.
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