The Complete Book of Abs : Revised and Expanded Edition

Rating:
Summary: Everything but the kitchen sink approach to building abs
Review: I am sorry to say this book was a complete dissappointment. In his book Kurt Brungardt takes an everything but the kitchen sink approach to building abs. He inundates you with over a hundred ab excercises without giving any real insight as to which ones he prefers or why. I don't need an expert to tell me every excercise out there, I need an expert to give me the benefit of his experience and narrow the list down to only the most effective excercises and techniques. I was further dissapointed that Kurt says that genetic pre-disposition has a lot to do with developing great abs, and instead points out all of the other health benefits to ab work. While the part about other benefits may be true, lets face it, the reason we want rock hard abs is hardly for better posture. The nutrition portion of the book was written by a registered dietician and seems to follow the typical RDA, behind the times, advice without getting down to the nuts and bolts of perfecting your diet. So, if you want a book with lots (and I do mean lots) of ab excercises then this book may be for you. If you are looking for direct, simple advice on getting your abs really cut, then you might want to look elswhere. P.S. In fareness, the photos, and instructions on performing all those ab excercises are pretty good.

Rating:
Summary: The Best ab workout you can find
Review: I bought this book way back in '93, when it was first published. At the time, I was into working out in a big way, and the exercises came natuarally and quickly. But now, after becoming a very unathletic person, this book is helping me get back into shape. How? Although the book is awesome based alone on the fact that it has tons of new ways to work out your stomach, there are also great chapters dedicated to proper nutrition, hydration, warming up, and mental wellness. This is a not a "quickie abs" book in any way - it is a "Complete" book of abs and wellness, just like the title says.

Rating:
Summary: I Finally Got Rid of My Little Bulge!
Review: I have been thin all my life but I have always had a little bulge in my lower ab region that I thought I had to just live with. I even considered having a tummy tuck. But as one last resort I ordered this book and for the past 6 weeks I have been doing the lower ab exercises for 10 minutes, 6 days a week. After 3 weeks I saw some serious changes happening. Not only were my lower abs started to flatten but I saw that the rest of my stomach was toning up as well. Now after 6 weeks my stomach is almost completely flat. Just a few more weeks of doing these workouts should make my abs completely flat. Thanks so much for writing this book. You helped me avoid painful and expensive surgery!

Rating:
Summary: great fast results
Review: I have been using the book for about 8 weeks and I can feel the results. I've only lost about 5 pounds during that time but my waist has gone from a 40 to a 36.(Not bad) The only knock I have is there is a lack of sufficient instruction concerning the routines. The instructions regarding rest times are a little confusing and the instructions for the more complex exercises could use some more detail. Otherwise this is a great book for anyone looking to reduce their waistline with minimal cost and effort. I also have the shoulders and arms book (which is ust as good) but I am waiting to start those routines till after I am finished with the abs.

Rating:
Summary: Great program, fast results
Review: I have never been overweight, but my waist region was quite resistant to my attempts to get it in real good shape.
The book is divided in six weeks periods - I am now at the third level and will stay with it, no need to move to level 4 (too tough and time consuming). Results started to show on Level 2, (about 5 weeks into the program), first on the "obliques". A slight definition first, now I can say that at age 42 I am on the top of my shape, better abs than I had at 18! You gotta do it & be committed: You won t be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Good book as selection of exercises
Review: I should recommend this book if you want to have a nice selection of abdominal exercises. Other information (like nutrition) is relatively of small significance in my opinion. This is only an auxiliary book. For real and thorough training I recommend "Essentials of weightlifting & Strength Training" by Mohamed El-Hewie.

Rating:
Summary: A suberb book!
Review: I think this book is an excellent one for someone looking to improve their abs. it has over 100 exercises seperated into 4 chapters: Lower abs, upper abs, obliques, and combination exercises. I am disappointed in the review that says this book was a waste of money. It is worth every penny! Not only does the author say what area each exercise targets, but he also has a rating for difficulty and a rating for low back risk for each and every exercise. He also has dozens of routines from coaches, trainers, and bodybuilders. He also has chapters on nutrition and wellness with quite a number of recipes. There's also a system called "Fifteen Minutes a Day to Ultimate Abs." It's definately a complete book and lacks nothing.

Rating:
Summary: the best ab book ever
Review: if you do what kurt brungardt says, you will be cut very quickly. every excercice is well explained and documented. and there are routines to fit any person for any activity. while ab work is painful, this book makes you feel better since you get great results quickly.

Rating:
Summary: Complete Book of ABS??
Review: If you want maximum results this is NOT the book for you. Yes it includes "100's" of wonderful and easy looking exercises, although many of which to be blunt are poor. For maximum results there is no need for 100's of exercises but a few which taget the correct areas i.e. lower abs. I won't divulge into this now. If you want pretty pictures and to have spent £16 and still have a gut, this is not the book for you. As they say no pain no gain and this book isn't painful in the slightest.

Rating:
Summary: This book is great!!
Review: It is a great book touching every aspect of ab workouts: stretching, wellness, nutrition... The sections on ab exercises are great. There are many different exercises for each section (lowerabs, obliques and upper) and they are all illustrated. Furthermore, the routine section gives a list of different routines we can choose from depending on our needs. On of the routines is a great 6 months plan to rock hard abs. All and all, a wonderful book!!!