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Rating: 
Summary: The best source of new conditioning exercises I have found!
Review: As a physical therapist with nearly 20 years of experience, it is rare for me to find a resource for all my patients. This book reaches way past the traditional, and introduces the reader to new, innovative, functional conditioning exercises that enhance performance, improve durability, reduce injury risk, and generally improve the quality of life. My congratulations to the authors for a fabulous resource for both the hard core and the casual athlete alike. Even if you are not an athlete, this book is a must have resource. I plane to promote this book to the professional trainers I teach at seminars nationally.
Rating:
Summary: Great, no-nonsense book
Review: I bought this book to help me get in shape for skiing. Unlike the first reviewer, I am not a professional, and hardly know the difference between a curl and a squat, but this book gave me all the information I needed in an interesting way, but without useless 'happy talk.'
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Summary: Great book but rather technical
Review: Love the book and it's advice but yes, it IS technical and there is alot to go through. Great for general guidelines and specific advice on particular sports and exercises. Plenty of stuff you can do at home if you don't have access to a gym. I'd recommend it to anyone in training!
Rating: 
Summary: Take it in moderation
Review: The book is clear and describes a lot of interesting exercises but doesn't translate into a realistic program. For instance, in the chapter on "Backpacking, Hiking and Snowshoeing" you are supposed to work up to a routine of 23 exercises. Since most of these are for 2-3 sets of 12+ reps, if you take six seconds per rep, this works out to 55 minutes of actual exercise time--not including any rest intervals or time to switch weights, etc. Seems like a lot of time to train for, well, walking. A good book for choosing rehab & injury prevention exercises, but I wouldn't base a whole fitness routine on it. John
Rating:
Summary: Take it in moderation
Review: The book is clear and describes a lot of interesting exercises but doesn't translate into a realistic program. For instance, in the chapter on "Backpacking, Hiking and Snowshoeing" you are supposed to work up to a routine of 23 exercises. Since most of these are for 2-3 sets of 12+ reps, if you take six seconds per rep, this works out to 55 minutes of actual exercise time--not including any rest intervals or time to switch weights, etc. Seems like a lot of time to train for, well, walking. A good book for choosing rehab & injury prevention exercises, but I wouldn't base a whole fitness routine on it. John
Rating:
Summary: Take it in moderation
Review: The book is clear and describes a lot of interesting exercises but doesn't translate into a realistic program. For instance, in the chapter on "Backpacking, Hiking and Snowshoeing" you are supposed to work up to a routine of 23 exercises. Since most of these are for 2-3 sets of 12+ reps, if you take six seconds per rep, this works out to 55 minutes of actual exercise time--not including any rest intervals or time to switch weights, etc. Seems like a lot of time to train for, well, walking. A good book for choosing rehab & injury prevention exercises, but I wouldn't base a whole fitness routine on it. John
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Overall Guidance & Specific Training Tips
Review: The word "comprehensive" seems very fitting for "Conditioning for Outdoor Fitness" because the volume packs in a lot of background information on physiology as well as specific training regimens for particular outdoor sports. I particularly value the icons for different sports used to identify exercises that are particularly valuable for the sport you are preparing for. The final chapters provide focused training regimens for specific sports, which are cross-referenced to the exercise descriptions found in other parts of the book. The book also provides valuable tips on functional exercises that focus on combinations of muscle groups to achieve more practical training than the muscle isolation process used in many weight training machines. All in all, this is one of the very best I've seen for sport-focused training.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Overall Guidance & Specific Training Tips
Review: The word "comprehensive" seems very fitting for "Conditioning for Outdoor Fitness" because the volume packs in a lot of background information on physiology as well as specific training regimens for particular outdoor sports. I particularly value the icons for different sports used to identify exercises that are particularly valuable for the sport you are preparing for. The final chapters provide focused training regimens for specific sports, which are cross-referenced to the exercise descriptions found in other parts of the book. The book also provides valuable tips on functional exercises that focus on combinations of muscle groups to achieve more practical training than the muscle isolation process used in many weight training machines. All in all, this is one of the very best I've seen for sport-focused training.
Rating:
Summary: A wealth of information from which you MUST SIFT through
Review: This book is an excellent reference and strategy resource. There is tons of information ... almost overwhelming. You need to be able to sift through it to fit your goals. The books helps you to define and articulate your goals - this is a CRITICAL step if you want to get the most from this book. Without your goals, you will be overwhelmed with the wealth of information. What do I mean? For example, this was my goal: To develop a SOLID fitness base (cardio, general strenght, lean-ness). Secondly, I want to also be able to perform successfully and effecitively on my bi-annual hikes to the White Mountains. Thirdly, I want to be in general shape for sports I like (basketball, mountain biking, and martial arts). Finally, I want to have a great build. Although this book does not talk about bodybuilding (you may need to supplement your knowledge with another book on bodybuilding), it implied that I can view bodybuilding as a "sports specific" goal. In other words, when summer is around the goal, this book showed me some ways to plan for this accordingly without sacrificing my general goals, at least from a planning perspective. Either you can wing it, or you can plan for it ... this book is great for the planning, and is very academic. As a result, I have a plan to get in the best shape I've ever been in about 2-3 months (my Build Base Phase). By Feb/Mar of 2001, I will shift gears to get ready for my spring hike (My Sports Specific phase). When that's done, summer is near, so I'll start building some muscle and size for those hot, shirtless days (My 2nd Sports Specific phase). Again, as fall draws near, I will get back into hiking shape (Sports Specific phase), complete my excursion, and then repeat the cycle, as required, as needed (General Maintenance). This book gave me practical ideas on how to plan for general fitness, sports specific performance, with a good degree of organization and rationale. But I had to definitely SIFT THROUGH IT ALL AND USE MY HEAD! Some constructive criticism: I value the information on functional strength, i.e., although you can military press 100 lbs, that exercise does not directly "functionally" transfer to muscular performance needed to lift my bike onto the roof of my car. So, you must practice with more functionally specific exercises to get that performance. However, although many functional exercises are discussed, some of the descriptions don't explain the execution very well. I would not recommend this to beginners ... it's like a reference guide for the experienced.
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