Fitness For Dummies, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

The original Fitness for Dummies, published in 1996, was a real breakthrough: a book that took a reader through all the fitness basics without being offputtingly complicated or insultingly simplistic. This second edition only improves on that tough balancing act.

The authors are two of the most experienced fitness writers in the business--Suzanne Schlosberg is a longtime contributor to Shape and Liz Neporent is a veteran personal trainer, corporate fitness consultant, and contributor to Shape and The New York Times. In addition to being experienced at explaining exercise, they're both exercise junkies, and their firsthand knowledge and love of the topic is evident throughout.

Each section of the book--whether dealing with basic fitness issues, cardiovascular training, strength training, flexibility, joining a gym, or exercising at home--offers a combination of well-researched, easily understandable information, combined with informed opinion. For example, in chapters discussing exercise equipment, they're able to offer personal reactions to the gear--mentioning that Life Fitness makes great exercise bikes but a treadmill they don't care for.

New information in this second edition includes "100 Reasons to Break a Sweat," featuring the latest research on exercise benefits; sections incorporating Internet fitness resources; and beefed-up exercise-video advice. That latter section includes tips about avoiding rip-offs (older videos are sometimes repackaged, with new covers promising different benefits) and a handy guide to choosing the best video instructors for different fitness levels.

The core information, though, is the best reason to buy this edition of Fitness for Dummies. Exercise science is complicated, but this book makes it as simple--and entertaining--as it can possibly be. --Lou Schuler

"This is the most comprehensive and entertaining fitness book I've ever seen." -- Sharon Cohen, Executive Editor, Men's Fitness Magazine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

In the exercise world, there's something new in equipment, research, gadgets, videos, and Web sites just about every day. Health clubs are offering innovative new classes like cardio kickboxing and firefighter boot camp, and nifty new machines, like the elliptical trainer. Meanwhile, scientists have published scores of new studies suggesting that exercise may, among other things, improve memory, reduce the risk of breast cancer, and give you a mood boost.

Fitness For Dummies, 2nd Edition, updates you on all the latest – the good, the bad, and the totally weird. But the central mission of this book is to tackle your fears, whether you worry that operating a stairclimber requires a degree in mechanical engineering or fret that no matter what exercise routine you start, sooner or later you'll end up back in the recliner. This book is for anyone who wants to

• Set realistic fitness goals
• Analyze your eating habits
• Maximize your cardio workout
• Demystify strength equipment
• C hoose a health club

This down-to-earth guide tells you the stuff you really want to know, such as:

• Will you burn more fat if you exercise at a slower pace?
• Which brands of home exercise equipment are most reliable?
• Can you actually become "Rock Solid in 6 Weeks," like the magazines say?
• Which weight training exercises are best for beginners?
• What the heck is Pilates, and how do you pronounce it?
• How many days a week do you really need to work out?
• How can you tell if a fitness trainer is qualified?
• Will exercise ever be fun?

Don't become a fitness statistic. The fact is, among people who start an exercise program, half quit within eight weeks. Fitness For Dummies, 2nd Edition, presents strategies for making exercise a habit and explains the basics of healthy eating so that you steer clear of fad diets and useless supplements. This book gives you the knowledge and motivation to stick with fitness for the rest of your life.

Fitness is on the rise. New equipment, classes, videos and Web sites dedicated to keeping you in shape appear daily, and health clubs offer classes in areas as diverse and innovative as yoga and cardio kick-boxing.

Fitness For Dummies (2nd Edition) updates you on the good, the bad and the totally weird trends in exercise and helps you choose among your fitness regimen options. This second edition adheres to the mission its authors, fitness professionals Suzanne Schlosberg and Liz Neporent, outlined in the book's first edition - to show you how to set and achieve realistic fitness goals on the way to a healthier lifestyle. Thanks to clear, concise explanations and informative photos and illustrations, you'll quickly discover:

- Ways to test your fitness level, set realistic goals, stick with your program and achieve great results - The role of cardiovascular exercise in strengthening your heart and lungs, burning lots of calories and lowering your stress level - Why lifting weights is so important and how you can create a program that works for you - The importance of a regular stretching regimen, including mind-body workouts such as Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi - How to choose a gym, evaluate the latest in exercise classes and consider fitness equipment for the home - Where fat is sneaking into your diet and how to develop better eating habits - The true meanings of fitness buzzwords like "target zone," "circuit training" and "metabolic rate"

Suzanne Schlosberg and Liz Neporent are fitness experts who write frequently for newspapers and magazines. Together, they cowrote Weight Training For Dummies^®.