From Amazon.com
If positive thinking alone could strip weight off people, anyone reading this latest tome from the perpetually perky Denise Austin would be thin. Good vibes leap from the page, whether she's describing her own attitude toward life ("Happiness is a choice that is available to anyone") or simply introducing exercise information ("Burn the Fat!" "Build the Muscle!" "Get Flexible!").
Austin says that she gets more requests for advice on losing the final 10 pounds than on any other subject, and in response she's created a very solid combination of "eat less" and "exercise more," the twin pillars of any scientifically sound weight-loss prescription. Austin jazzes it up with some yoga- and Pilates-based exercises, an exhortation to move more throughout the day (she calls it "Fidget-cize"), and a "Mind-Body-Spirit" routine that serves as a cooldown for her three-times-a-week cardiovascular workouts.
Her meal plan is 1,500 calories a day, and includes weekly shopping lists, followed by easy-to-prepare meals that range from a peanut-butter sandwich to more gourmet fare like lemon herb-roasted chicken thighs. Sprinkled in with the meal plans are daily exercise tips ("Do tummy tucks while you sit in your car"), and a bit of philosophy from the school of thought she calls Denisiology ("A smile, a compliment, one kind sentence--those little things can make a person's day.").
The biggest strength of Austin's plan is that it combines good science with good variety; those who try it won't get bored with the food or the exercises. As for that always-upbeat tone, well, it seems to work well enough for Austin. --Lou Schuler
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Library Journal
Popular health and fitness expert Austin has been motivating people for more than ten years. She now has available more than 30 exercise videos, several books and audiocassettes, and a popular television fitness program. Her newest book focuses on losing "those last 10 pounds," the hardest to lose for most dieters. It includes a four-week plan, with 28 days of meal plans and recipes, plus additional recipes, daily workouts, advice for keeping the weight off, and even her "secret ways to sneak exercises into your day." She also includes a very helpful "shopping list" at the beginning of each week's menus. Given her continuing high profile and popularity, any book written by Austin should be a welcome addition to public libraries.
-Kristine Benishek, Good Samaritan Hosp. Lib., Dayton, OH Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
