Bone Building Body Shaping Workout Strength Health Beauty In Just 16 Minutes A Day
September 17, 2009 by Healthy Woman Now · Leave a Comment
Bone Building Body Shaping Workout Strength Health Beauty In Just 16 Minutes A Day
Joyce Vedral promises you can strengthen and shape your body and build bone in only 16 minutes a day with this illustrated program. This author of numerous exercise and health books (including Eating to Trim and Weight Training Made Easy) and frequent talk-show guest offers basic exercises that purport to work every major muscle group effectively. All of the exercises are compiled into handy pullout charts for quick reference, and dozens of photographs show Vedral’s sleek and sculpted 54-year-old body illustrating the maneuvers. In addition to the program, you’ll find plenty of solid information about building muscle and bone.
Vedral relies on research indicating that working out with weights aids in building bone density. However, some strength-training experts would advise women to work out with heavier weights if they are strong enough to handle them, rather than the one- to three-pound weights Vedral recommends for her beginners’ program. She does say you should raise the heft of your weights when the program becomes easy, so don’t miss this point with her emphasis on light weights.
If you’re a young woman, Bone-Building Body-Shaping Workout is not only for your mother: according to Vedral, weight training helps you put “bone in the bank” so that you have more to draw from decades from now, and it will increase your fat-burning rate. –Joan Price
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Joyce Vedral Rocks!
I was so glad to see this book available. I have used Vedral’s programs in the past and know they work. No gimmicks, no frills, etc.
The book includes the valuable wall chart of exercises. The pictures are easy to follow and simple hand weights are all you really need.
Thank you!!
4 Stars Great routine
This is a great routine and the book is an easy-read that I found quite motivating. I was a bit discouraged, however, when I discovered how long the exercises actually take. It takes me 30 minutes to complete the “8-minute” routines. I would have actually felt more motivated had I been more adequately prepared to allow for the necessary time. That said, I commend Joyce for this book, which also includes a chapter on diet and a chapter on aerobic exercise. I am very encouraged that I may be able to prevent osteoporosis, and am recommending this book to my mom, who was recently diagnosed.
5 Stars Easy-to-read book with a good workout, and eating advice.
This workout is great, although you may want to do ALL the designated warm-up exercises at the beginning of the workout, in order to avoid wasting time picking up and putting down the dumbbells between sections. If you do this I think it would be much easier to get the workout time down to where the book claims it should be.
I own The 12-Minute Total Body Workout book, and in one respect, this book is better in that it contains a photo chart of all the exercises involved, which “12-Minute” does NOT have. I recommend that you buy a copy of this book, make a copy of the chart, then cut it up and paste each exercise onto index cards, so that you can mix up the order of the exercises every few weeks or so, as well as putting the warmups at the beginning of the workout.
Both books are great.
4 Stars Great Workout …but you need more time
I bought this book because I have the 12-minute Total Body Workout by Vedral and I wanted to see if she had updated her excercises. I was very pleased with this book, the exercises are easy to learn and they work! However, there is no way you can do it in 8 minutes a day without sacrificing proper movement and form. Plan on spending between 15 and 20 minutes per day for four days, 30-40 minutes per day for two days, or about 1 1/2 hours for one day. In the 12-Minute book, you did 2 body parts, 2 exercises each, for 3 reps. In this book, it’s 3 body parts, at least 3 exercises each, 3 reps each plus stretching. How on earth did she think you could do it in 8 minutes?
5 Stars highly recommended
I bought the hardcover edition of this book used from Amazon and am very pleased with it. This is a very readable book, with most things clearly explained. When I say ‘most’, I mean that I still have questions as to WHY the pyramid method works better than other methods, and I also think it should be explained WHY the exact order of the workout matters (by body part, not by specific individual exercises within a body-part group). I am confused too because other books say to constantly vary your routine or to even change it completely every other week, where-as this book says that you must follow this exact routine every time. Aside from those points of confusion, the explanatory material is quite good. The work-out itself is excellent, and well suited to the woman who prefers a good at-home dumb-bell workout. Joyce must have the routine memorized, and do it without any rest periods at super-speed in order to finish within the time she says it will take. I have the extra time to put into it, so that is not a problem. If your goal is to build bone to prevent osteoporosis, this is a great program, or even if you just want to have a nice dumb-bell routine to build strength and re-shape, I also recommend it.
Exercises for Osteoporosis Third Edition A Safe and Effective Way to Build Bone Density and Muscle Strength and Improve Posture and Flexibility
September 4, 2009 by Healthy Woman Now · Leave a Comment
The definitive and easy-to-follow exercise guide for maintaining healthy, strong bones.
More than 25 million Americans, almost 10% of our population, suffer from osteoporosis. While it is often thought of as an old woman’s disease, about 20% of osteoporosis sufferers are men and a growing number of young women, especially athletes, are being diagnosed with the disease.
The good news is that we can help prevent and treat osteoporosis and its precursor, osteopenia. Exercise can increase bone density, strengthen muscles, and improve balance and flexibility, thus reducing the risk of injury and helping to maintain daily functioning.
Featuring a comprehensive approach that incorporates yoga, Pilates, and Feldenkrais techniques with traditional weight-training and aerobics exercise, the third edition of Exercises for Osteoporosis includes:
■ Targeted exercises for at-risk body parts including hips, spine, wrists, and ankles
■ All-new sections on improving balance and flexibility to help prevent falls and fractures
■ Complete beginner, intermediate, and advanced workout programs
With more than 125 detailed exercises for people at all levels of fitness and all stages of the disease, Exercises for Osteoporosis is the best preventive medicine and the right prescription for maintaining health and well-being.
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars I’m stronger and more flexible, thanks to the book
The book bills itself as “a safe and effective way to build bone density and muscle strength and improve posture and flexibility,” and so far, so good. I can’t vouch for the bone density improvement yet, because it takes a couple of years before a test will reveal much change. But I’m stronger, more flexible and my posture is much better.
I’ve been doing the lowest level of the exercises for about three weeks. I was sore all the time when I first started. I’m no longer sore, so I must have gained both strength and flexibility. It sure seems that way. I know my posture has improved. A great book.
Her premise is worthy: it takes more than strength to live a good life. Being flexible and lithe and standing straight and tall make a woman proud.
3 Stars I wanted more detail
My main complaint is that the first hundred pages came unglued from the binding the third time I used it. The other pages are barely hanging on. In a way that might be the way to use the book–line up the loose pages in the recommended order for your capability. Otherwise you will have to do a lot of page turning back & forth. I started out with sticky notes on each page to tell me to what page to turn for the next exercise.
The introduction has some good information about the importance exercise can play in rebuilding bone. It says to begin at a level commensurate with, or even below your current strength and progress to the harder ones. Many of the exercises fall way below my current strength, so I don’t see how they would build my bones. But a few like the regular pushup is impossible for me. Even though I didn’t feel like I had a hard workout, my muscles were sore the next day, so any exercise is more beneficial than my normal routine of sitting at the computer most of the day.
The book explains that technique is important–who wants to take the time and effort to exercise with no benefit. It has two pictures of a person (not a stick figure) to illustrate the exercise movement. The text tells you the starting position, the action to perform, then some details or pointers to do it correctly. For example it will say, “engage your transverse abdominals” and refers you to another page that is supposed to explain how to do that (about 150 words.) I still didn’t get it, so I searched the Internet and found out the details I needed to know: an anatomy picture of that muscle group and 356 words about the correct technique to exercise them. Granted twice the words should have twice the information, but compared to the book I’m reviewing here, it seemed more like five times the information. Of course that book cost about five times the price of this one, but it was a hard back and I doubt the pages would fall out.
The Body Sculpting Bible for Women
August 21, 2009 by Healthy Woman Now · Leave a Comment
The Body Sculpting Bible for Women
Every woman’s desire to achieve a beautiful and healthy body is made easy with this unique and comprehensive program! Body sculpting is the key to attaining a beautiful, defined, healthy figure. By combining precision weight training with proper diet and nutrition, The Body Sculpting Bible for Women demonstrates that women everywhere can rapidly meet their fitness goals, including
• improved strength
• reduced body fat
• increased energy
• sculpted thighs
• slim hips
• perfectly shaped arms
• tight and toned abdominals
• fit and firm buttocks
Women have been searching for an ideal fitness program: one that is convenient, effective and, most importantly, tailored specifically for a woman’s body. Now it’s here! Authors James Villepigue and Hugo Rivera have developed a unique and powerful 14-day body sculpting workout that promises to deliver life-changing and long-lasting results. It’s a complete success formula in one easy-to-follow book: The Body Sculpting Bible for Women. 100 b/w photos.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars AWESOME BOOK FOR BEGINNERS
About 3 yrs I picked up this book, at which time, I had never lifted a weight in my life. After 6mnths of using this book I saw drastic improvements, and till this day, I use this book for strength training exercises.
I have recommended this book to many of my girlfriends and they all love it. This book does a really nice of focusing on the exercises that shape a women’s body. If you focus on working out one muscle group, per week, for least 6 weeks, you will see results.
I truly recommend this book to anyone. They have great pics and they do a nice job of explaining the components of the muscle groups and how to do the exercise right.
5 Stars Very inspiring
I first followed this book, although the menu isn’t that great, when you’re trying to get lean, there isn’t much that is appetizing. If there were more recipes, it would have been a little better, but overall the quality of the work outs and the plans as well as the overall explanation of fitness is very good. Would recommend to anyone. also, about 4 years later, I hired a trainer and most of the workouts in the book, were the ones my trainer had me doing! So, save yourself the money for a trainer and buy this book!
5 Stars Great guide
When I bought this book three years ago it was on a recommendation from a friend. I took it with me when I got sent overseas. I have read this book cover to cover several times and have bought the one for abs as well. I have found this book to be a helpful tool ever since I bought it. The book does not promise you results without work, it’s straight forward and gives a beginner the knowledge they need to know to excel. I have lost 25 pounds so far by following this book and I am continuing to see results not just in weight loss but muscle tone and more energy. I would highly recommend this book for beginners, I love it and it’s easy even without a lot of equipment. I have been able to workout at home with only dumbbells, you just need to be resorceful. If you are commited this book will work for you.
5 Stars Body Sculpting Bible is Everything You Need to Know…
This is a straight-forward, complete book on nutrition, training and exercise for anyone who wants a sculpted physique. It is loaded with exercises for all anatomical areas. There are many exercises that can be done without attending a gym or having expensive equipment. Many are best done in a gym. It is for everyone. I’ve been body-building for many years. It tells all the things I’ve learned over time from trial and error, from observation and from asking others. After that, there still was a lot of new info. for me, especially in the area of nutrition and how to use that with diet effectively. There are planned training routines with diets that may be utilized for beginners up to those who want to compete. You will benefit from this book, no matter how much or how little you choose to incorporate. I love it and highly recommend it! It is the one book to buy on body building.
5 Stars Comprehensive Exercise Index
Finally, a book on body building that’s just for women! This serves as a beginner’s guide to weight training. A thorough exercise index is included.
The Fat Burning Workout From Fat to Firm in 24 Days
August 6, 2009 by Healthy Woman Now · Leave a Comment
The Fat Burning Workout From Fat to Firm in 24 Days
Award-winning fitness expert Joyce Vedral–author of Now or Never and The 12-Minute Total-Body Workout–offers an age-fighting plan to tone muscles and burn off fat.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars This Book Gave Me Back My Pre-Baby Body!!!
To be honest, my body looks even better than it did in high school. I had picked this book up when I was 20 years old and pregnant (this is William’s wife Jen) and I was already planning ahead to try to get a descent body back. All of the women in my family had basically let themselves go after popping out a kid, and I didn’t want people thinking that I was pregnant three years after the baby had been born. I started working with this book (almost all weight training with very little cardio, maybe 2 hours of step aerobics a week) when my baby was 2 weeks old, and I followed a sensible diet (not the one in this book since I’m a veggie, but something similar). By the time I had my next doctor’s appointment (6 weeks postbirth), my weight was lower than prior to pregnancy, my body looked better than when I had been in high school, and my blood pressure was the lowest that it had ever been. This book and its philosophy has given me the best body of my life (not to mention more time for myself and the kids since I don’t have to do endless hours of ineffective cardio)! My husband loves my cut but not massive body and girls ten younger ask me how did I get into such great shape. After this book I moved on to the “Perfect Parts” which gives greater results, but this is definitiely the one to begin with.
5 Stars OUTSTANDING…GREAT RESULTS!!!!!!!
If you follow her workout…you WILL see results in two weeks or LESS!!!!! GREAT BOOK and WORKOUT with almost no equipment!!!!!!!
5 Stars Effective Program and Reference Guide
This was the first exercise-related book I ever bought. I was in college at the time, and wanted to lose about 15-20 pounds. I was able to create my own workout by using the exercises I preferred, and I ended up losing a total of 40 pounds in 10 months.
Needless to say, I was thrilled with the results, and still use this book as a reference guide.
4 Stars Great results, but takes time….
Like many people, I have exercised off and on throughout my adult life. This was the first weight training book I bought when I decided to get serious about fitness. Before this book, I never achieved the definition on my arms and upper body that I got with this. I do not know if it is the combination of exercises, the order, or the style, but it works for my body.
Though I vary my routine with hers and other books and videos, I always come back to hers as the one most often used.
Two complaints with this and her other books - I do not feel that her form is always correct for the lower body exercises. I have had a trainer who showed me the proper form, so I disregard hers in those cases. I also substitute exercises for ones I do not feel comfortable doing (i.e. sissy squat - killer on knees). The second are the diet tips. The book is somewhat dated, although she preaches many common-sense ideas. I feel there are more comprehensive guides out there for that.
3 Stars good if you like weights
I tried both her books fat burning and bottoms up. Here are my complaints for the fat-buring workout:
afterwards my muscles became so short and inflexible.
Also, its too much too fast too soon. You should only start with 1 set with the weights.
If you like weights go on, but I’m not going to sacrifice my flexibility and range of motion.
Body by Jake Strength Training 101 for Women
May 22, 2009 by Healthy Woman Now · Leave a Comment
Body by Jake Strength Training 101 for Women
Learn the basics of low-weight, high-repetition strength training with Hollywood trainer Jake. In this 40-minute video, Jake instructs carefully and comprehensively while a young, fit, female exerciser demonstrates each exercise. The clear instruction is aimed at beginning level, with exercises for all major muscle groups. This is an instructional guide rather than a workout–if you want to use it as a workout, pause the DVD to complete your reps before going on to the next exercise. You’ll need dumbbells, a barbell, and an adjustable weight bench with leg curl and leg extension (all the items in the Body by Jake equipment set). Since no alternatives are shown (e.g., dumbbells instead of barbell for several appropriate exercises), this DVD seems more appropriate as an instructional guide for working out with the Body by Jake equipment (or equivalent) rather than for general weight training at home. –Joan Price
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Great Way To Get Started In Weight Lifting
This a very informative video. Jake walks you through each procedure and lets you know which muscle is being worked and shows you the proper lifting technique. There are no jerky moves. I’d always wanted to use my workbench and weight bar, but was scared I’d use it improperly and do more damage then good. This tape has definitely been a great help. I enjoy working out in my home gym and most of his tapes/DVD’s have a program to follow along with. This one doesn’t. It shows how to perform a procedure and do a few reps, to get you started, and then moves on to the next and then the next which is nice, but I would have liked it better if he’d have designed it, as with his other workout programs, with a certain # of reps for each procedure. Instead, I watch the procedure, pause it, do my reps, and then unpause it and go to the next and so on. (Tht is the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5)…But, all in all, it’s a nice starter video for getting into weight lifting.
5 Stars Best Strength Training Tape For Beginners on the Market
I pre-ordered the VHS tape back in early December. I received it a few days ago. I am totally impressed. I have a weight bench, dumb-bells, a bar and a heavier weight set at home. I use my light weight dumb-bells all of the time, but I always wanted to use my work bench and heavier weights for sculpting, but was afraid of hurting myself from improper form. This tape makes it so simple. Jake walks you through each procedure and explains exactly which muscles are being worked. Most tapes perform the procedures in such a fast pace that I was always skeptical about even trying them out. Jake explains, as a model performs the procedure with proper form and technique in a slow smooth pace. Well, I’m on my way to the body I know I was meant to have. Thanks Jake for making a tape for beginners like myself.
5 Stars Body by Jake Strength Training 101
I found this dvd to be extremely valuable when it comes to learning how to use weights. Jake’s instruction is clear and very helpful. I was always nervous about using weights at the gym, now I have enough confidence to give it a try. I always wanted to use weights at home, but I never knew what I needed. Now I do. I know how much to lift, how many times and the best part is now I know how to sculpt the body I have always wanted.
101 Ways to Work Out with Weights Effective Exercises to Sculpt Your Body and Burn Fat
May 5, 2009 by Healthy Woman Now · Leave a Comment
101 Ways to Work Out with Weights Effective Exercises to Sculpt Your Body and Burn Fat
Another follow-up to our successful 101 Ways to Work Out on the Ball, this book targets another piece of inexpensive yet powerful equipment - dumbbells. Many people buy them but either use them incorrectly or not at all because they’re not sure how. This book gives 101 different exercises for upper and lower body that you can do in the gym or at home. Strength training can actually change the shape of your body, improve your metabolism, and build bone strength - but most women aren’t sure how to do it. This book makes it easy to reap the enormous benefits of weight training?in your own home.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars LOVE this book!
101 Ways to Work Out With Weights got me started lifting weights again after several years of neglect. I don’t care for gyms and this book has helped me develop a great weight lifting program in the comfort of my own home. And I never get bored because there are so many exercises, combinations and routines I can do, many of which I’d never done before. Excellent descriptions and photos ensure I’m lifting properly.
4 Stars Excellent book
There was far more information in this book than just weights. The author really has put a lot of effort into creating a rounded book filled with relevant information. I’m very happy with this.
5 Stars Fresh Ideas for Weights
I decided to purchase dumbbells instead of renewing my gym membership, so I was looking for fresh ideas for home workouts. This book has a lot of compound exercises that are great at breaking up the monotony of the usual sets. The challenge of learning new techniques brings such a breath of fresh air. I intend to buy her book of stability ball exercises as well since I’ve found this book so valuable.
5 Stars I LOVE this book!
I LOVE this book! It gives so many different workout options. I have never seen so many good ideas incorporated into one exercise book. It even gives recipe ideas for healthy eating. The illustrations are very helpful and it is very easy to interpret how to do each exercise correctly. I’m just a beginner but this is the right tool for advancing.
5 Stars Great book. Great buy.
This book is really great. There are a ton of exercises broken down by body part that can perform in the privacy of your own home with very minimal equipment. It is clear, concise, informative and very well illustrated. I definitely recommend it.
