Women’s Home Workout Bible

5 Comments

1. Blake Fraina says:

   July 28, 2010 at 9:01 pm

   “Bible” is a great word to describe this encyclopedic fitness manual for women. I’m primarily a runner, but have been meaning to get back to strength and flexibility training for years now. This book has been a godsend – finally inspiring me to get my butt in gear. Plus, I can finally throw away all those pages of workout routines I’ve torn from Fitness, Oxygen, Self and Shape magazines, because I now have all the info I need in one place.

   Author Brad Schoenfeld covers everything from space and cost to complete, goal-oriented workout routines, so that all women, no matter their budget, size of their living quarters and/or their fitness level, can work out at home for maximum results.

   This is real no-nonsense stuff, too. In the numerous sidebars, Schoenfeld addresses, and sometimes de-bunks, the claims of popular exercise equipment and fitness fads without dismissing anything out-of-hand. For example, while he sees a place for Pilates in a well-rounded fitness regimen, he refutes the claim that practicing it will make muscles longer or leaner. He asserts that one can get fit with as little as a chinning bar, a stability ball and resistance bands and provides the exercises to get the job done. And for those with more to spend, he rates the efficacy of the various machines on the market.

   There are pages and pages of individual exercises designed to burn, firm and tone with photos illustrating proper form. In addition, there are shorter chapters on both cardio and stretching. And, the very back section of the book provides detailed work-outs to help achieve particular fitness goals (e.g., Core Stability, Body Sculpting, Body Conditioning) tailored to the different budget levels. All in all, this is an extremely user friendly and comprehensive guide.
   Rating: 4 / 5
2. Jennifer Hawkes says:

   July 28, 2010 at 11:17 pm

   The Women’s Home Workout Bible is a great resource for the woman who wants to get started on a workout plan, but doesn’t know where to start. Approximately 1/3 of the book is dedicated to how to select and decide what workout equipment to buy for a home gym. The author divides purchasing options for a home gym in four categories: $100, $500, $1000, and $2500. The author then builds off the equipment selection to teach about training theory and basic strength training anatomy. The actual workouts are formulated with the whole body method, training all muscle systems each workout on an alternating day schedule. The author explains and illustrates exercises for each muscle group and shows options for each home gym price category.

   All in all I think the book is great for the beginner weight lifter. It is written for the common audience, avoiding scientific/overly technical vocabulary making it accessible to all. Those who desire a more in-depth book on strength training and specific workouts will be disappointed, as the book lacks in depth discussions on training theory and controversy. The author spends little time discussing the benefits and different ways of stretching (static v. dynamic) and only states that stretching is very important.

   The illustrations and descriptions of the exercises are clear and the sample workouts are clearly explained. All in all beginner-intermediate woman lifters will find this book an easy read and clear. Those desiring more in depth instruction are best suited by a more academic read.
   Rating: 4 / 5
3. Rebecca Johnson says:

   July 29, 2010 at 12:52 am

   “Although cardio is great at creating a caloric deficit, it does virtually nothing to preserve muscle mass. In fact, some studies show it actually accelerates muscle loss when accompanied by a strict diet.” ~ Brad Shoenfeld

   Brad Schoenfeld has created a unique book for anyone on a budget. You can spend anywhere from $100 to $2500. You might want to start out small with resistance bands, a bench, a stability ball, ankle weights and free weights and then progress to exercise machines, depending on the space available.

   “Lifting weights increases muscle mass, maintaining high metabolism.” ~ Brad Shoenfeld

   I was surprised to learn that doing cardio exercises could actually make you lose muscle mass. This suppresses your metabolism. This book also has lots of helpful advice – like if you have wood floors you might want to get some rubber floor mats so you don’t damage them by accident. The author also explains why you don’t want to buy used equipment or products you see on infomercials.

   Some of the exercises featured in this book (full-color pictures) include: upright row (using bands), pull-up (using a chinning bar), crunch (using a stability ball), shoulder press (using free weights), arm curl (using a barbell) and an incline chest press (using a multifunction machine).

   If you are interested in buying a treadmill or bike there is some good advice on what types of equipment to buy. Like for bikes you may want to consider a recumbent bike instead of an upright bike. One of course has back support so that might be a better choice

   There is a very short section on stretching. While there are some good stretches this section could have been much more comprehensive.

   At the end of the book there is a section describing workouts according to your budget. Once you learn the exercises at the start of the book it will be easy to follow. There are plans for four weeks and it is recommended that you work out three times a week. There is also a special “body sculpting section” and “core stability routine” so you can take your workouts to the next level.

   While this book is obviously written for those who want to set up a home gym, my husband actually also found this book helpful and he goes to the gym. I have truly never seen a book that was quite so comprehensive. If you buy one book to improve your body this year make it this one!

   ~The Rebecca Review
   
   Rating: 5 / 5
4. Midwest Book Review says:

   July 29, 2010 at 1:49 am

   Brad Schoenfeld, CSCS, CPT’s Women’s Home Workout Bible: A Better Body for Every Budget comes from a personal trainer who shares his secrets of how to set up a personal gym for as little as, $100 and how to blend nearly two hundred exercises into a routine for a fine home workout. From establishing fitness goals and a schedule to budgeting, this offers 12 four-week programs for conditioning, sculpting, and cardio workouts, offering tips and answering questions. Women will find this a key acquisition essential for any home gym setup.
   Rating: 5 / 5
5. S. Johnson says:

   July 29, 2010 at 3:21 am

   Tired of monthly gym fees and concerned about the flu pandemic, this book has helped me set-up my own home gym to complement my outdoor activities.
   Rating: 5 / 5