Fitness for Dummies

I've read several beginner fitness books and I feel this is the most complete and best organized of them all. This has gotten me motivated and started on the right fitness program for me (I've since confirmed with a personal trainer). Honest and accurate fitness information is laid out in an easily understood way (without any questionable product endorsements). No "summary" style book is going to have everything, but they have enough information that you feel like everything else is fine tuning.To address the concerns of another reviewer, the 2nd edition of this book does discuss common fitness injuries.

This book purports to be little more than a refresher course or an updating of information for those of us that have not been to gyms in a very long time. It lives up to this premise very well, with language that is neither pedantic nor peppy (we've all heard "come on, you can do it!" a few too many times). The strongsuit of Ms. Schlosberg's and Ms. Neporent's treatise is that it answers most of the questions beginners would either not know to ask or are embarrassed to ask... it takes a while in a gym space to be able to just turn to someone to ask how the treadmill starts up. These women endeavored to clear up these novice-level mysteries while succeeding in not coming off as condescending. If, however, you would like a more definitive explanation of things (this book glosses over a large amount-- acting more as a relatively thorough overview than a true guide) you might ought to check elsewhere before committing here. I found Fitness for Dummies to be very helpful as I am nearing thirty and getting back into gyms that have contraptions I could not have begun to understand before reading this book. Good luck out there!

As a middle-aged fellow trying to get back into shape, "Fitness for Dummies" provided a wealth of information missing in other books. How to pick a gym, what to pack in a gym bag, what exercises to do and why, how to act in the weight room - all the important stuff is in there to get you to take that big step and begin getting fit. I liked it enough I have purchased copies for two of my relatives!

If only all Dummies books were as good as this one. Extremely well-written with the most clear language one could ever hope for. Full of anecdotes, definitions, and plenty of myth busters. The personalization from the authors gets tiring ("Suzanne thinks that...", "Liz's grandmother once..."), but it is tolerable. Many, many aspects of fitness are covered in remarkable thoroughness. General weight lifting (both at home and the gym), supplements, gym etiquette, trainer tips, aerobic machines and classes, and fitness video buying are all covered with impressive detail. (If buying this book used, be sure to get the 2nd edition as it covers many topics that didn't exist with the first edition: Pilates, Physio balls, elliptical trainers, Bikram Yoga, and more.)

Fitness For Dummies is the perfect introduction to fitness, diet and exercise covering state-of-the- art health fitness techniques with a text that is easy to understand, practical, and friendly. Now in an expanded and updated second edition, Fitness For Dummies cuts through fitness myths and contradictory advice as authors and fitness experts show the readers how to test their fitness levels and set realistic goals, pinpoint fat sources in their diet, create a personalized fitness program, find Internet fitness forums and Web sites, and even how to brave a public gym.