Customer Reviews

Boot Camp: Be All You Used to Be The Sergeant's Fitness and Nutrition Program

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm not sure whether I enjoyed this book more for the entertainment value (it's very funny), the excersize tips, or the great "get healty" ideas (like sitting in a fast food joint's parking lot to observe who goes in and out!). The bottom line is that this is the best fitness book I have read. My wife and I both loved the book and it does a wonderful job of addressing each of our individual needs. I have recommended this book to all of my fit and less-than-fit friends and have no doubt at all that they will all enjoy the book immeasurably. Buy this book if you need to maintain your fitness, get in shape and/or want to laugh out loud!

If you want a fitness program to let you lose 10 pounds in 3 weeks, look no further. I came down a size or two smaller after finishing with the program. Patrick Avon's words are funny and motivating at the same time. He will motivate you to work out every week. And best of all, this program does not require any type of weights or machines; all that is used in this fitness program is your own body weight which makes it sooooo good because you can do it in the privacy of your own room. It only takes 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week, and it is NOT as hard as it seems!! No one will have to know that you're doing it, just let the results speak for themselves. I hope that I've convinced you to buy this book now and start working out to Boot Camp.

I have always been an advocate of military-style fitness. As a former Marine, I know being in shape helps in more ways than imaginable. This book will help but he tries to be cutsey and too friendly.
A better book is by A. Flach-Boot Fitness.
Still these books are better for us who don't want the bulging muscles of bodybuilders or the anoxeric look of strictly aerobic fanatics.
A sensible approach for those new or re-new to fitness

I came across this book entirely by accident in that I unexpectedly won three months in the program it describes at a charity auction. The three-week boot camp fitness program presented in the book is very similar to the one you pay $300+ for. The program really does work to get you in shape quickly through the exercises used in marine boot camp. Although the program is tough, it is not killing. It is gradual and does take into account the need to stretch and warm down. The book includes lots of pictures, is clearly written, gives helpful hints, and provides encouragement throughout. If you go through the exercises in the book, you will get in shape and have fun doing it. Yes, having an instructor yelling at you to speed it up at 6 AM certainly helps to motivate you, but reading the book will get you there too.

I bought this book and it has changed my life. I now love to work out! If you buy this book and apply the lessons The Sarge teaches you will be a convert too. Yes, getting in shape isn't easy but Sarge will motivate you. Anybody can do this with a minimum of equipment and no extensive workout experience. If, you don't love this book, DROP AND GIVE ME 20!

I've been scouring the bookshelves lately looking for good books on health and fitness. I found the 'Boot Camp' book and liked the tag line 'Be All You Used to Be'. I was once an athlete, so that phrase resonated with me. I bought and read the book and found it to be on of the best "common sense" approaches to fitness, exercise, and nutrition yet. I began incorporating Sarge's exercises into my routine and noticed immediate positive results. The 'Superman' exercise is fantastic. (Thank you Sarge.) That the book is fun to read makes it all the better. If you only buy one book of this type, I recommend this one.

Other books you might find rewarding...
For the person new to running/jogging, 2 books by John "the penguin" Bingham, 'No Need For Speed' and 'The Courage to Start' are both excellent.
For a more thorough book on nutrition I recommend Andrew Weil, MD's 'Eating Well for Optimum Health'.
And for more stretching tips it's hard to beat 'Stretching' by Bob Anderson

I was a member of the Sarge's Program for 5 years, before moving away to NY. I missed it so much I bought the book and started a morning workout program with neighbors. It's simple. It works. You can do it anywhere (great for business travellers). And the book is so funny you'll get a good stomach muscle workout just laughing.

I bought this book after hurting by back after doing calisnenics the old fashioned way (which I was taught in gradeschool in the 80's). It provides information on the modern way to do the excercizes without getting hurt. The program requires very little equipement and is a low cost option for getting in shape.

The author is hilarious! He does make you smile when you read this. I can't get over how simple the exercises are here and how easily you can sweat and lose weight without the use of a gym! I've been doing the program for about a month now and notice that I'm not out of breath anymore when I walk up 5 flights of stairs! A good way to go and something a bit easier to stick to with Sarge breathing down your neck...literally of course!

This book was wonderful for presenting boot camp in a way that doesn't really put you down (except jokingly) for modifying exercises. And, contrary to what another reviewer said, in all cases he considers "brisk walking" to be part of a workout if that is all you can do. Anyone who thinks walking can't be a good aerobic workout should try racewalking. Also, remember that every pound on the body is about 4 pounds of pressure on your knees, so running is not for everyone, especially if all you have to run on is concrete and you are overweight and/or have bad knees to start with.

Especially good are the pull-up modifications, and the imaging exercises concerning food and why you should work out so you don't end up in a nursing home.

Definitely buy this book!