The Fitness Factor: Every Woman's Key to a Lifetime of Health and Well-Being [Hardcover]

Lisa Callahan M.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002

Imagine picking up the morning paper and seeing a banner headline that reads: miraculous new anti-aging pill discovered. In The Fitness Factor, Lisa Callahan, M.D., shows us that such a magic pill already exists in the form of regular daily exercise. As cofounder and medical director for the country's premier sports medicine center for women and a well-known medical spokeswoman, Dr. Callahan is uniquely qualified to write this book. She has treated thousands of patients-from housewives to professional athletes-and has helped them change their lives forever by instilling in them the knowledge that an essential connection exists between fitness and health. She speaks honestly and intelligently to women, helping them understand that the benefits of regular exercise go well beyond the cosmetic. Fitness, in fact, is the single most important factor when it comes to:

-preventing heart disease 

-beating osteoporosis
-lowering cholesterol

-decreasing cancer risk
-losing weight

-increasing energy
-reducing stress

-having better sex
-and much more

In her authoritative yet congenial style, Dr. Callahan addresses women of all ages (from 18 to 98) and abilities (from couch potato to elite athlete) helping them:
-Evaluate individual health and fitness goals
-Develop a lasting positive attitude about exercise
-Design an individualized exercise program (based on interest and ability) that has guaranteed staying power
-Understand the major factors of fitness including cardiovascular, flexibility, and muscle strength and endurance
-Get in touch with the athlete within and more

Throughout, she offers readable and reliable information on weight loss; nutrition for the active woman; exercise and pregnancy or menopause; training for endurance competition; prevention and treatment of injuries; and dispels dozens of myths about diet and exercise that have pervaded our culture. No woman can afford not to exercise. The Fitness Factor is an important new book will help make fit, healthy living a reality for everyone.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Fitness Factor offers a healthy dose of easy to understand information...almost everything a woman needs to create an individual lifetime health plan is in this book."--Foreword Magazine

"The tone of the book is upbeat and positive, its you-can-do-it cheerleading balanced with solid strategies. Even a dyed-in-the-wool athlete is bound to learn a thing or two from Callahan, and her book might be the perfect gift for a friend or relative who needs a bit of encouragement."--North Coast Sports

About the Author

Lisa Callahan, M.D., is cofounder and medical director of the Women's Sports Medicine Center at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery. She is the former host of the Food Network's Recipe for Health and has appeared on the Charlie Rose Show, ABC and PBS specials, and local and regional news shows. She has written for numerous magazines including Vogue, Mademoiselle, Woman's Day, Self, American Health for Women, Ladies' Home Journal, Sports for Women, and others. She lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585745014
• ISBN-13: 978-1585745012
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,293,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fitness for women of all ages, May 30, 2003

By 

Karen Chung (Taipei, Taiwan) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Fitness Factor: Every Woman's Key to a Lifetime of Health and Well-Being (Hardcover)

I knew it was time to think about adding to my exercise routine when my daughter started playing with my developing triceps wattle. I've hiked and biked regularly for many years, but it clearly wasn't giving me whole-body fitness, and wasn't enough to counteract the effects of moving through middle age. So when I saw this book reviewed and strongly recommended in the New York Times, I thought I'd give it a try.

It definitely was a good choice. The most important things I have gotten from this book are:

(1) Motivation. Callahan stresses that, as with housework (my little addition here), doing *something*, however little, is always better than doing *nothing*. This mindset helps overcome the 'all-or-nothing' perfectionist attitude that if you're going to exercise, you must go all out and learn everything there is to know about it before even starting, which inevitably leads to procrastination and excuses. Callahan gets an A+ in motivating her readers and patients to just get on with it, and to stick to a regular program.

(2) Method. I wanted to know where to start, and what to concentrate on. Callahan focuses on the needs of women in various situations (e.g. more or less athletic to start out with), particularly as we grow older. She recommends specific exercises for flexibility, strength, and endurance training, all of which are important in an effective fitness program. Clear and attractive line drawings are a big aid in picking up the how-to quickly. There is also lots of useful information on equipment, clothing, and shoes.

(3) Benefits of exercise. The author explains clearly why fitness is important not just for weight loss, firmness or improved appearance, though these are welcome benefits as well, but for a healthy heart, dense bones (exercise can help prevent osteoporosis), and to maintain strength for things like being able to get out of a chair when you're older.

(4) Dealing with injury. Several chapters are devoted to how to avoid atheletic injury, and how to deal with it if you do get injured. This includes important warnings like not to keep exercising when you feel pain, and not to leave an ice compress on too long.

(5) Diet. Callahan talks a lot about diet, though there was less that was new here for me, since I already try hard to follow a healthy diet, and am a vegetarian cookbook junkie. But I appreciated her comment on how overdoing vegetarianism can be unhealthy if it limits one's food choices too much.

Callahan cites anecdotally several case histories of her patients, which add interest to the point she's making, and help make the connection with real-life needs and situations of real people.

In her closing chapter, Callahan reminds the reader of how a woman's attitude towards health and exercise can set the tone for better fitness for the whole family, just by example. Kids definitely are more likely to do what you do rather than what you say.

This book was very carefully produced; I found no typos, and only a bit of repetition at the end. It is nicely bound, with a pleasant dust jacket design - the photo of the author reveals her to be in excellent shape and very attractive herself. Best of all, the font style and size is large and comfortable to read, the paper snow-white and glare-free, and the margins generous.

In short, I highly recommend this to any woman who wants quick, to-the-point, quality information that won't overwhelm you on how to become more fit. And make sure you pass this one onto your daughters when you're done.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every woman needs a copy of this book!, April 14, 2002

By 

Tonyi Thomas Pelham - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fitness Factor: Every Woman's Key to a Lifetime of Health and Well-Being (Hardcover)

For years I have combed the fitness section looking for a book to meet my needs. Finally that book is here! Callahan does a great job of giving information from the novice to the athlete training for an event. This is your chance to find out what the minimum amount of excercise is and what needs to be done in order to lose weight. Get a copy for yourself and a friend.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fitness Factor a Fitting Book for Us all!, May 3, 2002

By 

Anne B. Jones (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fitness Factor: Every Woman's Key to a Lifetime of Health and Well-Being (Hardcover)

The Fitness Factor's appeal is in its use as a tool for the development of a personal health and wellness plan. Having the book is like having your own personal trainer, one who is knowledgeble as well as motivating. It is based on sound eating and exercise principals and provides insight and ideas for its readers.