Customer Reviews

Hold It! You're Exercising Wrong: Your Prescription for First-Class Fitness Fast!

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I'd just like to say that I am a 15 year old girl who was just on the fringes of obesity. That's right, WAS. Thanks to this book, I've lost 70 pounds and currently going for the last few pounds. I couldn't believe it myself but the way the clothes fit (as well as the new ones I was forced to purchase:) and the compliments I get tell me that it MUST be true. It has changed my life. I was so unhappy before and didn't feel pretty enough or good enough. I wanted to end my life for awhile but decided that it wasn't worth doing over something that I COULD change. (It's never worth it btw) So I did change. And now I'm one happy and smaller hourglass girl! :) I know I must sound like an infomercial but I swear it's all true. If you are thinking about getting this book, I suggest you do because you will be happier and very proud of yourself.

After playing high school and college sports I read this book, thinking that I couldn't become a better athlete. I was wrong, big time. At 29 I'm faster quicker and stronger, and in the best shape of my life. This guy knows his stuff, and he doesn't advocate weights.

His tips may be bold, but he sure ain't wrong. If you are unmotivated, this is the quickest easiest way to get in shape. And since most of this country is out of shape, he sees the whole picture on motivation and education. His fitness program works,ilver plain and simple, it just makes sense. And it's not common sense, 'cause if it were, there wouldn't be so many poorly overdeveloped bodies at all the gyms I see.

I've trimmed body fat within weeks, improved strength, and I feel great!! If you try this workout you will love it!

I can recommend this book 100%. I was shocked to find that after 2 1/2 weeks I had lost a quarter of an inch off my thighs, hips and waist. Initially I was intrigued (I am a spoon body type and had seen my hips and legs get bigger with step aerobics and exercise bikes) but skeptical because I am a health care professional who specializes in orthopedics.This book offers good information for the work out "novice" as well as those who have spent a great deal of time working out without results. The text is easy to understand and makes excellent points, though most comments made are from the author's personal experience vs. scientific studies.

Jackowski's basic premise is that your exercise method should be based on your body shape, which is a pretty interesting idea. However, his emphasis on how "bad" popular forms of exercise such as aerobic dance and walking are wears thin very quickly, and just doesn't hold much water. Both aerobic dance and walking can raise a person's heart rate to a level that will cause weight loss if they're performed regularly; Jackowski claims that neither of these exercises will cause weight loss for most people because they aren't effective exercises for most body shapes. The only exercises he actually recommends with any enthusiasm are jumping rope and riding an exercise bike. As a matter of fact, I thought if I read one more word about the damn jump rope I was going to have to throw the book at the wall. Contrary to his belief, jumping rope is NOT an ideal exercise for many people; if he were female, or if he had actually talked to any females before he wrote a book whose readership is probably 90% female, he'd realize why.

The only reason I gave this book two stars instead of one is that he makes a few good points; however, I hope the 2-star rating doesn't actually encourage anyone to buy the book, because it seems to me that the ultimate result of following Jackowski's advice is that readers will become completely bored with jumping rope or riding a stationary bike and quit exercising altogether.

I found everything in this book to be quite interesting. Being a girl on a "please let me be a size 4 naturally" quest, I've explored every fitness regime out there imaginable. Edward Jackowski's makes sense. None of us have the same body, do we? Some people are taller than others; my sister, although being shorter than me, has longer legs whereas I have shorter legs but a longer torso. By the same reasoning, does it make sense that people who gain weight in different places should exercise the exact same way? What of you're particular bane is saddlebags? Will a stairmaster, designed to strengthen the quads and hamstrings, make you look slim and sleek, or build even more muscle in your problem area? These are the areas Jackowski's book attacks, and he gives us logical answers and solutions to our fitness problems. He doesn't offer a magic "hey! Buy my book and instantly be thin!" promise- he gives you the cold hard facts- if you don't exercise, you won't be fit. Plain and simple. However, he does offer a sort of shortcut by showing you exercises tailored to your particular fitness goals. This, desipte what one reviewer said, pertains to ANYONE, whether your goal is to tone and slim down or bulk up. How much $$$ have you wasted on lame exercise infomercial gear that is currently your dirty clothes hanger? If this is you, than $... is a bargain. Buy it!

Edward Jackowski is my personal hero. I followed the advice in this book, and over the course of fifteen months, lost 30 inches and completely reshaped my attitude towards fitness. If you read only one book on diet and exercise for the rest of your life--I implore you to choose this one.

Finally an exercise routine that isn't boring and truly gets you fit. Both my husband and I equally enjoy the variety and scope of the exercises. Each set of exercises is broken up by a jump rope segment - and don't underestimate the power of the jump rope! It truly is the most efficient and effective aerobic exercise ever! I completely changed by body shape. I was never overweight, but had fat deposits on my hips and buttocks. Within 2 weeks I lost 4 pounds, but more importantly went from a "spoon" shape to a slender,toned,and proportioned body. My husband also lost weight and his muscles are tight and toned. I credit this book for extending our lives and keeping us "fit for life"! Jackowski may be overly zealous regarding the jumprope, but having tried it, I'd have to agree. It may not be for everyone, but you should give it a try because it works!!

I bought this book over a year ago and can't recommend it more! Just thought I would comment as I am coming back to get more copies as gifts..

The information is easily read, makes complete sense and the workout at the end of the book proposed is thorough, can be made challenging and has made ALL the difference for me as far as getting in good shape: both for cardiovascular needs and tone wise. Have recommended it to many friends who have commented on the change seen.

GREAT choice for anyone that doesn't like the hassle of going to the gym. Just a jumprope, towel and weight bar and you are on your way!

This book is oddly structured - it seems to have no organization other than what the author was thinking of at the time. Lots of his tips are good common sense advice and could serve as a wake up call to anyone stuck in a fitness rut.

However, the author contradicts himself occasionally (mostly on the effectiveness of certain aerobic workouts like bicycling) and at other times gives outdated advice (he thinks stretching out after a workout is unnecessary). Odd, considering he says earlier in the book that everything in it is "true."

My recommendation? Read this book like you would take advice from your really athletic friends: Good, common sense, practical advice. Just realize you don't have to accept it, use it, or believe in it all. Use what works and reject the rest.

Having attended a gym regularly for nearly three years now, I haven't been all that happy with the results. "Hold it! You're exercising wrong" did indeed show me where I was going wrong. By following his advice for building "pure strength and muscle endurance", using pull ups, pushups and "bar dips" (despite my reluctance to abandon a lengthy free weight workout), I've built more muscle in the past three months than in the proceeding three years. Jackowski's prose is concise and his advice to the point. His discussion of differing body types and the need to tailor exercises to correspond to your particular body type is especially valuable. Jackowski lays out all the facts concerning the many kinds of aerobic exercise, dispelling a few myths along the way, and recommending an old school gym stand by, the jump rope. With my back problem, I had to substitute a stationary, recumbent bike, which Jackowski recommends as the next best thing. He's right.