Just Say Now...to Fitness [Paperback]

Gregory Sherowski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 6, 2008

Targeting those with little to no knowledge of exercise, Just Say Now...to Fitness by Gregory Sherowski presents a basis for good health and fitness. Attempting to convince readers that exercise is essential to good health, Just Say Now...to Fitness provides simple yet thorough explanations of how to begin and maintain a fitness program. The book introduces readers to the four pillars of fitness, which are weightlifting, cardio, stretching and diet and shares detailed descriptions of the most common exercises. Using a conversational tone that is upbeat and humorous, Sherowski hopes to motivate rather than overwhelm readers and leave them feeling enthusiastic about getting fit, staying fit and establishing a better quality of life. Written for anyone looking for a good reason to get in shape, Just Say Now...to Fitness allows readers to see that fitness goals, although not always easily achieved, are attainable.

Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (August 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419699547
• ISBN-13: 978-1419699542
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,533,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just say "Now" to fitness, December 3, 2008

By 

Anne E. Korsmo "Anne" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just Say Now...to Fitness (Paperback)

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Just Say Now...to Fitness
I have waited for weeks to write this review. My Grandma always said, "If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything." So I'll start with the good.

This book accurately conveys the conventional wisdom about fitness and weight control. You can understand the exercises from the text and pictures. There is a clear program of exercise set out. It will seem fresh and interesting to someone who has never taken a physical education course at any level, never listened at all to the many sources of diet and exercise advice on radio and television, avoided any contact with Oprah, never listened to their mother.

But the book's dense text is unnattractive (needs more paragraph breaks). The minimalistic graphics are of beefy men, exclusively. The author says eat less, exercise more, because it will work, and it is the only plan that will work. Okay, true.

Enough said. Take a walk or a hike. Go biking with your friends. Skip this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fills a niche, need more professional layout, February 10, 2009

By 

James G. Snyder "taiji dreamer" (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just Say Now...to Fitness (Paperback)

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When I first got this book I must say that I wasn't very impressed, the type face, layout and line drawing weren't the professional level that has become the norm, especially in a field littered with books ghostwritten by half of Hollywood and their personal professional trainers. Most of the books that fill this niche have photos designed to titillate, give some trainer's trademark shtick, and sells some overpriced piece of equipment that pauses in homes before moving to the garage sale circuit.

However, once I read through it I must say that I do think this book fills a role in the inexpensive overview of getting people to the gym - prescription. While Gregory Sherowski does sound like a traditional long term gym rat, he was actually quite informed and up to date. The number of sports coaches and personal trainers that advise people to exercise in the mode that they learned long ago proves that most trainers and coaches can't read. The field of research and experimentation around diet, physical exercise and therapy changes daily and I noticed that most of the recommendation that Gregory made were up to date.

Many reviewers were upset with the diet advice in this book but I would suggest that this is just about the right level for this book. Basically eat a balanced quality and exercise more. This is not a diet book, (of which there are thousands yearly that promise weight loss and fitness if you eat color coordinated juices modified by your mother's astrological blood type)

Most importantly the key summaries of each short chapter which addressed why people don't actually get started, and how to avoid early pitfalls, were just that, short sweet and pithy. Many people may be off-put visiting a gym worrying about violating gym etiquette. No one wants to seem stupid asking a question of the long term gym rats--true they often treat newbies like pond scum, so this book fills that void get you up to speed.

Eventually once you've been there awhile you'll develop our own exercise system, your own unsubstantiated opinions based on the system that works for you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great For Guys Like Me, February 9, 2009

By 

Bob Dog "My Thoughts" (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Just Say Now...to Fitness (Paperback)

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I feel like this little book on fitness was written for guys like me. I mean exactly for guys like me. Mr. Sherowski has skipped most of the glitz, glamour and complexity to get right at it: "Here is what you have to do in simple terms." He makes very practical, basic suggestions, that are exactly right.

We have all read the articles and we have all gone on diets or programs that haven't lasted. What we need is motivation and a simple strategy, and for a grown man and for many grown women, keeping it simple means less mental stress, and less intimidation.

I have used this book to begin my own fitness program. I'm three weeks in and I'm four pounds lighter. But the most important thing is Mr. Sherowski's advice to avoid everything that you can't enjoyably work into your ongoing lifestyle.

I can't disagree with previous "Vine" reviewers (who have invested the standard 90 seconds to prepare their reviews!) who accurately noted that the graphics and text layouts are minimal. Its as if you are reading a college thesis, rather than a major market publication. But again, I see this as another manifestation of the theme of the book. Keep it simple. Save the glitz for those infomershals.

I give high marks for the very detailed listing (with the little cartoon strongman demonstrating!) of lifting and stretching exercises. Take the time to read the text. Its simple and too the point.

I also give high marks for the comments with regard to middle age, which seemed to written exactly for this "40ish" reviewer. According to Mr. Sherowski, its all about the quality of life.

2/13/09 update: Four weeks in and I'm nine pounds lighter. It was a good week.
2/22/09 : Five weeks - eight total pounds lighter. No problem. I'm still on program. 3/6/09: Seven weeks in - nine total pounds lighter. I feel great. 4/8/09 Twelve total pounds dropped since mid-feb. I feel good about staying on plan. The key is to incorporate this healthy lifestyle into ...my life! Its feels so good right after a workout. 5/22/09 Down 17 total lbs. I think its all about learning to live with life's little discomforts.... and my daughter dragging me out on the road to run a few times every week! 6/23/09 Down total of 21 lbs. so far. Not much change, but consistency feels good, when it appears I've been able to incorporate these changes into my lifestyle. Being healthier is great, but for my fragile male ego, its all about things like my other daughters co-worker telling her I looked hot.