Customer Reviews

Fit Over 40 For Dummies

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I'm a 45 year old overweight male whose primary exercise over the past decade has been to push my PC's mouse. High cholesterol, achy joints, and bouts of depression have impelled me into taking action. One component of my program is going to a gym to lift weights and do aerobic activity. I'm finding Betsy's book extremely helpful, because she speaks directly to my needs and my situation. (If I was an athlete, would I be looking for a book like this?)

She is both positive and realistic in her approach. For example, she suggests that rather than planning to exercise three or four days a week, you should plan to do it every day. She reasons that if you miss two days on a seven-day schedule, you're still exercising for 5 days, and that's good. By contrast, if you miss two days on a three-day schedule, you've only exercised once during the week, and that's useless. Huh, who'da thunk it.

If you're over 40, sedentary, and feeling the need to get into better shape, I most definitely recommend this book.

I'm a bit disappointed with this book. It seems to be aimed at people who wouldn't recognize an exercise bike if they bumped into it. After 40, most people train for health rather than aesthetic amusement. So I was surprised to see some potentially injurious exercises demonstrated. (Maybe that's why the author has had seven knee surgeries.) Although she never claims to know what she is talking about. Perhaps she should have written a book on tennis.

I am a former athlete that my 20s and 30s that got the best of me. Now 50 pounds heavier, with high blood pressure and lower engery levels I want to make a change. What I liked best was how this book was an easy read the first night read over 50 pages. The key fundemental that was repeated was get up and do something constintantly even if its taking a walk for 15 minutes for 3 times a week and then increase steadily. This book also gives people a little embrassed about getting back to the gym.

This is one of the most practical guidebooks for any recycled teenager out there. The explanations are straightforward and simple to put into practice yet effective enough to get results.

Frankly, I didn't get past the introduction. The basic gist was that if you're over 40, you're on that slippery slope into the Dark Abyss and the only reason to get fit is to hold off the Grim Reaper a little longer. Other books for aging Baby Boomres are much more positive about the possibilities for an excellent quality of life, such as "Walking and Running for Women over 40."