Self's Better Body Book [Hardcover]

Self Magazine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 1998

This is the definitive book on fitness, designed to support you in attaining your  personal fitness goals.  Containing over 20 workouts, including programs for when you are in the offfice or on the road, these pages contain the solution to every fitness problem.  With fold-out pages, the unique, easy-to-use format lies flat, allowing you to view your complete workout in a single spread.

This book is also about making fitness a part of your life.  There are sections showing you "How It Fits" "How Much, How Hard," and "What Works" throughout to answer your most asked questions.  With Self's 20 years of research behind the workouts, you'll find cutting edge exercises as well as classic techniques that will help you build the body that's right for you.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Few books deliver when they promise to be the definitive guide to a topic, but Self's Better Body Book comes pretty close. With nearly 20 years of expertise in the field, the editors of Self magazine have produced a thorough and practical book about working out.

The spiral binding and fold-out pages make it easy to use while exercising. One can prop it up on a stationary bike or lay it flat on the ground beside a weight machine. The layout also makes initial sense because it's split into Basics and Bonus sections. The front Basics section provides simple exercise routines, with clear directions and diagrams on proper form. The back Bonus section offers advanced routines and tips on how to increase the intensity to help you meet specific fitness goals, such as relieving stress or losing extra pounds.

With a total of more than 20 exercise routines to mix and match, one can easily design a customized program to meet individual needs and goals and solve problems, such as pinpointing which exercises exacerbate back pain. The book is filled with checklists to help you keep track of workout type (stretching, cardio, or strength training), frequency, and intensity. While sometimes the organization of the book can seem a bit confusing, this is a solid guidebook to fitness. --Ann Lien

From School Library Journal

YA-A complete guide for women who want to have stronger, healthier bodies. The programs are designed to be flexible, adjustable, and doable. Specific workouts are provided to achieve the goals of cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and flexibility. The importance of monitoring one's heart rate, taking care of one's skin, and good nutrition are stressed. Each type of exercise is illustrated with step-by-step instructions and clear illustrations. Charts such as "The Cardio Countdown," which compares the benefits of various types of exercise, provide basic information in an easy-to-use format.
Molly Connally, Kings Park Library, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter (May 19, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609603191
• ISBN-13: 978-0609603192
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,279,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good starting point, April 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Self's Better Body Book (Hardcover)

This book doesn't go into too much depth, but it does provide a very good overview of a number of topics. The exercise pages are excellent. It's easy to lay them out and refer to them while working out due to the fold-out format, and the instructions are clear. In addition, the book tells you which muscles are being worked by each exercise -- other sources are not always as clear. You're not going to get a great deal of detail on any particular topics, but you'll get a good set of basic exercises as well as an introduction to some important fitness concepts. I think it's a keeper.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth your time AND money, March 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Self's Better Body Book (Hardcover)

I've tried to start exercising for years. My usual excuse was that I didn't know how. When I bought this book that excuse completely disappeared. I have never read a more inciteful, encouraging, or instructive book on fitness. This book emphasizes both specific fitness areas such as cardio, flexibility, and strength (all with scientifically based exercises), as well as overall fitness topics such as nutrition and meditation. Excellent book.

5.0 out of 5 stars No other book can take the place of this one!!, February 23, 2012

By 

hanyum - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Self's Better Body Book (Hardcover)

Well, many years ago when Self's Better Body Book came out, I spent several hours in the local bookstore searching for the perfect exercise book that would provide guidance for any and all activities for increased well being. Finally, I found this book and never released it from my grip thereafter. I think it may have only been out for less than a year when I purchased it initially. I have always suggested this book to everyone and still have it in my reach at all times! This purchase through Amazon was a purchase for a sister-in-law who was having 'hot flashes'. I told her I read that yoga exercises could help with hot flashes which is why I purchased her this wonderful book and a yoga mat!