130 of 131 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Four-pronged approach for a lifetime of fitness, July 23, 2003
This review is from: Shrink Your Female Fat Zones: Lose Pounds and Inches--Fast!--From Your Belly, Hips, Thighs, and More (Paperback)
This book features a comprehensive approach to fitness...cardio, strength training, stretching and healthful eating. Each body type has a slightly different recommendation, in order to target (with toning exercises) particular problem areas. Denise's manner of writing is informative, friendly and encouraging.
What I liked best:
The cardio workout recommended is walking, which is nice because it can be done any time, anywhere. There are four walking workouts per week: an endurance walk, an interval walk, a walk with toning exercises incorporated and a combination interval/toning walk. Every two weeks the length of the walk is increased so that if you follow the schedule you will be walking 45 minutes/walk four times a week at the end of six weeks. There is a modified schedule for those who are quite out of shape, starting out. The fact that there is variety in the workouts makes it more interesting and less likely to result in a fitness plateau.
There is a wonderful chapter on emotional eating. Basically, Denise's suggestion is to keep a "hunger" journal...noting down what time you eat, how hungry you were (on a scale of 1 to 5) and what the surrounding circumstances were. I have tried this myself and keep going back to it occasionally as a touchstone. I've found this a very helpful tool as far as modifying my habits.
There are three eating plans along with suggestions for which would be most appropriate: a 1,400-calorie-a-day plan, a 1,600-calorie plan and an 1,800-calorie plan. Denise also has suggestions for modifying them. As one example, Denise explains why some women might find it most successful to alternate between the 1,400-calorie plan and the 1,600-calorie plan.
The food on the included menus has lots of variety and is delicious. I don't think anyone would feel deprived. It's also quite flexible, making it user-friendly. For instance, the shopping lists note which foods not to buy if you're planning to eat out on a given day during that week.
Finally, following her three-times-a-day stretching routine has been one of the best things I've done for myself. I've always stretched before and after workouts, but never throughout the day, every day. In the past month or so, little aches and pains that I used to have by the end of a day in the office have melted away.
As I get older, I find myself less concerned about a number on the scale, per se, and more concerned about maintaining strength and flexibility so that as the years go by I will continue to be able to do with ease the activities I love. I found Denise's advice in this book fit right in with my goals for a lifetime of fitness.
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70 of 71 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A pleasant surprise, August 21, 2003
This review is from: Shrink Your Female Fat Zones: Lose Pounds and Inches--Fast!--From Your Belly, Hips, Thighs, and More (Paperback)
I had always dismissed Denise Austin as nothing more than frothy beauty queen fluff. Usually, I would ignore her books and videos - I am just not one who likes those perky cheerleader types. How could a workout coming from someone that peppy and cute really work? But boredom with my current routine caused me to actually pick up this book and give it a real glance over. Wow.....was I ever wrong about her. I haven't put this book down since I bought it. The information is written in an intelligent and user friendly way - the pictures are clear and the instructions are easy to understand. And the workouts......let's just say I am feeling the burn big-time! They work, plain and simple.
I like the fact that she includes specific workouts for your trouble spots (my abs!), but she also encourages you to work your other parts for a completely toned body. The walking information was excellent - I usually walk every day but don't think much about it. Her tips are making my daily walks more effective and fun too! And the nutrition information is solid and well researched. She doesn't advocate dieting - just making good choices and developing good habits.
Could it be that I am now cheering for Denise? You bet! But don't call me perky just yet!
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51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book for New Moms, October 20, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Shrink Your Female Fat Zones: Lose Pounds and Inches--Fast!--From Your Belly, Hips, Thighs, and More (Paperback)
I'm 5'4" and have always weighed 115-120 lbs. After giving birth to my daughter, I weighed 147 pounds. I didn't exercise during my pregnancy, and I didn't start trying to re-gain my pre-pregnancy figure until after my 6-week postpartum check-up. The first time I went to the gym, I came home crying, because I was very much out of shape, and unable to accomplish anything on familiar weight machines. Instead of heading back to the gym, I ordered this book, and now I'm back down to 115 lbs. My friends and family keep telling me how great I look for someone who just had a baby three months ago.
This program has been great for me, as a new mother. 1) The exercise program includes a lot of walking, which my baby loves!
2) The recipes are quick and easy to prepare. 3) Denise has written out grocery lists which save me tons of time.
This book is great for busy new moms who want to shed pounds from pregnancy.
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