The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible: Get in the Best Shape of Your Life with Targeted Workouts That Tone and Tighten Everything [Paperback]

Karon Karter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2009

Your get-gorgeous encyclopedia packed with 300 step-by-step photos! Drawing from several fitness approaches, including cardio, Pilates, yoga, free weights, and interval and strength training, veteran fitness trainer Karon Karter will get your body in the best shape it can be. Karter gives readers the fastest solutions for every body issue they face, from saggy butts to slack arms, by offering an incredible range of exercises that fit every need. The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible provides several workouts for each body area that can be chosen by fitness level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and done in minutes. Each workout includes several exercises designed to hit a specific area to get maximum results fast. Also includes efficient, heart-pumping cardio sessions to get your excess fat burned off quickly.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Karter, Karon. The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible. Fair Winds Pr. Apr. 2009. c.288p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-59233-390-5. $19.99. HEALTH
Verdict: Few “body Bibles” can compete with this guide’s clarity and organization. Each exercise is accompanied by a summary of the payoffs, required equipment, and recommended frequency/duration. While the flippant explanations of the payoffs (e.g., “Defines your flappage!”) can be ambiguous, the color photos of fitness trainer Karter (KaronKarterPilates.com) and the clear descriptions easily compensate. An infinitely useful guide for readers at all fitness levels. 
Background: Karter draws from weight training, strength work, Pilates, and yoga to present a regimen targeted to every body area. Eleven chapters are divided among three sections that focus on the core, the upper body, and the lower body. Readers follow one of four fitness-level tracks: beginner, intermediate, advanced, or super-advanced. Tips are interspersed throughout, as are mini anatomy lessons, prescribed cardio routines, and diet guidelines.  -- Library Journal, Xpress Review

About the Author

Karon Karter (Dallas, TX) is an exercise guru featured on The Natural Wellness Channel’s Pilates for Real Bodies. She is the author of The Six-Week Bikini Countdown, The Core Strength Workout, and Pilates Lite.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Fair Winds Press; 1 edition (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592333907
• ISBN-13: 978-1592333905
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #578,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A great start for newcomers to the workout scene., June 3, 2009

By 

K. McAllister (Tehachapi, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible: Get in the Best Shape of Your Life with Targeted Workouts That Tone and Tighten Everything (Paperback)

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I am a personal trainer who is big into weight training (for women and men). I am always happy to see new books that open the door to women, making the workout scene more approachable. This book is GREAT for newcomers to working out, giving lots of beginner pointers and direction. I like how it is laid out with the different levels, although I'd hardly limit your workout to the things listed in this book.
If you are new, or just getting back into it, then this is a great start--very easy to read, very easy to follow directions. It is broken down into various body parts (I like that) and then into the author's idea of beginner-advanced workouts. (I personally think you can go much farther and get much more from your workout if you don't stop at "advanced" and introduce different routines.)
There were some things in this book that I hadn't seen before and will integrate into my client's workouts, (as well as my own).
Easy to follow, easy to read, easy to learn...Great beginner book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need, May 28, 2009

By 

T. C Gerlach "pootiboo" (Altoona, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible: Get in the Best Shape of Your Life with Targeted Workouts That Tone and Tighten Everything (Paperback)

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I'm not an exercise 'guru' at all, I'm just a typically overweight, thirtysomething, stay at home mom looking for some help. I am very pleased with this book. The pictures are clear, large, and in full color. The directions couldn't be any easier to understand. I love how not only is it divided by the body part that we want to work on, but also each exercise is marked with a difficulty level. Not a lot of expensive equipment is needed. You will want hand weights, ankle weights, and a stretch band. Some other exercises require a ball and a step. There's so many other exercises in the book that I don't plan on going out and buying a ball and step until I've worked my way through more of the book. I was not offended by her use of the terms 'muffin top' or 'living dimple free'. I suppose this is because I know going into this that I can only be the best ME that I can be. This book can help me do that and chances are that the best me might still have a dimple here or there--but I'll be healthier overall. There is not a lot of focus on diet on the book. She mentions in passing that we can easily reduce our portions of most things we eat and not feel like life is over. She also mentions keeping cardio in your life. All in all, I'm impressed with the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultimately Very Useful, June 16, 2009

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drebbles (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible: Get in the Best Shape of Your Life with Targeted Workouts That Tone and Tighten Everything (Paperback)

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"The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible" features exercises to tone and tighten your entire body. The workouts range from Beginner to Super Advanced and each exercise is about 20 minutes in length. Within those twenty minutes you'll do three exercises that target a specific area (for example your outer thighs). You do three sets of reps and author Karen Karter suggests you do the workouts every other day. Karter also provides eating tips and suggestions for cardio workouts. There are three sections in the book: Abs Fab-You-Lous (a wicked flat tummy; de-wiggle your middle; fab abs); the Best Lower Body Workouts (bodacious booty; slimtastic outer thighs; slimtastic inner thighs; cankles begone); and the Best Upper Body Workouts (posture perfect; the deep plunge; sculpted sexy shoulders; amazing arms). Some of the exercises need no equipment - others require equipment such as hand or ankle weights, resistance bands, stability ball, a step, or bench.

Although I prefer exercise DVDs where I can see what the instructor is doing, I found "The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible" to be very useful. It has detailed instructions and very useful pictures. Each section has an introduction that explains about the body area you are targeting, including the various muscles. Each chapter has a chart showing the various workouts in that chapter; the payoff for doing the exercise; total time the workout should take; how many times a week you should do the exercise; the number of sets and reps; and equipment needed (if any) for the workout. Each exercise has plenty of pictures, detailed instructions, and fabulous form tips. For the most part Karter targets the appropriate exercise for each level although I do question her having beginners using 10 - 15 pound dumbbells. There is a wide variety of exercises including exercises like biceps curl; chest press; cobra; dip your toes; front plank, oblique twist; plie squat with calf raise; shoulder press; reverse curl; triceps kickback; and so much more. The twenty minutes allotted are perfect for targeted toning and combined with cardio workouts are very effective.

"The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible" is a very useful guide to toning and shaping your body.