Customer Reviews

Walk Yourself Thin

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is so easy to read (funny) and to understand. I'm walking everyday and losing bodysize within the first week. David tells you clearly why losing "weight" doesn't matter...it's bodysize that counts. Take two people who weigh 140lbs and one can fit in a size 8 slacks and one in a size 16...because of bodysize, as in toned muscles take up less space than globs of fat. You have to read it to get the whole picture. It's wonderful and no more dieting! Just walk as fast as you can, at a comfortable pace everyday for as long as you can. (Everyday that will vary)I love his idea of the turtle wins the race everytime. Trust me this is the way to go. Easy, no pressure, just put one foot in front of the other everyday. It was just what I'd been looking for. No change in diet...only don't start eating more than you always have and you'll be ok.Gotta go now and walk...bye.

In _Walk Yourself Thin_, Rives presents his main thesis--walk, walk, and walk some more--in, well, the vernacular. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing; quite the contrary, it succeeds in providing the reader some straight-talk about personal fitness, of which there is always too little. As I read this book, I also was struck with how prescient Rives' presentation is. Recent medical studies have inquired as to which of the following, if only ONE was acheived, would provide the most benefit: getting more exercise, losing weight, improving diet, or quitting smoking. Exercise was the (perhaps surprising) conclusion of the study, and Rives stresses this point clearly. Start, and keep, walking and work out the other details in time.

The only reason I give the work 4 stars is that there is no mention of walking technique. This may not seem like a great oversight, but for those who are significantly overweight, a short bit about techniques to help prevent injury would be welcome. All in all, however, a great read and definitely worth the money.

As a personal note, although it's too early to notice any significant results on the program (I've only been on it for a few weeks.), my energy level has noticeably risen, and I've been feeling great. I should also note that this is the only fitness program I've ever been on in which I LOOK FORWARD to exercising. Who can beat that? Just keep on walking...

READ THIS BOOK IF YOU WANT YOUR OLD BODY BACK OR IF YOU WANT THE BODY YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED WITHOUT CHANGING THE WAY YOU EAT.....I gained alot of weight when I got married, and more when I got pregnant. And I couldn't understand that because I hadn't changed the way I was eating (I have always ate "good" if you know what I mean) and I was gaining weight. And this has always been bad on my self esteem, because honestly, I had a nice figure before and men have always "favored" my nice "rear" and thighs (and my build altogether) I used to be pretty darn happy with the way I looked...not anymore. I have been wantin the old body back for over 3 years now. Well, the answer has always been right in front of my face, and I knew what it was: When I was single I was rippin' and runnin' all the time and was getting exercise all the time to keep me thin...but since I got married and settled down my activities dramatically slowed. So it MAKES 100% GOOD SENSE that walking like David says alone and not having to change your eating habits, can keep you thin. The book just kind of "Hammers" this obvious point in your head (which is good for us lazy folks) and gets you MOTIVATED and gets you out there..... and he makes the book very enjoyable to read with some humor. And walking DOES make you feel GREAT...I walked last summer and lost 12lbs, and now that I have read his book, I am gettin back out there TO STAY!........IF YOU WANT TO FINALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT AND SAY GOODBYE TO DIETING (that HAS NEVER worked, and is HORRBILE to go through)...BUY THIS BOOK>>>NOW NOW NOW!!!!! And by the way...THANK YOU DAVID RIVES!!!!!! I will love you for it in the end!! :) I will be back to give another review and brag about how many sizes I have dropped!! :)
Update 3-20-02
I told you I'd be back! The Good news: I lost 15 more lbs just walking (no diet change) every day, using the "Walk Yourself Thin" idea. And it's SO true what the book says about how you will pick up your distance cause your body get used to it...I was up to 2 miles a day. That's alot for someone that never exercised. The bad news: I can't stick to anything very long, and quit walking after hot weather came...but I plan to get back out there since the weather is nice again for walking. I have about 15-20lbs to lose this year, and I hope I can get it all gone forever, cause I haven't gained back anything I lost. So, I will be back to update you again. BUY THIS BOOK! It's SO true!

I really wanted to like this book but found myself unable to get past Rives' cutesy approach and writing style. He has some good information to share but he's too impressed with his own wit and it wears after a while. I'm an avid walker and disagree with some of his concepts. For example, he doesn't discuss the benefits of healthy eating enough and folks are apt to think they can eat whatever they want if they walk - well, you can if you have the metabolism of a hummingbird. His chapter on other exercises is just plain silly and gives no useful information. I found many of the chapters repetitive and just got bored. Walking is a great fat-burning exercise, but you'll get more for your money with one of the excellent walking audiotapes by Kathy Smith or one of the many other exercise pros who from my reading take a more well-rounded and balanced approach than Rives.

This book addresses just about every excuse, issue, and psychological hang-up as to why any well-meaning but inactive person isn't out there hoofing it. The author is very straightforward, honest, and motivational. He gives the "tough love" kind of talk I wish I could get from a live person. Most people around an obese person like me just remain polite, you know? Anyway, the motivational talk is what will keep this book within my easy reach in case I don't feel motivated to move.

The plan itself to "walk yourself thin" is so very easy-you simply can't do it wrong! No timekeeping, no need to bust out the car to figure out the mileage of your walking path. So simple is this approach to walking you'll think you should've thought of it first.

It's a keeper, indeed, this book!

Although this book was writtin in 1990, its words still ring true today. I picked up this book at the library and I truly recommend to ANYONE who wishes to lose weight but all those fad diets just didn't work for you. Walking does. I have only been following this book for a few months but have gone down two pants sizes because of it. And...I've not changed my eating habits one bit.

This book is wonderful, humorous and it really really works.

As the book's author, would like to clear the air regarding the (few) unfavorable reviews of my book (Walk Yourself Thin): put simply, the version of the book that "Sandie Sabo" and other unfavorable reviewers are referring to became extinct in 1995 -- for the precise reasons Sandie has cited: the book was, in fact, a bit "offensive" toward overweight people, and, after receiving a handful of complaints from such people, I "gutted" the book of anything that anyone could find offensive (for example, changing "fat people" to "plus-sized people," since that's the way they refer to THEMSELVES, so how "offensive" could that be?!) Not sure where Ms. Sabo got her copy of that old version (the library, most likely), but, rest assured, you can buy the new version with the confidence that all you'll do is laugh, and nod appreciatively, and get motivated to go out and walk -- as all the other reviewers have apparently done.

I was very disappointed when I borrowed this title from my library. The author's tone throughout the book is quite sarcastic and insulting with what is supposed to be cute humor. To make matters worse, the information he provides to justify his comments are not accurate. For instance, in Chapter 36 "Breakfast" he states that breakfast is an unnecessary meal and that we have been brainwashed by the breakfast companies into believing that we need it so that we will buy their products. His second paragraph says "When you sit in a typical coffee shop and watch fat people smother their pancakes ('Large stack, please!') or French toast ('Texas-sizem if you've got it!') with all manner of butter, syrup etc., you soon realize that these addicts need no help at all! If anything, you almost think that they're the ones who've come up with this 'most important meal of the day' nonsense, simply to justify gorging themselves . . ." It continues like this for 2 pages. He claims that it is okay for your metabolism to skip eating, or to put it off as long as possible But that is not true according to research and studies that have proven that a starved metabolism will kick into fat storage rather than fat burning. His exercise program MIGHT counter some of the ill effects of following his nutritional suggestions because exercise will burn some calories. But the situation wouldn't be balanced or healthy. There are better titles available and the authors are far more gracious.

You will have nothing to lose by reading this book (except weight). You will have alot to gain, however. Including a stronger heart, better mental outlook, a greater motivation level, higher self-esteem, and a good strong physical appearance. No age is exempt from reaping benefits like these. David Rives gets you there with his straight forward approach.

The book really says it all in one sentence--lose your excess weight by walking as far as you comfortably can as fast as you comfortably can daily. This according to the book might be up to a distance of 5 mph. He also has some dietary advice (eat wisely in moderation but don't "diet"). I found myself wishing I could ask the author a few questions--like "what if I can walk ten miles"? What's the upper limit he recommends? Most of us have to work for a living. But in a fleeting mention in an early chapter I think he's recommending an hour a day on a track or loop that you know the distance of. He also claims you may not lose actual weight, but just fat. At one point he suggests that he was 60 or 70 lbs overweight but has now walked himself thin. He DOESN'T say if his weight is still the same. That I'd like to know. He claims you'll lose clothing sizes. Other fitness gurus claim you should include resistance training and eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet. Mr. Rive says, don't sweat it, just walk. For the fat people who were outraged by his seeming insensitivity--first, the author himself was fat and speaks from firsthand experience. We can't let PC concerns keep us from speaking plainly. Second, as a fat person myself who's lost 15 lbs so far walking, I agree completely with his assessment of "plus-size" people--most of us are extremely unhappy with our bodies and want to be fitter and thinner. Before quitting smoking I was height-weight proportionate. I've been thin, and I've been fat, and thin is better.