Customer Reviews

Weight Training Made Easy: Transform Your Body in Four Simple Steps

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I purchased this book about a year ago and have read it a number of times. I had gone to the gym with my husband in the past and felt intimidated by all the machines and felt self-conscious using them in front of other people. My husband, who has been lifting weight for years would set up routines for me, but he would give me so much to do, I would feel overwhelmed and would be extremely sore the following day --- never wanting to lift a weight again! I originally bought this book because it gave instructions for a workout that could be completed in the privacy of my own home. What I loved most about this book is that it assumed the reader knew absolutely nothing about strength training and went from there. The author takes the time to define common terms and explains which muscles are being worked in each exercise. This book also gives suggestions as to which gym equipment will work those same muscles if you do decide to go to a gym. The author also takes the time to explain which machines are superior to free weights and which machines are a waste of time. The book contains many pictures and explains very specifically how to do each exercise. This book even has different routine schedules depending on how much weight you have to lose from what Joyce refers to as "skinny-fat" to obese. This book gave me the knowledge and the confidence to go to the gym and set up my own routine. Thanks to this book, I know when it's best to use a machine and when I would be better off jsut using dumbells. I am 27 and only had about 10 pounds to lose. I have been working out between 3 and 4 times a week now for the past 10 weeks. For the first few weeks, I will admit, it did not come easy. I still dreaded going to the gym. After about four weeks, when I was getting frustrated with the scale showing no progress, I noticed some small muscles in my upper chest. A minor change, but nonetheless encouraging! After the 5th to 6th week, my clothes started to fit differently. After only 10 weeks, I am noticing some definate changes. I have muscle tone in my arms, shoulders, and chest that I have never had before (even when I was in high school and playing sports!) I still refer to the book weekly to give me inspiration. Thank you Joyce!

There are both rave and slanderous reviews on this page. I am a certified personal trainer. Let me try to help the consumers with this issue. Joyce Vedral has written a very concise and helpful book for a beginning female weight trainer who perhaps does not have the means to join a gym and/or hire a professional trainer. The book has solid information that illustrates proper form for a full-body safe workout. There are no miracle cures for weight loss. Joyce simply speaks the truth about this. Yes, cardiovasuclar exercise and calorie curbing are necessary for weight loss if weight loss is your goal. Weight loss is not the only reason for doing weight training. Adding muscle mass through weight training improves the body's toning and definition (one will not see the improvement however, if body fat reduction is the goal and the other two components for successful weight loss are eliminated from the program). You don't have to follow Joyce's advice on diet to benefit from her weight training program. Yes, you can go to Weight Watchers and do this program. There is nothing magic about weight loss. Adding muscle mass will also increase metabolism slightly. The fringe benefits include increased bone density and when done properly, reduced risk of joint or back injury. My advice would be to hire a nationally certified personal fitness trainer if you have the means. If not, I believe this book would be a useful tool for a woman beginning weight training. Yes, some of the exercises are "outdated" in the sense that the industry keeps inventing new tools and new ways to vary a workout and make it more interesting and sometimes safer. However, the exercises Joyce teaches are perfectly sound and helpful in a beginning program. Be far more cautious of books claiming miracles than one offering solid, no-BS advice. I have Joyce's book in my fitness library and have recommended it to women over 40 who cannot afford a personal trainer. Joyce's success is an inspiration to others - that in itself is quite an attribute.

I have been following this program for 11 months and am very happy with the results. I started knowing nothing about strength training, but in this book Joyce Vedral "holds you by the hand" and shows (with lots of pictures as well as text) step by step how to do each exercise. She includes "don'ts" to keep you from doing a move incorrectly. You become toned and shaped, but not too muscular. I would definately strongly recommend this program to anyone of just about any age. You can start with very light weights and increase as you build strength. I've probably never been as strong as I now am after less than a year on this program. I do wonder if Joyce Vedral's estimates of the time required are realistic -- I find that if the book states you can complete a routine in 20 minutes, that it probably will take me 30-40 minutes. I now just allow twice as much time as she estimates and will stay with it because I am so pleased with the results.

I have been doing aerobics and jogging for about 3 years and have been healthy but not been building mass. I've been happy, but now that I'm interested in gaining muscle strength, I went to the store to look for a book that could help me get bigger without having to buy a $1000 machine to do it. I looked at several books and most of them talked about using these expensive gym machines. Gee, I only wanted to work out in the privacy of my own home without having to take out a loan. Enter, Dr. Jocye Verdral's book. When I picked up this book, I knew from the lady on the cover that she is definitely doing something RIGHT. When I read that she was a lady past 50, I knew that she was doing her workout right. As I flipped through the non-intimidating and friendly book, I saw so many easy to do exercises, well thought out and explained instructions, and easy to see pictures. Thanks to Joyce because she takes all the mystery out of weight training and gives the most effective information needed to build muscle properley and efficiently. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in looking good. The only thing is the time that she says it takes to do the workout. She mentions that it can take only 15 minutes to do. But with the rests in between, I find myself taking about 30 minutes...which is not a problem, because I am seeing nice results. Kudos to my personal trainer, Dr. Joyce Verdral!!!

That's right! I started the program on a Friday. It is now 10 days later which includes the suggested 2-day resting period and I feel on top of the world! I definitely have increased stamina, less of an appetite, a noticeable difference in my calfs and overall strength. I'm not depressed like I had been, my posture is better already, and my self esteem is sky high! (Haven't you noticed?) I'm in my mid 40's and I really needed this! I'm in for the long haul! Thanks Joyce!

I am a runner and have run 20+ miles a week for 15 years. Running was my only excercise. But as I got north of 40 I realized I needed to do something else, running wasn't keeping my body toned. That's when I decided to start lifting weights. I've followed Joyce's instructions for the past 6 months and my body looks better than in my 20's. The best book to learn how to use free weights. Excellent.

On my 58th birthday at the end of January, I was despairing of my figure and my general, if not poor, certainly not great, health. Always effortlessly slim throughout my life, my mirror now showed the thickening of advancing age and I was subject to aching back and legs and a general lack of energy. I had bought Joyce Vedral's book some months before but never opened it. Now with a trip to South Africa booked for a month ahead, the impetus to avoid looking like a blimp on the beach was there. So I worked out daily, following her instructions to the letter - and after that one month my body had changed to such an extent that, on arrival in South Africa I found that all the summer clothes I had bought for this holiday during January were now too large! I actually had to buy new clothes there! This is absolutely true. Delighted, I continued the exercises while there and I have kept up the weight training ever since my return. At last I can wear clothes with waists again, my general aches have disappeared and my energy level is so much higher. I have now been exercising this way for only two and a half months, with no dieting (although I have always eaten sensibly)and I feel I have shed at least ten years in just about every way. I have just sent this book to my 86 year old mother. It's never too late! I really recommend it.

After looking at what seemed like a bazillion intro to weight training books, I chose this one -- and I'm very pleased. Joyce's style is funny, and motivating, and I just LOVED the before/after photo section. The only problems I've had are 1) I agree -- it does take longer than she says to do the workout, and 2) I'm having trouble with figuring out the correct form for the back exercises -- I wish there were a few more pictures with most of the exercises so it would be easier to pick up the correct form. But I would still recommend this to anyone who was looking for a book on intro to weight training -- Joyce is great! I look forward to graduating to her other workouts.

I checked out this book from a local library just because the middle-aged woman on the cover looked sensational and I wanted to know what she'd been doing. Little did I know that this book would change everything I used to think about weight-training. I knew right away that I wanted to own this book. Joyce Vedral has made weight-training SO easy! I ran out and bought a weight bench and some dumbbells the next day and started lifting weight. Within two weeks my arms and thighs have toned up considerably. Believe me, when you're 100 pounds overweight and have lived with wobbling arms and thighs all your life, visible muscles mean so much! The format of the book makes it so easy to follow. It feels like having a personal trainer right next to you (one that doesn't cost $50 an hour, that is!). The pix are just fabulous. I am just SO glad to have found this book. Thanks, Dr. Vedral. You're a God-send!

I like joyce's book alot. She is really positive and enthusiastic and makes me feel that I can actually do her routine. I've been following her program for about 4 months now. I haven't been able to do it four times a week, but I have averaged three times a week.

The book is clearly written with photos that really help to see the exercises, however a supplemental video would help even more. I would especially like to see how she is able to perform her routine in only 20 minutes. When using the full 15 seconds of rest between exercises, it normally takes me an hour. I've even tried to go as fast as I physically could, trying to ensure that I was working the muscle and not using the momentum of the movement, but I could still only get the program down to about 35 minutes.

Still, I like the book.