Customer Reviews

Your Body Revival: Weight Loss Straight Talk

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For those of us sadly discovering middle age seems to also mean extra inches and unwanted pounds, this new book, "Your Body Revival" by famed bodybuilder and fitness expert Dave Draper is a godsend. Anyone familiar with either Draper himself, a consummate sixties bodybuilder who quickly ran through the pantheon of available titles by winning Mr. America, Mr. Universe and Mr. World to become famed as the blond bombshell, or with his unusual gifts as a writer as displayed in previous books such as "Brother Iron, Sister Steel" ... , this new offering of "Your Body Revival" is no great surprise. Indeed, for the mature fitness enthusiast unable to find adequate relevant personal guidance in mass circulation magazines that are more exclusively geared to the needs of younger athletes, this latest book is a unique and valuable offering that presents a plethora of suggestions that help both a more mature fitness enthusiast as well as a younger neophyte to manage his or her way toward specific physical goals.

Draper is one of those rare souls who is more interested in making a contribution to the sport by helping the everyday guy with his or her training issues than he is than with training potential bodybuilding stars for the posing platform. Not that Draper does not coach bodybuilders, for he surely does, but to date his main focus in his books has been more directed with helping "everyman" to strive for personal excellence. And it is this strain of thought that runs so memorably and helpfully through the chapters of this tome, as well. Draper clearly points the reader in the right direction, motivating and stimulating him or her with the voice of experience, probing at old fallacies and false promises, and summarizing, in concise and clear language, what the sound, basic nutritional facts are for the more mature athlete.

In doing so, he also provides a simple recipe or regimen for the athlete, one that will provide a maximum of lean muscle mass and which will also capitalize on fat loss at the same time. In this short book, big Dave emphasizes the "vital importance of muscle and bodybuilding", and even provides sample workout routines designed to reach these goals. And the book contains nuggets of useful information for all readers, regardless of their own circumstances or fitness level. In fact, in reading the book, you will quickly become amazed by the breadth of knowledge Draper applies to the subjects under discussion. It is obvious to even a casual reader that the book is carefully researched and meticulously written. Then again, one would hardly expect any less from the original blond bombshell, and a guy who brushed shoulders with everyone from George Eiferman to Steve Reeves to Larry Scott to Arnold Schwarzenegger to Tony Curtis to the late Sharon Tate.

In his introduction, Draper describes the sixties bodybuilding experience as being a time of relative innocence, before it became a mainstream fitness activity, and before it became corrupted by big power and big money, and it is that kind of personal ethos of seeing physical culture as a meaningful way of life and as a natural set of activities for someone interested in living a natural and healthy lifestyle that comes through here and makes this book so worthwhile. Like "Brother Iron, Sister Steel" before it, and like the many more books that we readers hope will follow, this is a book to be read and savored as words of carefully gathered experience, as words of training wisdom from the most gracefully aging bodybuilder of the 20th century. Dave Draper has become a quiet legend for those of us who matured in the shadow of his many accomplishments, for he is a guy who always managed to walk with a singular dignity and purpose, someone who never sold out to the more crass and commercial forms of strength sports "entertainments" we so often see in today's publications. This book gives us the honest information we need to strive more successfully toward our own realistic physical fitness goals. I highly recommend it. Enjoy!

Dave Draper knows fitness. With a resume that transcends mere "bodybuilding", and a style that is both colorful and vivid, he imparts that knowledge in a way that is inspiring, and clearly calculated to help others succeed.
"Your Body Revival" is quite a different book than Dave's "Brother Iron, Sister Steel" (one of the best books ever written for the iron crowd. "Body Revival" is more of a call to action, primarily for the overweight, but written to motivation even hard-core gym rats.
Dave takes on the "fad diet" pushers, and debunks a lot of the falsehoods that are out there regarding weight loss. His approach is more geared towards those wishing to make life-long positive changes, and he is very clear nutritionally of the way to proceed to lose weight and improve your body. There is a lot of information on fats, protein, and the importance of a healthy balance of foods.
Of course this is a Dave Draper book, so you know part of the program is going to involve weightlifting. Dave is an absolute believer in the value of resistance training in combatting the fat epidemic, and he offers a number of insights on training as a key to developing a healthier you.
Where this book excels is in the motivation/positive thinking area. Draper's writing style feels like a conversation, and his accent on the importance of mental attitude, goal setting and improved self-esteem is all-important for the development and maintenance of a successful program. He even provides a web address to readers to link up and track the success of their program, and provides regular updates to this book, and the tools he uses as part of the program (all for no charge).
Some of the material was a little too basic for my tastes, but I always enjoy the motivation supplied by Dave's writings. This is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in pursuing a new fitness/nutrition program, and are unsure which of thew 32,086 (or is that 87) books or programs to try.

If you are intertested in a book about getting and staying in shape through proper eating and exercise, look no further. This is it. Dave Draper is the guy. There is no one better. Forget all the pills and the ads on tv and order this book.

This is the nitty gritty truth. This is how to do it. Buy this book and you will know all you need to know...and you will discover, it is not as difficult as you thought.

This is a clear, well-thought-out, series-of-thought-patterns by a mature adult that is worth more than a casual read-through.

It is worth careful consideration and if you are not on a healthy path, it will gently nudge you back on goal. And if you are already on the right road, it will make you feel good about yourself.

Draper is at the top of his form in "Your Body Revival" with years of practical experience behind him. Forget the diet of the moment (remember Oprah and Rosie with all those diets are still fat) and enter the fitness experience of a lifetime.

What ever happened to Dave Draper? He is still here, ripped and lean...and he is willing to show you how you can be as well.

--ron dobrin...

Dave Draper's new book, Your Body Revival, is as elegant and powerful as its cover design. Dave has never embraced the merely fashionable, always living the lifestyle his own body reflects. Even in the gawdy presence of infomercial gadgetry and magazine puffery, he walks his own path: modern bodybuilding and the Draper lifestyle are merely coincidental. What he teaches is passion, not fashion.

Like the best coaches, Dave Draper enthusiastically conveys his subject matter to his needing charges, betraying the love he has for both. I don't say that lightly. Dave really wants to see hurting people change, and his instruments of change are as solid as a barbell plate. He doesn't just advocate a way of eating, he explores it for the reader's benefit. He doesn't just say that using weights to change one's body is the way to go, he tells you why. And, just as important, how.

Most of all, Draper's book is a call to a lifestyle, not just a change in one compartment of the reader's life. He's lived the values he promotes, and he demonstrates how adopting them as unchangeable, as part of your very foundation, brings you the kind of mastery over your life that results in joy.

Your Body Revival is aptly named, because the new person you are hoping to become isn't going to be handed to you. That new person is going to awaken -- inside you. Dave Draper knows it, because he's lived it. And now, he'll show you how it's done.

Buy this book.

In a market so crammed full of fad diets and weight loss trends that change as frequently as the seasons, its great to have Dave Draper straight talking.Draper care deeply about this subject and comes across in his prose and it this that starts the reader
on the road to health and fitness.The words of encouragement are backed up by sound eating and exercise advice that are as relevant to the beginner as the fitness enthusiast.There are sections specially dedicated to the menopause and also some great stuff on hormones and Cholesterol you won't find anywhere else.If you're trying to get back to fitness or want to lose weight for the first time this book should be you first point of call.This books called body revival for a reason its the start of a journey that could transform your body and your life...
Great book

This is a great book for those who need some motivation to get up and start taking better care. I call it the "mean book" because Dave doesn't sugar coat anything. The dangers of our increasingly sedentary life are clearly outlined. Some of the information is redundant, but this communicates his very strong feelings about eating right and exercise.
If you are willing to read the book, then you are willing to do something about your health. It is a book for beginners, not for advanced lifters. The diet and exercise recommendations are beginner level, but there is a wealth of information, books and websites in the appendix that is worth the price of the book alone! And you can take the basic information and tailor it to your individual needs. Getting in shape isn't easy, but this book is a good starting point. After reading this, and doing a lot of highlighting, I'm inspired to jumpstart my fitness regime! Go for it!

Please see the update below. I should have given this book 5 stars.

I generally like most of what Dave Draper writes and I do admire him. But this book had nothing to offer someone like me who knows most of what's to know about weight loss and bodybuilding. I did find the part where he puts little emphasis on aerobics of interest and do totally agree with that. Weights are far more important and should be given (excuse the pun) more weight.

His brief discussion on cholesterol was also of interest.

This book would be great for someone who doesn't have a lot of knowledge of weight lifting and who really doesn't know how to lose weight.

But if you do have this knowledge, there's not much to recommend the book in my opinion.

Update:

August 18, 2006

Because the important thing about a book is not how it's written or what you think you take away from it when you finish the last word and put it down, but rather what it's teachings or suggestions accomplish in your life, I offer this update to my original review.

Since I wrote this review I've lost 5 of 10 pounds I need to lose by using the basic teachings in the book. I've done no aerobics or what one would call cardio. I lift for about 20 minutes three time a week. I do a split routine: Chest and Back on Monday, Arms and Shoulders on Wednesday and Legs and Abs on Friday.

I don't do everything exactly as instructed in the book. For example, I can only stand tuna from the can once a week at best. But I do fix things like tuna and salmon patties done in a bit of olive oil. I also use my George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine for my main meal, which is lunch. I even do some potatoes in olive oil on the grill. Dave Draper may not approve but it works for me and I've got to have a bit of food that appeals to me.

I also added 200 more calories to my daily diet that CalorieKing gives me. I wasn't losing when I cut too many calories. This is also in the book. Take it to heart.

By the way, a 20-minute weightlifting session burns around 200 calories. And the great thing is that it keeps burning for days! Even while you sleep. I can live with that.

I think each person has to adjust things to his or her own needs and likes. But I can attest that by following the basic tenets in this book you can lose weight at a pretty good clip. And you can do it without aerobics or running or all those things that are hard on knees, especially as we age. At the same time, you can give your cardiovascular system a workout by taking little or no rest between exercises and sets. Believe me on this one!

And you'll lose weight without a drastic cut in calories.

As a side note let me tell you what happened this morning. I woke up with one of my migraines. I just about had decided not to work out. But I figured it couldn't make me feel worse. So I did. Guess what? My headache was gone at the end of the workout! They usually last 4 days.

Now was that due to the workout? I don't know and I'm not trying to make a claim here. I'm just stating a fact. There may or may not be a correlation. But it makes me wonder.

Will keep you updated.

...is Dave Draper's tuna and water diet. Twelve pounds off in two weeks, losses continuing, energy level high, all poundages in the gym going waaaaaay up. The man is a genius, and a great guy. His writing clearly reveals that he is dedicated to helping all of us to better health.

Dave Draper's book has revived my interest in exercize and weight management. Dave has a profound writing style that keeps me interested and inspired. I highly recommend this book for everyone, weight lifter or want to be.

Dave's new book (Your Body Revival: Weight Loss Straight Talk) is excellent, I recommend it highly. Alot of good common sense and alot of motivation . Dave does not talk down to those of us who have a few extra pounds to lose before we see the rippling muscles begin to show more and more as we lose each unwanted pound. Dave gives alot of good common sense advice and makes it easy for even us beginners to understander. I read Dave's first book (Brother Iron Sister Steel) and loved it but could not wait for this book to come out is is for the beginner, it is for the over weight who want to take control of our weight and our bodies. Can't wait for Dave to write another book and I hope there will be a another book, for I know that it would be as equally as good as his two prior books. Thanks, Dave for all the advice and the much needed motivation that will help me on this weight lose journey and the path to better health and hopefully a beautiful body.