Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength (Hardcover)

by Bill Phillips (Author), Michael D'Orso (Author) "A couple of years ago, I attended a fitness convention in Atlanta..." (more)
Key Phrases: dumbbell bench press, seated dumbbell press, steamed brown rice, Upper Body, Lower Body, Separating Myth (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Bill Phillips had been publishing bodybuilding magazines and marketing nutritional supplements for years when he had a weird revelation at a trade show: many of the most loyal and enthusiastic readers he had were totally out of shape. From that uncomfortable realization came his popular Physique Transformation Contest (top prize that first year: Phillips's own Lamborghini), now world famous, and this book.

The three-times-a-week weightlifting program in Body for Life is deceptively simple. If you've spent any time in the gym, you've already done all the exercises. But Phillips includes a couple of high-intensity sets at the end of each exercise that should compound the training effect on each muscle group. Same goes for the cardiovascular exercise he recommends: just 20 minutes, three times a week. But those 20 minutes are spent jacking the intensity up and down, accomplishing more in less time.

Phillips arranges all this into a 12-week program, along with nutritional and motivational tips. Be warned that the nutritional advice gets a little spacey. For example, he puts "carbohydrates" and "vegetables" into separate categories, and recommends three daily doses of a nutritional supplement called Myoplex, which his company manufactures. (Fortunately, he gives tips on how to make each dose taste different, such as by adding drops of peppermint extract.) Despite this strangeness, Body for Life still motivates because so many others have achieved astounding results in similar 12-week windows, and the pictures and testimonials are here as evidence. --Lou Schuler

Review
"After completing the 12-week program, I not only achieved my physical goals, I rediscovered passion in my life. This became the primary driving force behind my success. I've become the person I've always wanted to be." -- Russell Simpson, M.D., age 47 Physician; Huntsville, Alabama

"I admire Bill Phillips because he believes so much in what he's doing, and he's helped so many people, including me. The time I've spent with Bill over the last couple years has been tremendous for me. I feel better mentally and physically. I believe the more his message gets out, the better off everybody's going to be." -- John Elway Two-Time NFL World Champion

"When I first read about Bill's program, I felt a sense of hope I hadn't felt before. I was inspired to take the first crucial step--I decided to change. Within weeks, I felt better, I looked better, and people started to notice. After 12 weeks, I lost 30 pounds, 3 inches off my waist, 4 inches off my hips, and dropped 3 sizes. My life couldn't be better. I'm not settling for mediocrity ever again." -- Christy Hammons, Age 24 Accountant; Lexington, Kentucky

"When we discovered Bill Phillips, we realized we had been confronted with a simple decision, 'Change our lives or dig our own grave with a fork and knife.' After a few weeks on the program, our bodies were changing, but more than that, our relationship, our lives were changing." -- Fred and Rene Scurti, ages 38 and 35Sales Manager and Homemaker; Parker, Colorado

"While going through Bill Phillips' program, the physical changes I experienced were just the 'tip of the iceberg' for the changes in my mind-set. It empowered me and opened my eyes to the possibilities of change in all areas of my life." -- Hank Johnson, Age 39 NASA Space Shuttle Engineer; Cape Canaveral, Florida

"After completing the 12-week program, I not only achieved my physical goals, I rediscovered passion in my life. This became the primary driving force behind my success. I've become the person I've always wanted to be." -- Russell Simpson, M.D., age 47 Physician; Huntsville, Alabama

"When I first read about Bill's program, I felt a sense of hope I hadn't felt before. I was inspired to take the first crucial stepI decided to change. Within weeks, I felt better, I looked better, and people started to notice. After 12 weeks, I lost 30 pounds, 3 inches off my waist, 4 inches off my hips, and dropped 3 sizes. My life couldn't be better. I'm not settling for mediocrity ever again." -- Christy Hammons, Age 24 Accountant; Lexington, Kentucky

"I admire Bill Phillips because he believes so much in what he's doing, and he's helped so many people, including me. The time I've spent with Bill over the last couple years has been tremendous for me. I feel better mentally and physically. I believe the more his message gets out, the better off everybody's going to be." -- John Elway Two-Time NFL World Champion

"When we discovered Bill Phillips, we realized we had been confronted with a simple decision, 'Change our lives or dig our own grave with a fork and knife.' After a few weeks on the program, our bodies were changing, but more than that, our relationship, our lives were changing." -- Fred and Rene Scurti, ages 38 and 35Sales Manager and Homemaker; Parker, Colorado

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 201 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1st edition (June 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060193395
• ISBN-13: 978-0060193393
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (962 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #322 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #7 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Exercise & Fitness

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

434 of 441 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good foundation for building physical fitness, August 14, 2000

By	Keith Vaglienti (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Body for Life" is an excellent book if you're a fitness beginner who's trying to figure out how to get in shape and stay in shape or, perhaps, someone who's been working out and/or dieting for a while and doesn't seem to be making much headway towards losing weight and getting in shape. Phillips does a good job of explaining the basic building blocks of fitness and of debunking a lot of the more prevalent fitness myths. He covers the proper way to exercise, both aerobics and weight training, proper diet, not some fad diet but rather how to eat real food in a healthy way, and how to motivate yourself and keep yourself motivated to stick to your goals.

There are a few caveats, however.

This is a very basic book. Don't think you're going to read this book and then know everything you need to know about fitness. It gives you a good foundation to build on but it doesn't go much beyond that. In my opinion that's a good thing given the book's target audience of fitness beginners. It gives you enough information to get started but it doesn't overwhelm you with data. Be aware that once you get into the program and have a better feel for your specific needs, you may find yourself seeking other books for more information but with the information you get from "Body for Life", you'll be able to make better selections of what type of books to look for. If you're already in good shape, chances are you already know everything that's in this book and if there is something you don't know, it won't be worth the price to find out.

Phillips owns a company which manufactures nutritional supplements. Not surprisingly he pushes the use of supplements in this book. There's nothing wrong with using supplements but they're expensive and not really necessary. They may accelerate the process but you'll still get into shape following the program without them.

Fitness is a lifelong commitment. Don't look at the title of the book and think you're going to get into perfect shape in only 12 weeks. Phillips' program is about using those 12 weeks to develop a fitness program you can stick to for the rest of your life. Ideally, when you finish one 12 week program you'll immediately begin another 12 week program and so on until it's not a 12 week program but a way of life.

If you're a fitness beginner and not certain where to begin or someone who's been working out for a little while but doesn't seem to be making any headway towards your fitness goals, this is the book for you. It offers good solid information on the basics of fitness and how to set and achieve your goals. I highly recommend this book.

359 of 372 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Believe me, it works!, April 16, 2000

By	K. Allen (Fayetteville, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is NOT a "quick-fix" program, it is meant to be a new way of life. If you do not have the motivation or the willpower, it won't work. But for me, it has made me a new person. I have so much more confidence in myself and am so proud of myself that I have the discipline to do this and I am seeing such fantastic results. I have gone from 22% body fat to 16% in 5 weeks. My cellulite on my legs is GONE.

It is also not a "low-carb" diet. You get plenty of food, and yes, the supplements are expensive, but you don't have to use them. I usually choose to because I don't want to fix 6 meals a day, but there are times when money is tight and I don't buy them for a while. You can also use nutritional bars for people whose work schedule makes it difficult to have a shake or a meal every time. The thing is, this is how you SHOULD eat, whether you like it or not. And I have saved money, even with the cost of the supplements, by not buying any junk food and not going out to eat as often. You can have delicious meals--it's not like you are deprived at all. Just no 2nd or 3rd helpings, which you shouldn't be eating anyway if you are trying to get into shape! It has truly changed my life as I start my 6th week on the program and I could not give this book any higher recommendation. It makes the whole thing so easy to follow the way it is explained--I call it my "bible" now! The book tells you exactly what to do and will motivate you to no end. And for the people who say the pictures are fake, they are not. I have my own "before" pictures as proof compared to what I look like now. Buy this book--if you are ready to do it, it will change your life. I cannot imagine sitting on the couch and eating a bag of potato chips ever again. I don't even have any desire to. For the people who are complaining that you have to belong to a gym or buy a lot of equipment--the fact is, if you don't incorporate weight training along with aerobic activity, it is not going to work. You might lose weight, but at the expense of your muscle mass, which you will also be losing. But actually, all you really need is a few sets of dumbbells and a barbell with some weight plates. You don't have to go out and buy a treadmill and a universal gym. I have tried every diet known to man, and I used to run 3 miles every day without fail, and I have never seen results like I have with this. It is wonderful to feel the same way after doing 20 minutes of intense cardio as I did after slaving for an hour at it like I used to. 20 minutes is nothing! No, it's not really *easy* to do, but who are all these people that expect getting in shape to be easy? Although for me, it is much easier than anything else I have ever tried because for the first time in my life, I actually look forward to working out. The nutritional plan is not difficult for me because I know at the end of the week I get a "free day" when I can eat whatever I want to eat. I have not cheated one time--not even a jelly bean--and I feel perfectly satisfied. Like I said, I don't want to eat junk anymore. And I had a sweet tooth that wouldn't quit before. As a matter of fact, I don't even look forward to my free day as much as I used to because I feel so much better eating healthy the rest of the week. I also have 10 times more energy than I used to. I highly recommend this book, and this way of life, to anyone who is ready to totally commit themselves to being fit. You will not believe the results and you will be glad you did it.

164 of 167 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seven weeks down, hundreds to go, February 24, 2000

By	Tom VonOxford "schabetc" (Oxford, Oh USA) - See all my reviews

I have been on the program for seven weeks now and results are good; 10 pounds lost, body fat down from 22.5% to 19%. The beer barrel is on its way to becoming a six pack. That was my primary motivation.

The book has changed my life and perspective on health and nutrition. I'm sixty now. I plan to continue with the daily workouts and small (but frequent) well balanced meals for the rest of my life. I don't see any point in stopping when 12 weeks are up. I don't think I'm going to win any prize from the EAS folk, but I have won already. I don't cringe when I look in the mirror anymore.

When I hear people lament about their lack of success with diets, I want to tell them to drop the "diet" stuff. Change your eating habits and exercise pattern ala Bill Phillips advice and you will lose weight. But more importantly, you'll just plain feel better.

By the way, Myoplex is not expensive. It can be purchased at nutrition stores (brick & morter and on-line) for approximately 60% of what EAS charges. That makes it about $1.50 per serving. I challenge you to show me where you can get 42 grams of protein, 24 grams of Carbohydrates and only 2 grams of fat for only $1.50. I think it's the cheapest way to get that amount of nutrition.