Life is Healthy

As many of you know, I’ve been clearing out and giving away some of the “tools” I’ve used to get in shape over the last five years. Today I’m offering the chance to win one of two of my favorite books on women’s health and strength training.

While I used the Weight Watchers Points system to lose weight, I combined what I learned there with solid, science-backed information on weight loss and nutrition from other sources, such as “Body for Life for Women” by Pamela Peeke, M.D. and Joan Pagano’s “Strength Training for Women.”

Because I’m heading out the door soon to go on a (flat) hike and do some bird watching, I cut and pasted portions of the books’ reviews from Amazon.com so you get an idea what each book is about and decide which one you’d like to throw your name in the hat for (you can choose both!).

“Body for Life for Women”
“[Peeke’s] firm belief is, most women already know what they’re supposed to do: eat a balanced diet, ditch junk food, exercise, think positively. Peeke strives to show her “girlfriends” how to accomplish these tasks, customizing plans for young and old. Clients’ stories lend credence to Peeke's 12-week weight reduction plan; so do the wowsie before-and-after pictures.

“Gender-specific scientific evidence supports Peeke's premise that women's bodies require different care than men's. But she doesn't stop there. Peeke digs deeper for her audience, defining four hormonal milestones of a woman's life (menarche to beyond menopause) and customizing a physical and mental transformation plan to suit each.

“Easing off on strict calorie and weight guidelines, she focuses instead on serious fat reduction, muscle improvement, and practical suggestions for self-care. But for Peeke, weight reduction pales to bolstering a woman's self-worth through nurturing healthier habits.” (Review by Liane Thomas)

“Strength Training for Women”
From Publishers Weekly: “A personal trainer in NYC’s Upper East Side, Pagano has dedicated the past 16 years of her life to passing her knowledge and passion for fitness on to other women in the hopes of helping them improve their lives and prevent common diseases like osteoporosis.

“Like a good personal trainer should, she begins with a three-part fitness test and questionnaire to assess whether the reader should consult a doctor before beginning her program. For true beginners, she provides an anatomy chart that depicts the major muscle groups and the exercises that are best suited to them. She dispels fitness myths like ‘lifting weights will bulk you up’ and ‘you can spot reduce,’ and talks about the risk factors, exercise guidelines and restrictions of osteoporosis.

“Best of all for novices, many of Pagnano’s beginner exercises require no special equipment, relying instead on everyday fixtures like chairs, walls and kitchen countertops. (More advanced exercises use free weights, stretch bands and stability balls.)

“The color photos, diagrams and clear explanations make the exercises easy to follow, and Pagano provides full training programs for improving posture and strengthening the lower, upper and core muscles of the body. This book may be one of the best substitutes for pricey gym memberships and personal trainers.”

If you've read and used one or both of these books, I'd love to read your review, too.

If you haven't and would like to win one of them, throw your name in the hat! The only catch is if you win, you agree to give the book away when you’re done, or if you can’t part with it, you’ll donate a healthy food item to your local food shelf. That’s it! So leave a comment or send an email to lynnbering@verizon.net and let me know which book you’d like to win. I’ll draw the winners on Sunday evening (June 6).