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		List Price: $15.95		Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Salesrank: 911498
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		Media: Paperback

Editorial Review:
A leading fitness expert offers a ten-week plan for a total-body makeover, using a sensible diet plan and a different exercise routine for each week that is designed to improve cardiovascular health, reduce weight, and sculpt a slimmer body.

Description of Kathy Smith's Fitness Makeover: A 10-Week Guide to Exercise and Nutrition That Will Change Your Life:
This is a 10-week beginner's program and training log for women. It's designed to improve muscle tone, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility and body composition, and to allow you to keep track of every repetition of every exercise. Each week on the program features new exercises and focuses on a different aspect of nutrition--fat, protein, water, vitamins. The program is well-organized, clearly outlined, and easy to follow. Best of all, unlike the authors of other eponymous fitness books, Kathy Smith doesn't get in your face on every page; she seems to have presumed you've picked up the book because you want to get in shape first and because she's Kathy Smith second. Good choice, good book.

Kathy Smith's Fitness Makeover: A 10-Week Guide to Exercise and Nutrition That Will Change Your Life Reviews:
Good review for someone who doesn't know where to start.
2002-08-08 - After seeing so many great reviews of this book here, I borrowed it from the library. The book is a 10-week plan to improved fitness and is more geared to women. Each week, Kathy focuses on one nutrition concept and one body part--for example, Week 1 is "Fat and Abs." After a few pages describing the concepts for the week, there are a series of worksheets to help you keep track of your exercise and eating for that week. This format continues for all 10 weeks, which means that the bulk of the book is made up of the worksheets rather than actual information. At the end of the book, Kathy has included sections on stretches and toning exercises for the entire body. Both sections are nice illustrated with pictures of Kathy performing the moves, and each move is described in detail.

Being someone who has exercised regularly for years and who knows basic nutrition, I didn't feel like I learned anything from this book. However, I did like the idea of keep specific logs of my eating and exercise habits, so I might try to incorporate that from this book. Even though this book wasn't really for me, it would be great for someone wanting to get started on the path to healthy eating and exercise but who has no idea where to begin. Kathy is extremely non-threatening, and she takes you through everything you need to know step-by-step. However, you should be aware that if you follow Kathy's plan, you will need to obtain a separate book that lists fat and calorie contents for foods; Kathy makes several recommendations for these at the start of her book.

Pick and choose what you like
2002-04-26 - While I wouldn't call this book an unqualified success for me, it's definitely one of my most valued resources for fitness for the strength training aspect alone.

I have several books on strength training for women, but this one is definitely my favorite. Each week of the ten calls for a slightly different set of 12 toning exercises. Every week Kathy emphasizes a particular body part/muscle group - for example, abs, back, or shoulders - and there may be several exercises that week for that particular body part. Each week also includes exercises that work just about every major part of your body. By doing the full ten-week cycle, you'll have worked each muscle group pretty well, and there is plenty of room for improvement by adding weights, sets and/or repetitions.

There are clear black-and-white photographs demonstrating how to perform the exercises. All you need are three sets of dumbbells to start with (e.g., 3 lb., 5 lb. and 8 lb.), a chair, and a firm pillow. The calf exercise calls for a step (like those used in aerobic step programs), but if you have stairs in your home that will work fine, too.

The other aspects of the book - nutrition and diet advice, stretching, etc. - round out the information and give you a complete basis for fitness, although I don't focus on cutting out total fat grams as much as Kathy suggests. I've come to believe that keeping track of total calories, combined with striving to meet the USDA's food pyramid diet guidelines, is best, with fat being given secondary consideration. But that's just me.

The logs are handy and would be great if you just want to treat it like a ten-week "course curriculum," but I have been logging my food and exercise independently of the book and just using the book as a reference. Still, even though I'm not using the logs or adhering strictly to the ten-week program, I find this book invaluable for my basic strength training routine.

The title of this book is not an exaggeration
2001-12-05 - I struggled for a long time trying to lose weight. Once I got this book, I realized that although I was exercising and eating a decent amount of calories, I was eating WAY too much fat. I cut back to the requisite amount for my height and frame, and voila!, I started losing weight immediately. I've lost almost 20 pounds in the last 11 months, and I feel much more knowledgeable and in control now that I'm armed with the information I learned from this book. I always recommend it to people I know who are trying to lose weight.

Excellent fitness companion
2001-11-26 - I've just ordered my third copy of this book, because I love it so much. I really helps to teach you about fitness and nutrition gradually, rather than throwing everything at you at once -- it's all about life style changes, not a quick fix. It's also been a great way to get me on track when I've slipped a little bit, or need to refocus on nutrition. It's a wonderful tool!

Kathy Smith's Fitness Makeover
2001-10-09 - Arrived promptly. Book in excellent condition. Very happy and satisfied with book and service. Would purchase from again.