The 30-Minute Fitness Solution : A Four-Step Plan For Women of All Ages

By JoAnn Manson and Patricia Amend

Book Overview

Just 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise--even walking--can save your life. This is the powerful message that Dr. JoAnn Manson--of the lead investigators of both the Women's Health Initiative and the Nurses' Health Study--and her coauthor Patricia Amend want to send to American women.

Regardless of the barriers you may face--too busy, too tired, too "down," or too old--with this four-step practical plan you'll find the excuses falling away and a happier, healthier self emerging. This book offers not only state-of-the-art information from recent medical research but step-by-step instructions on how to get started and maintain a physically active lifestyle. The authors will help you choose a "core" activity that doesn't disrupt your daily life. Then they will show you how to measure your fitness level at the start, how to monitor your progress over time, and how to reward yourself for your efforts. These four simple steps to fitness will work no matter who you are--25 or 75, harried mother or overworked professional (or both), in good health or living with a chronic disease.

The authors have included a clearly illustrated program of stretching and strength-training exercises; sensible activities for women with health concerns; an intelligent weight-loss plan; guidelines for selecting home exercise equipment and choosing a health club; and much more. With over 100 illustrations, questionnaires, and checklists, this book has everything you need to feel good, look better, and live longer, starting today--it's all just 30 minutes away.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674004795
• ISBN13: 9780674004795
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A Complete Guide for Healthy Lifestyle Change

As a Fitness Director having overseen hundreds of Personal Trainers who have trained literally thousands of women looking for answers to their fitness questions, I find this book extremely useful in helping my team address the needs of our female clientele. Woman have many needs that are often overlooked and The 30-Minute Fitness Solution hits on all of the vital points a lady must have to plan, implement, and continue a healthy, results oriented fitness program. From setting goals, to planning your steps to meet those goals, this book guides you every step of the way. Every client I have recommended read this book, has experienced successes they never thought possible until they followed the insight found within its pages. The language is casual yet scientifically based which makes for an enjoyable and extremely credible reading experience. I would recommend this book to any woman who is trying to make a committment to a healthier and leaner life and body. The 30-Minute Fitness Solution is a must-read book for the lady who is serious about finding the answers to all of her fitness questions and who is tired of the exhausting misinformation that clouds our judgement today.

Practical and Encouraging

This book's friendly, fluid writing style made it very easy and enjoyable to read. Each time I picked it up, I kept reading much longer than I'd intended to. (The medical documentation gave me confidence in the recommendations but didn't intrude on the wonderful conversational style.) Although I've read several articles and books on fitness, this book gave me enough new, practical information and "sisterly" encouragement to motivate me to resume my walking program. AND this is the first source that explained the importance of strength training and flexibility exercises in a way that has motivated me to start doing both. The recommended routines are easy to do and require few "props." Most important, I think, is the authors' caution not to expect to see weight loss right away and to focus on the many other physical and psychological benefits of fitness. It's occuring to me as I write this that I should give this book as a gift to my two daughters-in-law and to at least two friends...

Finally a fitness book that is realistic!

I just read The 30-Minute Fitness Solution and was truly impressed. It is the first fitness book that provides realistic steps for health and wellness. Rather than preach an all or nothing approach, the book stresses the small steps we can fit into our days and weeks to boost our bodies and our minds. I am a busy person and if I think anything will be a burden, I run from it. In reading the approaches suggested by Ms. Amend and Dr. Manson, I feel like I actually can fit fitness into my life without much of an effort or sacrifice. That's a big lesson for me. In fact, I was so inspired by the book I joined a fitness club and find it to be highly pleasurable. The book also speaks to readers in a way that is motivating not condescending or scolding. The authors well understand that sometimes we slip on our exercise regimes, and they don't give us slack about it. Rather they provide steps for how to get back on track on our own schedule.All in all this is one of the best books I've read on fitness.