Strong: Nine Workout Programs for Women to Burn Fat, Boost Metabolism, and Build Strength for Life

Is This Really The Badass Bible Of Getting Fit?

My daughter came home from school and saw my copy of Strong on my desk... "Ooo what's this? I want to be a badass. What do I have to do?" The good news is that the contents of Strong are every bit as good as the cover. The idea of a badass woman is commonplace to my kids. Girls are top athletes and they are more than capable of looking feminine and still be super strong and fast and mobile. Title IX along with books like the authors' original "New Rules of Lifting for Women" and the rise of mud runs, obstacle course racing, and Crossfit are a big reason for this. Strong is the (new) template for how to get there. With three phases and 9 full body workout programs there is enough here to keep the newbie and advanced person busy. The workouts will make you stronger and more "fit" -- more able to do things in life and in play like run faster, jump higher, pick and carry things, and bend and move without hearing the hinges creak. If you find an exercise you can't do that's fine -- the book covers progressions and substitutions. All the workouts are based on fundamental human movements (to coin a Dan John phrase) -- pushing, pulling, squatting, hinging at the hips, carrying things, etc. -- and can be scaled. And if you're like me and like to read fitness books for the text as well as the workouts you'll get even more out of the book. Like the author's New Rules of Lifting books, the text is well researched and cited in a dedicated Notes chapter. Opinions are based on real world experience at one of the premier gyms in the US and on the latest exercise science research. There's a dedicated section on lifting weights for beginners, on the importance of protein in the diet, why weight control tops weight loss most any day of the week, and a host of other topics. The writing style is light but authoritative. It's really a good "read" especially compared to the usual fad diet and workout books that top the best seller lists. p.s. Truth be told you don't have to be a woman ...