Body for LIFE for Women

Clearly, this book is written for women, thus all information contained within is useful only to those lacking the Y-chromosome. Also, the capitalization and italics repeated each and every time the title is written demonstrate just how much purpose is behind each word. Body. for LIFE. for Women.

Written by Dr. Pamela Peeke, "Body for LIFE for Women" is a lifestyle plan that emphasizes regular strength training combined with cardiovascular exercise, relaxation or meditation, and a sensible diet to achieve and maintain a healthy body composition. It has a very no-nonsense approach to these topics; none of the fun and laughs most people have come to associate with books about diet and exercise.

The diet plan is similar to South Beach, minus the lunacy of the so-called "induction phase" of the SBD. You want a piece of fruit? Go for it! Thank goodness it's changed it's evil ways and will no longer gleefully launch buckets of insulin into your blood, which everyone knows can only result in stored fat. No calorie counting required, just simple portion control and regular meals (it is recommended to eat five to six time per day--no skipping breakfast!). Vegetables, fruits, lean meats, low-fat dairy, and "smart" carbs are the building blocks of your Body for LIFE. That's right--you will learn to distinguish "smart" carbs and fats from "junk" carbs and fats. Amazingly, one will kill you and the other won't... but you'll have to read the book to find out which is which!

Dr. Peeke stresses the importance of at least 30 minutes of cardio 3-5 days per week, and 30 minutes of strength training 1-2 times per week, then delves into illustrated examples of what to do with those heavy metal weight-thingys collecting dust in the corner. The front and back pages of the book are covered with before and after shots of women with body-builder physiques--your proof that it only takes as little as 1/2 hour of exercise each day to be on your way to looking like some scary Amazon chick who can strangle life's daily stressor with her bare hands. You won't even need the chapters on meditation and rejuvenation by the time you're through; you can just go rambo on everyone's asses!

One of the more practical diet and exercise books on the market, with the exception of the miracle results it claims to produce in just 12 short weeks. The fine print reveals that a person "may" need more than one 12-week cycle to achieve notable progress. Or to be able to look at any page in the book without being overwhelmed by the gratuitous use of italic font.