Reading

1. ACSM Fitness book (2nd edition)

No one knows exercise better than the American College of Sports Medicine. This book offers easy-to-understand instructions on setting up a program and customizing it to fit your goals and schedule. Photos show proper form for strength training and flexibility exercises and you’ll even learn how to assess your fitness level and track progress. Includes a blank workout log to record your workouts.

2. Getting Stronger

I love this book! It covers the basics of weight training for us regular folks as well as for bodybuilders and athletes. It also includes sport-specific training for 21 different sports. You’ll find detailed instructions and pictures (over 100 fitness programs) as well as information about equipment, working out with injuries and special attention is given to women who are pregnant.

3. Fitness for Dummies

Exercise is confusing enough without adding the quackery of fat-burning pills and mysterious exercise gadgets. This book addresses the hype surrounding all the quick-fix products and teaches you how to test your fitness level, design a complete program that fits your needs, join a health club, manage your diet and more. It also covers how to build a home gym and hire a personal trainer.

4. Body for Life for Women

This is an excellent book for women, whether you want to lose weight or not. The focus is not just on weight loss, but on creating a healthy, balanced life based on what is realistic for your body and your lifestyle. Dr. Peeke provides great information about the different stages women experience, how we change over time and how to change our eating and exercise programs to fit where we are in life.

5. The Pocket Food & Exercise Diary

Food diaries are proven to help you lose weight. By writing down everything you eat, you can finally keep track of what you’re REALLY putting in your mouth. It’s a 10-week food and exercise diary that is non-dated, so you can start anytime. The columns separate food calories and exercise calories that you total up to figure out what you’ve eaten and what you’ve burned.

6. Intuitive Eating

If you’re a chronic dieter, you’ll love this book. The authors, dieticians and recognized experts, provide realistic information for anyone struggling with food issues. They teach you how to how to eat without fear and get rid of the diet mentality that leads to so much craziness.