If you want to start an exercise program but aren't sure where to start, this book may be all you need for quite a while. Its three authors - Bob Anderson, Bill Pearl and Ed Burke - are top experts in their areas of fitness, and together they present a complete program to get, and stay, in shape. Bob Anderson, best-selling author of Stretching, shows you the right way to stretch - a very important part of any fitness program. Bill Pearl, a four-time Mr. Universe winner who co-wrote Getting Stronger, explains the correct way to weight train and has dozens of exercises that will keep your muscles challenged. Ed Burke, who has written a number of books on cycling and fitness, discusses the many ways to do cardio exercise. If you're a total newbie to exercise - or if you're getting over an injury - you can start off with "The Program Before the Program" to ease yourself into working out. Once you are ready, there are five basic programs, each one a little more challenging than the next; 16 special programs - exercises while you're on the job, on the road, or want to practice circuit training - and 8 fine tuning programs that focus on specific body parts. All stretches and exercises are illustrated with simple illustrations, and you can do each routine easily just by looking at the pictures. In addition there are chapters on specific health conditions, healthy eating and instructions on how to choose a gym (or create one at home).

For all its thoroughness, Getting in Shape isn't much more than 200 pages, most of which are pictures. Even if you've been exercising a while you may want to flip through it - you're sure to find stretches and exercises you haven't tried yet or that you've forgotten about. Even though it's geared towards beginners, the advice in this book works for all levels of exercisers. NOTE: If you want to buy this book used, make sure you get the updated edition as opposed to the original 1994 edition. While the latter is still loaded with good stuff, the newer version has some updated information.

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