Bathing suit season is upon us. There are numerous articles everywhere about how to get in shape for baring it all in a two piece. My wife pointed out that all the get toned articles in magazines will only get you in perfect shape to wear a two piece in two weeks if you are already close. So I pushed back on her and asked then how people should get in shape. Here are her top recommendations for fitness books for healthy living and dropping the weight.
Making the Cut: The 30-Day Diet and Fitness Plan for the Strongest, Sexiest You by Jillian Michaels: Jillian is the hard core take no shit trainer from The Biggest Loser. Making the Cut is just one of her books but breaks it all down with diet and exercise for you to follow. My wife read this, changed up her diet, though did not follow the recipes to perfection, did all the exercises and lost seven inches. This is the book to check out if you want to become, as Jillian puts it, a badass. The workouts in the book are hard but certainly worth it. With Making the Cut you can either take it to the gym or modify the workouts and do all the exercises at home.
French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano: French women don’t get fat but it is not for lack of eating amazing food. This book is great as it has many good weight loss promoting recipes such as the tasty, though strange looking, lentil soup. I love this book because it got my wife in the habit of making fresh bread and chicken au champagne. Mireille Guiliano talks straight about everything in proportion, tracking what you eat, and taking the time to enjoy your food. Guiliano herself fell into the trap of stopping off for a fresh baked treat but then learned how to control it all and everything in proportion. French Women Don’t Get Fat is a perfect read for people on the go as it will help you slow down and enjoy food while eating better.
Rachel Ray’s 30 Minute Get Real Meals: Eat Healthy Without Going to Extremes by Rachel Ray: This grocery store demo diva turned major food star likes food. In her 30 Minute Get Real Meals cookbook Rachel Ray takes you through everything from appetizers to desserts and shows you how to make them healthy. Rachel even shows you how to make crab cakes and pasta but while making healthy choices like using less bread crumbs, EVOO and whole wheat. This is a great every day cookbook that takes the pressure to loose off and allows you to eat tasty and healthy.
The Pilates Body: The Ultimate At-Home Guide to Strengthening, Lengthening and Toning Your Body- Without Machines by Brooke Siler: My wife is not one for working out in a gym. It took years for her to become the fitness enthusiast she is today. Pilates is how it all started as this is a great workout inspired by dance and yoga, developed by Joseph Pilates and without the high impact. My wife was a dancer when she was a kid and has bad knees and bad ankles when she does not work out. Pilates is a great way to strengthen your core, upper and lower body without slamming your joints. The Pilates Body is a great way to get into fitness.
You can find any of these books at Amazon on line or at any local bookstore. The best thing to keep in mind is that getting fit and into your best shape is a process, one you can achieve with hard work and effort. You do not need to cut out your favorite foods or starve yourself, you just need to be smart.
Sources:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_23?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=jillian+michaels+making+the+cut&sprefix=jillian+michaels+making
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=french+women+don%27t+get+fat&sprefix=french+wom
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_18?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=rachel+ray+30+minute+get+real+meals&sprefix=rachel+ray+30+minu
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_18?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=rachel+ray+30+minute+get+real+meals&sprefix=rachel+ray+30+minu
