BlubberBeGone

NUTRITION

• The Metabolism Advantage by Dr John Berardi

Like most fat people, I like to blame a slow metabolism and big bones for my excess weight, not really wanting to admit to being a lazy pig, after all. So when I came across The Metabolism Advantage, “An 8-week program to rev up your body’s fat-burning machine – at any age”, I quickly added it to my shelf of books promising to change my life. When I did eventually get round to reading it though, I found that unlike most of the others, this was not just another diet book filled with old news reworked with lots of ‘motivational’ waffle by some wannabe guru cashing in on us poor, desperate, calorifically challenged folks. Rather, it was brilliant, scientific, well researched, and well written guide to the nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes needed to turn you into an awesome fat-burning machine. Even more than that, it was actually inspiring. It made me want to go out and make those changes. Even more amazingly, I did. And I’m still doing. Highly recommended.
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• New Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford

Does exactly what it says on the tin. A massive and up-to-date book on all aspects of nutrition from the founder of the of the UK Institute of Optimum Nutrition. Like the man says, “Who wants to be average?” From antioxidants to Alzheimer’s, homocysteine to hayfever, supplements to superkids, it’s all in here. And if you can’t be bothered to read it all, you can always bench press it!
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FITNESS

• The Complete Book of Abs by Kurt Brungardt

An oldie (1999) but a goodie. Every ab exercise under the sun, for every level, from complete “what’s an ab?” level to underwear model droolability. As well as well illustrated exercises, the book includes suggested programmes to get you from where you are to where you are going, as well as suggestions on how to create your own. There are also good sections on back care and strengthening, and general health, nutrition, and wellbeing. Despite a newer book ‘for women’ the original is perfectly suitable for both sexes and many of the exercises are demonstrated by women in the accompanying photos.
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• Kick the Fat by Anne-Marie Millard

This great little book is a terrific introduction to kickboxing, and a smashing fun workout to boot. It takes you from absolute beginner status to confident fitness kickboxer in no time at all, while providing sweat-pouring, endorphin-pumping workouts, from complete beginner through to advanced levels.
The kicks and punches are clearly explained, with unfussy and helpful photographs to accompany each move. When I started this book, I couldn’t even balance on one foot for more than a few seconds. I have been fairly slack and used it erratically, but am now comfortably an intermediate. I have since undertaken personal training with martial arts instructors and they have all commented on my good form – I tell them I learned it all from a book.
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• Swimming for Total Fitness by Jane Katz

Another old book (1993) and apparently, some of the technique teachings are not the most current, but this fantastic book is ideal for people who are not blessed with the water baby gene. It takes you from afraid-to-put-your-face-in-the-water to beautifully balanced butterfly. The five basic strokes are broken down and taught through a series of exercises and drills and there are progressive fitness swimming workouts for every level. Also very cool, it teaches you those cool turns you see on the TV when you watch the pros. I learned breast stroke as a kid but that was it. Taught myself crawl as an adult, rather badly, I might add. After doing one of her stroke development exercises at my local pool, I knocked 4 strokes off my lap time, and completed my lengths in 3 fewer strokes than another swimmer I was watching who was obviously stronger and more experienced than me. It’s all in the technique.
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• Fitness Swimming by Emmett Hines

This is a more up-to-date book and includes the latest thinking on stroke dynamics but it’s focus is much narrower. It deals only with freestyle (front crawl), and is not for people who are nervous in the water or who can’t already swim. But if you can swim, this book will develop you from beginner to competitive swimmer, if you want to go that far, through progressive fitness and technique drills to help you improve your technique, your strength, and your endurance.
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• Heart Monitor Training for the Compleat Idiot by John L Parker Jr

And yes, it really is spelled like that. The science and practice of getting the most out of your training and your body using a heart rate monitor. It’s aimed mainly at runners (and including 12-week training plans for different level runners from beginner to competitive) but is equally suitable for any cardiovascular activity, from walking, to cycling, to swimming. Teaches you to train efficiently, improve your endurance and fitness levels, reach your fitness goals more quickly, and remain injury-free while doing so.
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PILATES

This is obviously part of fitness, but it is such an important part of my life (pilates helped me manage and eliminate chronic low back pain and now I am a pilates instructor) that I have given it its own section. Pilates teaches you body awareness, good alignment, how to move. It can create a strong, lithe body, and add apparent inches to your stature (posture, baby, posture). If you’ve never done it before, I would recommend getting a good private teacher or going to classes before starting to work out on your own. Not because it is so difficult, but because it seems so easy. It isn’t really. You need a qualified instructor to teach you the basics and analyse your posture and movement patterns. Then, of course, practice away.

• Standing Pilates: Strengthen and Tone Your Body Wherever You Are by Joan Breibart

Correct posture and movement patterns while upright, ie. in the position you are most likely to need them in real life. Very challenging.
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