training

I signed up with a gym and stayed away from the floor for five months. Lifting weights seemed so intimidating. I went through many weight-training books (including specifically said for women) and finally decided on this one and boy, am I glad! The gym gave me two free personal training sessions, but when you are new, you don't remember whole lot. Watching people work out doesn't always help, either. In my opinion, this is a perfect book if you choose to go to a gym and a very good book if you decide to set up a home gym. Most machines in my gym are covered and now I am learning more free weight options. I carry it to the gym often and just watch people exercise and read the portion while doing cardio. Then I read it carefully when I am learning the exercise. Several people asked me to show the book, too. It is no nonsense, straightforward, but very through book. It thought of everything by covering exercise ball and exercise tube. I actually found stretching part better than any stretching books, so I photocopied pictures and laminated and carry it with my log. My book is almost fallen apart!

I'm a female and have recently began weight training at the gym which I'm very lost.
To educate, I have purchased several books while working out with a personal trainer and I have to say....this is the most easy to understand book. This book has it all and I recommend it highly to anyone that wants to learn more about weight training. The pictures and visual description is outstanding and has helped me tremendously. PLEASE buy this book if you are new to weight training....it's the best out there!

I cross country ski race and have been lifting weights for years without any instruction - I've just learned by watching others and seeing pictures in some of the XC ski racing books I've purchased over the years. But I always knew I was missing something: proper form. I'd looked at some of the body building books, but their focus on massive muscle building was not for me - I want fast, small muscles. Excessive bulk just makes it harder to climb hills in a race!

It was with great pleasure that I stumbled on to "Teach Yourself Visual: Weight Training." From my perspective, there are several major benefits to this book:

First, the book has sections for weight machines, free weights, exercise balls, and stretch tubes. I've used all in my training, and it's really valuable to have examples of each in one book. Obviously, the book can't show you every machine out there, but it does provide hints on how you can utilize other equipment.

Second, the book provides clear examples of what to do and - more importantly - what not to do. I found out after all these years that you really need to tighten your abs when you lift. I found that some of the back problems I had been experiencing disapeared as soon as I followed that tip. That simple hint alone was worth the cost of the book.

Third, it clearly shows what muscles are being exercised and tells you ways to make the various exercise easier or harder to fit your conditioning level.

For people who may feel a little imtimidated by books showing muscle-bound, high testosterone men and women, this book is very non-threatening. It provides simple, straight-forward examples using people who look "normal."

There's lots of other info that's useful, too.

Overall: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!