Age Defying Fitness: Making the Most of Your Body for the Rest of Your Life

This is a book that will help ease you back into fitness. I recommend it to friends who would like to get started on a fitness program and don't know where to start, as well as a few who have injured themselves and want to continue exercising. To date, I've purchased three copies for myself and close friends.Here's my experience with Age Defying Fitness. I purchased a copy after reading a NYT review with the goal of improving my posture. Upon receiving the book, I read the first seven pages then skipped to the chapter on posture. The next morning I took the posture self-assessment tests and got a baseline reading. Next I started through the chapter "8 Great Exercises for Posture". The exercises were challenging but doable and, before I knew it, I was doing them every day!The improvement in my posture in the next three weeks was astounding, according to both the self-assessment tests and feedback from friends. I was so inspired I decided to work on my core muscles using the "8 Great Exercises for Neck and Trunk." Before I knew it my abs were strong and physical things I enjoy doing, like gardening, just got easier and easier.I've made so much progress that I no longer regularly see my chiropractor for neck adjustments. Now I know how to release neck tension and have strengthened my back and abdominal muscles to the point that my body stays in good alignment every day. I've also been able to leverage what I learned to help me deeply relax at night. When I go to bed, I use one 10 second repetition of exercise 1, 4 and 5 from "8 great exercises for posture" and one repetition of each of the neck strengthening exercises from "8 great exercises for neck and trunk" (there are four of them) as a 3 minute relaxation sequence which prepares me to sleep.I haven't made it through the other chapters yet. My physical progress resulting from the posture and core muscle training inspired me to start using my Bowflex again (which had become a sweater holder in the past year). However, I still do the posture and core muscle training from Age-Defying Fitness three times a week and my relaxation sequence every day to keep my posture going strong.If you know you need to exercise and are wondering how to start, I recommend you buy this book and work your way through it. The self-asessment tests help you document your baseline and progress. Exercises are clearly written and there are photos that illustrate proper positioning for each one. Plus, each section of the book (there are five: posture, strength, flexibility, balance and endurance) starts with an explanation which helps you understand what was going on with your body as your fitness level declined over time and how to reverse the trend.Get fit! You know you can do it. And when you do, you'll be telling others about this springboard to fitness.

As an exercise trainer myself, I was delighted to see a book on exercise by physical therapists, the real exercise specialists. Because they have the medical background to safely prescribe exercises which respect our aging joints, I highly recommend this book to those over 50 and those under 50 who want to embark on an exercise routine. It is well written, clear, concise and easily understandable and useable. Given that it is so necessary for all of us to work on maintaining good posture and balance, this book maps out exercises with precise instructions and photos to specifically focus on these areas. It provides an excellent explanation of the aging process and the changes that occur within our bodies, and then prescribes exercises to counteract and work with these changes. The exercises will help those who want to gain strength and endurance, increase flexibility, and improve balance. My personal recommendation (after you have read the book) is to suggest hiring a physical therapist to come to your home to help you fine tune your program, see that you are doing the exercises correctly, and to offer a few alternatives as well.Mady Goldstein, M.S.W., NYC

According to page xiii, third paragraph, First sentence; "the band in your book is green". Received book in closed plastic wrap no other attachments and nothing between the pages. This book is what I've been looking for.

This is a comprehensive and safe guide that is easy to follow. I feel it is very safe and a great place to start. I loved the assessment tests so I can let my seniors know how to measure their progress. I highly recommend this book!

Three times in the last several years, I have had physical problems bad enough to require a PT (physical therapist). Each time, the PT helped me get back to health. Two of these times, the PT allowed me to avoid surgery. I came away with great respect for the philosophies, skills, and knowledge that PTs have.Now I find that, while I don't have any major physical problems, I need something to keep my body at its best. There are many books about staying fit past 50. I wanted one written by a PT. I could find two, this one and another book Marilyn Moffat wrote with Steve Vickery. This is by far the better book.This book breaks fitness down into 5 categories: Posture, Strength, Balance, Flexibility, and Endurance. For each category, the book offers a series of simple self-evaluations. Then the book offers several exercises for each of these five categories. What makes this book particularly helpful is that exercises are targeted according to the results of the self-evaluations. I was able to find those areas where I need the most help, then target the exercises that help me the most.

I checked out and perused a number of books on stretching/weight training for older adults from my local library. This book is my favorite overall book on the subject. The illustrations and text are clear and easy to read, the chapters are well-organized, and I have the impression that the authors have a lot of experience and know what they are talking about. ...I also received a copy that did not contain the card allowing the purchaser to get a free theraband. I still think the information is well worth the price of the book.