Check it out
If June gloom is here, summer can’t be far behind -- time to get fit,
fight fat and figure out how to look good on a beach, with help from
library resources.
“Forget diet books,” advises “The Skinny,” a hilarious profile of dieting
women’s outlooks that includes some savvy secrets from those who have
successfully mastered the art of staying slim. From oddball tips like
brushing your teeth early at night to salting your dessert, this book is
so funny it may help you drop pounds, because you can’t eat while you’re
on the floor laughing.
OK, time to get serious about getting a grip on girth. While you may not
look like a supermodel overnight with “Radu’s Simply Fit,” you can train
like one with this exercise program put together by the trainer who
created Cindy Crawford’s 10-million-copy “Shape Your Body Workout,” --
the best-selling fitness video of all time.
If you prefer your instruction on videotape, find inspiration from
another supermodel on “Kathy Ireland’s Body Specifics.” The 50-minute
tape features three 12-minute routines for abs, buns and thighs,
performed by a cover girl who is also a certified fitness instructor.
There are more than 100 innovative ways to lose weight and feel great in
“Fit Happens” by fitness guru Joanie Greggains. Along with strategies for
fighting fat and beating food cravings, the TV host of “Morning Stretch”
weaves personal anecdotes, easy-to-read charts and odd tidbits (did you
know salt can alleviate back pain and that peppermint is an appetite
suppressant?) into this plan for lifetime fitness.
Oprah Winfrey trainer Bob Greene takes an equally holistic approach in
“Keep the Connection,” the sequel to “Make the Connection,” in which
Winfrey and Greene introduced the sensible diet and exercise program that
helped Winfrey change her perspective on permanent weight loss. Greene
takes fitness to the next level with this guide to keeping the momentum
going, which includes a section of healthful recipes with detailed
nutritional breakdowns.
For teens just learning about the benefits of good nutrition and regular
exercise, “The Right Moves” encourages girls to realize their full
potential by developing a solid self-image, eating right and becoming
physically fit. There are quizzes, quotes, fun activities and common
sense advice in this upbeat guide to physical and mental well-being.
No matter where you sit on the diet roller coaster, you’re bound to find
inspiration in “You Don’t Have to Be Thin to Win,” the account of a
330-pound sedentary woman who shed 130 pounds and got fit enough to
compete in the Ironman Championship Triathlon in Hawaii. While Judy
Molnar may not be a conventional fitness expert, she shares a “journey
from the couch to the course” that is so motivating, you might want to
read it on the treadmill.
* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public
Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in collaboration with
Andrea Jason.
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