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.