Best fitness books for women

October 2, 11:44 AMNutrition ExaminerCarol Bardelli

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We all want to get fit, look better, and be healthy. Can you achieve these goals with a book?  Yes, you really can. Any one of these three books will get you started on your path to fitness.

The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess by Lou Schuler, Cassandra Forsythe, and Alwyn Cosgrove

The biggest fitness myth that never dies is that women's muscles should be worked differently than men's. This belief that if women lift heavy weights they'll look like Arnold Schwarzenegger or a professional female bodybuilder is false. With this myth in mind, women seek light resistance workouts that shape, tone, or sculpt their bodies.  The truth is these "toning" workouts do little or nothing for your muscles.

Muscles need adequate stimulation to strengthen and grow. And women do not have the hormone profile to get big muscles like a man. This means lifting weights heavy enough to challenge your muscles in order to get results. 'The New Rules of Lifting for Women' is for women who are ready to quit pretending and start getting results. This book guides you through a conditioning program that will achieve the body you really want, sleek, tight, and firm. A nutritional approach to support muscle growth and fat loss is included.

Making the Cut: The 30-Day Diet and Fitness Plan for the Strongest, Sexiest You by Jillian Michaels

Jillian Michaels is not just that cute, tough-as-nails trainer on NBC's The Biggest Loser. She knows exactly how to get you into the best shape of your life.  

Michaels' program is complete, including aerobics and resistance training, and a tailored diet plan.  Jillian's diet plan works on a theory based on three physical profiles, slow oxidizers, balanced oxidizers, or fast oxidizers. She believes slow oxidizers require more carbohydrates, balanced oxidizers require moderate amounts of carbohydrates and proteins, while fast oxidizers need a higher percentage of protein.  Three different sets of menus and recipes are included for each profile.

Although not backed up in the book with evidence from clinical studies, she claims this approach is based on sound science.  Scientific or not, her approach works and is proven through the anecdotal results of her clients and many other followers.

Strength Training for Women by Joan Pagano

Joan Pagano is a personal trainer in New York City and in this book shares her knowledge on getting fit and staying healthy. She stresses reasons to pursue fitness beyond the usual "look good, feel good" model. A balanced combination of proper nutrition, aerobics, and resistance training prevents, and even improves, many diseases and conditions plaguing us today.

Just as important, she dispels fitness myths like "lifting weights will bulk you up" and "you can spot reduce." Particularly helpful is the fact that many of her exercises for beginners require no special equipment. You can start immediately with no extra expense. Advanced exercises use affordable equipment like free weights, resistance bands, and stability balls. Forget those expensive gym memberships and personal trainers. All you need to get started and stay the course is this book.