Eat This Not That! for Kids!: Be the Leanest, Fittest Family on the Block!

Readers familiar with the popular Eat This Not That!: Thousands of Simple Food Swaps That Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds-or More! will find this book similar in formatexcept this time the content is aimed at kids.

The book consists of seven chapters. Here's a brief rundown of what you can expect from each:

-Chapter 1 covers "8 rules of kid's nutrition" which includes such advice as "never skip breakfast" and "snack with a purpose"

-Chapter 2 discusses choosing the right foods at fast food restaurants such as Arby's or Applebees

-Chapter 3 talks about "menu decoding". Since the book can't cover every restaurant you'll ever eat at, it teaches the reader how to read a typical menuwhat to look for, what choices to make. It does this by going over general menus of Chinese restaurants, Mexican restaurants, etc.

-Chapter 4 goes over making proper buying choices at restaurants. Here the reader is taught how to read labels.

-Chapter 5 covers eating at schools, which means, of course, the school cafeteria. Vending machines choices are also included because most schools (unfortunately) have them.

-Chapter 6 discusses eating at home. A nice touch here is the sample menus and recipes.

And last but not least, Chapter 7 talks about exercise. Included are sample activities to keep your kids fit. I personally suggest trying a pedometerkids like to fiddle with them and counting steps is fun too.

All-in-all, I found this to be a great little book and actually quite fun to read with its many pictures. With good knowledge in hand, the only other obstacle a parent faces is getting their kids motivated to carry out the advice in the book.

In parenting as in life, it's all about making good decisions. The trick is knowing which choices are the right ones. This small colorful book tells you very simply which food choices are the right ones. It not only tells you, but also shows you with hundreds of color photos. Although it is supposedly for kids, the information is useful -and fascinating -for anyone.

We've all heard the scary statistics about the rise in obesity, especially in children. Food marketers are doing everything they can to keep that trend alive. According to the Federal Trade Commission, kids ages 2 to 11 will see 26,000 TV ads this year, 22 percent of them marketing food. "The message -that junk food equals instant happiness -is one that sticks with a child for all his life." Eat This Not That! gives sound advice on how to combat this problem.

The first chapter has eight simple rules for kids and families to follow:

Rule #1: Never Skip Breakfast. Ever.

Rule #2: Snack with Purpose. (A good idea: popcorn; not the kind saturated with butter and salt, but natural popcorn. Another good idea: Kids must ask permission for a snack, but never need permission to reach for a piece of fruit.)

Rule #3: Beware of Portion Distortion. (A good idea: Buy smaller bowls and cups.)

Rule #4: Drink Responsibly. (A good idea: Keep cold, filtered water in a pitcher in the fridge.)

Rule #5: Eat More Foods and Fewer Science Experiments. (A good rule of thumb: The shorter the ingredient list, the healthier the food.)

Rule #6: Set the Table (A good idea: Keep mealtimes as structured as possible.)

Rule #7: Kick the Sugar Habit. (A good idea: Eliminate foods with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup at the top of the ingredient list.)

Rule #8: Eat the Rainbow. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple foods have a multitude of benefits.

You'll be surprised, finding out whether some foods are on the good or bad list. Learning that Applegate Farms organic uncured turkey hot dogs are on the Eat This! side isn't so surprising. But José Olé shredded steak taquitos? Breyer's Double Churn creamy vanilla bean ice cream? It seems "Double Churn" is Breyer's code word for low-fat, which makes this dessert a go. Oscar Mayer bacon scores a Yes, while Oscar Mayer turkey bacon scores a No, because of the extra sodium in the supposedly more healthful turkey option.

I had to wrestle Eat This Not That! out of my 14-year-old daughter's hands to write this review. She was captivated, poring over it exclaiming on the different foods we now eat that we should swap for others. She wailed when she saw the Cadbury Creme Egg as the very worst in the "Worst Candy" section. And she can kiss those Hershey's Kisses goodbye. Oh no! Sun Chips are on the Not That! list! Some of her favorites were on the Eat This! list, though: Marshmallow peeps, Tootsie Pops, Boca burgers, Eggo Nutri-Grain low-fat waffles, MultiGrain Cheerios, Egg McMuffins and Kraft Tangy Italian spaghetti dinners.

I could go on and on about this book. It covers school cafeteria food, fast-food restaurant food, vending machine snacks, kid-friendly recipes, how to read nutritional labels, holiday meals and fun exercises for kids of different age groups. Each food lists its complete nutritional information, including the portion size, calories and grams of fat and sugar.

Other books I recommend on this topic: In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, and Deceptively Delicious.

Here's the chapter list:

1. Feeding the Future; The 8 rules of kids' nutrition

2. At Their Favorite Restaurants; The best and worst meals at 40 fast-food and chain restaurants

3. The Eat This, Not That! Ultimate Menu Decoder; Strategies for eating right at any restaurant

4. At the Supermarket; The complete Eat This, Not That! For Kids! grocery list

5. At School; How to survive and thrive in the cafeteria and beyond

6. At Home; Making your home the healthiest in the neighborhood

7. A Legacy of Fitness; Shed pounds with your kids with these fun family activities

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I bought the kids version of Eat This, Not That because I regularly eat kids meals at restaurants. My theory was, if its for kids, the calories have to be less and the portions better controlled, right? No!

This book showed me that not only do the kids meals often have just as many if not more as the adult meals, but in the wrong combinations and can quite bad for you.

For example, I often eat the PB&J at Panera Bread, with the squeeze yogurt on the side. Organic peanut butter and grape jelly, organic yogurt...what could go wrong? 470 calories, 17g fat and 19 grams of sugar is crazy!

Who knew that McNuggets are better for you than the hamburger in a Happy Meal? Not me.

It is great that the book has easy to make substitutions and ideas to get the most nutrition you can out of a fast food meal. This is a great book for any family to keep in the car for those meals on the go. Everyone can make the most informed choice possible!

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This book, like the original is entertaining, but not exactly the best nutritional advice. It is important that the reader understand that the Author of both of these books compares similar products and decides which is better between the two. That being said, something listed in the "Not That" page such as Danimals Yogurt on pg 169, is not necessarily worse to eat then the Nacho Doritos on page 186 listed under "Eat This". If you understand the authors intent, this book may help you to choose between two very similar products. Realize, however, that "Good" and "Bad" are relative in relation to the two particular products being compared.

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I absolutely love this book. I thought I was making healthy food choices before (and I was, for the most part). But this book opened my eyes to some shockingly bad food choices I was making. It also surprised me to find out how deceptively some food was marketed as healthy when it was anything but. (Organic "health food" cereal with as much sugar as a soda, for instance .. who would have thought??!!!)

I'm so glad I bought it .. you will be, too! I was so impressed that I even bought extra for other family members!

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Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide (2nd Edition)

Just to show a small part of the accuracy of this book. If you go to page 716,under the title of " HEART DISEASE " third paragraph which starts off with " interest in Vitamin B6 deficiency.This was a study by Dr. Kilmer S. McCully, M.D. Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School in reference to Heart disease and lowering the HOMOCYSTEINE Levels, which are free radical generators capable of oxidixing cholesterol, one of the major contributing factors in heart disease.The (AMA) American Medical Association back then and until recently said he was wrong in his theory. But, most recently on the television show 20/20 with Barbara Walters, the AMA said they were wrong and that Dr. McCully was right back in 1969 with his studies. Which I believe shows just a fraction of the importance of reading from this invaluable book of Knowledge.I futher beleive that members of the AMA should be more receptive to the thoughts and studies done by Alternative Medicine Doctors , who are only trying to better Mankind. A little more open mindness would be a good begining !

I purchased this volume hoping to supplement my existing knowledge of medicine with the alternative protocols. This work is complete as to its coverage of the various diseases and modalities to treat them. When a patient encounters a serious illness, the keyword is protocol. Very often, there are multiple protocols for the same illness and the patient/doctor must sort through this maze. The Burton Goldberg volume helps tremendously in this effort. As people get older, they no longer get diseases that go away overnight. People tend to have conditions that require ongoing maintenance. The combinatorial impact of many different medications taken at the same time can be detrimental to the kidneys. Therefore, the alternative medicine protocols provide a mechanism to address the medicinal issues with substances that the body recognizes organically. In addition, this volume cites the medical experts in the different areas. It describes the biology of the disease processes in a way that is understandable to a novice. This work is a worthy investment for any personal library. People spend money on many frivolous things very often ignoring the future of their health. This work helps to craft a personal health plan/outline for the future by presenting comparative protocols in understandable english.

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This has got to be one of the most comprenhensive books ever written about alternative medicine. It tells a lot of valuable information about various vitamins and minerals and how they work to keep our bodies in perfect form. It gives important detail about what doses of each supplement we need to take. I also tells us about how the supplements interact with each other.

This book goes into great detail to tell us about our various organs and other body parts and how they work. I tells about how to handle disease when we contract it. It reinsures us that we don't need to run to the doctor everytime we get sick.

I have learned an inmeasureable amount of information from this book. I really believe it has been a worth while investment.

I Would Strongly Recommend This Book

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This book is a giant of information, not just the authors information, but facts accumulated from many high levels of authority on the subject. I particularly like that each main area has names and addresses of where to get further information, studies, protocals, support groups or Doctors. It also has a suggested reading list for each treatment type. It really is the most complete I've seen, I use it in my wellness center every day. Thanks :-)

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This was one of the first books I bought, when I started researching Alternative Med. It covers it all. If my child comes to me with anything from a splinter to mommy my ? hurts or I don't feel good. Same goes with anyone that has a complaint, I have many family and friends that call me regular and want me to look in that book and see what I need to do. It has saved many trips to the doctor, as well as guided me when there was a need for a professional. I can't say enough about this book but I will stop here.

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7 Weeks to 100 Push-Ups: Strengthen and Sculpt Your Arms, Abs, Chest, Back and Glutes by Training to

I recommend this book to ANYONE who wants to get in the best shape of their lives. The book is so fundamentally sound that it puts any other bodyweight workout book to shame. The plan is brilliant: Take a "test" to see how many pushups you can do with proper form and then use that number to find the PERFECT workout to get you to 100! The workouts are very well balanced and don't feel like a chore to do.

I read the book and took the challenge seriously and was able to crank out 100 consecutive pushups just when the book said I should! On my 48th day of the program I was able to do 101 pushups and was so pleased to nail my goal.

I still follow the program even AFTER completing the "magic number" because pushups are such a great exercise for your core, arms & chest! There are so many variations that you can learn to keep your workouts interesting & fun.

Challenge yourself & get this book!

Intro

The book's full title is 7 Weeks to 100 Push-Ups: Strengthen and Sculpt Your Arms, Abs, Chest, Back and Glutes by Training to do 100 Consecutive Push-Ups. That's quite a mouthful. It's also a very ambitious claim. Does the workout plan live up to the hype? Let's find out! Given the unevenness of reviews for this book, I decided to volunteer myself as a fitness test monkey and take the 7-week challenge. What follows is my review after having gone through the complete 7-week program and following it exactly as outlined.

Program

It doesn't get any simpler than this. Nothing but push-ups, lots and lots of push-ups, split out over 5 to 7 sets each day, 3 days a week for 7 weeks.

The number of push-ups varies for each set, following a pattern of low-medium-low-high in terms of repetitions. There are 3 workout levels, and the level you start at is determined by a "fitness test" you perform before starting the program. The fitness test consists of doing as many push-ups as you can with good form in a single sitting. Somewhat true to the book's title (see the Cons section below), the beginner level program will get you to 100 push-ups by week 7. The intermediate program that I followed will get you to 100 by week 5, and by the end of week 7 my last workout actually consisted of 200 push-ups. There is even a preliminary strength-building program geared towards someone who is unable to perform push-ups with good form. The advanced and preliminary programs are not reviewed.

Equipment

Given the minimalist nature of this workout, you really only need enough floor space to comfortably do the push-ups. However, I recommend using either a yoga mat or a towel as a base for your push-ups. This will help keep your floor from getting sweaty and nasty as you crank through all those push-ups. And believe me, you *will* get sweaty!

Time

The time needed to do the actual workout is minimal. On average, each push-up workout alone took about 25 minutes to complete, although towards the end it took me 45 minutes to get through all 200 push-ups for week 7 of the intermediate level workout. Why so long? Well, as the weeks went on and the reps increased, I found that I needed longer and longer rest periods between sets. Factor in another 15-20 minutes or so for stretching, warm up, and cool down and you're really looking at 1 hour per workout, for a total of about 3 hours per week. Note that your total time will vary based on age and fitness level. I'm in my late 30s and out of shape, so if you're younger or more in shape you should be able to crank out your push-ups in less time. Conversely, if you're older or in worse shape than me (and yes, pear is a shape!) then you should budget for at least as much time or more.

Pros

The main strength of this program is the simplicity of it. By narrowing the scope to one exercise, the author has crafted a workout that almost anyone can do regardless of initial fitness level. It doesn't require any fancy equipment, which means you can do the workout anywhere. Best of all, it can be done in about 3 hours a week or less. Nice!

The author does a great job of explaining what a push-up is, what muscles are used, and what good form should be like. The workouts are split out into different sections, where each section represents a fitness level (beginner, intermediate, advanced). This clear separation makes the workouts very easy to follow. There is also a simple yet effective stretch and warm up routine provided that will get your blood flowing and muscles warmed up in advance of the pushups. As a side note, I can't stress enough how important it is that you take the time to warm up and stretch prior to the workout. In addition to helping prevent injury, warming up your muscles will help you achieve the higher reps without hitting muscle fatigue as you advance through the program.

Once you've finished the program, what next? The author has you covered here as well. The maintenance section provides at least 15 push-up variations that you can use to take your workout to the next level. Some of these variations require extra equipment like a yoga ball or a medicine ball, but most can be done without having to purchase any extra equipment.

Cons

Interestingly enough, the simplicity of the workout is the program's greatest strength and also its greatest weakness. Maybe not surprisingly, doing nothing but push-ups over and over again gets a bit boring after a while. There were several days where I was really jonesing for some variety, just to spice things up a bit. I think the program would have been much improved if the sets were structured with different variations of push-ups rather than leaving all the variations for the maintenance section.

Another nit I need to pick is with the level of instruction provided. Very little guidance is given as to how to handle fatigue during a workout. Although I finished all the workouts, I found that I consistently hit a point where I could no longer push myself up during the last few sets of every workout. I typically got up in kneeling position and rested for a few breaths before continuing with the set. Was I cheating? Did I mess with the effectiveness of the set by taking a break in the middle? Is it more important to complete a set or to stop once I'm unable to complete a push up with good form? I have no idea, and the author is silent on these points. I figured it was better to push through and finish the set by taking breaks as needed to maintain good form, although I'm not sure I got everything out of the workout I could have. Since this program covers beginners, more advice needs to be given to accommodate someone who is approaching this program with little or no workout experience.

Another thing I need to note is that the author seems to have taken liberty with the definition of the word "consecutive", as in "7 weeks to 100 consecutive pushups". When I initially got the book, I thought I would be working up to 100 pushups in a single set. However, the most push-ups that are done in one set is 60 reps, and even then you won't hit this number till the last week of the most advanced program, which I did not do. The beginner workout is structured such that you will work towards completing 100 push-ups in a single workout by week 7. This in itself is quite an accomplishment for any beginner, but it isn't the same as 100 consecutive pushups. This is a minor criticism since the workout is still solid despite the misleading title, but I do think it's important for anyone buying the book to know this. I hit 100 push-ups by week 5 of the intermediate program I was following, and hit 200 on the last day of the program.

Results

Well, I'll tell you right off I didn't get ripped from doing hundreds of push-ups over 7 weeks, but I did see improvements. I had my wife measure my arms and chest before I started the workout and at the end of every week, and although it's hard to tell from the pictures, I actually gained a full inch in both my chest and arm measurements after completing the program. However, I believe the chest measurement gain came mostly from my back rather than my chest. I also toned up a bit on my upper body overall, which is somewhat visible from the pictures in the video. Most importantly, I gained the satisfaction of having completed 200 non-consecutive push-ups in the span of 45 minutes, which I think is pretty darn good for an out-of-shape guy in his late 30s. However, I was disappointed that I did not see bigger gains, especially given the sheer number of pushups I did over the course of the seven weeks.

Bottom Line

Although it isn't perfect, "7 Weeks to 100 Push-ups" is a good program for anyone looking for a workout that is simple to do, can be done anywhere, and has a low barrier to entry in terms of intensity, time, and equipment. Granted, you'll need to reset your expectation about what "consecutive" means in terms of achieving 100 (or 200+) pushups, and you'll have to make some assumptions about how to proceed when you get tired, but it doesn't get any simpler than this. I definitely recommend this program for anyone at a beginner or intermediate fitness level. Most people who start a fitness program flame out quickly unless they have a goal to reach. Don't let this be you! This program sets out an ambitious goal that is realistic and achievable, provided you can overlook the fact that you are actually building up to 100 non-consecutive push-ups despite the title of the book. Use this program as a starting point to a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

On the flip side, this workout is much too basic for anyone who is already in shape or who considers themselves to be at an advanced level. I'd say if you can already crank out 50+ pushups in a single set, this workout probably isn't going to be challenging enough for you. If that's the case, I recommend looking elsewhere.

Next up, 7 weeks to 50 pull-ups!

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In the end, I suppose this would be a valuable book for someone who has never worked out before, or who has very little upper body muscular endurance combined with little knowledge of push-ups. However, I am a military servicemember who is able to do lots of push-ups, but I've never been able to get to 100 consecutive push-ups in a single set. So I thought I'd give it a whirl, since I've always wanted to be able to do 100 in a row. Unfortunately, this program didn't help me get any closer. At the end of 7 weeks, I could do a couple of reps more than I started at (I believe I went from 67 to 70 in a two-minute timed test) but nowhere near 100. Clearly I started at and finished the toughest routine in the book. Furthermore, the instruction is rather skimpy and simplistic. Their are several routines, based on how many push-ups you start out being able to do, some pictures and description of what a good push-up looks like, and very general tips on rest and recovery. Not much detail or variation, little or no discussion of age or injury and how to work around these factors. There are picture and tips on different kinds of push-ups than the "normal," up-down, push-ups, but no hints on how many to do, when, or how to integrate them into a program. They are just there. This book could have been compressed into, say, an article of 4 or 5 pages. There isn't a whole lot there. For someone who is reasonably fit and can do already do, say, 50 push-ups, this book is unlikely to really push you beyond where you are at. So carefully evaluate where you are at before you purchase this.

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I first came to know of the author, Steve Speirs, independent of his book, and the first thing that should be said above all else, is that Steve has dedicated his life to helping others enjoy the fitness and health that he himself enjoys.

I myself and a swimmer/cyclist/runner/triathlete/singer/website creator/podcast host, and in keeping up with these activities on top of living as normal a life as possible, I am quite often hard pressed for the time I need to do smaller, stabilizing workouts. I should also say that, having somewhat of a background in lifting, and thus having quite a bit of muscle mass, in order to make myself a better endurance athlete, I needed to abandon weight training and become more lean while still maintaining the strength necessary for the myriad event in which I participate.

When I first began using "7 Weeks.." I forgot for a while that I was supposed to put down the book and put into practice the techniques within. The book is such an easy and informative read, I felt like I was gleaning just as much knowledge simply from reading about the advantages and different methods of "push-up-ology" (my word, I don't want to put such language on the author!) that I was getting a workout sitting and reading! Of course, that not being the case, I had to try the program for myself.

I began in one of the "advanced" programs set forth by the book, which was based on how many push-ups I could do prior to beginning the program (I believe I did 50 before crapping out). Without going into the minutiae of my personal journey (after all you need to read the book to see for yourself), let me say that the hardest part of obtaining the goal of reaching 100 push-ups in 7 weeks was stopping at the numbers given by the book! It was so incredibly simple to understand and follow that I truly believe that even some who claims to have no upper body strength would be able to complete the programs (from beginner to advanced) with no problem at all.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of my favorite parts of the book; the little snippets of push-up trivia, scattered throughout the pages. They give you a sense of not only how long push-ups have been around, but how they have had a positive impact for so long.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I think that any person, young or old, male or female would have a great time reading and using the programs in "7 Weeks to 100 Push-ups" and would have a healthier, happier and better toned life for it.

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Well I hope I'm just mistaken somehow but I find the kindle version of this book essentially immpossible to read. The text is fine but the workouts in the book appear as tables and when trying to read them they are unbelievably small. I tried to increase the font size but that has no effect on the tables. So if I'm wrong I'll change my review, but if not I'm rethinking kindle for books with any form of tabular information.

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The Speed Bag Bible

The speedbag has always been the most technically baffling devices for boxing for me. I could never figure out how to hit the bag, the timing, and how to control it. But after reading this book, I have alot more confidence in my speedbag training. Alan definitely breaks down the do's and dont's to speedbag training right down from equipment to proper punching technique. He gives little tips on the advantages/disadvantes of wall speedbag platforms and freestanding platforms, s-hook/chain link swivels, speedbag covers, etc. He also deals quite a bit on proper safety and common injuries associated with speed bag training. Definitely answers alot of questions for those wanting to buy their first speedbag set. In his techniques section, he goes over all the basic punch/elbow combinations, their rhythms, and how to flow from one technique to the next. Let me tell you, the first four chapters deal mostly with basics but the later chapters are filled with different punch combinations that everyone from beginner to advanced people will be challenged. And he really does create an interesting technique of blending music like reading to his speedbag sets. At first it might seem daunting, but if you really do spend time in his techniques section, which he recommends, you'll be able to read and follow his routines like second nature. Near the end of his book, he'll also include some applications for the martial artist as well as setups on different workout devices like a stationary bike to include speedbag training. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it as a must buy for the basic boxing fan to the regular fitness enthusiast.

Alan Kahn was a drummer, as in musician, and he has figured out a way to write speed-bag-hitting techniques in something akin to musical notation -but infinitely simpler! For example, FCP means "front circle punch." And he lays out the combinations with easy to follow notations like FCP, FSP....and takes the speed bag out of boxing-only applications and puts it into the realm of rhythm eye-hand coordination mastery. And by implication makes it relevant to everything from swinging a golf club to hitting a tennis ball. No, he does not mention these things per se, but the implication is that master the mind and the rhythm and relax and you'll learn the secret of excelling at sports because all sports are played in the head. And working out with the bag is simply great fun. One of the best how-to books I've ever used.

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I read the book and bought the video, the video is very effective at demonstrating the various techniques, but I couldn't take the video to the gym, so I used the book at the gym and studied the video at home. I recommend the video

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I bought the book and the DVD and I am thoroughly impressed with the level of detail Alan goes to in both. Anyone who has seen a demo of Alan hitting the speed bag knows he is exceptional at this skill, but what became clear to me after reading the book and watching the DVD is that he is equally skilled at teaching novices how to master the techniques and nuances of the speed bag.

I would recommend that you buy both book and DVD, as they support one another quite effectively. Watching the DVD took the mystery out of several techniques that I had been struggling with for a long time. I can honestly say that after watching the DVD once, my skill level at a couple of the more difficult techniques improved greatly.

One of the best benefits of buying this training course is that you can ask Alan questions on a forum he set up specifically for speed bag enthusiasts;

speedbagforum.com

Alan and others will answer all of your questions and I learned a lot simply by reading the older threads that contained many of the same questions or discussed some of the same problems I was having.

I think the combination of the book, DVD and the coaching you can get on the forum is superb and I commend all three to anyone who desires to become a highly skilled user of the speed bag.

Semper Fi,

Mike

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Now this is the way that any book proclaiming to the "Bible" on any subject should be written. This book is literally the definitive book to have concerning the subject of the speed bag.

I initially picked up this book a bit reluctantly simply because of the title. However, I relented and picked it up, and I am sure glad that I did. This book is simply the best book I have ever seen on the use of the speed bag. It is very well written and the layout for this book is superb. The only small drawback was the photographs, which were a bit blurry and quite dark for the most part, but don't let this small factor even enter into your decision to buy this book. The unique "code" (for lack of a better term) that the author uses to relay the striking sequences on the speed bag is very well done, and like a previous reviewer mentioned, it is like a series of musical notes, only easier to read and understand.

The author even included a small section on how to use kicks on the speed bag, and as an individual who likes kicking, I found this to be an added bonus.

If you are looking to improve your skills on the speed bag, then this is the book that you need to own. I can not recommend this book highly enough!

I would also highly recommend that you pick up this book as well.

Championship Fighting Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense

Shawn Kovacich

Martial Artist/Creator of numerous books and DVD's.

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When Your Loved One Has Dementia: A Simple Guide for Caregivers

When caring for a loved one with dementia at home, there is little time for reading; this book was a quick read offering good insights to basic care.

Good resources were also offered.

Any who care for Alzheimer sufferers or those with other dementias know the challenges involved: eighty percent of people with dementia live at home, and family members often find themselves challenged by unfamiliar demands and new routines. When Your Loved One Has Dementia: A Simple Guide For Caregivers reviews all kinds of challenges, from safety in handling and caring for sufferers and communication challenges to understanding levels of impairment, daily life, and more. An excellent starting point for those with questions.

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Even though this book may seem simple at first glance, it is loaded with advice that any caregiver can use. It covers the necessary basics that any caregiver must know about such as:communication, safety, and meaningful activities you can do together.

by Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby: Meaningful, Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones, and Involved Professionals

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This was suggested to me by a friend who is a psychiatric nurse when I asked if there was a book or two she could recommend that would give me more information about vascular dementia. It gives a lot of suggestions for things to do to assist people with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia; but, it didn't really answer the questions I have about what happens and why.

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I am half way through this book and can already say that it is a great resource.

If you are starting down this road with a family member or friend get this book as soon as possible. It may take a few bumps out of the road for you.

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The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice

No introduction is needed for the author (son of famous yogacharya Sri T Krishnamacharya). I got interested in yoga after reading his series of articles in Indian magazines in late 1980s. First of all, this book is not an explanation of yoga poses (I recommend Light on Yoga for that). I first bought the book thinking its another book about yoga poses. But I was wrong. This book is exactly what the title says how to develop a personal practice. The emphasise of the book is for the practitioner to observe himself/herself and see how he/she can augment the benefits of the poses. This is an invaluable and a very important step in learning yoga.

Now, everytime I read it I find it throws more light on understanding yoga. I used to do yogic poses mechanically, but now I have a different perspective. The book really makes you think about an asana and how to improve yourself to benefit from it (the term for this is viniyoga). The emphasis is on gradually learning and enjoying each pose instead of hurrying to accomplish some asana. There are several tips for maximizing the benefits of asanas for eg counterposes, developing breathing techniques by observing oneself etc. The explanation is lucid, the writing is so simple and effective. Several common questions are answered in Q&A format which is very helpful.

The second part of the book contains Patanjali's yoga sutras in Sanskrit and followed by explanations in English. (Yoga sutras are the foundations of yogas in other words the heart of yoga). The explanations are very simple and easy to understand.

I own a lot of books on yoga and this is one of my favorite introductions. What makes it particularly valuable is that it explains how to construct a practice. This allows the reader to intelligently use other resources and link his or her yoga practice to overaching physical, psychological and spiritual principles.

I also found this volume to be well balanced. It covered a lot of ground and had a broad scope, but it was not overwhelming in any way. It really did a great job of covering the essentials of yoga philosophy, principles of joining breath with movement, connecting poses and varying poses.

The book also contains a good introduction to pranayama and presents the basics of the bandhas. The material on the mental and moral application of yoga are also well done, but not over done. I also liked that the book included a pronunciation guide for Sanskrit and 60 pages of a translation of parts of the yoga sutras of Patanjali with insightful commentary.

If you are looking for a book that explains how to do particular asanas, then this isn't your best choice although it does include a short section on Four General Practice Sequences.

This book does NOT provide detailed instruction on how to perform particular asanas. For this, you might try 30 Essential Yoga Poses by Judith Lasater, Dancing the Body of Light by Dona Holleman (a must have) or Back Care Basics by Mary Pullig Schatz M.D. (don't let the title full you, it's a great general introduction to yoga, especially for people starting later in life).

The Heart of Yoga will compliment any of the books above, which are not nearly as strong with respect to how to construct a yoga practice on your own.

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I am dismayed that so many members think of yoga as part of a new age mentality that is the antithesis of religion or an alternative to any faith. "The Heart of Yoga" by Desikachar does much to dispel this myth. Yoga is not a religion, although for the vast part of its existence has been practiced by people who have adhered to Hinduism. Yoga is a comprehensive approach to mental and physical health, which may fall under the rubric of alternative health systems, but as it has existed for millennia, there is nothing "new" about its age.

Desikachar's book discusses the history of yoga and its practicality for today. A copy of Patanjali's "Yoga Sutra" is included in the appendix of the book. The Yoga Sutra is a collection of inspirational maxims for how to approach life. In some of their writing they acknowledge one's connection to a divine entity, or a concept greater than our selves, but it never defines this entity or commands any sort of conceptualization for what many would refer to as God.

Yoga is more than just a series of poses, which have gained popularity as an exercise fad. It is a philosophy that commands the respect of life and recommends dietary practices to purges the body of yama, which we could be referred to as toxins; the accumulation of which make a person prone to disease and mental anxiety. Poses also have therapeutic benefits in that they release hormones and antibodies in addition to toxins, by compressing, stretching, and releasing various glands and muscles of the body. Desikachar writes about the history of experienced yoga teachers, who did not design one series of yoga poses for every one, but looked at the needs of particular individuals and assigned poses based on their needs; such as did the person have trouble sleeping, digesting food, or a physical ailment that needed to be addressed. He offers suggestions for poses that can help address common maladies, as well as a series of poses that address the mot popular affliction that people from the modern world suffer.

The book also spends much time on teaching the reader on how the physical practice can be spiritual; that one's approach or aversion to a particular pose may reflect a person's approach to challenges in life. One finishes the book learning how to make meditation out of movement; a practice which increase perception of ourselves and our environment.

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This book is a great starting point for an understanding of yoga and what it really is.

Yoga is more then just poses to get skinny. Yoga is a way to make you happier, healthy, and strong.

If you start yoga in a class at a gym you will not learn as much as you could if read his book. Most yoga in the US is the non threatining version. An ex-aerobics instructor who took 20 hours of yoga teaching classes is not fit to teach the real yoga.

This book is not trying to change your religion. Hindus are not expected to do yoga. Any god of your choice (or no god) will do.

Yoga is a philosophy not a religion. This book gives you the why and the how. Holding poses is not yoga. You need this book to know why you do things in yoga. If you read this, your practice of yoga will be better and you will get 100 times more out of it.

Buy the book before you buy any other yoga book.

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Desikachar does and excellent job of providing an overview of yoga and adds enough depth to come away with some practical techniques. I read this book after having a fair amount of yoga experience and it really solidified my sense of direction. I would also highly recommend it for someone new to yoga because they will get a good sense of the more complete traditional yoga. It provides a context of understanding about the true goal of yoga which is not just a glorified body.

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7 Minute Rotator Cuff Solution

This book was written by a chiropractor over 22 years ago. ALL copies of this book being re-sold are 1st editions, and thus contain info from the late 80's. If any new info is added, then its called a 2nd edition, which there aren't any (there are no 2005 editions). Thus, this is not a good choice if one is looking for the latest rotator cuff program because medical information is constantly changing all the time as new studies are done. Case in point, this book does not include the sidelying abduction exercise which has been recently found to be one of the safest and most effective exercises for the supraspinatus muscle, the most frequently torn cuff muscle. The sidelying abd. exercise does not grind your cuff tendons down further and cause more damage like some of the older exercises once taught like the "empty-can" exercise. Also. we now know that you really only need a few targeted exercises to rehabilitate the rotator cuff, and in fact doing too many can actually hurt you in the long run and cause you more trouble down the road.

Now the book does cover some basic anatomy and function of the rotator cuff, so that's good. Also, be aware that as you progress through the many levels in the various routines, the number of exercises greatly increases (level 9 has a whopping 8 exercises for your cuff), so you're certainly going to be spending a lot more than a mere "7 minutes" doing exercises (obviously a marketing gimmick).

Additionally, these exercises involve either dumbells or a pulley system, so you've got to have access to that equipment and some of the exercises even require you to have someone help you. Readers might also want to check out Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff too the exercises are much more in line with the current research, take much less time to do, and help many other types of shoulder problems you might have as well.

I had a nagging shoulder problem that got so bad I could barely lift my arms past horizontal. I've been working out for years, but one very, very rough weekend sports outing trashed both shoulders to where I couldn't work out at all. This book with it's simple exercises totally cured my problem. Now I just incorporate them into the end of my shoulder workout and VOILA !!! Pain and injury free for 4 years now and my workouts are better than ever. The technical explanation is superb. The best money I ever spent. Better than any help I ever got from physical trainers and doctors for the same problem.

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Thought I would learn something. I have tried all these exercises before and they provided little releif. Some good info but you can google more stuff for free

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This book has literally saved me thousands from un-necessary shoulder arthroscopic surgery. I read the book, did the rehab exercises, and more importantly QUIT doing the exercises that were CAUSING MY SHOULDER problems! This book was a lifesaver and a great deal for the price...Easy to read, well written and fully illustrated. Has plenty of tables and descriptions of the routines for Rehab, Strengthening and Building up the shoulder girdle. I used the exercises to build up my rear delts and have been pain free for years this is after I couldn't even SLEEP, due to the pain in my R/C!! I even shared it with (2) other friends who had the same types of shoulder impingement pain, and they reported the same 'miracle' results (although I had to force my last friend to give me the book back, as he liked it so much...). Highly recommend this to anyone who suffers from shoulder pain, before they do any invasive techniques-it may save you like it did me!

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Some of this is a bit bogged down in details, but generally offered some good exercise routines for rehab of rotator cuff. The trick is to keep up with the exercises and pay attention to the correct technique if you want to see improvement.

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