We live in the age of fitness. Hundreds of thousands of people run marathons and millions go jogging in local parks, work out in gyms, cycle, swim, or practice yoga. The vast majority are not engaged in competitive sport and are not trying to win any medals. They just want to get fit. Why this modern preoccupation with fitness? In this new book, Jürgen Martschukat traces the roots of our modern preoccupation with fitness back to the birth of modern societies in the eighteenth century, showing how the idea of fitness was interwoven with modernity’s emphasis on perpetual optimization and renewal. But it is only in the period since the 1970s, he argues, that the age of fitness truly emerged, as part and parcel of our contemporary neoliberal era. Neoliberalism enjoins individuals to work on themselves, to cultivate themselves in body and mind. Fitness becomes a guiding principle of social life, an era-defining network of discourses and practices that shape individuals’ actions and self-conceptions. The pursuit of fitness becomes a cultural repertoire that is deeply ingrained in our institutions and way of life. This wide-ranging book shows how deeply fitness is inscribed in modern societies, and how important fitness has become to success or failure, recognition or exclusion, in a society that sets great store by self-responsibility, performance, market, and competition. It will be of great value not only to those interested in sport and fitness, but also to anyone concerned with the conditions of success and failure in our societies today.

"[Fit at Mid-Life] reinforces the message that fitness can and should be for everyone, no matter their age, size, gender, or ability." ––SELF What if you could be fitter now than you were in your twenties? And what if you could achieve it while feeling more comfortable and confident in your body? In Fit at Mid-Life, bloggers and philosophy professors Samantha Brennan and Tracy Isaacs share the story of how they got the fittest they'd ever been by age 50––and how you can, too. Their approach to fitness is new and different—it champions strength, health, and personal accomplishment over weight loss and aesthetics––and explores the many challenges, questions, and issues women face when seeking fitness in their forties, fifties, and beyond. Drawing from the latest research, Brennan and Isaac deliver a wealth of concrete advice on everything from how to keep bones strong to what types of fitness activities give the biggest returns. Taking a feminist perspective, they also challenge society’s default whats, whys, and hows of every aspect of getting fit to show how women can best take charge of their health—no matter what their shape, size, age, or ability. "Fit at Mid-Life combines personal stories with scientific evidence, feminist reflections and how-to advice for both women and men who don’t want fitness to fade away in their middle years."––The Toronto Star

The Science of Fitness: Power, Performance, and Endurance clearly explains the vital connection between diet and exercise in the human body. With this knowledge, you can use the right exercise and nutrition to obtain a higher quality life, prevent disease, and slow the aging process. Authored in a straightforward style and with color images throughout, this book explores the cellular science behind fitness, protein synthesis, and healthy living. With it you will learn the most recent and important discoveries in the relationships between physical fitness, nutrition, weight loss, and weight management. It provides key information on the body's mitochondrial processes and their role in aging, along with well-informed discussions on general nutrition, sports nutrition, exercise physiology, how to enhance athletic performance, and how exercise strengthens the mind. Whether you are interested in how to eat healthy, train for your first (or next) marathon, take your fitness to the next level, find the best super foods, or simply want to improve your vitality through healthy, doable practices, this book will help you on your journey regardless of age or fitness level. - Presents the connection between exercise, nutrition, and physiology in a way that is ideal for both experienced athletes and newcomers - Provides the scientific basis for mitochondrial functions and their relationship to fitness, protein synthesis, quality of life, and the aging process - Synthesizes the latest research on nutrition, sports nutrition, super foods, and the brain/body connection - Co-Authored by legendary cyclist Greg LeMond, who illustrates key points using his own athletic journey

With Fitness After 40, regain the energy and physique of a teenager in no time. Your body is getting older, those stairs are looking steeper, and your bones are cracking louder. The unavoidable fact is that your body is aging. However, that doesn’t have to impact your fitness level. Forget how many candles were on your last birthday cake--if you exercise smarter, you can remain youthful, energetic, and strong. As an academic orthopedic surgeon and internationally recognized authority on active aging and mobility, Dr. Vonda Wright has created a unique medical program designed to target the fitness and performance needs of mature athletes. In this invaluable resource, Wright reveals how anyone can use flexibility, aerobic exercise, and strength training to maximize the benefits of their fitness regime. You will learn how to: Understand your body, and approach exercise in a new way Maximize your fitness while minimizing injury Gain flexibility--no matter your age Benefit from aerobic exercise Build strength through resistance training Improve balance Fitness After 40 for all maturing adults includes “20 Minutes to Burn” workouts, a six-week total-body plan, and the latest information on nutrition, injury prevention, joint preservation, and the mind/body connection for all maturing adults.

A question I frequently hear asked is "Why do men over the age of 40 struggle to lose weight?" And it is a fair question. That was about the time in my life when I had to start watching my weight. Now that I'm 65, it isn't getting any easier either as the years tick by. But with a lot of work, it is doable to keep your weight down and fitness level up. The chapters in this book show you how. If you're a male in your forties or older, you definitely know the struggle is real. It doesn't matter if you were an athlete back in college or even a soldier back in the day as I was for 36 years ... you will notice changes in your body. You'll find it easier to gain weight and more difficult to lose it. If you do workout, you'll find it more difficult to do the same things you used to do with ease. The weights will seem heavier. Your stamina will have dropped. You'll feel less energetic and driven. The only consolation here is that whatever you may be feeling is very normal. It's part and parcel of aging. Let's look at why a man has a tougher time losing weight once he crosses forty. In this book I'll show you what foods you should be eating and the exercise schedule you need to get and stay in shape as you continue through your middle age and into your senior years. It is possible to get in shape or stay in shape as you continue to age.

The book tells the story of how we never evolved to exercise - to do voluntary physical activity for the sake of health. Using his own research and experiences throughout the world, the author recounts how and why humans evolved to walk, run, dig, and do other necessary and rewarding physical activities while avoiding needless exertion. Drawing on insights from biology and anthropology, the author suggests how we can make exercise more enjoyable, rather that shaming and blaming people for avoiding it

Drawing on new research in sports medicine, nutrition, and fitness, this book offers a training program to help any climber achieve superior performance and better mental concentration on the rock, with less risk of injury.

If you think aging is a passive endeavor, you are wrong. We don't stop using our bodies to propel us through our daily lives because we've reached a certain age. We become sedentary at our own peril. Instead of becoming weak, learn how to stay strong. Instead of risking a fall, learn how to be stable. It only takes three hours per week to build muscle, improve balance and stability, and slow bone loss. And resistance training offers even more benefits, such as a lowered risk of a heart attack or stroke. Train to Age is about more than cardio and resistance training. It's about all the things you want to do with the last third of your life. You can passively walk through the process of aging, allowing its degradations to take away your strength and eventually your independence-or you can Train to Age and live your best life well into your eighties!

Fitness Memoir Paperback edition