A captivating blend of reportage and personal narrative that explores the untold history of women’s exercise culture--from jogging and Jazzercise to Jane Fonda--and how women have parlayed physical strength into other forms of power. For American women today, working out is as accepted as it is expected, fueling a multibillion-dollar fitness industrial complex. But it wasn’t always this way. For much of the twentieth century, sweating was considered unladylike and girls grew up believing physical exertion would cause their uterus to literally fall out. It was only in the sixties that, thanks to a few forward-thinking fitness pioneers, women began to move en masse. In Let's Get Physical, journalist Danielle Friedman reveals the fascinating hidden history of contemporary women’s fitness culture, chronicling in vivid, cinematic prose how exercise evolved from a beauty tool pitched almost exclusively as a way to “reduce” into one millions have harnessed as a path to mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Let’s Get Physical reclaims these forgotten origin stories—and shines a spotlight on the trailblazers who led the way. Each chapter uncovers the birth of a fitness movement that laid the foundation for working out today: the radical post-war pitch for women to break a sweat in their living rooms, the invention of barre in the “Swinging Sixties,” the promise of jogging as liberation in the seventies, the meteoric rise of aerobics and weight-training in the eighties, the explosion of yoga in the nineties, and the ongoing push for a more socially inclusive fitness culture—one that celebrates every body. Ultimately, it tells the story of how women discovered the joy of physical strength and competence—and how, by moving together to transform fitness from a privilege into a right, we can create a more powerful sisterhood.

Women and Exercise is an invluable resource for all physicians, from general practitioners to specialists seeking information outside their specialty, who need up-to-date information and expert advice about women and exercise.

With 32 more exercises tailored to women. "A fantastic resource... which can be used by any woman interested in improving her health and physique... The book's ease of use, colorful pictures, and most importantly, the anatomical illustrations, help set this book apart from other similar exercise books. This book would be a great addition to any public library or academic library with a kinesiology program." --American Reference Books Annual, on the first edition Women have been joining gyms and running clubs, hiring personal trainers, attending boot camps and entering marathons -- where they now outnumber men -- and participating in all variety of fitness activities in record numbers. They are taking disease prevention seriously by working to ward off the onset of diseases and conditions such as depression, heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia and breast cancer. Anatomy of Exercise for Women provides women of all ages with exercise programs that will bring great benefits in physical fitness, psychological well-being and meeting the challenges of daily life. Like all of the books in the series, this title has: Detailed, full-color anatomical illustrations for all the exercises Annotations identifying the active and stabilizing muscles Concise how-to instructions for each exercise Identification of the specific muscles that benefit the most from each exercise Suggested modifications for different levels of difficulty A glossary of anatomical terms. Exercises are presented individually and then also in pre-designed workouts that let women focus on what they want most to improve: Leaner Legs, Thighs and Glutes; Arm Toner; Core Strength and Stability; All-Over Toner; and Working the Waistline. The Beginner's and Back to Basics Workouts are excellent overall programs. Stretching exercises help to alleviate stress and fatigue, improve posture and increase flexibility. The "Anatomy of..." series has revolutionized how people can approach their fitness needs. More than 500,000 copies of the series have sold. The books are ideal references for beginning exercisers and amateur athletes, elite competitors, trainers, physiotherapists, coaches, sport injury clinics, yoga, Pilates and fitness instructors, team doctors and specialist professionals.

It is well-established, through extensive peer-reviewed published research, that physical activity and exercise training can impact the reproductive endocrine system of women. This ground-breaking, comprehensive title presents a range of unique insights into the opposite question: how the reproductive endocrine system of women affects their exercise ability. More precisely, the thematic question explored in this work is: if exercise affects reproductive hormones, conversely then could the reproductive hormones have physiological effects unrelated to reproduction that influence the capacity of women to exercise? In exploring this question, the goal is to better understand the unique physiology of women and whether female sex hormones might account for some of the variance in physiological performance between amenorrheic and eumenorrheic women, and within women across the age span as they experience menarche to menopause. Sex Hormones, Exercise and Women: Scientific and Clinical Aspects synthesizes the research by exploring the physiology and psychology behind these occurrences. This novel title will not only be of interest to researchers, exercise scientists, graduate students, and clinicians; it will also serve as a source of valuable information for female athletes and their trainers in the context of preparing for competitions.

Exercise, Nutrition and the Older Woman: Wellness for Women Over Fifty is a comprehensive guide to the major wellness issues for women over fifty. The author is a physician who explores diet, exercise and lifestyle choices from a medical perspective. The book assists in the design and implementation of programs to optimize good health and quality o

"Muscle & Fitness Hers" magazine has provided a program of rapid-fire core workouts for those seeking to "get moving" on a weight-training fitness program or for those who wish to expand, freshen-up, and enhance their workout regimen. There are 101 photo-illustrated workouts that allow enthusiasts the opportunity to glance at the photo during a workout to check their faithful following of the routine. Whether a novice or an experienced weight trainer, the chapters offer different programs for levels of progress as well as a guide to designing personalized workout systems. Moreover, fitness and well-being are considered with a presentation on cardio primer and a feature on basic fitness nutrition as well. "101 Workouts For Women" provides a complete one-stop get-fit package for fitness enthusiasts.

This empowering exercise guide is big on attitude, giving plus-size women the motivation and information they need to move their bodies and improve their health. Hanne Blank, proud fat girl and personal trainer, understands the physical and emotional roadblocks that overweight women face in the word of exercise. In this one-of-a-kind guide that combines exercise advice with a refusal to fat-bash, Hanne shows readers how to choose workout options from WiiFit to extreme sports, avoid common sports injuries, get proper nutrition, source plus-size work out gear, and more.

“Dr. Sims realizes that female athletes are different than male athletes and you can’t set your race schedule around your monthly cycle. ROAR will help every athlete understand what is happening to her body and what the best nutritional strategy is to perform at her very best.”—Evie Stevens, Olympian, professional road cyclist, and current women’s UCI Hour record holder Women are not small men. Stop eating and training like one. Because most nutrition products and training plans are designed for men, it’s no wonder that so many female athletes struggle to reach their full potential. ROAR is a comprehensive, physiology-based nutrition and training guide specifically designed for active women. This book teaches you everything you need to know to adapt your nutrition, hydration, and training to your unique physiology so you can work with, rather than against, your female physiology. Exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist Stacy T. Sims, PhD, shows you how to be your own biohacker to achieve optimum athletic performance. Complete with goal-specific meal plans and nutrient-packed recipes to optimize body composition, ROAR contains personalized nutrition advice for all stages of training and recovery. Customizable meal plans and strengthening exercises come together in a comprehensive plan to build a rock-solid fitness foundation as you build lean muscle where you need it most, strengthen bone, and boost power and endurance. Because women’s physiology changes over time, entire chapters are devoted to staying strong and active through pregnancy and menopause. No matter what your sport is—running, cycling, field sports, triathlons—this book will empower you with the nutrition and fitness knowledge you need to be in the healthiest, fittest, strongest shape of your life.

Your starter guide to greater strength You deserve to feel powerful, both inside and out. And no matter your age or fitness level, Weight Training for Women is your guide to building strength with free weights. Jumping into a new lifting routine can seem intimidating, but this body-positive book on strength training for women does the heavy lifting for you (pun intended), by walking you through the basics of developing a weightlifting program that helps you get stronger and healthier on your own terms. Whether you're at home or at the gym, this book features step-by-step instructions and illustrations for dozens of weight training exercises so you can build total-body strength. Plus, with advice on proper nutrition, gym etiquette, pre- and post-workout best practices, and beyond, you'll have everything you need to maintain a life of lifting. Weight Training for Women includes: Strength of all sorts—Weight training can also aid in preventing injuries, increasing bone density, improving cardiovascular health, and even boosting your mental and emotional well-being. Helpful training tips—Every exercise includes tips for executing the movement safely, for adjusting the intensity, or for modifying if you have limited access to equipment. Design your workouts—Learn how to build your own weight training programs, how to effectively and safely schedule your week of workouts, and more. This is your complete, user-friendly reference for building wellness with weight training.