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 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

A celebration of the amazing human machine and a life on the move! Your amazing body can jump, sprint, twist, and twirl. Your body is built to move. Lizzy Rockwell explains how your bones and muscles, heart and lungs, nerves and brain all work together to keep you on the go. Kids walk and skate and tumble through these pages with such exuberance that even sprouting couch potatoes will want to get up and bounce around—and that’s the ultimate goal. Studies show that American kids are becoming more sedentary and more overweight and that they carry these tendencies with them into adolescence and adulthood. Experts agree that we need to help kids make physical activity a life-long habit. Through education, information, and encouragement, this book aims to inspire a new generation of busy bodies!

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

Burn fat, build lean, sexy muscles, lose inches, and feel healthier, more energetic, and youthful than you ever have in your life…with a revolutionary new approach to resistance training. Tired of spending hours on the treadmill? Dealing with the joint paint of high impact exercise? And seeing very few results in terms of fat-burning and weight loss? If so, it’s time to join the revolution. Brought to you by Sal Di Stefano, the founder of the mega popular Mind Pump podcast, The Resistance Training Revolution reveals how resistance training is the best form of exercise to burn fat, boost metabolism, and achieve health benefits you cannot obtain from other forms of exercise. Di Stefano breaks down fitness misconceptions, shares his decades of industry knowledge, and brings you a comprehensive, accessible guidebook that will give you the body you’ve always wanted—in as little as 60 minutes a week. This book features: Over 60 fat-burning, metabolism-boosting workouts you can do at home to sculpt your body and maximize your health and longevity Raw fitness truths that will show you what works and what doesn’t. You’ll be shocked at how easy it is to build lean muscle and lose fat once you understand these truths, and once you train your body the right way The newly discovered health benefits of resistance training in terms of heart health, bone strength, joint protection, and especially antiaging The exact formula for nutrition that makes losing fat, while sculpting your body a breeze and for the long term. Dozens of self-assessments to track your progress, and much more The Resistance Training Revolution also reveals how to optimize your workout time following Mind Pump’s Muscular Adaptation Programming System (MAPS)—a system that ensures that you keep making progress without the frustrating plateaus. Isn’t it time you joined the revolution?

The author, now seventy-three, clears up misconceptions about aging and fitness, demonstrates a body maintenance program, and offers advice on walking, jogging, weight training, aerobics, and nutrition

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.