The Men's Health Guide To Peak Conditioning by Richard Laliberte, Stephen C. George, The Editors of Men's Health (Paperback Edition): Bookhills.com

Part One: The Peak Lifestyle
Part Two: Achieving Peak Conditioning
Part Three: Achieving a Peak Body
Part Four: Workouts for Every Scenario
Part Five: Body Maintenance
Part Six: Getting Equipped

Part One: The Peak Lifestyle
This short 20 page section is really an introduction. Fitness is different for different men. How does one decide what kind of fitness he seeks? This part on the Peak Lifestyle gives pointers to deciding what level of fitness is desired, making goals, making time, basics for eating right, getting rest, and most important, GETTING STARTED!

Part Two: Achieving Peak Conditioning
The very first part of this section starts with weight lifting, because this is the basic core of how to build up a body for any fitness level, starting from the very basic, so experts might skip this. However, it is good at introducing the difference between free weights and machines, sets, reps, and what to aim for.

Next is aerobic exercise, an area of equal importance. That doesn't just mean running, but running is a great means to aerobic fitness. It lists the hits and misses for biking, running, walking, cross-country skiing, stair climbing, step aerobics, dance aerobics, and swimming.

The section goes on to talk about cross-training, flexibility, mental conditioning, and some basic movement ideas and tips. It includes pictures that show the right techniques and movement positions.

Part Three: Achieving a Peak Body
This and the next part are the real heart of the book. This section shows the exercises for each particular body area: Arms, Arm joints, Hands and Forearms, Shoulders and Neck, Chest, Abs, Back, Buttocks, Legs, Leg joints, Feet, and Bones. There are different numbers of exercises for each area, and different goals in mind. They are organised in different ways, but primarily by stretches versus strength. There are literally hundreds of different exercises and stretches explained here.

The section has pictures that show the proper way to do all the exercises, and descriptions in plain language. Many of these exercises require equipment; some are gym exercises, some are pool exercises, but most can be done from home.

Part Four: Workouts for Every Scenario
This section continues from the last one in setting up a core routine to follow and then making adjustment depending on goals. There are beginner and advanced routines, as well as one for shedding the fat. There is even a section on the Inactive Man, the Career Man (designed for a busy guy who doesn't have much time) and the Travelling Man.

The section continues with a sport by sport breakdown of what you should be doing. It has sections on each of the following sports: Bicycling, Running, Swimming, In-line skating, Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Raquet Sports, Skiing, Football, Soccer, Hockey, and Backcountry sports. There are also divisions for different decades of life, living in hot or cold climates, and designing programmes lasting different periods of time, all the way up to twelve months.

Part Five: Body Maintenance
This is a short section that discusses preventing and dealing with injuries, basic rehab and massage. There are ways for self massage discussed here, but don't discount a real massage. The section ends with a short piece on dealing with and recovering from disease. Should one work out with a cold or flu?

Part Six: Getting Equipped
This is about setting up a home gym. There are all sorts of options, and one doesn't have to spend a fortune to be well-equipped. The other option of course is a gym membership, but again remember, you get what you pay for and you pay even if you don't go. Other important topics include shoes, bikes, skis, canoes, kayaks, backpacks, fishing gear, skates, and other items that might play an important part in fitness.

The one thin part of this book is that it only devotes a few pages to nutrition. But then again, most men don't pay too much attention, alas.

The overall format of the book is a good one, with easy-to-read pages, good basic photography that is utilitarian and not glamour shots, and well suited for the purpose of the book. It comes with a fold-out poster to hang up in the workout area. This is a very good book, one I return to again and again.

Summary of The Men's Health Guide To Peak Conditioning

* Hundreds of exercises for head-to-toe strength and energy
* Conditioning programs for more than 40 lifestyles and interests
* Buyers' guides for home equipment, health clubs, workout gear
* Easy ways to integrate workouts into your busy day
* Sleep, nutrition and time-management tips for peak power

Achieve your perfect body!

Finally-- a workout book for your body, your lifestyle, your goals. The Men's Health Guide to Peak Conditioning is the first exercise book to let you put together a customized workout for exactly your needs. Play golf? Want a flatter belly? Got arthritis? Live in the country? Just turn 40? Rebounding from the flu? Have a job that leaves you without time or energy for exercise? No problem-- The Men's Health Guide to Peak Conditioning has workouts for each of these cases and dozens of others.

We start you with seven weight lifts, seven stretches and an aerobic program that cover the essential needs of most any man today. From there we show you how to customize a workout for:

* Shaping your body (page 126)
* Bicycling stronger, longer (page 176)
* Living in the city (page 257) or country (page 261)
* Ridding fat (page 134)
* Improving your golf game (page 210)
* Bolstering your immune system (page 304)
* Exercising while traveling (page 151)
* Squeezing in exercise at lunch (page 143)
* Improving your sexual performance (page 169)
And dozens more goals, lifestyles and preferences!

But The Men's Health Guide to Peak Conditioning doesn't just detail perfect workout routines. You'll also discover the definitive guide to integrating exercise into your busy life. Inside you'll find:

* How to carve out all the time you need for exercise (page 16)
* Surprising eating (page 9), sleeping (page 13) and attitude tips (page 19) for maximum
qlfitness
* Buyers' guides to gear (page 312), gyms (page 317), shoes (page 320)
* Proper-technique tips for stair-climbers, treadmills, stationary bicycles and all the most popular indoor aerobic equipment (page 40)
* How to give and get a perfect massage (page 299)

Written in the funny, conversational tine that has made Men's Health magazine the definitive voice of men today, and featuring more than 400 photos, The Men's Health Guide to Peak Conditioning is the ultimate tool for achieving health, strength and vitality.