Welcome to Fitness Monday. We are starting this series back up, after it petered out last year. And I am starting back up exercising after taking several months off. I have several events coming up that I need to be training for (I actually need to have been training for), so I'm working on my fitness. And I really like books, so I have a lot that I have read & I'm always looking for more. I'm providing links to Powell's descriptions, but I always use the library first. If your local public library doesn't have a book you want, ask about inter-library loan. Even if there is a fee involved, it is bound to be less than buying the book. But if you buy online, check out Powell's, they are way cool.
So, let's start at the beginning. I like the "... For Dummies" series. They alsway give the basics in a clear, down-to-earth manner. Here are Powell's links for several: Weight Training for Dummies http://www.powells.com/... - although you really should read plf515's ecxellent diary on this subject, here: http://www.dailykos.com/...
Fitness for Dummies: http://www.powells.com/...
Pilates for Dummies (I have been really interested in pilates, might try this book out myself): http://www.powells.com/...
Fitness Walking for Dummies - maybe if I had been better informed, I wouldn't have hurt my achilles tendon while fitness walking a couple of years back. http://www.powells.com/... And here's the Idiot's Guide to Running Injury Free: http://www.powells.com/...
And here's one for folks who have trouble fitting in their workout - Complete Idiot's Guide to Short Workouts http://www.powells.com/...
One of my favorite books is Slow Fat Triathlete by Jayne Williams. The reason I like it is her attitude. She is funny, and, as the title says, you don't have to be in fantastic shape to do a triathlon. Here's a Powell's link: http://www.powells.com/... I have done the Danskin Triathlon for several years, and Sally Edwards always comes to talk to our training group. She is such an inspiration - has done 16 Ironman triathlons, and now travels to all the Danskin tri's - she is always the last one, so you won't be. She is way, way cool. Last year I got autographed copy of her book, Triathlons for Women : http://www.powells.com/...
And here's an Idiot's Guide book for triathlon: http://www.powells.com/...
And as a cyclist, I always like Bicycling magazine's books. Here's a link to one - Bicycling Magazine's 900 All-Time Best Tips http://www.powells.com/...
So, that's a bunch of books that I have either read, or I read others in the series. And here's a link to a description of a fiction book I found & read last year, with a female triathlete as the protagonist, Never Say Die: http://www.powells.com/... There is also a mystery series by Greg Moody, with a cyclist as the main character: http://www.powells.com/... If you know of other fiction with athletes or someone trying to get in shape, please let me know. I'm a reader, and I like to think that reading about what I'm doing helps me do better.
So - do books help you with your fitness? Are there books that you like? Let's talk fitness. And I have a poll again, just trying to nail down when is a good time. If this is to be a continuing series, we need hosts. Please go to the gmail account I set up - user name is FitnessMonday, pw is exercise. We need you, yes, you to sign up to host if this series is to continue
There are 2 other fitness diary series: Monday Night Healthy minds in healthy bodies here's a link to last week's diary: http://www.dailykos.com/... and a Get Fit Challenge on Saturday mornings by drbloodaxe: http://drbloodaxe.dailykos.com/... Also, there is a DK group at SparkPeople, and there was talk last week about forming one at the President's Fitness Challenge website: http://www.presidentschallenge.org. If you are lucky enough to have health insurance, check out their site, because they may have a health tracker that gives you points and prizes, like mine does.