I have been  reading Lou Schuler’s new book, called “The New Rules of Lifting for

Women–Lift Like a Man!” I like it. I recommend it, for those who have

already completed a challenge. There is absolutely nothing in the book,

save for a few different exercise illustrations, that a woman would

need to complete her transformation successfully. What it really does

do, though, is to provide the hard information and the compelling

arguments for why women have been selling themselves short by not

training hard with weights. Unlike Body for Life, Schuler really

supports the premises that you don’t need more cardio–you need more

good food, and more strength training, along with what cardio you do

being intense.

Other features of the book include lots of exercise suggestions using

just plain old calisthenics or a fitness ball. These are not wimpy at

all and they would be useful to folks who travel a lot or don’t have

room for a home gym or money enough to join one. There are also lots of

illustrations using machines, something that Body for Life for the most

part stays away from.

There are some recipes that look good to me–but what do I know about

good eating? Have you ever seen my champion’s meal plan? One person

suggested that if I ever wrote a book about my experience, the chapter

on Nutrition should be called “Yuck!” One thing about the recipes

furnished by Cassandra Cosgroves is that they are portioned for women,

and they also include detailed nutritional information.

The book contains lots of features similar to the Body for Life book,

but I think it is a bit better organized, much more technical, and it

has a reasonably good index, something that the BFL book totally lacks!

One last thing. The book takes a couple of shots at Body for Life for

Women, and justifiably so I think. This book empowers women, and it

gives excellent information.

I gave it a B+. I’m keeping this book in my library. I sent Body for

Life for WOmen to someone who lived too far away to ever return it! I

have not missed it a bit.  You can buy this one at Amazon for well

under $20 and it is in hard cover. It is not, however, very suitable

for dragging to the gym. In that sense, it is much like Body for Life!

When will someone produce a book that has the exercises in a separate,

spiral binder, with a plasticized cover so you can take it to the gym?