“The New Rules of Lifting for Women” preaches to the Choir!
by: Michael Harris  2/1/2008

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?

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?