Girl's Guide to Fitting in Fitness

by Erin Whitehead, Jennipher Walters

Overview

Whether you’re the MVP of your basketball team, an occasional jogger, or a self-acknowledged couch potato, A Girl's Guide to Fitting in Fitness has practical advice that you can really use. The book shows how easy it is to wake up earlier and sharper (using yoga and relaxation techniques), eat healthier foods, and use the little in-between moments of your day—like the commute to school, or the time between classes—to incorporate a little bit of physical activity that will make a big difference. Fitting in Fitness is sure to help even the most devoted TV-addict lead a fitter, healthier, and happier life—without the need for a gym or fancy exercise equipment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936976300
Publisher:	Zest Books
Publication date:	03/26/2013
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.36(d)
Lexile:	1110L (what's this?)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Erin Whitehead has a journalism degree from the University of Kansas. She and Jennipher Walters cofounded FitBottomedGirls.com and FitBottomedMamas.com.

Jennipher Walters is a personal trainer, lifestyle and weight management coach, and health and fitness specialist. She has written for online publications including Shape and Yahoo! Shine, and cofounded FitBottomedGirls.com and FitBottomedMamas.com with Erin Whitehead.

Editorial Reviews

"This informative guide aims for a whole-health perspective when it comes to fitness, focusing on nutrition, school sports, and providing flexible workouts for many different lifestyles. Readers are given a thorough overview of the components of a balanced fitness routine, including cardio, strength training, warm-ups, and cooldowns. When PE isn't available, or on weekends and school breaks, options for staying healthy include phone apps, Wii workouts, and making the most of physical summer jobs. There's a group fitness decoder for classes girls might encounter if they join a gym. Riddled throughout the text are tips and tricks from real girls who have managed to make time for exercise and proper nutrition. Girls who want to make the most of their gym class are told, 'GO for it and don't be afraid to look a little silly.' It's a pleasant reminder that physical activity is supposed to be fun. From start to finish, this guide is a useful, well-researched resource for any young woman looking to figure out a regimen that works for her."—Booklist

From the Publisher

Anyone following current events is aware of the obesity epidemic facing our nation. Add to this the constant barrage of skinny models and actresses, it's no wonder girls today have body issues. The authors of this book hope to give a balanced vision of health that includes good nutrition, proper exercise and a positive attitude. The advice they give is practical, especially considering teenagers do not have control over grocery shopping or transportation. Examples of exercises require no equipment, and recommended foods would be easy to find and easy to convince parents to buy. An entire chapter is devoted to fitness at school, encouraging girls to take extra PE classes and wear a pedometer to monitor how many steps taken during the school day. They even offer tips on how best to navigate the school lunch menu (although the advice might still be hard to follow in some cafeterias). Throughout the book, the idea of a positive attitude and self-image reappears often. For example, girls are encouraged to keep track of how they feel during a workout so they can see progress without having to look at a scale. The illustrations support this by using drawings of healthy girls rather than photos of a real person girls might compare themselves to. This is a well-written and practical guide to fitness for girls in middle and high school. Reviewer: Heather Robertson Mason

Children's Literature - Heather Robertson Mason

Emphasizing a moderate approach to physical activity and balanced eating, this fitness guide for teen girls will be most useful to those who are already motivated. Easy-to-read chapters offer advice on topics such as the benefits of healthy habits, fitting activity into the regular school and weekend day, and stress relief. Sample workouts offer simple, illustrated instructions that often require little or no equipment. Likewise, tips about healthy meals suggest foods that can be eaten raw or prepared with a minimum of fuss. Beyond the basics, there is concise information offered about subjects that include organic produce, eating disorders and High Intensity Interval Training. Yet the distinctly positive tone of the guide does not always work. The authors' suggestion that a good attitude is one of the most important elements to fitness is likely true, but it's hard to imagine many teens suddenly being won over by the insistence that gym class can be fun. It's also unlikely they will thrill to some of the more didactic maxims offered here: "By being committed to making yourself the best you can be, you'll find that getting fit is empowering--not dreadful." Concluding with an annotated list of online resources and an index, this guide will be a boon for teen fitness buffs, if not couch potatoes. (Nonfiction. 12 & up)

Kirkus Reviews