It is 8:46 am on a Tuesday. I am lying down with my legs up in the air and sporting a pair of cataract sexy shades. No, I am not meeting the tail end of a night of clubbing to Gaga. I am on the receiving end of a painful cleaning of my teeth.
Twenty minutes earlier I told the hygienist what I did for a living. I often avoid these conversations because of what is about to occur. The hygienist breaks from cleaning to use the water (life) suckage device which always becomes lodged in the back of my throat. The very sight of it leaves me with thoughts of anaphylactic shock.
Before the attack she says to me “So what exercises can I do to shape up my thighs? I want to lose 5 pounds off of my thighs.”
Obviously I want to explain to her my vast knowledge of fat loss and the myths about spot reduction. Obviously I want to tell her about the benefits of various exercises and training while explaining to her the importance of diet. The problem is I am five seconds away from being attacked with various dentistry tools only to be left with a strange white powder on my face which I never understand how it gets there.
What could I possibly tell her in those five seconds? This isn’t even her, these are the hundreds of people I am going to come across in my life who will ask me what exercises hit (x) body part.
Now, thanks to Adam Campbell, I have the perfect guide for these questions. Thank you Adam. Thank you for making my life easier and providing me the five second answer I have been waiting for years to have.
I believe Adam Campbell’s Big Book Of Exercises will be the big hit over the coming year. It is a straight forward description of hundreds of exercises, warm ups, and routines. It provides easy to understand pictures, quick tips and points on movements and pre-made routines you can use to get started.
While the point of the book is exercises the routines give a nice understanding of how you can group exercises together to form a program. The list of routine designers is beyond impressive ranging from Alwyn Cosgrove to Bill Hartman.
I also make an appearance in the Women’s Health book for the Lose The Last 10 Pounds Workout.
Yes, I am bragging.
The difference between the Men’s and Women’s books are very small and mostly towards the routine tailoring. I do like the separation as it makes it very easy to pass out as a “his and hers” gift sets and is likely to be less intimidating to women. I myself bought 5 copies of each.
I highly recommend The Big Book of Exercises. You can pick them up at most local book stores or at Amazon.com (Men’s / Women’s)
(Affiliate Disclaimer: I did not/will not receive any money for any sales of the book. I am not using any affiliate link for this product or review. This is an unsolicited review and profit free.)
haha! that is so funny…as a trainer, my favorite line is “oh then you gotta get me shape” …like they have nothing do it with at all!
can’t wait to check out the book!
p.s. they should have put Kevin on the cover
Damn right with his sexy self
Leigh and Cassie I can also relate to this as a trainer. I often find myself stuck in a short conversation looking for a quick and useful answer. I didn’t even know this was coming out. I will be getting quite a few of these, thanks Leigh.
Ps – I wanted to add I appreciate you are willing to review things regardless of making a profit from them. I don’t have a problem with affiliate review but sometimes you can see right through it and it removes integrity. Keep up the great work. I just found you through a buddy trainer of mine who is a Fitcast/Ask Leigh fan. He said to tell you “What up?”
Thanks a lot Brian. It is rare I affiliate a product but I don’t have a problem with doing it as long as it is quality. If you wouldn’t mention something for free you better damn sure not mention it for the sake of money.
Oooh, now I want this even more! I was wondering if I should get the men’s but now I will just get the women’s.
I’ll eventually get both.
Seems like a great resource, as oppose to my usual searching multiple sites online.
Ooh! Thanks for the recommendation! I know there are a million routines online, but I’m an old fashioned paper gal, and prefer to have it all laid out in front of me.
Thanks for the exercise book info, good to know, Leigh. And I always enjoy your ‘true stories’ of your daily life adventures [even to the dentist]. You should have been a stand-up comic! Your too funny….
Could never happen, my hair is too cute.
I can’t wait to get mine – I ordered it as part of my Christmas!!!
Agree with Wendy, love the stories and how you tell them.
Have you jumped out at the “Deliverance” staring neighbor man yet??
Do tell!!!
Ha I haven’t run into him yet but I am ready and waiting.
I better get this book now, too. I have seen nothing but great reviews!
Sorry ’bout the dentist…not fun! I am fortunate enough to have never had a cavity! *knocks on wood*
Leigh- This is why should be wearing your t-shirt!!! lol
just point to the back and say check out my site! NUFF SAID!!!!
Although I do understand that it may create distractions for some as they may stare at your “boobege”! ( u like my made up word there? ) lol
Ha if you type in boobege in google now Shari you are a result (7 down).
I think you should submit it to Urban Dictionary.
Is there anywhere to find out what the differences there are? I noticed most of it is the same – is the women’s geared more towards fat loss and men’s toward building muscle?
Its virtually the same book with a few varying routines. Building muscle/Fat loss is basically the same thing, just adjust diet. You can see the listed routines on the amazon pages for each book in the description section.
I just got my book today. I love it! Great info, great exercise pics.
I’m waiting to get the women’s book in the mail now, ordered from Amazon.com. Leigh – any other good books you can recommend on exercise or nutrition? Also magazines?
I am ordered it just now off of Amazon. Thanks for the info Leigh and congratulations on making it in the book too.
sweet maybe i will be famous for something after all… LOL
Picked up my copy (the men’s edition) yesterday. Aside from the rude checkout clerk at Borders, my only complaint is they don’t have a difficulty thermometer for each exercise group like they do with the pushups. For instance, it would be nice to have a scale ranking the different single-leg squat variations in order of difficulty. Sort of like “start here and these are the progressions in order of difficulty”. (I like the Men’s Health Gym Bible, too, quite a bit. I love how that one is organized by equipment/station and then body part.)
My book was delivered to….thanks to Amazon speedy prime membership delivery!!! Can’t wait to curl up tonight to start reading!!! I bought it mainly because I heard about your section in the book! Rock on Leigh!
I think that is the most hated question a trainer can get. The first thing that comes to mind when a person asks those questions is, “Oh, sh**! Where do I start?” Anyway, I always try to suggest something off my recommended reading list, but I can’t seem to get my clients remotely interested in doing that.
Out of anyone that is ever approached me with that question, and I’ve been a PT for the last 7 years nearly, I can only think of a handful that really cared to follow-up on recommendations. Regardless, it’s good to hear feedback from other trainers on how to deal with that fully-loaded question.
Somehow I missed this post. These books look great; next time I’m out and about I’ll check them out. Congrats Leigh, on being in there too!
Leigh,
I have only had time to flip through the Women’s book. I did read the preface. These people seem to have a similar philosophy to yours. Since I lost 60 lbs with you, I am inclined to use it. I know you only promote what you believe in.
I am so excited that you a published in the book. Page 402. Yea Leigh!!!!
Leigh, I was wondering about the differences in the two books. If I was only to get the mens one, is this something useful for females too? I was thinking this way both my husband and I would find it useful and not have things doubled up, if they are covered in both books.
Thanks Michelle
Mens and women’s version are EXACTLY the same page by page. If you randomly pick page 249 , you see the same exercise. You just a female model in women’s version and a ripped guy in men’s one. The only difference is in the 10 or so work out sections. In female version you see pre-natal work out, getting into tighter jeans workout etc. These workouts are clearly laid out in the description section on amazon. Leigh already mentioned this earlier :=).