Total body beautiful : secrets to looking and feeling your best after age 35
(Book)

When Julia Roberts and Heidi Klum endorse a book about staying fit after 35, it has to deliver. This one does. Like Stacy Sims's Next Level, the focus isn't on fighting menopause, physiology, or aging; it's about alleviating burnout so that physical, mental, and emotional changes are supported through activities like yoga, pilates, strength training, and aerobic exercise. The book begins with the "why" so that readers can examine their levels and needs as they build strength and endurance. Their exploration of hormonal changes is thorough and accessible, without going too far down research rabbit-holes. They also examine what these changes mean and how exercise can have a positive impact on quality of life, lean muscle mass, and bone loss. The small action steps scattered throughout and the comprehensive training plans differentiate this from cookie-cutter programs. Clear photographs of recommended poses and instructions for all levels are included. The authors' explanations of how different modalities factor into muscle growth and hormone balance could convince even the most reluctant person to pick up a set of weights. VERDICT These are proven traditional exercises that match new research on metabolism and aging, which is what makes this manageable, effective, and sustainable.--Emily Bowles

When Julia Roberts and Heidi Klum endorse a book about staying fit after 35, it has to deliver. This one does. Like Stacy Sims's Next Level, the focus isn't on fighting menopause, physiology, or aging; it's about alleviating burnout so that physical, mental, and emotional changes are supported through activities like yoga, pilates, strength training, and aerobic exercise. The book begins with the "why" so that readers can examine their levels and needs as they build strength and endurance. Their exploration of hormonal changes is thorough and accessible, without going too far down research rabbit-holes. They also examine what these changes mean and how exercise can have a positive impact on quality of life, lean muscle mass, and bone loss. The small action steps scattered throughout and the comprehensive training plans differentiate this from cookie-cutter programs. Clear photographs of recommended poses and instructions for all levels are included. The authors' explanations of how different modalities factor into muscle growth and hormone balance could convince even the most reluctant person to pick up a set of weights. VERDICT These are proven traditional exercises that match new research on metabolism and aging, which is what makes this manageable, effective, and sustainable.—Emily Bowles