Strong health leads to stronger brains. Having a
balanced life is important for overall success in one’s career. As you look
around the office you may notice that many of your colleagues have a few pounds
to lose. However, what is most striking is the dangerous nature of being out of
shape, having stress, and working many hours. It can lead to heart attacks and
other types of ailments. This can take a toll on your overall work performance
as well as raise medical costs. Even if you are approaching middle age it isn’t
impossible for you to get into great shape. The only question should be how?
The New Rules of Lifting for Life is a great book
for middle age professionals over the age of 50. The authors Lou Schuler and
Alwyn Cosgrove have done well outlining a workout routine for those who want to
trim their waists while not trying to look like the hulk. It provides a nice
overview of techniques for those who desire to maintain or improve their muscle
tone at their rip age. It is a book for the long haul and not steroid popping
teenagers.
A particular nice aspect of the book is that it
provides some level of case study about how the muscles work and how they
degenerate after a certain age. It also provides some success stories of those
who worked out until they are about 70 years old and were stronger than those
in their 20’s. The author insists that weightlifting is one aspect but the other
half the battle is the diet. One must put the right stuff in their mouth to
enhance their training performance.
The book will bring you through core training, power
training, squats, hinge, lunge, single-leg stance, push, pull, combination
exercises and metabolic training. It provides an overview of the right
techniques with pictures and form. Form is the one of the most important
aspects of training making the difference in building as well as reducing the
chances of injury. Even more beneficial are graphs and charts one can use to
keep track of their own workouts.
The book provided me a greater understanding of
which exercises one should use as they get older. You won’t find much in terms
of arm building within this book as most of the exercises are for total body
fitness. Beginners should always focus
on the creation of core training before trying to pinpoint certain muscles. Yet
as one gets good at combination sets and core training sets they may desire to
find a book more related to specific exercises.
If you are a working professional and are in need of
tightening this may be the right book for you. Learn how to balance fitness,
work, family and hobbies to develop a meaningful and full life. Each aspect can
be used to enhance other aspects of your life. For example, exercise will
reduce stress and increase workplace performance. Accomplishments in hobbies
can broaden your mind and maintain interest in your core work requirements.
Schuler, L. & Cosgrove, A. (2012). The New Rules of Lifting for Life. NY:
Penguin Group
