The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible: Get in the Best Shape of Your Life with Targeted Workouts That Tone and Tighten Everything Paperback – April 1, 2009

One thing that I have not liked about most exercise books is that they often have drawings of different positions and descriptions, but quite honestly, they are not very helpful to me. I find it much more useful to have decent photos of the positions that I have to adopt in exercising.Another thing that I do not like about most exercise books is that they are hard to use and follow when actually trying to have a smooth running workout. I also like to know briefly what point there is in doing each exercise without having to look long through a lot of writing.THE ULTIMATE BODY SHAPING BIBLE is one of the nicest exercise books that I have read to date.In the beginning of each chapter, there is a diagram in color of what the different muscles look like on a person (think Grey's Anatomy book) and what you will be targeting with the exercises in that section.Each chapter has a target area, and then there are breakdowns of difficulty. Each exercise is labeled clearly by difficulty dots at the top of the page and the beginning of the chapter.There are excellent charts that tell you how much total time will be required to do each workout. How Often, how many reps and anything you must have to do the exercises are all listed at the beginning of the chapter under each level of difficulty.There are plenty of photos which clearly show you how you should look when doing these exercises.Each exercise also has what you can expect to gain specifically from that exercise.COMMENTSI love this book. It is very well laid out, and one of the nicest exercise books I have ever seen. The exercises are effective and accurately described as to what they accomplish. I saw some changes after only a week of doing some of these exercises.I love that this book is in three parts- Abs, lower and upper body workouts.This book is fabulous in that you can turn to exercises and just do them, or you can easily follow along a routine target collection of exercises. If you can only buy one exercise book, I would say to give this a try. I am very impressed with it. It has taken all of the things I don't like about most exercise books and made them pleasant and easy to use.The only thing better would be this book in flip chart format to hang up while you exercise and follow the routines. But as it is this book is a winner, in my opinion.

"The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible" features exercises to tone and tighten your entire body. The workouts range from Beginner to Super Advanced and each exercise is about 20 minutes in length. Within those twenty minutes you'll do three exercises that target a specific area (for example your outer thighs). You do three sets of reps and author Karen Karter suggests you do the workouts every other day. Karter also provides eating tips and suggestions for cardio workouts. There are three sections in the book: Abs Fab-You-Lous (a wicked flat tummy; de-wiggle your middle; fab abs); the Best Lower Body Workouts (bodacious booty; slimtastic outer thighs; slimtastic inner thighs; cankles begone); and the Best Upper Body Workouts (posture perfect; the deep plunge; sculpted sexy shoulders; amazing arms). Some of the exercises need no equipment - others require equipment such as hand or ankle weights, resistance bands, stability ball, a step, or bench.Although I prefer exercise DVDs where I can see what the instructor is doing, I found "The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible" to be very useful. It has detailed instructions and very useful pictures. Each section has an introduction that explains about the body area you are targeting, including the various muscles. Each chapter has a chart showing the various workouts in that chapter; the payoff for doing the exercise; total time the workout should take; how many times a week you should do the exercise; the number of sets and reps; and equipment needed (if any) for the workout. Each exercise has plenty of pictures, detailed instructions, and fabulous form tips. For the most part Karter targets the appropriate exercise for each level although I do question her having beginners using 10 - 15 pound dumbbells. There is a wide variety of exercises including exercises like biceps curl; chest press; cobra; dip your toes; front plank, oblique twist; plie squat with calf raise; shoulder press; reverse curl; triceps kickback; and so much more. The twenty minutes allotted are perfect for targeted toning and combined with cardio workouts are very effective."The Ultimate Body Shaping Bible" is a very useful guide to toning and shaping your body.

I've been faithfully doing the exercises in this book for two months now and I look great. I've always been a runner, but I'm getting a bit older and felt that I needed a bit more of an exercise regime and I didn't want to join a gym.I get up in the morning, roll out of bed and do the tummy exercise on the floor and let me tell you I do have a wickedly flat tummy now. That alone makes this book worth it, because even though I do a couple miles every day, my tummy needed work. Must be the ice cream.I'd all the exercises in this book, except the ones with the big ball. Those I don't do. I didn't want to get one of them, didn't want one cluttering up my bedroom. I alternate the exercises with my running and I am in great shape and I look it, too. If you want the best shape you can possible have, use this book and run a couple miles every other day and you'll get it. You really will.

It is clear and gives detailed instruction I just need to do it. it is clear and understandable. will use it over and over.

Love it. Easy to follow. Another tool in the fitness toolbox. Adds variety to my workouts.

I love this workout book. It's got great information, detail and photos. It's easy to use and provides beginners and advanced versions of each exercise.