What Doesn't Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength


Scott Carney - 2017
    Our ancestors crossed the Alps in animal skins and colonized the New World in loin cloths. They evaded predators and built civilizations with just their raw brainpower and inner grit. But things have changed and now comfort is king. Today we live in the thrall of constant climate control and exercise only when our office schedules permit. The technologies that we use to make us comfortable are so all-encompassing that they sever the biological link to a changing environment. Now we hate the cold and the heat. We suffer from autoimmune diseases. And many of us are chronically overweight. Most of us don't even realize that natural variation—sweating and shivering—is actually good for us. What Doesn't Kill Us uncovers how just about anyone can reclaim a measure of our species' evolutionary strength by tapping into the things that feel uncomfortable. When we slightly reimagine how our body fits into the world, we can condition ourselves to find resilience in unfamiliar environments. The feeling that something is missing from our daily routines is growing and has spawned a movement. Every year, millions of people forgo traditional gyms and push the limits of human endurance by doing boot camp style workouts in raw conditions. These extreme athletes train in CrossFit boxes, compete in Tough Mudders and challenge themselves in Spartan races. They are connecting with their environment and, whether they realize it or not, are changing their bodies. No one exemplifies this better than Dutch fitness guru Wim Hof, whose remarkable ability to control his body temperature in extreme cold has sparked a whirlwind of scientific study. Because of him, scientists in the United States and Europe are just beginning to understand how cold adaptation might help combat autoimmune diseases and chronic pains and, in some cases, even reverse diabetes. Award winning investigative journalist, Scott Carney dives into the fundamental philosophy at the root of this movement in three interlocking narratives. His own journey culminates in a record bending 28-hour climb up to the snowy peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro wearing nothing but a pair of running shorts and sneakers.

Running the Edge: Discover the secrets to better running and a better life


Adam Goucher - 2011
    By tapping into the transformative power found in the distance run, Running the Edge inspires readers not only to push their limits as runners, but as human beings in a relentless pursuit of excellence in everything. Borrowing from philosophical notions ranging from humanistic psychology and Buddhist monks, all the way to adrenaline junkies, Alcoholics Anonymous, and even the World of Warcraft, Goucher and Catalano take readers on a pilgrimage of self discovery and personal improvement. Six mirrors guide the way as Running the Edge methodically leads readers to a heightened awareness of their own personal attributes, and compels them to break free from the curse of normal and the chains of average by "running the edge" towards their maximum potentials. Interlaced with rich storytelling along with personal insights offered from elite runners: Alan Webb, Amy Yoder Begley, Chris Solinsky, Dathan Ritzenhein, Galen Rupp, Kara Goucher, and Paula Radcliffe, the book reads at a brisk pace worthy of its subject matter. Although there is a sharp focus on running, the principals and tenets outlined in Running the Edge could be equally applied to almost any passionate pursuit in life. Even non- runners will find the stories and philosophies enlightening, uplifting, and motivating.Fans of the book Running With The Buffaloes by Chris Lear will find an older more introspective Adam Goucher. He pulls no punches as he draws on his faults and short comings both as a runner and as a person. He recognizes the mistakes he has made in his training and life and uses that awareness to propel him forward in a quest of self improvement.

7 Minutes to Fit: 50 Anytime, Anywhere Interval Workouts


Brett Klika - 2015
    Award-winning personal trainer Brett Klika provides step-by-step explanations of basic exercise movements paired with helpful illustrations so you can get started moving your way to a healthier, more energized body. With circuits devoted to full body, arms, legs, and core, 7 Minutes to Fit is all you need for a quick and effective workout.

Total Immersion: A Revolutionary Way to Swim Better and Faster


Terry Laughlin - 1996
    Step-by-step skill drills are provided which include how to: improve strokes to speed up conditioning; eliminate drag and create more propulsion with less energy; burn off fat through swimming; and use dry-land exercises to improve results in the water.

Muscles: Testing and Function, with Posture and Pain


Florence Peterson Kendall - 1971
    The thoroughly updated Fifth Edition is completely reorganized and has new, expanded treatment and exercise sections in each chapter. Other features include a new section on post-polio syndrome, additional case studies comparing Guillain-Barré to polio muscle tests, a new full-color design, and a first-of-its-kind chart of upper extremity articulations. A bonus Primal Anatomy CD-ROM contains a three-dimensional interactive model of the human body. Students can rotate the model and add or subtract layers of anatomy to strengthen their knowledge.

The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing


Philip Maffetone - 2010
    Dr. Philip Maffetone’s approach to endurance offers a truly “individualized” outlook and unique system that emphasizes building a strong aerobic base for increased fat burning, weight loss, sustained energy, and a healthy immune system. Good nutrition and stress reduction are also key to this commonsense, big-picture approach. In addition, Dr. Maffetone dispels many of the commonly held myths that linger in participatory sports—and which adversely impact performance—and explains the “truths” about endurance, such as:The need to train slower to race faster will enable your aerobic system to improve endurance Why expensive running shoes can actually cause foot and leg injuries The fact that refined carbohydrates actually reduce endurance energy and disrupt hormone balance And more. If you are looking to increase your endurance and maximize your athletic potential, The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing is your one-stop guide to training and racing effectively.

Build Your Running Body: A Total-Body Fitness Plan for All Distance Runners, from Milers to Ultramarathoners—Run Farther, Faster, and Injury-Free


Pete Magill - 2014
    This easy-to-use workout manual draws on the latest research in running physiology to target all the components that go into every stride—including muscles, connective tissue, cardiovascular fitness, energy production, the nervous system, hormones, and the brain. With the breakthrough whole-body training program in Build Your Running Body, runners will improve their times, run longer and more comfortably, and reduce injury.With more than 150 workouts—from weightlifting and cross-training to resistance exercises and plyometrics—fine-tuned to individual skill levels and performance goals, PLUS: • 393 photos that make it easy to follow every step of every workout • 10 training programs to help runners of all levels integrate the total-body plan into their daily routines • Interviews with leading runners, exercise scientists, and coaches—learn how elite runners train today • Race strategy for the crucial weeks leading up to the competition and through to the finish line • Exercises to prevent injury and rehabilitate common running ailments • Seasoned insight on barefoot running, the pros and cons of stretching, and other hot-button topics • Nutrition guidance on carbs, proteins, fats, and weight loss • More than 30 recipes to speed recovery and cement fitness gains • Beginners' guidelines every step of the way • Valuable tips on proper apparel, tracking your progress, and more!

Foundation: Redefine Your Core, Conquer Back Pain, and Move with Confidence


Eric Goodman - 2011
    Eric Goodman and Peter Park shifts the training focus from the front of your body to the back. By strengthening the full posterior chain and correcting poor movement patterns, you will maximize power, flexibility, and endurance and say goodbye to back pain.

LL Cool J's Platinum Workout: Sculpt Your Best Body Ever with Hollywood's Fittest Star


L.L. Cool J. - 2006
    Here he shares the secrets of his transformation in a uniquely creative, yet no-nonsense regimen—enlivened with humor and sheer force of personality—that will inspire readers to enjoy working out as never before, while building a body they never thought possible. The book offers four levels of fitness, from Bronze to Platinum, including:- a 4-week beginner's program that takes inches off the waist and boosts energy-a 5-week program for intermediates that increases strength while maintaining muscular and cardiovascular endurance- an advanced 9-week program that turns the body into a muscle-building and fat-burning machine—complete with 6-pack abs and as much energy as LL Cool J- the hardcore 3-week fat-torching program LL used for the "Control Myself" video—a new level in ripped-to-the-bone fitness and sex appeal- a special 4-week "Diamond" program for women seeking to shape up fast for summer or an upcoming event- meal plans and recipes that fuel workouts while burning fat with food

The Athlete's Guide to Yoga: An Integrated Approach to Strength, Flexibility, & Focus


Sage Rountree - 2007
    This time-honored discipline imparts flexibility, balance, and whole-body strength, creating improvements in an athlete’s form, efficiency, and power. In addition, yoga’s attention to concentration and breath awareness improves mental focus and mental endurance—hidden assets that become especially important at the end of a long training session or race. In The Athlete’s Guide to Yoga, yoga instructor, endurance athlete, and coach Sage Rountree explains the benefits that yoga can bring to every training program. With hundreds of color photographs featuring more than 100 poses, this book treats common problem areas to make athletes stronger in their sport. Rountree helps athletes see progress from just 10 minutes of yoga each day. In an engaging and easy-to-follow style, The Athlete’s Guide to Yoga presents:warm-up and cool-down routines for workouts simple poses to specifically target areas of inflexibility and overuse breath and meditation exercises different types of yoga for each phase of training recommendations for intensity and volume of yoga workouts throughout the training year Rountree’s applications for training and racing ease the introduction to yoga, making it practical and accessible for all athletes.

The 30 Day Abs Challenge (Workout Program)


Arnel Ricafranca - 2013
     The 30 Day Abs Challenge focuses on the fundamentals of power generation and core stability without the use of any equipment. These core based workouts strengthen your entire midline and core for an overall increase in any athletic performance. As a result this program will help you develop a nice set of abs. This book provides 30 days of abdominally focused workouts that can be performed by themselves or in conjunction to your daily workout routine for advance users.

Nutrient Timing: The Future of Sports Nutrition


John Ivy - 2004
    It shows that when the right combination of nutrients is delivered at the right time, one can activate his/her body's muscle machinery to increase muscle strength, improve endurance and increase lean muscle mass.

Corps Strength: A Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant's Program for Elite Fitness


Paul J. Roarke Jr. - 2010
    Corps Strength applies the same techniques used to develop and maintain each Marine's combat readiness to a day-to-day program for top-level fitness. Every aspect of training is incorporated into the program including warm-ups, stretching, upper body, core strength, lower body, cardio, running, goal-setting, and motivation. The author has trained thousands of people and witnessed time and again the amazing results achieved by these proven techniques. Regardless of current fitness levels, this personalized training methodology will enable readers to begin today and immediately progress in absolute strength, muscular endurance, aerobic capacity, and joint flexibility. The workouts in this book are packed with grueling mind- and body-draining tasks that test the mettle of any athlete while bringing him or her to top physical form.

8 Weeks to SEALFIT: A Navy SEAL's Guide to Unconventional Training for Physical and Mental Toughness


Mark Divine - 2011
    The SEALFit athlete is different than the sport athlete.  He or she demonstrates great endurance, the ability to train without equipment, be prepared for the known and the unknown, can display intense work capacity, are durable, mentally tough, and flourish as part of a team. These qualities allow strong individuals to thrive in life and lead by example.  With 8 Weeks to SEALFit the athlete will: master the unbeatable mindget the best workout available with the least amount of equipmenttake a level-headed approach to nutritiondevelop exceptional overall functional strength, fitness, and mental toughness - the qualities that make a Navy SEALThrough teamwork, mental and physical preparation, and proper nutrition the SEALFIT athlete can cultivate the “Kokoro” (warrior) spirit, helping them be unbeatable in life.  Join the thousands of other SEALFIT athletes that have improved their well-being through these tried and true methods presented by Commander Mark Divine.

Stretching to Stay Young: Simple Workouts to Keep You Flexible, Energized, and Pain Free


Jessica Matthews - 2016
    And the less we move, the tighter our muscles and joints become. But this isn’t our natural state—in fact, our bodies were designed for movement. Stretching is a gentle, simple activity that anyone can do. Doctors often “prescribe” stretching to patients to alleviate ongoing aches and pains, as well as improve range of motion and flexibility. Those who enjoy an active lifestyle find that regular stretching improves athletic performance and decreases the risk of injury. Jessica Matthews knows how important stretching is. Her work as a seasoned yoga instructor, exercise physiologist, and graduate-level health educator has impacted thousands of lives, and has made her a leading and trusted expert in the health and fitness industry. In Stretching to Stay Young, Jessica meets you at your current level of stretching ability and guides you step-by-step through each stretch, arming you with the confidence you need to progress into deeper levels of stretching for enhanced flexibility and strength over time. Stretching to Stay Young is your all-in-one guide to creating a stretching regimen that is tailor fit to your specific needs. In these pages you’ll find: Detailed illustrations that provide visual aids for the correct positioning of your body Easy-to-understand explanations of the cutting edge research behind each stretch and how it works “Change it up” tips for modification that allow you to increase or decrease intensity level while stretching The most current, up-to-date information on the basic how-to’s of proper stretching Beginning to end guidance—from preparation to self-customization, Stretching to Stay Young delivers stretching options that consider your current issues and the lifestyle you want to lead No matter your age or level of activity, Stretching to Stay Young will take the confusion out of starting and put the enjoyment into stretching.