Yet despite this advice, we have seen unprecedented epidemics of obesity and diabetes. Taubes argues that the problem lies in refined carbohydrates, like white flour, easily digested starches, and sugars, and that the key to good health is the kind of calories we take in, not the number. In this groundbreaking book, award-winning science writer Gary Taubes shows us that almost everything we believe about the nature of a healthy diet is wrong.

    In fact, your body is actually endowed with many self-defense measures to hold on to fat. For example, fat can use stem cells to regenerate; increase our appetite if it feels threatened; and use bacteria, genetics, and viruses to expand itself. The secret to losing twenty pounds? You have to work with your fat, not against it. Tara explains how your fat influences your appetite and willpower, how it defends itself when attacked, and why it grows back so quickly. The Secret Life of Fat brings cutting-edge research together with historical perspectives to reveal fat’s true identity: an endocrine organ that, in the right amount, is critical to our health. Fat triggers puberty, enables our reproductive and immune systems, and even affects brain size.Although we spend $60 billion annually fighting fat, our efforts are often misinformed and misdirected. Tara expertly illustrates the complex role that genetics, hormones, diet, exercise, and history play in our weight, and The Secret Life of Fat sets you on the path to beat the bulge once and for all.

    Longtime running writer Scott Douglas marshals expert advice (especially his own, cultivated from more than 110,000 miles of personal experience), and a growing body of scientific research to show how running can make us happier. How? Everyone knows that running builds stronger muscles and a healthier heart; science now shows it also helps develop a healthier brain. For those struggling with depression and anxiety, a consistent running routine can enhance the mental-health benefits of talk therapy, antidepressants, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The key to running’s therapeutic power lies in its lasting physiological effects, inducing changes in brain structure and chemistry that other forms of exercise don’t—including the best mood boost in all of sports, thanks to the body’s release of natural pain-relievers.Running is my therapy is no longer just a mantra for seasoned runners; with science behind him, Douglas presents proven methods so that we can all use running to improve our mental health and live happier—in and out of running shoes.

    Celebrity trainer and former marine Erin Oprea's motto is "lean and clean." Her unique 4 x 4 diet shows readers how to get clean by reducing the 4 major hitches in most diets: sugar, starch, sodium, and alcohol. She also tells readers how to get lean, using her 4-minute tabata workouts: 8 repititions of 20 seconds of high-intensity moves, then 10 seconds of rest. Within 4 weeks, the average person will be able to reduce bloating and belly fat; gain increased muscle definition in the arms, legs, and stomach; improve cardiovascular endurance; and break sugar and sodium addictions. Complete with meal plans and recipes, the 4 x 4 diet is perfect for anyone looking to streamline their body and lifestyle.

    Use our method to attain maximum height in your kicks and to be able to kick at that height with no warm-up! Learn: * How to stretch safely and quickly to achieve and maintain your maximum flexibility * How to make your muscles grow stronger and longer so you stay flexible all the time * How to do splits even if you are over 40 or 50 * How to kick high and do splits with no warm-up * How to develop each of the three kinds of flexibilityÂ�dynamic, static active and static passiveÂ�to suit every athlete's needs * What exercises are "no-no's" if you want to stretch your muscles * All the factors limiting flexibility * Brilliantly simple tests of hip joint mobility and muscle length that dispel common misconceptions of what limits flexibility the most

    Written by Robb Wolf, a research biochemist who traded in his lab coat and pocket protector for a whistle and a stopwatch to become one of the most sought after strength and conditioning coaches in the world. With Robb's unique perspective as both scientist and coach you will learn how simple nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes can radically change your appearance and health for the better.

    Combining all the health and fitness benefits of walking and road running, the outdoor adventure of sports such as hiking and mountain biking, and the spiritual renewal from a day spent communing with nature, is it any wonder that trail running is fast becoming one of the most popular fitness activities? Whether you're a complete beginner or have been hitting the trails for years, this fully illustrated, one-of-a-kind guide provides all the essential information including: finding trails and getting started; managing ascents and descents with ease; maneuvering off-road obstacles; strength, stretching, and cross-training; selecting proper shoes, clothing, and accessories; safety on the trail; racing and other trail events and more.

    Drawing on thirty years of experience, she presents breakthrough solutions to overcoming depression, anxiety, irritability, stress, and other negative emotional states that are diminishing the quality of our lives. Her comprehensive program is based on the use of four mood-building amino acids and other surprisingly potent nutrient supplements, plus a diet rich in good-mood foods such as protein, healthy fat, and certain key vegetables. Including an individualized mood-type questionnaire, The Mood Cure has all the tools to help you get started today and feel better tomorrow.

    This program integrates a lifetime of in the trenches experience, coupled with years of extensive research.Don't expect a picture book filled with secret exercises or bogus promises. There is nothing new under the sun. This 250 page manual will outline a complete system, from A to Z, covering all aspects of physical training.The philosophy behind this program is simple. If it works, we will use it. This program is not limited to one training style (ex. bodyweight exercise vs. weight training). This manual incorporates the best of both worlds.A sample 50 day routine is provided which applies the principles detailed throughout the manual. Topics Include: Dumbbell training for power and strength Advanced bodyweight exercises Isometrics Weighted and bodyweight core movements Low budget options for homemade training equipment Heavy bag drills for enhanced punching power Conditioning drills to enhance each energy system An analysis of periodization for combat athletes Research from world renowned sports scientists Commonly neglected areas such as the hands and neck A 50 day training program And much, much more... Infinite Intensity will enable the athlete to optimize strength and endurance based on the unique needs of the individual. This program will teach you how and why to incorporate strength training and conditioning, without allowing one objective to interfere with another.

    Named to Apple iTunes Best of 2013 in Nonfiction and Health."Well written and scrupulously researched, this breezy guide lobbies for an all-encompassing approach to improving one's lifestyle...Rath's '30-Day Guide'...is clear and actionable." -Kirkus review From the author of StrengthsFinder 2.0, How Full Is Your Bucket?, Strengths Based Leadership, and Wellbeing comes a transformative book and online application that will improve your health for years to come. While Tom's bestsellers on strengths and well-being have inspired more than 5 million people in the last decade, Eat Move Sleep reveals his greatest passion and expertise. Quietly managing a serious illness for more than 20 years, Tom has assembled a wide range of information on the impact of eating, moving, and sleeping. Written in his classic conversational style, Eat Move Sleep features the most proven and practical ideas from his research. This remarkably quick read offers advice that is comprehensive yet simple and often counterintuitive but always credible. Eat Move Sleep will help you make good decisions automatic -- in all three of these interconnected areas. With every bite you take, you will make better choices. You will move a lot more than you do today. And you will sleep better than you have in years. More than a book, Eat Move Sleep is a new way to live.

    While it is filled with useful strategic training advice throughout, at its core, it is about embracing your place in the middle of the pack with humor and learning to love the run you've got without comparing yourself to other runners. Mixing practical advice like understanding the discomfort vs. pain, the mental side of running, and movements to treat the most common injuries with more playful elements such as "Favorite hilarious marathon signs" and "Weird Thoughts We all Have at the Start Line," Brooks is the down-to-earth, inspiring guide for everyone who wants to be happier with their run.

    A global best-seller famed for its clear instruction and innovative design, Pilates: Body in Motion clearly explains every exercise sequence with at-a-glance overviews, detailed step-by-step photographs, and a checklist of dos and don'ts.Author Alycea Ungaro pioneered mat-based Pilates and lends her expert advice to help you avoid injury and maximize Pilates' fitness and health benefits. Four program sequences allow you to move from beginner to intermediate to advanced and cover fifty mat-based exercises, from The Hundred to The Wall Sequence, the Open Leg Rocker and Corkscrew to the Swan Dive, Shoulder Bridge, Magic Circle Sequence, and many more.Streamline your body and focus your mind with 50 classic mat Pilates exercises to do at home with Pilates: Body in Motion.Author Bio:Alycea Ungaro is a pioneer of the Pilates method, and the author of bestselling titles including Pilates: Body in Motion, 1st edition, The Pilates Promise, and The Pilates Practice Companion. In addition to serving on the advisory board of Fitness Magazine, Ungaro also travels widely as a guest teacher hosting retreats at world-famous location such as Amangani in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She has trained celebrities including Madonna, Uma Thurman, Kyra Sedgewick, Claire Danes, and Molly Sims.

    Anyone who trains will enhance their injury resilience and performance employing these principles proven over and over with athletes. In the highly competitive world of strength athletics, a back injury is seen by many as the ultimate career-ender. In truth, if handled properly, it is far from a death sentence. Follow the journey of international powerlifting champion Brian Carroll, who can attest to this first hand. This remarkable athlete went from 1100 lb squats and 800 lb deadlifts to unending pain and disability after a massive spinal compression injury. After a fortuitous meeting with leading back expert Professor Stuart McGill, he reset his training and his life to fight his way back to the top of the winner’s podium. Glean expertise from McGill and Carroll, both masters in their field, and learn how to orchestrate your own triumphant comeback. Whether you are a former champion yourself who has fallen on hard times, or someone starting a new foray into the world of strength training who wants to avoid injury and maximize training, the wisdom found within these pages is sure to take your resilience and lifts to the next level. Over 200 full color, rich illustrations demonstrate technique.

    Revolutionary new science shows that you can build and maintain your best body ever--and outlive, outwit, and outlast men half your age—if you tap into the special powers of you in your prime.That's why we've created Your Best Body at 40+, your step-by-step guide to meaningful and lasting changes that will sculpt your body and prepare you for the prime of your life.Looking and feeling 10 years younger is within your grasp! Here's what you can expect to gain in as little as 4 weeks:• You will build muscle and lose up to 15 pounds of flab. We'll tell you why it's easier now than ever!• You will strip away stress and reduce your risk for age-related health problems. High cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure--they're preventable, even reversible, say our experts!• You will look trimmer in your face and waist within 12 days! Just get to know the 10 foods you should eat every day.• You will feel energetic and athletic, and you'll look better than you did in your 30s. All it will cost you is 20 to 30 minutes a day!• You will have the best sex of your life, and more of it! Discover the secret sexual powers of the 40+ male body and how to unleash yours!• You will be happier, achieve greater success, and sleep more restfully than you ever imagined! Employ the mind-centering breathing trick before every important moment.Packed with tons of useful advice; no-gym, no-crunches workouts; tasty recipes with fat-fighting superfoods; plus a troubleshooter's reference guide to body maintenance and repair, Your Best Body at 40+ is the ultimate handbook for reinventing your life.

    The book also explores overtraining, mental preparation, and time management. This revised edition includes a new chapter on transition training and equipment.