Strong Women Stay Young (Revised Edition)

I really love the idea of women building muscle to survive and thrive into their senior years.Pro: Dr. Nelson is not an MD but a PhD in (this is not clear) nutrition science from Tufts. This is a GOOD thing: she knows how to use real data to draw her conclusions.Strength training is essential, IMHO.Dr. Nelson recommends using good but inexpensive equipment, probably ticking off her corporate sponsors, were she to have any.Cons: The difference in quality of the book I had 10 years ago and the copy I reordered is like night and day. This new copy is smaller (the print is fading grey and the size and shape of the font make it very difficult to read, even in the best conditions. And yes, I have my specs on...) The paper is cheap and chalky-feeling and turning the pages is a nasty experience.The actual workout itself is not particularly well-formatted and somewhat difficult to find in the index and table of contents. It's there, but after a professional life of looking at well-formatted graphics and slide shows, her main points could have used some editing. I may be spoiled in this age of Pinterest.Personal quibble with Dr. Nelson, I am disappointed she chose to sit on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for the USDA, which makes her complicit in the refoisting of the unsubstantiated recommendations to avoid dietary cholesterol and increase low-fat dairy choices. I cannot believe she's not a better judge of data than that. Perhaps she has changed her mind since then, since she was not on the 2015-2020 edition, which has recommended giving statins to some children as young a 5. No, wait! I just checked! There she is!!! That must bring up some cognitive dissonance! IA will clear that up sooner rather than later. Super solid advice on the strength training, though.

My mom had this book years ago, about maintaining strength and fitness with a simple at-home weight lifting program. I remembered it recently, and realized that my mom, my sister and I could do the workouts together over zoom during the pandemic. So I bought copies of this book for all of us a month ago, and we've been doing zoom meetings twice a week since!The author has done studies showing how these basic weight-lifting exercises can help women maintain mobility, balance, energy AND their weight throughout their lives. Two sessions per week, about 40 minutes per session (probably less if you're not chatting!) will help keep you strong and active.You will need dumbbells of various weights, and ankle weights. The author recommends adjustable 20 lb ankle weights (you can add 1 lb at a time). I purchased the ankle weights she recommended, and 5 lb dumbbells - the first few weeks we used canned goods until our dumbbells arrived! The one lb weights for the ankle weights can also be taped together to use as dumbbells until you can lift the 5 pounders. I just got 8-pounders this week, and will be getting 10-pounders either next week or the following. I'm up to 7 pounds on each ankle, so I'm glad I followed the author's advice to get 20 lbs each - I will be at 10 lbs per ankle in another month! We're all enjoying noticing our increasing strength and energy!

I am six weeks now into the program, I read and scanned most of the book before I started the program and checked with my health care provider. She is so impressed with the book she plans to purchase it. I had to do something as I was losing weight and in so much joint and muscle pain from arthritis in various parts of my body. I suffered from fatigue. I couldn't take it anymore and decided to find a way to fight back. This book was recommended by a rheumatologist on arthritis.org. Six weeks now and much of my pain is gone, fatigue fading away, I am sleeping better. I am 75 years old and weigh 115 lbs, it is not too grueling for me. I started out with lesser weights as it suggests and am working my way up. I am in it for the long haul and look forward to the twice a week workouts. I walk every day too and gained back the weight I had lost. I really am feeling much stronger and younger.

This book has given me a reference for my aging body. I feel more confident in asking questions of my doctor and being proactive on my own in taking care of myself with diet and exercise.

The urge is always there to get going with the program, and the author allows for that, but even this 70+ retired nurse found reading up to the point of the basic part of the program had enough important pointers until it seems risky not to. Not being a gym rat, but staying busy with yard work and other things that require lifting and stretching, I figured I was probably going to laugh off this program. FORTUNATELY, I did read first, but still thought I'd get a chuckle by starting low, believing I must be almost ready for the heaviest weights. HAH! We don't know how much we use some muscle groups and how little we use some others until something like this. Thank goodness it is no-sweat. I just gotta get better disciplined about keeping to a schedule.

This book was recommended to me by a 40-something doctor with whom I work. I noticed her arms were more 'cut' and that her clothes were fitting better, and I asked her what she was doing. She told me about Strong Women Stay Young and I ordered it.I read through the book and loved it. It's based on science, not some new fad, and it's easy for the lay person to understand. The exercises are simple and easy to do. You can do them anywhere anytime. I noticed results in my upper and lower legs and my upper arms within one month. It's easy to see that this regimen can be used for a lifetime. I didn't lose any weight, but I appear slimmer and I feel better and stronger. My balance is better, too. I highly recommend this book and I have no intention of reselling mine. I've urged several friends to buy it.

I wish I had realized that this is was a small version of the original book. Bought it for an older adult relative and it is so tiny and hard to hold open. Next time I will make sure to read the description of size and not buy "mass market paperbacks".