Scan barcode
sharonus's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
In the late 80s when I first started going to the gym, the best information you could find about women's fitness was in magazines like Shape. Even though Shape was a Weider Publication and leaps and bounds above most women's magazines in terms of fitness, the focus still tended to be on exercises that would help you firm your butt or trim your waist. While I certainly wanted that, I also wanted to be strong. I wanted to be able to do pull-ups! So, I resorted to reading Men's Fitness and religiously carried a laminated series of weight lifting exercises torn from one of those magazines back and forth to the gym.
"Liftoff: Couch to Barbell" is the book I wish I had then, and am happy to find now that I have reached middle age and ditched my weight lifting habit long ago. I appreciate Casey's step-by-step approach, focus on form, and her "you can do it!" attitude. We need more fitness information for women that tells them it's okay to eat, it's okay to sleep, it's okay to rest. I am excited to get started and work toward being strong and fulfilling my goal of being able to do at least one pull-up!
"Liftoff: Couch to Barbell" is the book I wish I had then, and am happy to find now that I have reached middle age and ditched my weight lifting habit long ago. I appreciate Casey's step-by-step approach, focus on form, and her "you can do it!" attitude. We need more fitness information for women that tells them it's okay to eat, it's okay to sleep, it's okay to rest. I am excited to get started and work toward being strong and fulfilling my goal of being able to do at least one pull-up!
bluejayreads's review
5.0
This is a rare book that does exactly what it says on the tin - it will take you from couch (don't know what you're doing with weights) to barbell (can lift a barbell, have enough knowledge to do so without hurting yourself). It's straightforward, no frills and no fancy layouts and not even any pictures (though it does come with a spreadsheet full of video links) and has the general vibe of a self-published book in the most positive way possible - it doesn't have a publisher insisting on a certain page count or a specific narrative voice, so it skips all that and goes straight to providing practical, useful information. It also spends a lot, arguably more, time on the stuff you do outside of the gym to support your weightlifting journey - mainly eating and resting. I understand the logic with that, though, because for those of us who are aware of modern exercise culture (read: all of us), the idea of resting, not working out all the time, and eating more to fuel growing muscles are the parts we're probably going to struggle with more than the actual "go to the gym and lift heavy stuff" part. And as someone with a history of eating disorders, I found the whole idea suspiciously easy. You're telling me I can lift some weights for around half an hour three times a week, eat half again as much as I have been eating, and still see health and strength (if not necessarily weight or size) results? Sounds fake. But also I'm five weeks into this program as of writing this review and it seems to be working so far. Turns out for me, lifting heavy stuff is infinitely more enjoyable than anything cardio-related. And though I've been in recovery from my eating disorder since 2017, doing this program has made it feel possible to be recovered. Take that with a grain of salt because it's just one person's perspective, but I've found it incredible.
Content Warnings
Discussions of weight changes, discussion of calories (in a generally healthy/positive way)
renees's review
5.0
It's rare to say something is life-changing and really mean it, but this book was actually life-changing for me. It's completely flipped my relationship with food on it's head; I spend my time focusing on getting enough, and have stopped worrying about if I eat something 'wrong' (which I actually eat less of, naturally, anyway).
It's also shifted my relationship with my body. I feel strong, and I'm not worried about how I look (negatively) so much as what I can do (positively). And, ironically, I'm losing weight anyway.
Marking this as finished, but I expect I will come back to it regularly.
It's also shifted my relationship with my body. I feel strong, and I'm not worried about how I look (negatively) so much as what I can do (positively). And, ironically, I'm losing weight anyway.
Marking this as finished, but I expect I will come back to it regularly.
librareee's review
5.0
Changed the way I think about muscle and strength. Great for someone starting to lift for the first time or getting back into it after many years. No BS. Eat food and get strong. Has caused me to be addicted to pushing plates. Extremely grateful for this book.