Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?: Fitness Myths, Training Truths, and Other Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Exercise

The book is very readable -- broken down into themed chapters with sub-sections (effectively articles) addressing a related topic and all followed by a useful summary at the end of each chapter. The author does an outstanding job of substituting facts for impressions. The book refers to a number of studies relating to exercise -- like stretching, nutrition, aging. In some cases, showing what really works and what might be described as myth (or at least, what is not supported by research). While you can read it straight through, my suggestion is to pick the chapters and the articles that are of greatest interest to you, then get around to the others when you have time. I've been a runner and a reader about running for 35 years and I feel that I learned a lot. I highly recommend the book.

Un bouquin très intéressant que j'ai apprécié lire du début à la fin... En effet, il m'a permis de réfléchir à mon propre entraînement hebdo de sportif amateur... J'ai pris conscience que durant mes années collèges puis lycée qui commence à dater maintenant, bien des méprises nous étaient inculquées à l'époque, comme sur les étirements, l'échauffement, les lactates, etc. Autre exemple, réalisant des séances d'efforts d' "Indoor Cycling", en soirée l'hiver dernier et avec à la clef un gros mal de gorge et une forte bronchite, très longue et difficile à soigner, j'ai appris grâce à l'auteur que la cause en était la sècheresse de l'air... J'ai alors compris pourquoi, sans être un grand naîf mais un amoureux du TdF, de nombreux cyclistes pro sont soignés pour de l'asthme... Bref, j'ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à le lire en intégralité et j'ai appris pas mal de choses pour progresser dans ma pratique !

Letto volentieri questo libro che spiega miti e verità dell'attività fisica. Interessante per tutti e non solo per atleti. consigliato a chi vuole fare attività fisica con criterio senza perdere tempo in cose che non hanno un riscontro scientifico e non sono di provata efficacia

I've been constantly reading books about exercise since I'm a PT. This book is simply one of the best. If you work in the fitness industry or interested in anything about exercise or nutrition, you'll be amazed how they built a lot of things you learnt on theories that had never been proven in the first place. I actually enjoy reading this book - I'm only half way through yet - because I thought I was getting to know something about the subject, but I still felt intimidated by other Personal Trainers,their confidence and the way they act just like they know everything and beyond. About half they teach you is either never been proven or just proved to be wrong. If you are a trainer please read this book before start working with your next client.

No matter if you are a couch potato thinking of starting your first workouts or an experienced athlete training for the next Olympia games (or anything in between) it will be definitely something interesting for you in Alex Hutchinson’s book. Alex goes with the method of a scientist and with the talent of an entertaining writer over the most relevant items linked to the physical activity: starting with exercising, fitness gear, strength and power, aerobic exercise, injury and recovery, aging and exercise, weight management and considerations on the competitive edge among others. Every item is treated separately and if you don’t want to go through the whole book from the beginning to the end in one night as I done, you can just peek up the chapters on interest for you and read them separately. Any conclusion in this book is driven from relevant scientific research articles. And “relevant” is important since there is plenty of information around considering the best way you should do your workouts what can help or cannot help and the results are quite contradictory. Alex has a great talent just to peek up the correct formulated studies containing important and proven results. The Cheat Sheets and the end of every chapter are quite great. This is what you should take with you in your day to day (sports) activity.