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Fitness For Geeks: Real Science, Great Nutrition, And Good Health (2012)

by Bruce W. Perry(Favorite Author)

3.03 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1449399894 (ISBN13: 9781449399894)

languge

English

genre

Food & Cookbooks

publisher

O'Reilly Media

review 1: There were some really great sections in this book. I particularly enjoyed the detailed explanations and the nutrition science sections (even showing what macronutrient molecules look like). The strength of the book also comes from the quality sidebars that share interviews with medical and sports professionals , or share recent research findings. I found this particularly helpful in the 'intermittent fasting' section and in interval training section regarding Tabatas, etc. I also liked the Outdoors chapter that mentioned many of the metaphysical benefits to outdoor fitness. Downside and reason for 3 stars - which is more like 3.5 stars - were that I felt this is another book advocating Paleo diet. While I am in full favor of eating clean whole foods, I think it can be don... moree without going 'primal'. It seems to be en vogue to promote Paleo in every fitness book published in the last year...
review 2: I'm glad I read the book, but it could have been so much better! Here are some things I think could have been improved:1) Nitpick, but it makes a difference: be consistent with your use of measurements. The book was all over the map... metric, imperial, and even really old fashion (pints??). Being from Canada we are well versed in both major measurement systems, but the way most authors handle is they put one unit in parenthesis.2) Who is the audience? You had me fooled at the beginning. I really thought the book was aimed at IT people who are currently lacking in fitness knowledge and practice. I'm an IT person and very active. I found most of the book WAY beyond anything I'd ever do. I think most of the book is aimed at those who are already extremely active and knowledgeable in nutrition.3) There wasn't a compelling reason to do many of the things mentioned in the book. Fasting? Really? I can't imagine doing so... and wasn't convinced it was a good thing to try unless I had cancer or something. The same for extreme exercise. Reduce my body fat to 5%? Not in my lifetime. I'm not sure why anyone would want to do this... and if they did... how could they find the time.4) Chapters seem out of order... or written by different people. Some of the chapters were really good... and convincing. Then there are the chapters that dive deep into a topic with little leading. Chapters 3 & 4 were too much based on science rather than practice. A sample menu plan may have helped... not sure. I had the biggest problem with chapters 6 & 7. Chapters 5 & 8 seemed to be leading in a natural way, but 6 & 7 were deep dives into the world of extreme exercisers and eaters. Not me, and certainly not a currently inactive IT person.Here are the notes I kept as I was reading the book:Just finished the introduction. I like the author and his writing style. The topics in the book seem well thought out and I think I'll enjoy reading the book cover to cover. I've already been talking about it to friends, and now they want to read it as well.Chapter 1 started with a stereotypical view of a tech person's start to the day. Lack of sleep, commute to the office, elevator, sitting, eating crap food, home to the couch, repeat. It is stereotypical, but unfortunately there are many people who follow this lifestyle.The rest of the chapter takes readers through the evolution of mankind from caveman days through the agricultural revolution to modern day lifestyle. In that time, our food and exercise habits have changed dramatically, but our DNA has barely changed. The end of the chapter has two really great sections. First, a stereotypical way we SHOULD be spending our day. Waking up naturally, eating healthy breakfast, cycling to train station, standing on train, walking short distance from train station to work, taking the elevator, eating well, going outside for walks occasionally, standing at your workstation. All pretty much doable!And lastly, he interviews a former extreme athlete who was a wreck at 29 who transformed his life by changing his eating and exercise habits.Chapter 2 gives a description of various exercise and food tracking devices or programs. By tracking exercise, you are typically motivate to do more. By tracking what you eat, you typically eat better and lose weight (if that's what you're trying to do). I track, but learned about a few new tools that I'm trying as a result of reading this chapter.Chapter 3 was pretty tough going. It was biology lesson on carbs, fats, and protein. Good stuff to know, but more science than practical information. Chapter 4 went into details about vitamins and minerals. Quite a bit was pretty technical, but was very understandable. Chapter 5 is about where to find food... recommendation: farmer's markets. Advice also given for how to navigate a grocery store in order to avoid being tempted to buy non-food.Chapter 6 and 7 were tough for me. These two chapters seem to be written for people who are rather extreme both in eating and exercise habits. First there is a discussion about fasting. I've had to fast briefly for blood tests or medical procedures and I'm not a fan. In fact, I find fasting to be quite stressful for me. The author doesn't give any compelling reasons why you'd want to fast, but at one point says you'll want to try fasting. I'm not convinced, but did learn something interesting. There is something called "intermittent fasting" meaning that you can fast for 12 - 16 hours. I do the 12 hour fasting fairly often because I rarely eat after dinner which is normally 6 pm. I do eat breakfast and it can be 8 during the week and later on the weekends. So, I'm fasting, right?Chapter 7 is about extreme exercise and left me wondering what the goal of the book is. I'm active and see exercise as a way to have fun, stay fit, look good, and feel good. I don't have a desire to run marathons or reduce my body fat to 5%. Sometimes it feels like the author believes in exercise instead of work and to have body fat down to 0.I've lent the book to someone who I think fits the target audience better than I do and am looking forward to his comments. less

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