Substance

Fit+Female was surpisingly a book with some substance to it. When I bought it I expected a run-of-the-mill book with pictures of workouts and guidlines for a diet. Although it does contain all of these things, the book outlines specific diets and excersise plans for each of the six body types. Coopersmith explains how to find which type you are, as well as including a quiz. I felt like I was reading a magazine with my friends not trying to get in shape. The fitness plans are straightforward. The diet plans are sound as well, and instead of just giving foods to eat, Coopersmith tells why you should eat them and how you should make healthy choices outside her meal plans.
The best thing I thought about the book was that it went beyond the superficial. Coopersmith not only writes about fitness and nutrition, but goes in depth about body issues and self-confidence. She explains that you should love your body for what it is, and as long as it is a healthy body, that is what matters. Coopersmith writes that the ideal shouldn't be the emaciated, stick-figure models, but strong, healthy women. This is a really important message. Fit+Female goes beyond just a fitness book, and I would highly recommend it to any woman.

Great information for women!

I read through the introduction of her book so fast that my eyes couldn't keep up with me. I couldn't wait for the next line to know more about this real life story laced with struggles and successes alike.

Her understanding yet no nonsense approach takes all the guess work out of confusing exercise facts and myths. She walks you through topics like body image, genetics and all the stuff in between that "the never taught us in school".

There is a neat little quiz that helps you define your body type. Then, workouts and nutritional plans for each specific type i.e. Ecto-Apple or Meso-Pear.

Jam Packed with motivation and inspiration; it's a real sense of "touch down". A relief from the crazy world wind of unhealthy fad diets, magic pills and empty promises that bombard us every day.

I have already benefited from the many little tips she offers that can be implemented into daily life.

A must read for any woman

If you are looking for a book that will tell you what to eat and how to exercise in order to get a super-muscular body, or a super-thin model-type body, then look elsewhere. This is not a book about diet and exercise, but about learning to accept and take care of your body, no matter the shape and size. That said, there are exercises designed for each body type, as well as nutrition and eating advice.

Now we have all heard the message that we should love our body, no matter what, and certainly there are lots of books out there with the same message. So what makes Geralyn's book different from all the rest? It's because she's lived through the same struggles as the average woman. When a genetically-blessed woman tells you that you should accept your body, you probably think "Yeah, it's easy for her to say because she has the perfect body." And consequently, we never really listen to the message and reflect on what it means. However, coming from Geralyn, the message hits home because she has suffered the same weight issues as many of us. I was able to relate to Geralyn's message, because her struggles really mimicked my own. I've struggled to accept myself almost my entire life, and despite being an avid runner and very healthy, I still have a hard time with self-acceptance. Knowing that Geralyn was able to overcome her issues and find self-love and self-acceptance is a real inspiration. I think if someone had told me these things many years ago, it would have saved me a lot of suffering.

You may think that the motivational part of the book is too long, but I think Geralyn is on to something. Unless you can first accept your body the way it is now, no matter how much you exercise and diet, it is unlikely that you will be happy with your body no matter how fit and/or thin you may become.

Turning to the exercise portion of the book, you first have to determine your unique body type (e.g. ectomorph, mesomorph, or endomorph, and apple or pear). Of course, hardly anyone fits neatly into one category, but chances are you are predominantly one type. Once you know what "type" you are, Geralyn recommends certain cardio and strength training exercises, which are supposed to be optimal for your type. Recognizing that fitness has to fit a woman's schedule, she also tells you how many repetitions and sets you need to do, based on the amount of time you have (bare minimum, ideal, and gung-ho). Now, I've been running for over 5 years and have consistently strength trained, so when I saw the strength training exercises Geralyn recommended, I didn't think I'd derive much benefit. Boy, was I wrong! I did the gung-ho workout (most repetitions and sets) and my muscles hurt for TWO straight days!

In terms of eating, Geralyn teaches you to have a healthy relation with food. She cautions against mindless eating, urges proper nutrition, and details eating tips for each body type. Again, what makes her message powerful (because who hasn't already heard about the dangers of mindless eating?) is that she has gone through this herself.

To conclude, I highly recommend this book. Whether you are struggling with your body image, are just beginning to make the decision to love your body, or already wholly accept yourself (and kudos to you if you do!), you should read this book. It is truly enjoyable, powerful, and liberating. Keep in mind that changing your self-perception does not happen overnight, especially if you've had a negative image about yourself for many years (or your whole life, in my case). But with this book and the right attitude, you can begin the journey to a happier, and healthier, you.