Body By Science

I just recently finished with Body By Science.  This is my latest research into high intensity interval training (HIIT) routines as that is where I am headed mostly in my workout regime right now. I wanted to find a little more science behind why it works and why I should do this compared to the typical weight or resistance training.

The book was recommended by Nora Gedguadas in her book Primal Body Primal Mind.  I read the reviews on Amazon and apparently mostly meat heads were giving it lower ratings due to the fact that it doesn't just give simple instructions on routines.  I do agree that the subtitle is a bit misleading in that it states "A Research based program for strength training, body building, and complete fitness in 12 minutes a week".  However, what it does offer is a much more in-depth study of HIIT, the research behind it, and why it works.

I've recently listened to a podcast with Doug McGuff MD, one of the authors of this book (John Little being the co-author).  I really appreciated his perspective on things and why he is adamant about this training style.  I was only halfway through the book when I listened in to the podcast but it made me finish up the book.

What I did find in the book is a lot of really great information on training, the metabolic cycles involved, and even going into details about the different muscle fibers which I found interesting.  It seemed to fill in the gaps for me for understanding better how my body reacts to extreme stress and how to better utilize that to stay in shape more efficiently.  It gave me better ideas on creating my own routines focusing on the major muscles groups to failure and why I should do so.

Another thing that this book focuses on heavily is determining the difference between skill training and overall fitness levels.  It breaks down why cardio routines are not really all that great and that they could lead to stagnation or health problems.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting to research into high intensity training routines.  While you won't get a solid routines set in stone as there are a lot of variables at play (which is discussed), it will set up a much better foundation for working on HIIT or even give you ideas for your own routines.  Recovery is one of the main focuses of the book and probably one of the best reasons to read this.  Over training and over exerting the body before it has had time to recover is a fundamental error that needs to be understood in training.

(www.alterauslander.com)