The Printed Word on Fitness

The Printed Word on Fitness

Bookstores’ shelves overflow with books on the topics of losing weight and shaping up.Many are step-by-step workout and eating plans accompanied by instructions illustrations, recipes, and more. Books cover topics from aerobics to yoga, outline specific workouts from organizations as diverse as the New York City Ballet Company and Navy Seals, and offer different philosophies from drill-sergeant regimentation to mind-body-spiritual connections in fitness.
Although magazine coverlines on fitness are designed to sell magazines, once you open the magazine, you’ll find a wealth of information. Many articles feature one specific topic but cover it in depth and offer fine advice. Fitness, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Heart and Soul, Muscle and Fitness, Shape, Vim and Vigor, Walking, Weight Watchers Magazine, Women’s Sports and Fitness, and Yoga Journal are just a few of the publications that focus on fitness. Men’s and women’s general-interest magazines often include a fitness article or two, and sports publications include get-in-shape pieces geared toward that specific sport. You can sample various publications at half off the newsstand price with the Magazine-of-the-Month Club. Through its Female Health and Fitness service, you can try a dozen publications, including Fitness, Health, Total Health, and Walking.
Your local newspaper also probably has a weekly section with fitness, health, and nutrition articles. In 1996, the Akron Beacon-Journal of Ohio developed a 26-week exercise and food plan called the Akron Diet, which was widely syndicated to newspapers subscribing to the Knight-Ridder News Service. Thousands of people around the country followed its step-by-step approach to sensible eating and physical activity to shape up.