New Rules of Lifting -Schuler and Cosgrove

This is also a great book and, actually, interestingly enough, works very well in conjunction with Jim Karas's book. Schuler is the author with lots of useful professional input from Cosgrove. He gives a series of "new rules" for strength training based on information gleaned from the last several years. Let me just start by saying this is a large, thick book with so much valuable information. You just MUST buy it along with the Cardio Free Diet.

Some of the more interesting points:

1. So many strength exercises are artificial in the form they use. Focus on big muscle groups and the natural movements of the body.

2. Use compound muscle groups in each exercise rather than just isolating one muscle like, for example, the biceps.

3. You want to build size and strength, not just tone. And to do that, you work HARD a lot less frequently.

4. Don't use machines. Focus on 6 basic movements.

5. Each session should be devoted to setting some type of goal and he talks a lot about what he means by this.

6. Low Reps, heavy weights.

7. He talks a lot about periodization and this is a term I'd never heard, but the concept is essential. The book is worth it for this alone.

I am only through the first 6 chapters, but the book is already well worth the time and money.