Synopses & Reviews
There's plenty of conventional wisdom on health and fitness—but how much of it is scientifically sound? The truth is: less than you'd think.
In Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?, physicist and award-winning journalist Alex Hutchinson tackles dozens of commonly held beliefs and looks at just what research science has—and has not—proven to be true:
Should I exercise when I'm sick? • Do I get the same workout from the elliptical machine that I get from running? • What role does my brain play in fatigue? • Will running ruin my knees? • To lose weight, is it better to eat less or exercise more? • How should I adapt my workout routine as I get older? • Does it matter what I'm thinking about when I train? • Will drinking coffee help or hinder my performance? • Should I have sex the night before a competition?
This myth-busting book covers the full spectrum of exercise science and offers the latest in research from around the globe, as well as helpful diagrams and plenty of practical tips on using proven science to improve fitness, reach weight loss goals, and achieve better competition results.
Review
“Once in a while in the crowded fitness and health genre a book comes out that stands out from rest...[I]f theres only one fitness book you ever buy this should be the one.” BC Living
Review
“Factual, informative and empowering....a refreshing perspective on fitness and well-being.” Kirkus Reviews
Review
“Authoritative and easy to use. . . . This book answers all the big questions.” Amby Burfoot, Runner & #8217;s World
Synopsis
Award-winning journalist, physicist, and bestselling author of Endure Alex Hutchinson reveals the little-known and often surprising truths that science has uncovered about exercise, ranging from cardio and weights to competition to weight loss.
There's plenty of conventional wisdom on health and fitness--but how much of it is scientifically sound? The truth is: less than you'd think.
In Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?, physicist and award-winning journalist Alex Hutchinson tackles dozens of commonly held beliefs and looks at just what research science has--and has not--proven to be true:
- Should I exercise when I'm sick?
- Do I get the same workout from the elliptical machine that I get from running?
- What role does my brain play in fatigue?
- Will running ruin my knees?
- To lose weight, is it better to eat less or exercise more?
- How should I adapt my workout routine as I get older?
- Does it matter what I'm thinking about when I train?
- Will drinking coffee help or hinder my performance?
- Should I have sex the night before a competition?
This myth-busting book covers the full spectrum of exercise science and offers the latest in research from around the globe, as well as helpful diagrams and plenty of practical tips on using proven science to improve fitness, reach weight loss goals, and achieve better competition results.
Synopsis
In Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights? Alex Hutchinson, a physicist, award-winning journalist, and contributing editor of Popular Mechanics magazine, reveals the little-known and often surprising truths that science has uncovered about exercise. A book that ranges from cardio and weights to competition and weight loss, here are fascinating facts and practical tips for fitness buffs, competitive athletes, and popular science fans alike.
Synopsis
Written by award-winning journalist Alex Hutchinson, author of the Globe and Mail's popular column Jockology, Sweat Science answers 150 questions about fitness and exercise, providing hype-free analysis of common (Can I freeze my lungs by exercising in the cold?) and not-so-common (Can swearing help me push harder in a workout?) fitness questions, bridging the gulf between exercisers and the scientists who study them. For example, have you ever wondered:
-Which is more important, cardio or weights?
-Can I get fit by exercising just a few minutes a week? Answer: yes, sort of]
-Should I stretch before excercising? Answer: actually, no]
-Can swearing help me push harder in a workout?
With advice on how to get started, cardio, strength, injury prevention, nutrition, and performance, Sweat Science is an informative, entertaining, and insightful guide to all the questions about exercise that have long intrigued researchers, fitness fanatics, and anyone who has ever taken up a sport or set foot in a gym.
About the Author
Alex Hutchinson is a contributing editor at Popular Mechanics magazine, senior editor at Canadian Running magazine, and columnist for the Toronto Globe and Mail. He holds a master's in journalism from Columbia and a Ph.D. in physics from Cambridge, and he did his post-doctoral research with the U.S. National Security Agency.