Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56698 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-13
• Released on: 2008-05-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

About the Author

Customer Reviews

It's a good start, but it's not perfect
I am by no means a fitness expert or a workout veteran, but I'm not a beginner either: I've been working out 4 or 5 days per week for about a year, focusing primarily on one or two muscle groups per day, and I've seen some improved results with this book. The workouts are laid out in such a way that it shouldn't be difficult for a beginner to jump right into; they are also all-encompassing, thorough, and varied enough that you shouldn't stagnate once you get started on a regular schedule.

That said, Mario Lopez's Knockout Fitness is not without its flaws. There are two problems that I think are worth noting. For one, the meal plans, at least after the first phase, seem to be tailored towards people who are looking to lose weight; there is little guidance for those who are looking to add mass or simply "tone up." If that is your goal, I would suggest you find another book, or else do some research online as I had been doing prior to purchasing Knockout Fitness. (Presumably one could simply eat more of the meals outlined if one is looking to bulk up, but I would have enjoyed more clearly defined nutritional habits for a wider range of fitness goals).

The other problem I had is that the book is too sports-oriented. Mr. Lopez openly acknowledges that a lot of his readers probably do not participate in sports, yet he defines his exercises by the sports for which they prepare you. If the book is designed to help people who are out of shape, as the meal plans would have you believe, what good is it to know that exercise is "great for boxing"? I think it would be more helpful to the average reader if the exercises were defined by the muscle group(s) they work so that they could be more easily substituted for other exercises.

Overall, this book should provide a good foundation for anyone looking to begin or improve on his/her workout routine. If you are really serious about fitness, however, you'll want to look at it alongside other literature.

More than just pictures.....
The diet/nutrition portion of this book is subjective - I don't think everyone should be eating 2600 calories a day. Mario can do it because he has a lot of muscle.

However, the workout portion of this book has some very good suggestions. The weights suggestions are things that are easily done at any gym. But many other exercises you can do in your own home. The "jump over the foam pad," the pushups and several others don't require any special equipment. I can spend less time at the gym when I break my workout into two parts: at-the-gym/at-home.

He suggests doing some boxing - but my gym doesn't have those capabilities. However, my Nintendo Wii provides a good boxing working. It's not necessarily physiologically accurate, but it gets my arms and legs moving and it makes me sweat.

I'm seeing results.

I would definitely recommend this book from an exercise standpoint. But like I said at the beginning, I don't think his meal recommendations are appropriate for everyone.

Overall, very good book. Lots of helpful suggestions.

Great Workout!
I really liked this workout. I found the meal plans to be helpful and I really enjoyed the change in routines. Mario really mixes it up and gives a full body workout between weights, sports, yoga, dance, etc. I thought it was a lot of fun. If you're just getting into the gym for the first time or returning after some time off - this is a great place to start!