The 4 Hour Body Book Review

I thought I better jump into this blog with my own entry. The most recent book I have completed is called "The 4 Hour Body". I decided to pick it up after reading a column by the author in Wired Magazine. Essentially the author, now in his mid-thirties, has spent a lot of time experimenting on himself with different diets and workout regimens since he was on his high school wrestling team.

What made the book interesting was he took his own experiences around exercise and diet and ran them like a science experiment. This meant that every little nuance was measured and documented including sometimes getting daily blood tests to see what the effect of certain diets caused on his body. He also worked with many experts in the field of exercise science to try various different workout routines, including some done by professional athletes, to measure there effectiveness. Two that I found interesting was a training plan for an ultra marathon that included almost no distance training but rather 400 meter sprinting and a sports specific weight training program that included working out with weights only once per week. Both programs worked better than traditional methods.

The book was a decent read, I found the lengths that the author went to document and measure things to be a somewhat fascinating. I took one concept away that I will apply in my own workouts which was to focus on doing the least amount necessary to acquire the desired results. I like that idea.

My next book I am reading is called "Reckless Endangerment-How Outsized Ambition, Greed and Corruption Led to the Financial Armageddon". So far the Federal Government is not fairing well.

As for the arrival of summer, I am currently enjoying it through Gabe. He gets to do all the fun stuff and I get to work. Very much looking forward to our trip to Michigan when I get to play also. I join Dot in her desire to have a bonfire...as long as it includes some s'mores.