Shape Walking Six Easy Steps to Your Best Body

by Marilyn L. Bach, Lori Schleck

Shape Walking is a four-part, total fitness program that will help you lose weight, improve muscle definition, increase flexibility, build bone density, and develop the body you want. Medically sound and based on the latest research in fitness and physical therapy, this unique program includes: FITNESS WALKING: a variation of everyday walking that gives you essential aerobic activity FITNESS WALKING PLUS: regular fitness walking plus simple muscle-toning exercises that help you shape your abdomen (abs), buttocks, arms, and thighs STRENGTH TRAINING: an overall strength-training program that works your body's major muscle groups TARGET TONING: special exercises designed to help you reach your own personal body-shaping goals by shaping, tightening, and toning specific "trouble spots"

Whatever your fitness goal, ShapeWalking gives you a safe, easy, extremely inexpensive way to achieve them. Every exercise is explained with simple, step-by-step instructions and illustrated by photographs, diagrams, or charts. Special sections show you how to tailor the program to fit your individual needs.

126 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't a really sexy book. It's purely informative. Sure, the information is from the 90s (and so are the pics) but it's a good, solid book.

There are several good points. (1) It includes an osteoporosis workout which includes osteoporosis prevention and a list of exercises to exclude if you've been diagnosed with osteoporosis. (2) The photos are instructive and repetitive. If you've chosen one particular workout, all the exercises are illustrated with photos. (3) In addition to stretches and walking workouts, the strength-building workouts are gentle and nonthreatening.

The information is obviously dated. And the resource list may be obsolete. However, I'm sure you can find updated information if you really need to--I just doubt you really need to. The exercises are so simple that they probably aren't any more out of style than jumping jacks (not a suggested exercise).

The book asks for a specific set of stretch bands (which may not even be available any more). However, I'm sure you could use any set of stretch bands and adjust your workout.

Judging from the photos, the book is geared towards older women who may be afraid of taking up an exercising routine at this stage in life. This is a nonthreatening book which assures us all that there's nothing to be afraid of.

[Provin Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice older book on walking. Goes over what clothing and shoes to wear as well as keeping your heart rate in a fat burning zone. I enjoyed the part about putting together a walking routine and how to use certain muscles while walking in order to tone and define said muscles. I don’t even feel weird incorporating this simple movements into my current walking routine (no ‘wild arms’ or awkward strides) I’m giving it a three star because I haven’t been doing the supplies exercises long enough to speak on how they improved my overall fitness. In a few months I will report back and it may get more stars! 🤓

[Sigo Paolini · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the workout charts alone this is gold. Of course you to make copies but they are excellent charts and are saving me a fortune because I don't have to buy and then tailor one of the "exercise logs".
They accompany a sound walking / strength building program. Seems aimed at the 35 year old set but Bach makes allowances for all age sets by showing how to modify the program. I was pleasantly surprised.