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The Complete Book of Abs: Revised and Expanded Edition | 
 enlarge | Author: Kurt Brungardt
Creator: Brett Brungardt
Publisher: Villard
Category: Book
List Price: $21.95
Buy New: $13.10
You Save: $8.85 (40%)
New (29) Used (18) Collectible (3) from $10.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  51 reviews
Sales Rank: 15642
Format: Illustrated
Media: Paperback
Edition: Rev Exp
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.2
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 0375751432
Dewey Decimal Number: 613.71
EAN: 9780375751431
ASIN: 0375751432
Publication Date: September 1, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Few left in stock - order soon. Code: R20080716231550H
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Amazon.com
Kurt Brungardt was at the front end of the abdominal obsession. His Abs of Steel video was a bestseller, and the original Complete Book of Abs, published in 1993, was considered the bible of midsection exercises for trainers and fitness enthusiasts. The obsession has only grown since then, manifested by dubious infomercial products, a burgeoning fitness-magazine industry promising readers great abs with almost no investment of time and effort, and (perhaps because of the shortcomings of the first two phenomena) a boom in the demand for legitimate nutritionists and personal trainers. Even Brungardt himself came out with a 1998 book, 3-Minute Abs, to take advantage of the craze. With all that going on, it seems hard to believe that there's anything new to say about abdominal exercise. Indeed, this revised version of The Complete Book of Abs doesn't really try. There is a new prebeginner midsection routine, which leads into the more advanced exercise regimens described in the original book, and a handful of new exercises. But other than that, the expanded sections are in nutrition (several new pages of recipes) and total-body fitness (new photos demonstrating exercises for body parts other than abs). Still, the original package is a terrific deal: more than 100 exercises, numerous training routines, and lots of basic information about exercise and diet. Each abdominal exercise is rated for difficulty on a scale of 1 to 3 and how risky it is to the lower back. The routines are complete and thoughtfully compiled, and there's not a bit of advice in the entire book that isn't scientifically legitimate. That's why this book--in either edition--remains indispensable for those serious enough about fitness to need information that goes beyond the basics. --Lou Schuler END
Product Description
Anyone who works out knows that abdominal exercises have progressed light-years beyond the basic sit-up. In fact, a whole new generation of ab exercises and machines have advanced abdominal workouts to new levels of sophistication, designed for maximum efficiency to provide the trim, toned midsection that everyone wants. But how do you put the exercises together into a routine for your specific physique and needs? The Complete Book of Abs shows you how.
The first ab book for everyone--from beginners to fitness professionals
More than one hundred ab exercises--from traditional crunches and sit-ups to such cutting-edge techniques as corkscrews and hanging knee raises--drawn from diverse sources, including gymnastics, yoga, and the martial arts
Includes the "Fifteen Minutes a Day to Ultimate Abs" system, which will take you from an undeveloped stomach to a rippled washboard look in six months
Dozens of favorite and new routines from America's foremost coaches, trainers, and bodybuilders
How to be your own personal trainer and put together your own routines
The most up-to-date information on diet and nutrition, including a personal
template to maximize diet-exercise efficiency
Already a fitness classic, The Complete Book of Abs, is the definitive guide for abdominal toning and strengthening. No one who's serious about working out should be without it.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 46 more reviews...
 truely complete and scientific May 2, 2008
The book views the subject from every aspect(diet, exercise, attitude, mentality, tricks, boredom alternatives), and in every of these aspects with scientific accuracy. Although 10 year old book i strongly recommend it to every one who want REALLY to trim and develop his abs.
 the complete book of abs April 29, 2008
this book has helped me strengthen my core. i have a bad back and this book was very helpful to not aggravate it while i worked out.
By comparing over 10 abs books, I concluded... January 31, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I purchased about 10 books from Amazon on abs in order to compare them. This one has quite a bit of information, good lay-out and organization, and is well-written for this type of book. My conclusions on how it compares with the other books follow...
If You Want to Trim Your Waistline: You can't trim your waistline without losing fat, and you can't lose fat around your waist without losing it everywhere (focusing on a muscle group like the abdominal muscles doesn't burn fat in that location, just a little bit of fat from everywhere on the body). So, if you want to trim your waistline, skip the ab workout books and go with a good, proven overall weight loss and fitness book like Bill Phillips' Body for Life. The Abs Diet is a similar program, but like all the Men's Health publications, it advertises a 6-week transformation, which is just a little unrealistic. Plan on more like 12-24 weeks to see really noticeable changes if you are fat.
If You Want Sculpted Six-Pack Abs: If you are overweight at all, see above--you can't get a six pack while you're overweight, and you can't lose abdominal fat by doing an ab workout, so go for overall fitness. However, if you are already lean, see below.
If You Want to Strengthen or Build Your Ab Muscles: If you're trying to improve for work, play, or rehab, you might consider the following books: The Body Sculpting Bible for Abs Deluxe DVD Edition contains decently up-to-date information and tells you exactly what to do and when to do it, based on a six-week fitness course. If you're looking for a similar book with more information, you can choose from The Complete Book of Abs or The Complete Book of Core Training. The Complete Book of Abs (1998) is a little out of date in terms of its dietary/nutritional recommendations, but it focuses more on exercises that develop the external abdominal muscles (the ones you see in a six-pack), including lots of variations on leg lifts, bicycle motion, and sit-ups. It will also give you more resources for creating your own program, and, if that's what you want to do, go with this one instead of The Body Sculpting Bible. The Complete Book of Core Training (2006) focuses more on the functional body core, including internal abdominal muscles, legs, etc., and includes more trendy exercises using medicine balls, exercise balls, yoga, etc. A different sort of book is Stronger Abs and Back (1997), which was written before the current fad of selling "core training," but contains the elements of core training because it gives good functional sports-focused advice. Its dietary recommendations are out of date, but it recommends a 24-week workout plan, which is much more realistic than the 6-week plans advocated by many of the other books.
If You Have Back Pain: See your doctor, and if he prescribes abdominal/core strengthening, see above.
My one-book recommendation: Body for Life.
My two-book recommendation: Body for Life + Stronger Abs and Back.
My three-book recommendation: Body for Life + Stronger Abs and Back + The Complete Book of Abs.
My four-book recommendation: Body for Life + Stronger Abs and Back + The Complete Book of Abs + The Abs Diet.
Hope this helps!!
read this December 28, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
i am a 17 year old and before i got this book i was doing 1000 sit-ups a day for two months with pitiful results. it took forever and was a huge inconvenience. when i use this books system it takes me only from 15-20 minutes per workout and after about a month and a half with it,i have a very defined six pack. the cardio plan in the book also helps to keep the rest of my body in shape. i reccommend this book to ANYONE who truly wants a nice set of abs.
The Go-to book for Abs September 7, 2007
Top-notch book. Filled with practical and useful information on everything to do with the abs.
I found it revealing that if you are just doing crunches you are wasting your time. The author explains how the abs are made up into 4 main muscle groups. To simplify - lower abs, upper abs, and 2x obliques. He then goes on to say that all these groups need to be worked to have great abs and also because working only 1 group can have negative effects. He then splits the exercises into 3 main groups: 1)Lower Abs 2)Obliques 3)Upper Abs. For each group he explains numerous exercises with excellent photos and practical information such as degree of difficulty and amount of danger to lower back. There is also a 4th group for combination exercises. There are so many exercises you will never run out. There are also sample workouts at different stages of experience. The diet section is nicely done too although a bit outdated (1992) in that it advocates high carb content without too much differentiation between types of carbs. That is only a minor negative though - this is the book if you want to firm your abs.
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