The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises - You Are Your Own Gym

--and the results are pretty good. Unlike most of the negative reviewers, who are quibbling over the author's nutrional ideas or whether or not it's fair to use household implements and still call it bodyweight training, I've actually done the program for a while and I like it. I'm fairly advanced at this type of training but, coming off a long-ish layoff and with the injury that caused the layoff still limiting me, I chose the intermediate level program in You Are Your Own Gym. It worked pretty well.

My big question about the book going in was its use of divided routines* (For those new to this type of training, I'll define this and other terms at the bottom of the review). It's been a decade or more since I've done these, having decided, definitively, that full body workouts, done in a traditional 3-times-a-week,L-M-H program** worked better, at least for me. But Lauren's book (and my injury) gave me reason to reconsider. My hope was that the divided routines in YAYOG would, at my current age (47) and level of fitness (not what I once was), promote better recovery and, thus, better gains. Has that been the case? Yes, I think perhaps it has. I still feel weird coming out of a workout with only half of my body tired and, again, the layoff and injury make direct comparisons difficult but overall, I'm ready to pat myself on the back, declare victory, and move on. Of course, you could take the exercises in YAYOG and re-arrange them into full-body workouts.

How does You Are Your Own Gym compare with other books in this category? Pretty well, I think. In recent years, I've also done Pavel Tsatsouline's The Naked Warrior, Paul Wade's Convict Conditioning, and Brooks Kubik's Dinosaur Bodyweight Training. YAYOG definitely rates higher than Naked Warrior, which is too narrowly focused to be useful for most people. It's also much better than Convict Conditioning, the author of which insists that periodization*** isn't necessary for bodyweight training. I think he's wrong about that. So does Mark Lauren, who does a great job with periodization in YAYOG. In fact, it's probably the best thing about the book. Dinosaur Bodyweight Training was, until I picked up YAYOG, the clear category winner for me. The workouts are harder than the ones in YAYOG (in most cases, much harder) and more dedicated to strength than conditioning. But YAYOG has served a definite purpose for me and would, I think, for others as well. So call it a draw between these two, with YAYOG better for beginners and the Dinosaur book a winner for advanced trainees. Women, I think, would mostly prefer YAYOG.

Before I define the above asterisked terms, let me say one thing to anyone new to this type of exercise: if terms like these make your eyes glaze over and your teeth ache, don't worry about it. You can train for a long time, years probably, making steady gains, without knowning any of these things. It's only advanced trainees who have to get crafty to keep coaxing gains out of their bodies and by the time you reach that stage, you'll be hooked, reading everything you can find, gobbling up the jargon.

*Divided routines--in this case, doing lower body work on one day, upper body the next. There are other ways to divide but that's the way this book does it. The theory is that, not working the same parts two workouts in a row, you'll recover better and thus make better gains. Sometimes it works that way.

**3 times a week, L-M-H--the gold standard workout of strength training. In this regimen you choose 3-6 exercises, usually one per movement (a fairly standard routine would be: one upper body push, one upper body pull, one squat variation, one lower back exercise and one abdominal exercise) and you work them all in each workout, training three times a week, with one Light, one Medium, and one Heavy session. You can vary the weight used or, in the case of calisthenics, the difficulty of the exercises used, to achieve this variety, the difference between Light, Medium, and Heavy, but, more typically (and usually more effectively), the same weights and/or exercises are used and the sets and reps are varied instead. Most trainees find that keeping the sets constant as well, varying only the reps, is most effective.

***Periodization, in its simplest definition, means varying the difficulty of your workouts, not going all-out every time. The above L-M-H program is one way of doing this. There are dozens of others. However you do it--and, again, Lauren does a great job with periodization in You Are Your Own Gym--you do have to do it. Going all-out, lifting your heaviest weights for the most reps all the time, leads first to plateau-ing, then burnout (both physical and mental) and, then, if you're persistent enough about it, to injury. And it doesn't matter whether the weight you're lifting is a barbell or your own body, the same rules apply.

I initially bought this book looking for body-weight exercises to supplement my regular routine which is based on materials by Mark Hatmaker and Matt Furey. I was pleasantly surprised and soon found out that Mark Lauren's program is very sophisticated and effective. I might even go so far to say that Lauren's program is superior to the other materials above because it incorporates many different exercises and routines which keeps one from reaching a plateau or getting bored.

I only give it 4/5 stars because some of the exercises require some equipment and I wouldn't feel comfortable doing some of the exercises with the household items shown (for example, pull ups on a door is really creative but could cause some damage).

One of the best fitness books I have read overall, easy to understand and use. The book does a good job of discussing variants on the excersises to make it easier or harder, depending on your level of fitness. It doesn't advocate a fad diet or expect you to do a 4 hour work out every day. I have been doing the first class program and I found that it usually takes me about 32 minutes. Overall great book.

Pros:
- Easy to understand
- Pictures help where words can't
- easy to follow diet
Cons:
-Pictures black and white (seriously nitpicking though)

3.5/5 stars
As a catalog of various bodyweight exercises, this is a great book. There are illustrated examples of exercises targeting different muscle groups and variants of each for beginner and advanced levels, i.e., the easy variants targeting those who are starting out and not strong enough to do the actual exercise (like pull ups) and the advanced movements challenge even those who are adept by using leverage and off-balance positions. So not a bad book overall (especially for the price) until you look at the explicit claims made right on the cover and an implicit one conveyed through the title.

1. Back cover says "For men and women of all athletic abilities".
In my opinion, bodyweight exercises by their very nature require a certain amount of base fitness. For someone that is overweight or obese, I doubt they can do even a few reps of the easiest variants of the exercises shown, let alone "ladders" and "supersets" which feature very early on in the author's 'Basic Program' for beginners. This wouldn't be such an issue if the author were upfront about this. But the author is against cardio of any kind and insists exclusively on his bodyweight program and a paleo/low-carb diet for losing weight. I don't want to get into the whole paleo subject as I think there are multiple ways for people to be healthy depending on their metabolic makeup. As for cardio, perhaps if one is already fit, then it may not be as necessary as the author says but for me personally, I've had success in the past losing weight doing cardio. So I prefer the diet and exercise philosophy in another bodyweight-training book Convict Conditioning: How to Bust Free of All Weakness--Using the Lost Secrets of Supreme Survival Strength which is simpler and focuses on eating 3 square meals a day at fixed times and eschewing diets and fancy calculations for calorie and protein intake.

2. The implicit 'No Equipment' claim
As other reviewers have pointed out, "you are your own gym" does not mean you do not needs "things", such as tables, doors, brooms, blocks etc to do the exercises as illustrated in the book. I wish authors in this genre of books recommended something like the Body Vision PT600 Power Tower with accessories for doing most of the exercises and THEN recommend some variations as options when travelling. If someone is seriously looking to get into shape but does not want an expensive gym membership one could do worse than buying a few dumbbells and a pullup bar instead of using brooms, milk-jugs and stuffed backpacks like the author recommends. It's more of a hassle (and can be actually accident-prone) to concoct these so-called no-gym options then it is to invest in some minimal equipment.

3. Progressions and Tempo
I think one of the weak points of the book is the whole progression routine for beginners. I wish it was simpler and easier to follow. The intervals, ladders, supersets etc get confusing. Not to mention one has to look at the exercises up by name and connect it to the program listing in the back of the book. In this case again, I found the progressions in 'Convict Conditioning' much more focused, simpler and easier to follow in terms of tempo and sets. Also, while that book focuses on a few compound routines, YAYOG gets into targeting individual body parts such as abs etc exclusively fairly early on ( I like YAYOG's variations for advanced followers such as the exercises targeting calves, shoulders etc). I bought the accompanying iphone app for this book per another reviewer and it makes some of these criticisms go away, but it would be unfair to rate this book on the iphone app's strength. But if you're going to buy this book, spend another 3 bucks and get the iphone app. It makes it this book so much more useful as a reference.

All in all, I like this book and I think I'll use it along with 'Convict Conditioning' in building a diet and exercise routine that works for me. I hope with this review, you too have a better understanding of what you're getting.

I, personally, do my training in a gym. Having said that, I do not want to be dependant upon a gym always being available to be. If I am on holiday, for example, or if for work I am in a hotel with no fitness suite, what are you going to do? As long as you have the willpower to push yourself to really throw yourself into these methods, you can get a great workout. Of course there is nothing cheaper than bodyweight training. There is also a lot to be said about a person really mastering their own body. This book explores many methods and describes them well. The book gets right to the point and gives all the detail you need.

Great book on body weight exercises for overall health. It gives you information on exercise myths, how to stay motivated, intensity, alternatives and many variations of body weight exercises for the beginner to advanced. Good explanations on how to perform the exercises with good kindle friendly pictures on each individual exercise. I like that it gives you some options on performing your exercises anywhere to maximize your gains. Overall a thorough book on body weight exercise science this one should be included in your library.

This book goes GREAT with the APP available on most smart-phones, as it is based on this book. But it gives what a lot of folks need, structure, and freedom. There are 10-week plans for anyone that needs the structure, but also there is the freedom to change the exercise to anything you want from the category you're changing (push, pull, arms, etc). Very versatile and easy to use, each exercise is broken down on how to do it with comprehensive pictures.

You are your own gym

Mark does a fantastic job building a solid foundation for developing a workout regime. He covers nutrition, aerobic exercises (and why bodyweight exercises are better for losing weight), and offers multiple exercises that vary as much in difficulty as which muscles receive a workout. His website seems like a shameless plug, but actually does offer itself to be a helpful complement to this book. The exercises are simple, and Mark recommends you develop it ala carte based on your abilities and needs. It's not a fad or diet, but instead is a good way to shape up your muscles and build up strength.

Overall: 5/5 stars

As a person who specializes in teaching others body weight only exercises and is the author ofAgeless Beauty & Timeless Strength: A women's guide to building upper body strength without any special equipment I was very pleased to find a bunch of body weight exercises I have never seen before. Mark Lauren does a good job of communicating the many benefits of this type of exercise. And while he does talk a lot about his experience in the military it is good to know that these exercise are so effective that our military is using them to train recruits. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to build strength and get in shape using just their body.

I purchased this book several months ago and absolutely LOVE it! Yes, a couple of typo's, etc, but overall content is top notch. The book is packed with tons of bodyweight exercises (about 125 I believe) & photo illustrations. Plenty of variety and exercises to last a lifetime. I have been doing only bodyweight exercises from this book (and a few of my own) for a few months now and am getting very nice results. It is amazing how much these exercises can work your entire body and supporting muscles. It's great not having to go to a gym or rely on equipment to get a good workout. I would highly recommend buying a copy for yourself and anyone else you know! I also purchased the iPhone app and it is great as well. Awesome book Mark!

I'll make this brief; the book is phenomenal, discusses nutrition, exercise routines and the minimalistic workout can be done virtually anywhere. I'm done with a full workout in less time than it usually takes me to suit up and drive to the gym and back, which is excellent. Furthermore, the quality of these body weight exercises is, in my opinion, superior to any gym equipment as it works the stabilizer muscles more and has a more balanced approach to true health. Buy this book, not a gym membership. You probably would only use your gym membership for a month or two anyway ;)

A co-worker recommended this book. I was toying with the notion of a home gym, but this book makes more economical and space availability sense for me. I'm in decent shape, but no marathoner by any means. I am just starting the basics, and have discovered that several of the exercises are those my physical therapist taught me to strengthen my back. Also, two exercises were ones I unknowingly did daily while cleaning houses! So far, the exercises and pep talks in this book are interesting. Eager to start and see results.

I'm a PhD student in Computer Science. Needless to say my day consists of sitting in a chair for more than 8 hours a day. This takes a toll on your body and eventually working out doesn't help enough. The suggestion by some is to do different sports, but I didn't have a lot of time.

Well apparently this book has been fixing me with a minimal time investment. The workouts are interesting and don't leave me bored. And, my body feels more alive for the entire day after doing them. My awareness of my own body has increased as a result.

I highly suggest you try this book if you need exercise but have limited time.

Great program. Book explains the whys of strength training without lifting weights, as well as clearly explains the exercises. There is a lot of good content. Exercises cover the spectrum from beginner to advanced with lots of variations and wll kick your butt at every level. Especially useful for me have been the week by week training programs that are already laid out for you.

Phenomenal for the weight lifter looking to switch to body weight.
As a long-time weight lifter for both competitive sports and general fitness, the exercises in this book truly trump weight lifting in most areas. The workouts build stability and balance as well as strength, which is almost entirely overlooked in many workout programs. The variety of exercises available do a great job of keeping bordom at bay, and the variety in difficulty in exercise variants for many of the motions let a wide range of abilities participate.

I can't comment on the written workout plans, I don't use them.

Gym is the key word in the title, diet and general health info is limited, the book focuses almost entirely on the workouts.

Each exercise has extensive instructions, so as long as you have some basic experience with physical activity you will be happy with this book. However, if you are completely new to the physical world, I would pick a more basic book with more of an emphasis on proper form.

If you're curious about trying bodyweight training you should buy this book. You will NOT be disappointed!

The book covers topics such as "Classic Cardio vs High Intensity Interval Training", "What is fitness?", Nutrition, etc. Then it gets down to business and the rest of the book is all about the bodyweight exercises, followed by the superb 10-week training program which is escalating in intensity. There are four different 10-week programs, depending on your current level of fitness, which is separated into "Beginner", "1st Class", "Master Class" or "Chief Class".

I am a 31 year old man and have been working out in gyms on and off for 14 years and my fitness level is decent. I have read countless books and magazines on weight training. I have been using the methods found in "You Are Your Own Gym" for 25 days now and I'm so happy with the results. Buying this book was the best thing I've done so far this year. I cancelled my membership at the local gym, for which I paid about six times the price of this book every month!

Five strong stars for "You Are Your Own Gym". Highly recommended!

This is an excellent foundation companion to the app by the same name found on iTunes. In my opinion, the app is superior to the book because the latest version contains timed workouts, HD videos of each workout that shows the exact correct technique, automatic tracking of your progress, voice prompts, and it is cheaper. I purchased the book when the app was in version 1.0 - since that time the app has progressed substantively. The book is nice to have, but the app and app explanation behind each workout is completely adequate.

My husband and I have been doing the workouts for almost a year and they definitely deliver...It is challenging, but if done on a regular basis will increase strength, speed, muscle mass,tone, stability, balance and function and will increase energy and stamina as well. The workouts typically last anywhere from 10-30 minutes depending on what workout is done for the day. I find it very easy to commit to this program because it doesn't require a huge time investment.

Loved this book! He starts out with some biographical information that gives you an idea of his background and philosophy on staying physically fit. There are so many exercises outlined here with detailed instructions and step by step photographs. You can do them all without special equipment in your own home. There are also many variations on how to make the moves more intense as you progress. He also suggests some ways to combine the exercises into routines in the latter part of the book. Highly recommended!

The heart of this book is the Programs which begin on page 143. There are four 10 week programs which span basic to Master class levels of ability. These are carefully thought out to vary in intensity, frequency and muscle groups. I have finished week 5 of the basic workout and am impressed with the way my body is changing shape. The author provides these as detailed examples but encourages the reader to use her imagination and improvise creatively.

Editing could be better as many have commented, but that is of little consequence as all of the exercises are clearly explained with numerous photographic illustrations. I have read the whole book once through but repeatedly read only the program outlines and associated exercise descriptions and these are pretty good.

There is a helpful index of all the exercises on page 55, but it better placed at the end of the book. I have taken to penciling in the page numbers next to the exercise names in the programs.

All of the exercise set types (ladders, interval sets, super sets, strappers, tabatas) are explained just prior to the program descriptions (at least one reviewer has incorrectly said otherwise). However, there is ambiguity about how to interpret these explanations. For example on page 141 in the explanation of Interval sets a bullet point is: "6-12 reps per set"; but on page 51 Interval sets are described as going "to failure". I think it would help to have a sample actual work out explicitly spelled out in minute by minute detail. Alternatively, a Youtube video link would be very helpful.

The author is not opposed to lifting weights (disguised as milk jugs filled with water, backpacks filled the brick, etc) but these are usually as suggestions to make an exercise more difficult. Minimal equipment is required - most importantly a door, a table, a chair, a towel, etc. However, you can "upgrade" as you like. I prefer to use Maximum Fitness Gear All-In-One Doorway Chin-Up Bar with Bonus Top 20 Exercises To Six Pack Abs Guide with homemade straps to do some of the exercises.

The author has a website with a forum which may turn out to be a useful ancillary resource for questions and explanations. ([...]).

I have increased my protein intake per the advice in the book, but I also have balanced that with calcium and vit. D supplements because it is known that increased protein intake has a side effect of decreasing calcium. (Per Wikipedia under Calcium: "Research has found an association between diets high in animal protein and increased urinary calcium loss from the bones.")

What I like most about this book is that is a complete exercise program spelled out in detail. Furthermore, once I have completed a least one of the 10 week programs, I will have the tools to create my own program using the principles I learned for a lifetime of fitness.

...seriously - 11 pm at night - in my pajamas - using my couch, dining table, coffee table - KICKED my toosh - and I only had to suffer for 30 minutes. I can do this on a regular basis - I feel like getting back in shape after 3 years of being sedentary is an actual possibility. I bought the book for my mother-in-law, husband (a faithful gym-goer his whole life), and 2 cousins. I have the paper-back edition, and just bought the kindle for pc edition so that I can workout during my lunch break at work. And never again will we be limited to only booking hotels with gyms for my husband, who needs to work out daily for his sanity.

I really like the book, and the author knows what he's talking about. even the nutritional info isn't wrong a lot.

There are 125 exercises in the book which makes it a great reference tool when working out. The exercise regime is great and pretty much for everyone.

The only con i can come up with is that some exercises are far from bodyweight, i.e. require the use of weights, even if not in the form of dumbells. Another thing is that there are virtually no exercises for the upper back which don't involve suspending yourself from a monkey bar, a tree branch, pull up bar, or your door (which i wholeheartedly don't recommend, since my door certainly wouldn't suspend my weight). And there exist dynamic resistance exercise for the back which do the trick, just aren't mentioned.

Yes. Myself.

This is one of the most thorough introductions to bodyweight training I have ever read. Keep in ind it is also the only one. Its informative in telling you what muscles you're working and why, it even has a whole section that teaches you how to properly perform the exercises. I was no disappointed in the LEAST with this book. I love this book so very much.

Also, I like cute muscley men on the covers of my books. That's a plus for me.

If your search is for the truth about nutrition and you want a complete list of exercises that are well-described and photographed providing you with all the information needed for a lifetime of full-body exercise you can do anywhere, then this is the one book you don't want to miss.

Pros: Zero-hype, solid nutritional data in plain speech, exhaustive list of well-written exercise descriptions and photos, exercises divided into categories for easy reference and workout planning

Cons: None

5 Stars all

besides reading most of the websites related to fitness and weight loss, I also read few books purchased from the store, I already reached the diet that works for me, and have a fitness club superscription ongoing (which unfortunately can't end till another year ).

I have read the whole book in few hours, and the good things I can say about it are:

- It is realistic, practical and doable, furthermore it gives a guideline on how to manipulate an exercise difficulty, and workout difficulty.
- The way the author talks (writes) is very affective and motivating, I liked it.
- There are many exercises in this book (104), and also ready programs for all fitness levels (4) and it helps you decide what fitness level you have easily in order to know where to start.
- The way he approaches food and diet is simple and clear, yet he puts clear and simple steps on what is the right diet program, he didn't come with something new than what is written in many websites, he just put it in one place and in a simple way.

I always believed that it is possible to have good fitness level without using any equipment, but didn't find enough information on the internet, this book put them all together, I did only the first day of the program so far, I might update the review with more details later.

This book is perfect for those people wanting to exercise in a simple yet very effective way. Gym memberships are expensive in my country, so I wanted to take a different approach to my training. The book is truly a bible of bodyweight exercises, but the part that really does it for me is where Mr. Lauren lays out four different programs based on one's level of fitness, it's a great starting point, and he gives the guidelines to designing our own program based on our own needs and abilities. Nobody argues about the efficiency of the exercises and the programs, the only criticism the book has got concerns the use of household items such as chairs, shelves, brooms or doors for exercises, in the authors defense he does advice the reader to use such items ONLY if 100% sure of their safety, I think what the author is proposing is that with a little creativity and will one can find a way to do the exercises with few if no equipment, but I think in future printings he shouldn't shy from advicing the purchase of a few items, that are (in my opinion) necessary for making the best out of his program. Those items would be a chin up bar, a dip station and an interval timer. If, like the author states, you are saving tons of money from cancelling your gym membership, and the program he proposes aims for keeping you in shape for life, what's the matter with spending a little money on equipment that's useful for as long as you use them? If one wants to make some changes in life, like being on the best shape ever, one needs to make some sacrifices, be it time, effort, or money.

We purchased this book for my husband. He enjoys Beachbody videos, like Insanity, etc. He wanted to buy more of them, but we didn't have the money in our budget. He decided on this instead and is easily able to get a great workout using the moves in it. It has easy to understand drawings to show how to perform the exercises.

Excellent book on exercises that can be done at home with a minimum of equipment. Book is geared for the inexperienced or the workout jock and the exercises are from easy to very difficult. I have been working out at home for years just using my body weigh and this book does a nice job of supplementing what I have been doing.

this book is packed with so many practical ideas and advice for the heavy biz traveler who has every intention of exercising (by staying at hotels with gyms) but can never carve out the time. Especially liked the part about "cardio being a waste of time." I still do cardio, but because it feels good not because of weight loss. But overall there are amazing tidbits of information and knowledge that I found really interesting. And by knowing exactly what the exercises do for you, along with the "how and why" it motivates you to do them.

Mark Lauren is definitely his own gym. It is amazing how easy it is to get an incredible workout in very little time, no matter where you are. One of the best benefits of using gravity and your own body weight for workouts is how much better this is for developing core strength and balance. Almost every exercise shown can be made as easy or as challenging as one would like, simply by making a few adjustments. This is a great reference book with plenty of exercises to choose from. My only knock on the book is that some of the uses of furniture and doors would be unrealistic to use all the time in your own home without ripping your door hinges from the wall or blowing out a bookshelf. However, the exercises are sound. Just use good judgement and improvise by using safe and sturdy options around the house, yard, or park.

Best workout book that I have read. Very practical in that it requires no special equipment, and the workout program gets results. There is also an app for your phone called bodyweight training that is very convenient and steps you through the 10 week training programs with video and audio instructions. I highly recommend both the book and the app!

For anyone interested in shaking up their current fitness regime or beginning one for the first time this Mark Lauren covers the spectrum. I have been active all of my life and have experimented with various training styles/methods to stay physically fit for rock and ice climbing and martial arts. The 10 week workout plans are fantastic in their balance, creativity and non-stagnating excercise pairings. Despite what some criticize as debunked science I would disagree the nutrition and health section is applicable and accurate. Keep in mind some needs/suggestions are geared towards those who are already active. The comment about you "needing equipment for half the exercises" makes me wonder how spartan some people live. If you don't have two chairs or a broom I imagine your life is difficult enough that you probably aren't worried about fine tuning a home based excercise regime.

Currently recovering from ankle surgery so can't start the full program. Like the philosophy and depth of workouts. At 65 years old and slightly overweight will definitely be at basic level. Have down many of the exercises in my passed workouts. Looking forward to using this balanced program.
One thing that bother me throughout the book was the numerous typos - and poor editing. Found it to be distracting.

I learned many useful things from this book. For me it was especially good in making me enter more in the fitness mentality. The chapter on motivation is a masterpiece and convincing, with facts presented to support what he says.
I tried the exercises I was pleasantly surprised: they can really bring your muscles to failure.
The chapter on nutrition has a few not exact things: potatoes that he advise, are not good for a healthy diet. They go together with the bad guys: sugar, bread, white rice that have high glycemic index.
If I could suggest a very beautiful book on nutrition: Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating. With this book I completely changed the way I eat.

Excellent.
His story is very interesting and great tips for maintaining a healthy weight.
The excises are great.
Gives you instruction on how build up to pushups and pull-ups and lots of other exercises.
So if your 80 and can not do a pushup you will soon.

I have never in my life been so sore. Considering this was from Beginner week one and I was in the Military I think it speaks volumns for the effectiveness of this program. It is working. No pain No Gain. Not even the gym has been this effective. Be ready to cancel your gym membership and feel he burn. No nonsense approach to changing you body and your life.

Just did my first workout today. I'm pleased with the book, the layout and the program thus far. Even as a beginner to serious fitness it was easy to read, understand and get started.

Just to clarify you cannot do ALL the exercises with no equipment at all. However, the equipment called for is all simple, everyday type objects such as books, ledges, chairs, heavy boxes, doors, etc. And there are still a good many you can do anytime, anywhere.

This book really works and is full of wisdom. You can agree or disagree with some nutritional data in it, but the well programmed and scheduled approach to training, as well as the light way in which the book is written, as well as pictures of each one of the recommended exercises, as well as the forum support which the author provides, as well as many other facts, make this book just great. I've been training according to it for about half a year now and I am totally satisfied with the results. I would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in training at home and have the body, as well as health, that he wants.

When I first saw some of the workout routines and exercises suggested, I thought I had wasted my money on the book but, once I actually gave them a chance and started on the programs, I found them to be a challenge and something I could really use as a bodyweight workout program.
The book has now become my official exercise bible. The workout routines are simple to follow yet physically challenging. And he leaves you room to adjust the difficulty of each exercise to fit your own level of ability.
The beginning of the book spent a little too much time trying to convince me why his way is the best way. As if he was trying to sell me a product I have already bought. And, on some of the exercises, could have used a little more detailed description on proper form so that I could make sure I was doing them right.
Still, a worthwhile investment for someone looking to exercise without having weights or a gym membership.

We ordered this book because we were tired of having all this equipment around and with traveling it rally makes it complicated to keep up with your work out. Both my husband and I can use it. It fits our strength level and it comes with complete information of how to create your own workouts. I am rally pleased with it.

First the weaknesses:

1. As a professor emeritus of biochemistry and an avid student of exercise physiology (I am a former marathoner and triathlete), I must say that some of the details the science in this book are not supported by the research but are the authors opinions. For example, the benefits of aerobic exercise are well known and well established, for heart health and emotional well being. There is no reason for the author to try to pit his program against that of runners, cyclists, and swimmers. Besides, aerobic exercises have benefits that go well beyond looking good and losing weight. Furthermore, the authors recommended amount of fat in the diet far exceeds the required amount for normal humans and is actually unhealthy for the heart. The recommended 30% fat in the diet might work for strength training but it is miserable for heart health.

2. I was hoping that all the exercises could be done in a hotel room, but alas, many of the exercises require specific types of chairs, tables, doors, shelves, boxes, books, etc., that are not normally found in a hotel room. I was surprised at the "equipment" needed in a book that is supposed to be all about using only the body as a gym. For example, I temporarily live in an apartment in Spain, and my apartment doesn't have a table on which I could do Let Me Ups nor a doorway that would let me do Chin-ups.

3. As a 68-year-old man, I'm just not in the kind of shape that I can do even the most basic exercises for the time recommended by the author (as other reviewers have mentioned).

Now for the strengths:

The above problems are not that difficult to overcome. The bad science might be a weakness, but it is only a minor distraction from the main purpose of the book: to provide a great set of body-weight exercises that can be done at home, in an apartment, or on the road.

With creativity, most people will be able to find substitute exercise (or, for weaklings like myself, less time on each exercise) with the equipment and furniture at hand. For example, I have an elastic exercise band that I carry with me when I travel that I can use instead of many of the exercises that require furniture or books (as weights) or other hard-to-find items.

The key to making use of the book is to adapt the daily routines to personal needs, fitness level, and equipment available. I plan my own program, trying to get in at least one of each of the four major types of exercise each day: Push, Pull, Legs, and Core.

The bottom line is that this is an excellent book for what it is intended to be. The title says it all: You Are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises. Readers just need to be a little careful with some of the science and do some creative personalization of the exercise programs. Combined with the iPad app that has videos of most of the exercises, this is a great strength-training system.

I've tried plenty of different exercise programs over the years, but this one beats them all. Straightforward, informative, inspirational, practical, and--best of all--exercise equipment free! Pair the book with the amazing free iPhone app, and you're golden!

Excellent exercises at minimal cost to workout the whole body. They can all be done in your own home or apartment. Each exercise is rated by difficulty, and also describes the muscles emphasized in the exercise. There are workout programs for varying abilities; something for everyone. Each exercise has a 'Ready to kick it up a notch?' section at the bottom of the page, to increase intensity. A few excercises give variations to build up to the main exercise.

I bought this book to complement a small workout area in my basement, and I have been doing the exercises for about a month. The author does a great job explaining in detail how to perform the exercises, as well as how to "step it up" for an even more difficult version of the same exercise. There are many exercises in this book that I would have never even thought of...and ones that are deceptively difficult and very effective. I highly recommend this book!

Of all the exercise books and magazines I have read or skimmed through, this is probably the best overall book for bodyweight exercises. The author presents a gamut of exercises for the whole body, with illustrations.

I highly recommend this book. It would be great if he had a video with a few programmed routines such as one for upper body, one for lower body, an overall total body workout or perhaps a five day exercise regimen.