Chris Freytag, ShopNBC’s fitness expert and personal trainer, knows that busy families hardly have a minute to spare. Move to Lose is her fitness guide founded on the theory that short spurts of effort over the course of a day the time that many parents spend in the carpool line, for example can make a big difference in energy and stress levels while modeling good behavior for kids. Freytag starts by outlining the building blocks of a healthy lifestyle, including a particularly helpful section on feeding families and what to do when your five-year-old has a tantrum in the cereal aisle. Her simple, illustrated cardio/strength-training program involves walking outdoors or on a treadmill with fun cross-training options, and a time-efficient, Pilates-inspired core body workout that uses dumbbells, resistance bands and an exercise ball to increase strength. Yoga stretches and sample charts for a realistic regimen round out this useful guide for those who are just too busy to get into shape. Deanna Larson is a writer in Nashville.
Valiant Women is a vital and engrossing attempt to correct the record and rightfully celebrate the achievements of female veterans of World War II.
