E-book review - In praise of living 'fountains of youth'
by Lauren Muney
"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Authors/publishers Jon Benson and Tom Venuto (author of best-selling "BurnThe Fat, Feed the Muscle") have debuted long-needed role-models into health, fitness, and personal excellence. Their new collaborative e-book, "Fit Over 40: Role Models for Excellence At Any Age" brings together over 50 people who have surmounted incredible physical, emotional, and/or situational odds to be fit and healthy -- all at ages over 40. At a time when many people are giving up expecting to be at their physical best, the people between the pages of "Fit Over 40" are just beginning the best years of their lives.
This book isn't simply a collection of success stories, there are also many incredible chapters from two fitness, nutrition, and motivational coaches who share proven methods of training, eating, thinking, talking to your physicians, how to change 'stuck' mindsets into becoming just like the people in those success stories.
(Shown here: Tom Venuto, author of "Fit Over 40" and Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle" )
Here are some of the educational and motivational chapters contained within "Fit Over 40: Role Models for Excellence":
Now, before I start the actual book review, I should confess that I am actually one of the people in the book! The invitation came as a complete surprise to me, yet it gave me a chance to participate in the opportunity to change lives in a personal, yet widespread way. My appreciation of "Fit Over 40" comes heartfelt; I knew that Jon and Tom created the book to reach others who might need inspiration in their own lives.
Due to my experience in the fitness field, I was asked if I would help find some of the contributors. Excited to meet some of these extraordinary people firsthand, I set about trolling every inch of the Internet, magazines, books, and even word of mouth to seek over-40 role models. Who I found astounded me, their stories awed me, and their inspiration turned my own life around -- long before the book was delivered to you. I am deeply enriched by simply being a previewer of what you also deserve to see.
Despite my participation, the book itself is extraordinary. I wouldn't have accepted an invitation to participate if I didn't believe wholeheartedly in the principle of "Fit Over 40": strategies, stories, and game-plans from 52 timeless individuals whose own lives create the plans. These are no fads and no one is encouraging you to purchase funny powders or devices. These are people who live on your street and shop in your stores - these are people who cried "no more" until their lives said "yes yes!". They offer you their wisdom, their experiences, their eating and training methods, and, best of all, snapshots into their mindset. (pictured here: 61-year-old novelist David Marlow from Los Angeles, CA)
In each chapter the individuals speak in their own words about "How I think", "How I train", and "How I eat". Any reader can spot similarities and differences in methods - yet none of these youthful, healthy people talk about book-diets or multi-hour workouts. They discuss training 'smarter, not harder', lay out examples of their exact food quantities, discuss whether they supplement or not, and even show you the life-road they have walked.
The reader is free to identify with any story and take the lessons as needed, or find peace in knowing that every story is different, and he/she can find his/her own path also!
As author Jon Benson states,
"This book is a reflection.. of 52 individuals, all from various backgrounds, ages and mindsets. You'll find everything from high protein meat-eaters to vegans; from high-intensity, low-volume trainers to people who hit the gym every single day. No one is wrong - and your conclusions will be the right ones for you if you decide to take for yourself the wisdom found in these pages and create your own personalized fitness lifestyle. It will ultimately become your destiny, your foundation for this temporal life, and your own fountain of youth.
"Fit Over 40" is not just for people over forty years of age. As many people inspired me twenty to fifty years my senior, my hope is that others will find similar inspiration from these mentors-no matter your age. .. For those of you over 40, this is a veritable treasure chest of inspiration and application."
Yes. Yes, we do need another book. Because our bookshelves are full of pseudo-famous people looking to make a buck, or famous people needing an extra income stream by paying for ghostwriters to help them write cookbooks or health books.
We need to not only have bookshelves full of artistic novels, of non-fiction information books, but tomes full of real-lives of people who have been through the wringers and came up smiling, healthy, and inspiring others. We need advice from people who have been there, discarding what doesn't work, and proving what does work.
Where will you find these people? They are in your gym, sweating right next to you. They are in your grocery store, thumping vegetables or reading labels. They are the people you see in the street whose ages you cannot guess, but they are shining with a glow so bright you cannot imagine their ages. They are all ages 40-90 (yes, to 90!) and they are all brimming with life and vitality. They are regular people, not movie stars, or carved-marble personalities. (pictured here: Kelly Nelson, age 75 years young!)
They are the people who deserve you to hear their story, instead of your anger that they are "too skinny". They fought the heavy battle yet you see the victory dance -- instead of celebrating for themselves, they invite you into their party and invite you to partake of the spoils.
Tim Westcott was a drunk and a drug addict for 33 years, even living in the street; he's now a champion bodybuilder, sober for years. Jon Blackburn was "way fat" and couldn't even bring groceries into his house, and now he's fit. Spice Williams died twice and was paralyzed, now a famous stuntwoman and health lecturer . . . these are just a few of the 52 stories you need to read, view, and take-in each story and how they can work for you.
And if you don't think they are real people - each story has an email to contact the person for advice or even to say hello.
Some of these people look (and hobby) as bodybuilders; does that mean that each reader will be striving-for and/or becoming a bodybuilder? Surely not - and perhaps you will sigh relief to know that you don't have to be one. You can read about "How to think" about fitness and health, apply the principles, but stop short before the "bodybuilding stage" - and move to your own goals.
(pictured above and below: the extraordinary Marty Webb, age 61: BEFORE and AFTER - she didn't start training until age 59) 
So many of these people are asked daily, "How did you get in such fantastic shape and defy your age?" -- here are their stories, their regimens, their balancing of time-constraints, even overcoming personal challenges to show their 'internal' age: "timeless".
Each reader can take the thoughts and apply as needed to his/her own life.
And, as if these stories aren't excitement enough, fitness authors/publishers Tom Venuto and Jon Benson each share tips for creating the best fitness possible - without fancy drugs, powders, surgeries, or "get skinny fast" tricks.
I am honored to be a part of this project, to have met some of these people, and to help a little corner of the fitness world.
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