2010 January 21

Today’s question: Who’s your favorite author that other people are NOT reading? The one you want to evangelize for, the one you would run popularity campaigns for? The author that, so far as you’re concerned, everyone should be reading–but that nobody seems to have heard of. You know, not JK Rowling, not Jane Austen, not Hemingway–everybody’s heard of them. The author that you think should be that famous and can’t understand why they’re not…?

This is indeed and excellent question and has made me realise I cannot wait to learn of new authors I probably should be reading but have not.

I am ashamed to admit that I do not think I can answer this question, at least not well. I am well versed in the classics and the authors I have read up to date are usually rather well known. One of my all time favourite authors is P.G. Wodehouse, quite famous, yet I do not recall seeing any of his book titles or his name about. If you have not heard of P.G. Wodehouse, I highly recommend all of his novels.

Anyone can play along each Thursday with Booking Through Thursday.

Title: Denise’s Daily Dozen: The Easy Every Day Program to Lose Up to 12 Pounds in 2 Weeks
Author: Denise Austin
Publisher: Center Street
Publication Date: January 5, 2010
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN: 9781599952444
Genre: Healthy/Fitness

About the Book:

From Denise Austin comes the perfect health book for anyone who wants to live better but just can’t seem to find the time. Much more than just another exercise book, Denise’s Daily Dozen covers a whole range of health and diet related concepts yet manages it all in a no-stress, time-conscious program of 12′s. At it’s core, this book contains the minimum daily requirements to keep the reader flexible, strong and trim. Organized simply into seven chapters, which equal the seven days of the week, it covers a full week in daily allotments. Each day will have it’s own focus from Monday being “fat burning day” to Sunday’s “recharge and rejuvenate.”

Denise has created a total body program, including a 7-day balanced meal plan that includes healthy recipes, and a workout that encompasses 12 exercises done in 12 minutes each day. Everyone can take just 12 minutes, at whatever time of the day works for them, and turn it over to these simple and fun exercises. Cardio, toning, yoga and breathing exercises…they’re all here but in a way the maximizes effect while minimizing time.

Beyond a dozen exercises for each day of the week this book will include many other of Denises dozens for each day.

My Review:

Denise’s Daily Dozen: The Easy, Every Day Program to Lose up to 12 Pounds in 2 Weeks by Denise Austin is a fairly straightforward book in regards to eating nutritiously and exercising daily. In this book, Denise lays out a 21-day plan, focusing on exercising different body parts each day of the week. Along with excellent descriptions and photos of the exercises Denise offers up food plans for men and women along with numerous tips throughout the book on various topics ranging from de-stressing to choosing healthier alternatives in snacks. I truly enjoyed her exercise program, it is sound, well balanced and offers suburb tips. I found most of her recipes delightful and will be adding the Yogurt Parfait as one of my daily snacks.
The only complaint I have about the book is the unrealistic and potentially dangerous low calories one is allotted during the weeks. During the first week the meals average 1,219 calories for women and 1,490 calories for men. The final week is the most realistic of the 3 weeks averaging in at 1,409 calories women and 1,685 for men. It is easy to see how one could rapidly lose weight merely by sticking to the restricted calories, increasing one’s water intake and doing nothing else. According to Denise Austin’s website, I should consume 1,600 calories a day to lose weight and my husband 1,800 calories. Due to the low calories in all three weeks, my current high activity level, and the copious amounts of water I drink, I chose to add to the nutrition plans by several hundred calories per day. Considering all of Denise Austin’s knowledge and experience I was disappointed to see many meals in the first week were below 1,200 calories. I had hoped for a more realistic eating plan. With that said, I did find Denise Austin’s nutrition advise on pairing up foods for meals to be quite sound and was pleased by her many wonderful food suggestions, directions and tips.
As a whole, this is a superb book, well laid out with wonderful tips and very sound eating advise, save the caloric amounts given in this book. The book is well worth buying for the exercises, numerous and varied tips to live healthier and with less stress, information on how to pair foods, and delicious recipes.

About the Author:

A native of San Pedro, California, Denise started gymnastics at the age of 12 and earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Arizona, graduating in 1979 with an exercise physiology degree. She began her career teaching aerobic exercise classes in the Los Angeles area and went on to cohost the The Jack LaLanne Show, in 1981. (Denise considers Jack LaLanne one of her role models, and she is delighted to still speak regularly with the 94-year-old fitness legend.)
During more than 25 years promoting health and fitness, Denise has created 82 workout videos or DVDs. Her enormous number of sales led to her 2003 induction into the Video Hall of Fame.

Denise has been married for 25 years to Jeff Austin, a sports attorney and brother of tennis champ Tracy Austin. They share a home with their two teenage daughters, Kelly and Katie.

Other Place to find Denise Austin:

I received a free copy of Denise’s Daily Dozen by Denise Austin from Hachette as part of the tour. Receiving a free copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.