fitness Archives - Awful Library Books

Let’s Get Physical!

Sexual Fitness
Complete Vitality
Time Life Books
1988

Feeling sluggish and want to get back into a high intensity bedroom “workout”? This is the book for you. Grab your partner and bring on the sexy. Exercise and general fitness is essential for a healthy sex life. Getting in shape with your partner has the added benefit of getting those sexy times started.

We also have lots of options in workout gear. Ladies, break out the tights and leotards for a sleek look. Sexy exercise also includes lots of touching, so evidently the expected “workout” attire is a lace camisole.

Fitness Fun for Kids

July 7, 2020 Holly Health and Safety 5 comments

Let’s Go Out and Play!
Lots & Lots of Fitness Fun for Kids
DVD
2016

Submitter: From a small Midwest public library collection. We’re trying to keep up with the weeding, now that we’re back in the building for the first time in 2+ months. This DVD showed up on the “hasn’t been circ’d in 3 years or more” list. Maybe it’s just me, but couldn’t the graphic designer find a better image than the middle toddler on the cover? That child looks like s/he’s not happy at all to be outside playing, and is 1.5 seconds away from throwing a tantrum. It will shortly be removed from our collection.

Holly: That kid is definitely plotting something. What’s confusing about this to me is that the title, font, and general concept of the DVD seems like it would be for older kids. The toddlers on the cover make me question if this is for kids of all ages, or just little ones. Also, is fitness something parents worry about with toddlers? Sure, we need to pry big kids away from the video games and teach them healthy lifestyles and encourage play. But the kids on the cover are, like, two, and Danger Child is maybe a year old. Do you need a DVD to keep toddlers active?

“New” Data on Aerobics

June 17, 2020 Mary Kelly Health and Safety, Sports, Games, and Exercise 4 comments

The Aerobics Way
New data on the world’s most popular exercise program
Cooper
1977

Aerobics was just beginning to be the exercise fad when this was published. Most folks would probably credit Jane Fonda’s 1982 workout tape. This is more a discussion of aerobic activity and all the supporting data. It really isn’t any kind of workout, but more of the science and studies related to heart and lung function. A dated book, but I have a feeling this became the springboard for the aerobic dancing exercise fad.

Exercise Resolution-80s Style

January 6, 2020 Mary Kelly Sports, Games, and Exercise 4 comments

Aerobic Dancing
Sorensen
1979

Now that we are in January for real (I was in denial), time to get started on those new year’s resolutions. How about you go old school with some aerobic dancing? Although it’s changed a bit over the years, the basics are still out there: music, accelerated heart rate, and some kind of choreography. You can even break out some leg warmers if you want the truly authentic retro experience.

Aerobic dancing was the new thing in the late 1970s and Jane Fonda’s exercise video in 1982 made aerobic dancing a household term. Basically, this was the incorporation of dancing to improve your heart rate and general endurance.

The Over Weight Child

February 25, 2019 Mary Kelly Health and Safety, Parent/Teacher Collection 10 comments

The Over Weight Child Promoting Fitness and Self-Esteem Pitman and Kaufman 2000 I always cringe when I see books that are aimed at these types of problems. From the parent perspective, it is difficult to see a child struggle with

Ultimate Man

March 27, 2018 Mary Kelly Guy Stuff, Looking Good 16 comments

The Man’s Complete Guide to Looking Great The Ultimate Man Post 1978 Guys, you can perfect that oh-so-cool look with help from this book. This book has everything from fashion advice, skin care, diet, exercise, and even plastic surgery. (It

A Perfect Figure in 15 Minutes a Day

November 2, 2017 Mary Kelly Be Pretty, Ladies only!, Sports, Games, and Exercise 6 comments

Debbie Drake’s Easy Way to a Perfect Figure and Glowing Health Drake 1961 Debbie Drake was featured on our site back in 2011 with this exact book. The book’s condition was pretty sad and my scans weren’t very good. It

Workout at the Office

September 15, 2016 Holly Sports, Games, and Exercise, Working 9-5 15 comments

Quick Workouts: Fitness Anytime, Anywhere
Time-Life Books
1987

Submitter: This book is currently on the shelves at a local public library. Who knew people in the 1980’s were so busy that they had to fit in exercise while waiting for the commuter train or even an elevator? I guess I just assumed that they stayed fit & trim by lifting over-sized mobile phones. While a book on this topic could be useful to our modern day inactive office workers, it would really need updated pictures… it’s hard to take a good stretching technique seriously when the demonstrator is wearing giant should pads or a sleeveless sweater.