Bill Phillips had been publishing bodybuilding magazines and marketing nutritional supplements for years when he had a weird revelation at a trade show: many of the most loyal and enthusiastic readers he had were totally out of shape. From that uncomfortable realization came his popular Physique Transformation Contest (top prize that first year: Phillips's own Lamborghini), now world famous, and this book.

The three-times-a-week weightlifting program in Body for Life is deceptively simple. If you've spent any time in the gym, you've already done all the exercises. But Phillips includes a couple of high-intensity sets at the end of each exercise that should compound the training effect on each muscle group. Same goes for the cardiovascular exercise he recommends: just 20 minutes, three times a week. But those 20 minutes are spent jacking the intensity up and down, accomplishing more in less time.

12 Week Wonders

I purchased "Body For Life" and found it an interesting read. It is a bit on the short side after eliminating all the "padding" but the motivational sections alone are worth the price. That is why I give it 3 stars.

BUT LET'S GET REAL! 12 weeks? 4 months? Maybe all of the before pictures are not doctored (although some certainly LOOK a little strange) but common sense and my own experiences in the gym tell me that there is only one way to achieve the massive muscle growth shown in some of the pictures in just 12 short weeks: CHEMICALS.

Steroids, HGH (human growth hormone) and others chemicals CAN produce quick results, but at the expense of your health.

And, yes, when there are huge prizes at stake, there are contestants not above using some illegal substances to give them an edge.

If you think the elemental weight exercises outlined in the book and the downing of Myoplex meal replacement powder will miraculously change you from Clark Kent into Superman in just 12 short weeks, please contact me about purchasing some beachfront property in Omaha!

Yes, huge gains are possible without illegal chemicals. Hard work, careful diet, positive focus, and steely determination will all help. But you might still lag behind those who will risk their health in order to have a fantastic body. What looks great is NOT always healthy.

Also, I don't put much stock in meal replacement powders. Diet is critical, supplements help. But the marketing of an overpriced powder like Myoplex is probably the sole reason for the existence of this book.

Go ahead, improve yourself. But don't get discouraged when you can't achieve results like those in this book in just 4 short months. It takes years! Especially past 35. Trust me on this one.

Sound Advice Great Book!

I have been working out for years and consider myself in top condition so I wasn't exactly looking for an exercise routine, inspiration, guru or whatever.I too thought that the people in the book were roiders and thought NO WAY! Upon reading the book I thought "hey...this makes sense!" and decided to give the initial 12 weeks a try- I was so reluctant and very very skeptical. In fact I wanted this book and his advice to fail.I drafted my best buddy a former college athlete and bodybuilder to try BODY FOR LIFE too. We are in our 6th week and people are asking us what steroids we are using! NONE! Drug Free and we have built quality muscle while increasing our aerobic capacity. This is the real deal and can teach any regular man or woman, die hard fitness fan, athlete or trainer like me a thing or two. The plan stresses common sense, work out smart not hard, its fun nor arduous! Tons of variety.Plenty of rest and real world advice.Finally a book for the everyday Joe from fat to fit who wants to be healthier and guess what? A whole lot buffer! Must buy and ENJOY! Its actually fun!!!

Demanding but sensible

Warning: unless you have the time to spend 60-90 minutes at the gym 6 days per week, skip this program now.

So how can a full life program last only 12 weeks?! Well the idea is that you need a minimum of 12 weeks to get into shape but then supposedly you stick with it in the long run. For most people, this is impractical or impossible - even for 12 weeks. The workout schedule is simply too time consuming. If you're still up for it, read on...

This plan works. I have followed something very similar to it (similar diet but reduced workout schedule) and it transformed me. It is demanding but sensible and you should end up with a long term transformation of your body. This is a no-nonsense approach to the age old adage "eat right and exercise." The author realised that such advice was lost on most people because there is so much confusing advice on what these things mean. So he spells it out for you. If you are determined to succeed, you can't go wrong with this system. I've read them all: Atkins, Eat Right 4 Your Type, The Zone, Fit For Life... BFL is the only plan I'd recommend to friends.

There's one caveat. I have one major problem with BFL which is that it involves pushing Myoplex meal replacements distributed by the BFL corporate vehicle EAS. It is very possible to achieve the same gains without taking expensive meal replacements however you'll have to work that out for yourself.

Toss aside the commercialism and you can find a tough but very good plan here. But because of the blatant advertising, it taints the entire work. I don't like reading a book when I don't entirely trust the motives of the author. For that they lose a star.