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The Happy Body:
The Simple Science of Nutrition, Exercise, and Relaxation by Aniela & Jerzy Gregorek Jurania Press
book review by Jeanette J. Jennis
"Athletes focus on what they do, not on how they look, although beauty comes along anyway. The same principles that work for athletes also work for ordinary people of all ages."
The Gregoreks, world weightlifting champions, produced a practical and personal book that exemplifies the outstanding accomplishments of these two Polish refugees who sought a better way of life by coming to the United States in 1986. Realizing that people of all ages desire good health, including a universal goal to extend an aura of youthfulness, they found their mission as professional coaches.
After thirty years of study and implementation, a system called The Happy Body program emerged. This elegantly illustrated book contains three parts: The Philosophy of the Happy Body, Designing Your Happy Body, and Nourishing Your Happy Body. As outlined, there are six primary qualities of youthfulness: flexibility, strength, speed, leanness, ideal body weight, and good posture. All the How to" is comprehensively covered: achieving desirable body weight proportions with measurement guides for body fat and muscle weight, charts for thirteen body types, exercises that include stretching, weightlifting, and yoga-type postures for developing a strong yet flexible physique, sound nutritional guidelines, and relaxation and breathing techniques to decrease stress. Tables to record your progress are also included.
Written explanations of the various exercises, with full-page photographs take you step-by-step through each process. Artistically rendered, colorful pictures of unique recipes supplied by clients—from soups, stews, salads, eggs, and free-choice dinners—will have you shopping for ingredients and savoring the aromas. Additionally, inspiring stories from people ranging in age from 17-71 are scattered throughout the book, along with quotes from Aristotle to Norman Vincent Peale. The Gregoreks promise, "The Happy Body program will teach you everything you need to know to be your own coach." Are you ready to rethink and reshape your body?