Body by Science

Outline

Body by Science (2009) argues that people can build strength and improve health with just one short, intense workout each week. Doug McGuff and John Little explain the science behind high-intensity strength training and describe a simple routine of a few exercises done slowly until the muscles are fully tired. The book shows how this approach can improve fitness, metabolism, and overall health while saving time.

• One short, intense workout each week can be enough to build strength and improve health, according to the authors.
• High-intensity strength training works by taking the muscles to full fatigue rather than adding more hours of exercise.
• The suggested routine is simple: a few exercises, each performed slowly until the muscles are completely tired.
• This approach aims to improve fitness, metabolism, and overall health at the same time.
• Briefer workouts save time, which makes strength training easier to fit into a busy week.

Doug McGuff and John Little bring together medical and fitness expertise. McGuff is an American emergency physician who has long studied and taught high-intensity strength training. Little is a Canadian fitness writer and researcher who has written many books on exercise and martial arts. Together they wrote Body by Science.