"Younger Next Year * For Women"
A self-possessed exercise nut goes to his doctor and his doctor says, "ramp up your exercise level". So he does, he gets really fit, he starts hanging out with masters athletes, and he writes (with his doctor) the book "Younger Next Year: Turn Back Your Biological Clock". It sells modestly well, so he gets a contract to write one with "* for Women" in a smaller font on a pink cover.
The internist is fine, he is giving actual medical discussion. I grow weary of the times he assures us that metabolic functions are unisex. I feel like we could have taken that as a given, and wonder who they're trying to convince. But the (now 72) year old guy, Chris Crowley, is a chatty bro who assures us dames that he can find us sexier if we just weight lift. Here's an actual paragraph (from page 209.)
"The real goal is to be a terrific-looking woman ... of precisely your age. And THAT you can do. And people won't be able to take their eyes off you. I go to spinning class all the time, right? And, I confess shyly, I sometimes while away the dismal hours by looking at the dozens of pretty women in the room. Women from twenty-something to sixty-something. And sure enough, in the heat and sweat of that roaring work-out room, the women I watch - the women about whom a less saintly man than I might fantasize a little - are the ones in great shape. That's what's seductive. You look at the ropy arms, the powerful, pumping thighs on those sweat-soaked bodies, and think, Yes, by heaven. THAT would be fun. The pretty faces get some attention, sure, but in this world, where everyone is more or less naked, it's being in great shape that starts the fantasies flaming. And you do not have to be young to be in great shape. Not one bit."
This book not only has no female writers, there are apparently no female editors involved. The original edition is in 2004 and was redone in 2007 (maybe to add the *for Women?) and the science of metabolism has aged very well, but the rape-culture "work out so random men will fantasize about jumping you" model has NOT aged well. (Truth be told, it didn't appeal to me in 2004, either, when I was writing on misc.fitness.weights about wanting to wear a burkha in the weight room.)
I like the doctor's voice and I like the reminder that exercise is the fountain of youth. I was hoping to hear more about how exercise and hot flashes interacted (haven't so far.) I think there are some stronger chapters coming so I'm going to keep with this book, but now I understand why it was marked down in a bargain bin. This guy is NOT encouraging me to get fit. In fact, being a fat middle-aged woman is good PRECISELY because you are invisible to men like him.
The internist is fine, he is giving actual medical discussion. I grow weary of the times he assures us that metabolic functions are unisex. I feel like we could have taken that as a given, and wonder who they're trying to convince. But the (now 72) year old guy, Chris Crowley, is a chatty bro who assures us dames that he can find us sexier if we just weight lift. Here's an actual paragraph (from page 209.)
"The real goal is to be a terrific-looking woman ... of precisely your age. And THAT you can do. And people won't be able to take their eyes off you. I go to spinning class all the time, right? And, I confess shyly, I sometimes while away the dismal hours by looking at the dozens of pretty women in the room. Women from twenty-something to sixty-something. And sure enough, in the heat and sweat of that roaring work-out room, the women I watch - the women about whom a less saintly man than I might fantasize a little - are the ones in great shape. That's what's seductive. You look at the ropy arms, the powerful, pumping thighs on those sweat-soaked bodies, and think, Yes, by heaven. THAT would be fun. The pretty faces get some attention, sure, but in this world, where everyone is more or less naked, it's being in great shape that starts the fantasies flaming. And you do not have to be young to be in great shape. Not one bit."
This book not only has no female writers, there are apparently no female editors involved. The original edition is in 2004 and was redone in 2007 (maybe to add the *for Women?) and the science of metabolism has aged very well, but the rape-culture "work out so random men will fantasize about jumping you" model has NOT aged well. (Truth be told, it didn't appeal to me in 2004, either, when I was writing on misc.fitness.weights about wanting to wear a burkha in the weight room.)
I like the doctor's voice and I like the reminder that exercise is the fountain of youth. I was hoping to hear more about how exercise and hot flashes interacted (haven't so far.) I think there are some stronger chapters coming so I'm going to keep with this book, but now I understand why it was marked down in a bargain bin. This guy is NOT encouraging me to get fit. In fact, being a fat middle-aged woman is good PRECISELY because you are invisible to men like him.