It's not all about the jeans; flattening the tummy helps fight "Toxic Fat"--the disease-inducing weight Dr. Pamela Peeke teaches women how to conquer in Body-for-LIFE for Women. Her firm belief is, most women already know what they're supposed to do: eat a balanced diet, ditch junk food, exercise, think positively. Peeke strives to show her "girlfriends" how to accomplish these tasks, customizing plans for young and old. Clients' stories (including a 95-year-old who worked herself out of a wheelchair and into a martial arts class, and a 14-year old who replaced 90 lbs. of fat with a healthy load of self-confidence) lend credence to Peeke's 12-week weight reduction plan; so do the wowsie before-and-after pictures. Gender-specific scientific evidence supports Peeke's premise that women's bodies require different care than men's. But she doesn't stop there.

Read our interview
with Pam Peeke Peeke digs deeper for her audience, defining four hormonal milestones of a woman's life (menarche to beyond menopause) and customizing a physical and mental transformation plan to suit each. Easing off on strict calorie and weight guidelines, she focuses instead on serious fat reduction, muscle improvement, and practical suggestions for self-care. A handful of charts and formulae help readers assess their progress; sample exercises and fitness logs help, too. But for Peeke, weight reduction pales to bolstering a woman's self-worth through nurturing healthier habits. The only rough pill to swallow is Peeke's two-page list of smart foods: it lacks suggestions for turning acceptable proteins, carbohydrates and fats into palatable daily meals. Amazon.com Exclusive Content



From Publishers Weekly
According to Peeke, the unique hormonal and life challenges that all women go through over the course of their lives dramatically affect their ability to "remove" or maintain weight. In this adaptation of the popular Body-for-Life Program, Peeke (Fight Fat After Forty) offers sound nutritional advice and discusses how physiology and genetics influence metabolism. Although she describes how daily stressors and destructive habits can have life-threatening consequences, Peeke primarily aims to remove what she identifies as the greatest obstacle to weight loss--a woman's reluctance to focus on her own needs. While Peeke stresses her program's holistic nature, exercise, she says, is paramount. Photographs and instructions for cardio and resistance training and flexibility exercises will help women develop fitness plans that suit their abilities. But the emphasis on weight training, which Peeke says is essential to weight loss and maintenance, could intimidate readers unaccustomed to much physical activity. Others may have difficulty with the limited food choices in the weight-loss segment of the program, or the amount of time required to make use of its copious tools (journals, checklists, progress reports, etc.). Despite her book's drawbacks, Peeke's style, a mix of cheeky humor and not-so-gentle cajoling, as well as individual success stories, will likely motivate many readers to take the Peeke Challenge and become "Peeke Performers." (Apr.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Review
This book is a really delightful kick in the pants. It’s got everything you need to get the body that will get you through life in great shape.”
-Christiane Northrup, MD, author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause

“Body-for-LIFE for Women is a book that truly incorporates nutrition, exercise and a sound mind to create a blueprint for staying healthy at every stage of life.  Dr. Peeke has written a mind/body program which incorporates the newest science, her incredible expertise in helping women and her friendly tone to provide us with a plan for healthier living that really works! 
  Dr. Peeke explains that mental transformation is the foundation for physical change and that in order to achieve a healthier body, one must have the mindset for success.  She explains why a woman’s attitude about managing the stresses of life while honoring her mind and body are so very important. 
This book is a winner and a true gift for women of all ages.
 -- Kathie and Peter Davis, founders of IDEA Health and Fitness Association


“Body-for-LIFE for Women is a truly inspiring and comprehensive step-by-step guide to creating your best body and your best health. As you read this book it's obvious that Pam walks the talk: She pumps the iron, fuels her body well and has mastered the art of regrouping. Most importantly, she has inspired and mentored hundreds of women from young teens to women in their 90s. This book is sure to light a fire within you and set you on the right path of sound information and training tools so you, too, can totally transform your life and get in your best possible shape and enjoy your greatest happiness ever."
-- Barbara Harris, EVP/Editorial Director, SHAPE magazine


“Dr. Pamela Peeke is a giant in the field of wellness for women. In Body-for-LIFE for Women, she shares with the reader the knowledge that has enabled her to achieve such prominence in this field. A must for any woman who wants to take responsibility for her own health and improve both the quantity and quality of her life--- for life.”
-- Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., founder, chairman & chief executive officer of The Cooper Aerobics Center


"In Body-for-LIFE for Women, Dr. Peeke is at her best.   She motivates and inspires women of all ages to develop an integrated plan for healthier living, showing us how even very small changes can have lifelong implications.   Dr. Peeke emphasizes that in a society when women so often care for others, it has never been more important to care for ourselves, using her Mind-Mouth-Muscle Formula."
-- Amy Niles, executive director, National Women's Health Resource Center


“Body-for-LIFE for Women is must reading for all women. Dr. Pamela Peeke is
really the doc who walks the talk. She draws upon her expertise as a physician, scientist and athlete to provide the information and motivation that women need to begin the personal transformation that leads to optimal mind and body fitness--- for life.
-- James Hill PhD, director, Center for Human Nutrition, University of Colorado and author of The Step Diet


"Dr. Pamela Peeke¹s practical and holistic approach is an integral part of Discovery Health Channel’s National Body Challenge, which has helped thousands of Americans remove weight, get fit and develop healthier lifestyles. Body-for-LIFE for Women is the manual for any woman seeking inspiration and realistic information and advice about fitness."
--Eileen O'Neill, general manager, Discovery Health Channel.



Book Description
The bestselling Body-for-Life™ program is now tailored just for women-to help them achieve dramatic weight loss and body-changing fitness in just 12 weeks!

The #1 New York Times bestseller Body-for-Life helped millions of people the world over to build stronger bodies and enjoy a higher quality of life. Now Pamela Peeke, M.D., M.P.H., bestselling author of Fight Fat After Forty, adapts the unique insights of the Body-for-Life program to the specific hormonal, metabolic, and physiological requirements of women so they can achieve the same life-transforming results.

Dr. Peeke draws on cutting-edge research as she fashions a 12-week eating, exercise, and emotional health program, specially tailored to women. Among the book's highlights:
o Stunning new before-and-after photographs with testimonials
o Over 100 black-and-white photographs demonstrating the exercises
o A Q&A section that anticipates and answers questions the reader might have

Dr. Peeke's appearances on Oprah, Larry King Live, Dateline, Primetime, Today Show, CNN Headline News, and other shows illustrate how inspirational she can be-and never more than in this book, motivating and instructing readers to make the changes that will produce a lifetime of mind and body fitness.



About the Author
PAMELA PEEKE, M.D., M.P.H. clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and adjunct senior research fellow at the National Institutes of Health, is a regular contributor to Good Housekeeping and is frequently quoted in magazines such as Self, Allure, Elle, Glamour, and Redbook. She is the medical advisor and spokesperson for Discovery Health's National Body Challenge, and the medical director for the National Women's Resource Center. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland.

FROM THE PUBLISHER