The First 20 Minutes: Surprising Science Reveals How We Can Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longe r

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Penguin, Apr 26, 2012 - Health & Fitness - 288 pages
The New York Times bestseller that explains how groundbreaking scientific discoveries can help each of us achieve our personal best

Every week, Gretchen Reynolds single-handedly influences how millions of Americans work out. In her popular New York Times column, she debunks myths, spurs conversation, and stirs controversy by questioning widely held beliefs about exercise.

Here, Reynolds consults experts in a range of fields to share paradigm-shifting findings that were previously only available in academic and medical journals, including: 

·        20 minutes of cardio is all you need (and sometimes six minutes is enough)

·        Stretching before a workout is counterproductive

·        Chocolate milk is better than Gatorade for recovery

Whether you’re running ultramarathons or just want to climb the stairs without losing your breath, The First 20 Minutes will show you how to be healthy today and perform better tomorrow.

 

Contents

Acknowledgments
7
A Body in Motion
8
The First 20 Minutes
13
Stretching the Truth
Its Not About the Bites
The Losing Battle
What We Mean When We Talk About Endurance
Give Me the Strength to Carry
When Bad Things Happen to Good Workouts
How to Build a Better Brain
Survival of the Fittest
Pushing Back the Finish Line
Use It or Lose
Index
Copyright

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About the author (2012)

GRETCHEN REYNOLDS pens the “Phys Ed” column for the New York Times, which appears on the “Well” blog online and in the Science Times print section. An award-winning journalist, her byline has appeared in the New York Times Magazine; O, The Oprah Magazine; AARP Magazine; Popular Science; and Outside, among others. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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