One of the most difficult aspects of getting fit is knowing where to start. Few people know how to take that first step on the road to a more active, healthy lifestyle. And with all the quick fixes and instant "experts" in the market today, its difficult to know who to trust to guide you in the right direction. The Health Fitness Handbook is the answer. This no-nonsense, information-packed guide combines the latest research with sound medical advice. Together, the authors have 95 years of experience researching, prescribing, teaching, and writing on fitness and other health-related topics. They offer honest, reliable answers to your fitness questions in easy-to-understand language. Inside this book, youll find everything you need to start a safe, effective fitness program or to make your current program even more beneficial. Franks, Howley, and Iyriboz help you: understand whats important for your own health and fitness, evaluate your current fitness level, set realistic fitness goals based on your individual needs, and learn how to change health-related behaviors to meet your long-term goals. They also present the best exercises for improving aerobic fitness, flexibility, and strength and cover other important aspects of healthy living, including weight control, nutrition, injury prevention, and stress reduction. The books many photos, charts, and tables will help you develop and fine-tune a personalized plan to achieve your desired fitness level. Being fit means being able to enjoy a full life with less risk of major health problems. It also leads to more energy, less stress, and better performance in everything you do. Let The Health Fitness Handbook be the guide to take you there. About the Author B. Don Franks is a professor in and chair of the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Maryland. Franks is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education (AAKPE), and the Research Consortium of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). He is also a former president of AAKPE and the Research Consortium of AAHPERD. He was Senior Program Advisor for the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in 1995, and he received that groups Distinguished Service Award the following year. He received his PhD in exercise science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Franks lives in Silver Spring, MD. Edward T. Howley is a professor of exercise science at the University of Tennessee, where he frequently has been honored for his excellence in teaching. He has been active in the ACSM as a Fellow, as president of the southeast chapter, as chair of the certification committee, as a faculty member in the ACSM health fitness certification workshops, and as a member of the ACSM Preventive and Rehabilitative Committee, which developed the colleges various certification programs.