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Men's Health Your Body is Your Barbell: No Gym. Just Gravity. Build a Leaner, Stronger, More Muscular You in 28 Days!
With Men's Health Your Body Is Your Barbell , a reader will have no excuse not to get into the best shape of his or her life—simply, easily, and in just 6 weeks in the convenience of his or her own home.
Metabolic training expert BJ Gaddour, CSCS, whom Men's Health magazine calls one of the 100 fittest men of all time, has created a remarkably efficient and effective body-transforming workout and nutrition program based on just a handful of simple moves, the Bodyweight Eight. These no-equipment-required exercises are all one needs to build a strikingly symmetrical, perfectly proportioned, and classically beautiful physique, just like BJ's.
Once readers master each legendary fitness feat with perfect form, they will use BJ's scalable, step-by-step progressions to go from ground zero to superhero. From these exercise variations, readers can construct hundreds of personalized workouts. Dozens of sample routines are already demonstrated through big, bold how-to photographs within the book and organized by goal, duration, intensity, and targeted body zone. This is the only book a man or woman needs to achieve the body he or she has always wanted anywhere—and without gear.
Metabolic training expert BJ Gaddour, CSCS, whom Men's Health magazine calls one of the 100 fittest men of all time, has created a remarkably efficient and effective body-transforming workout and nutrition program based on just a handful of simple moves, the Bodyweight Eight. These no-equipment-required exercises are all one needs to build a strikingly symmetrical, perfectly proportioned, and classically beautiful physique, just like BJ's.
Once readers master each legendary fitness feat with perfect form, they will use BJ's scalable, step-by-step progressions to go from ground zero to superhero. From these exercise variations, readers can construct hundreds of personalized workouts. Dozens of sample routines are already demonstrated through big, bold how-to photographs within the book and organized by goal, duration, intensity, and targeted body zone. This is the only book a man or woman needs to achieve the body he or she has always wanted anywhere—and without gear.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2014
237 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 9, 2020
The book is simple to read and understand and we feel a natural sincerity in the words of the author. However, that does not stop the book from having the following shortcomings.
1) The author fails to mention the appropriate breathing to be applied on each and every exercise. And without proper breathing technique, these exercises are inefficient.
2) Some exercises like hand stand push-ups and 90 degree pike push-ups are not meant for beginners or people with heavy body. And trying to doing these exercises without external monitoring/ help is risky (you may break your neck). The author should have included alternative variants against these types of exercises, altogether.
3) Exercises like rowing and pull-ups require the same pull-up bar (portable and assemble type) in the same circuit. As a result of adjusting the bars, we may loss tempo of doing the exercise. The author should have been mindful of this and arranged the exercises accordingly.
4) The author himself has admitted that, he was a Gym-goer once. And as a result he already had achieved a streamlined body (later, whether he become fat or not isn’t matter), from where which he could start as a beginner and maintain his body easily. However, that is not the case with other normal (fatty/ chubby) people. Even if they start the beginner exercises, they will not last for three minutes. Why? Simply because their heart wasn’t prepared for it, even though their mind is. This point has not been given serious attention by the author (and cardio exercises are detailed at the last part of the book). And as a result I wonder, how many will survive the book workouts to reach the required body shape.
As such, this book is suggested for those people who already started fitness programs using mobile apps who are looking for a better understanding in home workouts.
1) The author fails to mention the appropriate breathing to be applied on each and every exercise. And without proper breathing technique, these exercises are inefficient.
2) Some exercises like hand stand push-ups and 90 degree pike push-ups are not meant for beginners or people with heavy body. And trying to doing these exercises without external monitoring/ help is risky (you may break your neck). The author should have included alternative variants against these types of exercises, altogether.
3) Exercises like rowing and pull-ups require the same pull-up bar (portable and assemble type) in the same circuit. As a result of adjusting the bars, we may loss tempo of doing the exercise. The author should have been mindful of this and arranged the exercises accordingly.
4) The author himself has admitted that, he was a Gym-goer once. And as a result he already had achieved a streamlined body (later, whether he become fat or not isn’t matter), from where which he could start as a beginner and maintain his body easily. However, that is not the case with other normal (fatty/ chubby) people. Even if they start the beginner exercises, they will not last for three minutes. Why? Simply because their heart wasn’t prepared for it, even though their mind is. This point has not been given serious attention by the author (and cardio exercises are detailed at the last part of the book). And as a result I wonder, how many will survive the book workouts to reach the required body shape.
As such, this book is suggested for those people who already started fitness programs using mobile apps who are looking for a better understanding in home workouts.
August 5, 2014
Excellent technique tips!! This book taught me how to do pushups without shoulder pain, thank you!!
Does an excellent job of scaling the exercises for the beginner thru the long-time exerciser.
You will need a pull-up bar to take full advantage of this book.
Does an excellent job of scaling the exercises for the beginner thru the long-time exerciser.
You will need a pull-up bar to take full advantage of this book.
May 17, 2016
a solid book packed with great information, but I didn't find anything inside it's covers that blew me away, or wasn't already available online in some fashion.
May 16, 2017
Boring text with too few diagrams, images, which are critical for a fitness book
January 7, 2019
This book describes a "minimal" training program based on bodyweight exercises, that is exercises where you only lift and push your own weight. It starts with a quick description of how to vary exercises to make them more or less challenging. I also found some simple advice on how to improve my diet. It includes six simple moves: hip thrusts, squats, pull-ups, pushups, hip hinges, and rows, plus two advanced one, namely the handstand pushup and one-leg squats. The text ends with a chapter that explains the training program, with various workouts for various objectives (fat loss, endurance, strength, etc.) followed by a chapter on burpees (a combination of squats, pushups, and jump).
As I already trained for several years on a weekly basis, I found it easy to read and the conclusion matches my own experience: I indeed lost some weight and improve my overall condition with bodyweight only, though I just look regular. I learned about the hip thrusts and hip hinges, which I never heard of. I dislike to buy equipment and I wished the program could be equipment-free, but rows and pull-ups still require a bar or equivalent to pull you from. I haven't found a satisfying alternative for that yet.
I found this text much easier and practical than Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength, which is more of a reference for professionals.
As I already trained for several years on a weekly basis, I found it easy to read and the conclusion matches my own experience: I indeed lost some weight and improve my overall condition with bodyweight only, though I just look regular. I learned about the hip thrusts and hip hinges, which I never heard of. I dislike to buy equipment and I wished the program could be equipment-free, but rows and pull-ups still require a bar or equivalent to pull you from. I haven't found a satisfying alternative for that yet.
I found this text much easier and practical than Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength, which is more of a reference for professionals.
December 8, 2017
Very detailed and very passionate discussion of why it's better to do resistance exercises with your body rather than with weights (such as barbells, dumbbells, or machines). Lots of detail on the physiology and physics behind exercising, and lots of useful discussion of different types of exercises (with many variations).
I suspect this book works better in print. I did not care for the layout, which made it hard to work through. I also think a book like this would be ideal in electronic format, and I would have loved to see video demonstrations of the exercises. Put differently, this is a Kindle adaptation of a paper book; however, the subject-matter is far more suitable for an electronic treatment, with video, audio, etc.
I will admit in this review that I did not read the book carefully; rather, I read it with an eye towards rethinking my workout regimen. Currently I focus on using freeweights, although I have given myself a number of minor injuries (knee, elbow). I suspect that Gaddour is totally right that I should switch from freeweights to body resistance (as well as band work). So this is a resource I plan on returning to as I revise and improve my regimen.
I suspect this book works better in print. I did not care for the layout, which made it hard to work through. I also think a book like this would be ideal in electronic format, and I would have loved to see video demonstrations of the exercises. Put differently, this is a Kindle adaptation of a paper book; however, the subject-matter is far more suitable for an electronic treatment, with video, audio, etc.
I will admit in this review that I did not read the book carefully; rather, I read it with an eye towards rethinking my workout regimen. Currently I focus on using freeweights, although I have given myself a number of minor injuries (knee, elbow). I suspect that Gaddour is totally right that I should switch from freeweights to body resistance (as well as band work). So this is a resource I plan on returning to as I revise and improve my regimen.
July 31, 2025
Awesome bodyweight reference for staying fit
I'm a big fan of BJ Gaddour's high intensity in his workouts so to read this book and see his writing matches that made it so much fun to read. He covers some things that other bodyweight fitness books don't, like functional exercises and leveled progressions. I'll definitely reread this book for myself and for programming with clients.
I'm a big fan of BJ Gaddour's high intensity in his workouts so to read this book and see his writing matches that made it so much fun to read. He covers some things that other bodyweight fitness books don't, like functional exercises and leveled progressions. I'll definitely reread this book for myself and for programming with clients.
May 23, 2017
Straightforward writing, accurate information (from my admittedly limited understanding), and the most helpful steps for action that I've found in any book up to this point.
Read
January 10, 2023Good reminder on body weight exercises.
August 26, 2014
Very clearly organized with excellent photos and descriptions. I especially liked that he has five levels and I'm ok with the fact that I have to start even lower than his lowest one. I'm not interested in the level of fitness that can be accomplished with this book, just my own personal improvement, but it is possible. He includes lots of information about how, why, what is happening with each exercise and also diet information that pertains to building muscle. Very worthwhile.
July 24, 2014
Solid advice for progressing through the realm of bodyweight fitness programs. I think I'm going to add this to my "To-Buy" shelf and work my way through Gaddour's programs.
April 27, 2017
Nicely laid out, lots of data, easy to use if you're new to bodyweight training. Gives basic 8 exercises (not too many!) with ways to make easier and progressively more difficult as you gain strength. Also well laid out programs for various goals and a nice chapter on nutrition as it relates to strength training.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews