When Bill Phillips, author of the longtime best-seller, "Body for Life," first started to persuade people to eat right and get more exercise, he offered his red Lamborghini as a prize for those who could complete his 12-week fitness program. Now the book sells itself.
Phillips, who will be in the Salt Lake area Wednesday to discuss his book, talked about his continuing enthusiasm for fitness in a telephone interview with the Deseret News. "I've always had a passion for physical fitness, starting when I was a high school athlete. At first, I wanted to go to medical school, but I started a fitness newsletter 15 years ago that became today's Muscle Media Magazine. It was so successful that I put med school on the back burner."
Phillips, whose smiling, buff photo graces the cover of his ever popular book, thinks of his program as a "scientifically sound and completely integrated program of physical fitness." Although the "before-and-after" photos inside of numerous people who have completed his program show people with exaggerated muscle bulk, Phillips says, "Every person has a vision for their best body. For some, it is more muscular, but for others, it's more of an athletic or healthy human form. The trend in fitness is toward a much less muscular image. The lean, healthy, yet normal look is really taking over."
Phillips promises that the next edition of his book will have many more photos of people with a more "normal appearance" even after completing the 12 weeks. He believes all people can enhance their quality of life by tackling the program. "A person can learn a new skill in four weeks, and after 12, it becomes an automatic pattern. That's why I encourage people to stick with it. The program becomes their life, and it's very practical. People who go to college while holding down two jobs can do this. Everyone is of the belief they don't have time for such a program, but the reality is they don't have time not to do it."
The Body for Life premise is that a person who wants to both lose weight and develop a sculpted physique, must lift weights alternately with intense aerobic exercise. Phillips thinks four hours of intense exercise a week is sufficient, along with balanced meals high in protein. The regimen includes 45 minutes of weight training three days a week and 20 minutes of aerobics three days a week.
"Working out on an empty stomach is the best way to accelerate fat loss," says Phillips. "Scientific studies from Sweden show 20 minutes on an empty stomach is better than an hour in the afternoon. I'm a strong proponent of weight-lifting for all healthy adults, not because it builds muscle, but because it increases bone mass and protects the health of tendons and ligaments."
One matter of special concern to Phillips is that "90 percent of people in this country are not getting enough water. Sodas and coffee deplete the body of water. They are diuretics. I try to drink a gallon of water a day. You have to practice that and stay close to a bathroom. The symptoms of dehydration are headaches, back aches, skin blemishes, dry or red eyes and low energy."
Phillips will sign and discuss his book, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., at Sandy Barnes & Noble.
E-MAIL: dennis@desnews.com