LL Cool J's Platinum Workout Paperback – April 14, 2009

This book is amazing. It takes you through the beginning stages of proper fitness and nutrition, to the end which the result should be a pretty toned up if not muscular body. The workout routines start off simple and easy. If your not used to working out the first 2 weeks of the workout is circuit training to get your muscles used to the wear and tear of whats to come and that works perfectly because by the time you start with the free weights , your body is already acustomed to being stressed and you'll be ready to increase the time you spend on working out as well as the weights you use. Its not just LL making comments in the book but he has a few trainers and specialists in the book giving excellent tips. It starts you off the very first week telling you exactly what to get rid off in your kitchen as far as junk and garbage that you shouldnt be eating and he gives you suggestions of what to replace it with. He also gives you a weeks worth of sample meals with like 6 different meals a day. The one problem that some people might have and I see is the main complaint of some reviews is that this book is mainly for someone with a gym membership. He has some alternate routines but he goes into depth with the gym stuff, not so much with the alternates. When I first started reading it and I got to the part where he started explaining the workout routines, it was nothing but words and some of the names of the actual workouts I had no idea of how to do them. Like "deadlift" and "jackknife". I was like damn... how am I suppoed to know how to do this. This book would be perfect if it had some pictures to illustrate exactly how to do these specific exercises. So I figured I would have to go online to find some pics of how to do them but before I did that I read foward and low and behold... the pictures of all the exercises that he mentioned earlier. Why he seperated them I dont know but it doesnt matter as long as they're in there.There is also a chapter strictly for womwn. The motivation in this book is off the charts.

I own this book AND LL's Platinum 360 workout that is a couple of years newer than this book. I recommend buying both books and using them together. This Platinum Workout is a workout broken into different "phases" and is more focused on shaping the body. I think all of the phases combined run about 18 weeks, or something close to that. The Platinum 360 is focused on shaping "mind", "body", and "spirit" and is only 8 weeks long.NOTE: The Platinum 360 is NOT a continuation of this book "Platinum Workout", and can be used without purchasing the Platinum Workout first. Used in combination, the two books give a variety of exercises, demonstrational photos and recipies that are ALL very useful.BONUS TO LADIES IN THIS BOOK "PLATINUM WORKOUT": Here's why I like the Platinum Workout better than the Platinum 360 for the Ladies....Platinum Workout has a SPECIAL 4 WEEK WORKOUT JUST FOR WOMEN AT THE END OF THE BOOK...HOWEVER, YOU DO NOT HAVE DO DO ALL OF THE PHASES BEFORE THE WOMEN'S WORKOUT IN ORDER TO DO IT. IF YOU'RE A WOMAN....SKIP THE BEGINNING WORK OUTS AND START WITH THE WOMEN'S WORKOUT AT THE END. It foucuses on "toning and tightening", not "bulking up". I have done it for 2 weeks and have lost 6 lbs and seen a difference in my arms and legs already! I am not overweight, so I'm sure someone with more weight to lose would see even more dramatic weight loss results in a shorter period of time.Hope I didn't confuse you by comparing the 2 books here,...but thought you might like to know the differences and the "perks" to each one.

This book rocks. LL has a great way to keep you motivated and on track. I love it when you first start reading it and he has you do week 1. You would think he would go straight into working out. Nope he wants you to get your music ready and clean out your fridge and get your mind right. Getting in shape is 80% diet and 20% exercise.I did the program from start to finish and dropped 30 pounds. Went from 6'1 225 to 6'1 195. Easy? HECK NO! But if you stick with this plan which is about 45 min's a day you will get in super shape. You will have mad energy and be ready to take on the world. I was dropping 1-2 pounds a week. It came off slow but that is actually a good thing in the long run. You will replace your fat with muscle. I slept like a log when I was doing this program. Are you going to look like him. Uh no. But I got stronger, leaner, and I looked awesome.I get 1 hour for lunch and I would just hit it at lunch time.He has some great recipes in this book and he's humor and motivation are great. Love the book!FYI 40 year old male here..Problem is what to do next...

The review below is a crapshoot! Yes you need genetics to look a certain way, but everyone can have a perfect body with hard work and determination. Thats what the book preaches, if you don't want it, you won't have it plain and simple. The diet is heavy duty, but if you pay attention to the content surrounding the diet you can create your own meal plan with ease..I went from 220 to 198 and I am only on week 7. My muscles are growing and definition is coming slowly but surely noticeable. LL has not sold out, he has decided to share his knowledge with his fans, just like when he releases a CD. This is a quality workout book with a lot of information to teach about certain aspects of fitness and weight training. At the end you will know enough to create your own plan. It works! Just an FYI Scooter's AB Circuit is killer. Buy it if you have the time and the will to work hard.You won't look like LL, that takes longer than 24 weeks, but you can surely look better than you have ever looked before and be happy to look at yourself in the mirror!