I am a forty-four-year-old pediatric physical therapist and I was given your book by one of my clients. It is fantastic! After doing the program for one week I went out and bought six more books to give as gifts for Christmas and have recommended it to countless other women! My forty-one-year-old sister is seven months pregnant and asked her OB about starting the program, and her OB wants to recommend it to every woman in her clinic! I have been doing the program now for six weeks, today just started the third level, and I now feel ten years younger.
Terry Geisberger
I am fifteen and in high school. I have gradually worked my way up to the Ultimate Core and have seen myself get more flexible and toned. I have recommended this program to my mom (age fifty), sister (age twelve), grandma (age eighty-one), and several of my friends and they have gotten excellent results too!
A reader from Glenview, Illinois, on Amazon
Im not very flexible and am constantly lifting my sixteen-month-old daughter. Needless to say, my back is continually aching. Even though Ive only been doing this program for a week, already the soreness is diminished to the point where it is almost gone. I really thought I would have to deal with back pain for the rest of my life. What a relief, in more ways than one, to know I can do something about it. As an added bonus, my stomach is getting flattersomething that hasnt happened since before I was pregnant!
A reader from Pittsburgh, on Amazon
Ive only been doing Peggys exercises for six weeks, but the results Ive seenand my chiropractor has seenare thrilling! Before I started, I was seeing my chiropractor twice a week for my lower-back problems. After a short time, I dropped to once a week. As of my last visit, my back was holding up so well that he said I could drop to once every two weeks. This is an amazing progression in only six weeks!
I feel strong, and the body fat around my waist, thighs, and hips seems to be melting away. I was sore at first, but in a short time I am doing exercises well that I originally rolled my eyes at when I started. The book is easy to understand and follow because at the end of each section, she has a two-page pictorial review of all the exercises in that section.
If everyone got this book, a lot of health practitioners would be out of business.
Artie Dewey, on Amazon
I am forty-six years old, married with two children, and I work full-time (most of it sitting behind a computer). I have struggled with stress-related neck and back problems for the last five years and recently found out that I also have arthritis in my neck. Recently I had hit a new low in that I was having migraine-level headaches and nausea, in addition to constant muscle spasms and facial and arm tingling. However, when I started doing the Core Foundation exercises, I eliminated the headaches and muscle spasms and was also able to use the exercises during the day to relieve muscle tension. The fact that the program a) takes fifteen minutes once a day, b) doesnt involve going to lessons or a gym, and c) that I immediately felt better seemed too good to be truebut it is!!!
Barbara Colling
I had back surgery earlier this year and had resigned myself to living with a certain amount of pain. This book really changed that. After following the program for three weeks, I feel better than ever. Im sleeping better, have no pain, am standing taller and walking straighter. I have recommended this book to every woman I know. It is written in easy-to-understand language and the exercises are easy to follow. And there are no sit-ups!!!
Monica ONeal, on Amazon
I never thought Id be free from back pain due to arthritis and hard living for my first forty years. Now forty-nine, I started the Core Program three and a half weeks ago and have just had four days in a row with absolutely NO PAIN! Im ecstatic. Im starting to believe my second forty years will be enjoyable after all!
Kathy Okay
When I first got this book, I had high hopes. The first time I did the workout, however, I was slightly disappointed and thought maybe this isnt for me. Then an amazing thing happened. The next day, after just one workout session, I actually felt a difference! Now I am a believer and recommend this book to everyone. The reason I was mildly disappointed the first time doing the exercises is that they are so easy, I felt like I wasnt doing anything. That is one of the great things about this programit is very relaxing, with a lot of gentle stretching and just a few strength-building exercises; it is not rigorous, traditional exercise, so there is no excuse not to do it as part of your daily routine. In fact, I think you will look forward to your core exercise time.
Aside from the exercises, the author gives a lot of information about how the body functions, proper postures when sitting, sleeping, and lifting objects, and lots of other really useful info. This book is a MUST have.
A reader from Virginia, on Amazon
For my mother, whose love, affection and courage gave me strength to find my passion and to dream of leaving this world a better place
acknowledgments
I would like to express my deepest appreciation for the many people whove helped to make The Core Program possible. Some have contributed their efforts just recently and others have blessed my life all along the way influencing my emotional, mental, physical and spiritual evolution.
First and foremost, I must thank the patients who entrusted me with their health. They shared their physical and emotional pain with me, helping me to understand the power of the human spirit and the bodys innate capacity to heal. My work as a physical therapist is as rewarding as it is because of my patients, who make each day so joyful for me.
One patient I would particularly like to thank is John J. Mack, who first came to me for an orthopedic problem and, in time, became my hero. John is the reason I was able to expand my practice at Morgan Stanley, and his incredible leadership inspires me. I am most fortunate for his mentoring and for the loving friendship I have with John and his beautiful wife, Christy. Thank you for all the doors you have so graciously and generously opened in my life.
Ive also had the good fortune to have patients sent to me by Dr. Charles B. Goodwin, one of the best surgeons I have ever encountered. The success of my patients rehabilitation was made possible by his amazing expertise and skills. Thank you for making my job a pleasure and thank you for welcoming me into the operating room, where I observed your outstanding work.
Gerald S. Couzens, my co-author, recognized the potential of my ideas and put them to paper so eloquently. Herb and Nancy Katz, my agents, had faith in my potential, saw the vision and went the extra mile for every part of it. Susan Suffes contributed her writing skills, and spent long hours translating medical explanations into reader-friendly terms with inspiring creativity.
My thanks to all those at Bantam who contributed to this project, especially my editors. I arrived with the hope that my book would be able to empower women with lifelong strength and health. Toni Burbank first directed that vision, and Beth Rashbaum clarified it with precision, expertise and meticulous detail.
I also thank Irwyn Applebaum, Bantams publisher, for his brilliant title; Nina Taublib, associate publisher, for her commitment to this project; Glen Edelstein and Kelly Chian in the production department for overseeing such a complicated process with such patience; Margaret Benton for the meticulous copyediting; Amanda Kavanagh for the elegant, energetic design of this book; and Marc Witz, who made the photo sessions playful as well