For weeks now books with titles like “Bikini Bootcamp,” “Fit and Sexy for Life” and “Ten Years Younger” have been stacking up on my desk. Every spring they arrive, unsolicited, from publishers. There’s nothing really new to say about losing weight or getting fit, but these folks know we cling to the dream there is.

I confess last night I actually leafed through “Fit and Sexy for Life.” (There comes a time to swear-off the bikini, so I decided I can skip the boot camp.) The information in trainer Kathy Kaehler’s book wasn’t new. The exercises looked familiar. The advice about aging, fitness, weight gain, health risks looked solid, but equally familiar.

Still, I benefited from the time spent reviewing it. It reminded me that if I want to avoid pounds and fat as I age I need to make my exercise more intense. Along with the usual fitness book advice about finding time to exercise, she also had a tip that clicked for me - Think like an athlete. “What it means is treating your body with as much care as a professional athlete would. It means doing something good for it every day.”

So, I closed the book resolving to give it a try.

What about you? Are you a fan of fitness books? Send us your favorite titles and the tips you’ve gleaned from them.