VEDRAL, Joyce L(auretta) 1943-

PERSONAL: Born July 23, 1943, in Bronx, NY; daughter of David (a boxer, wrestler, and mathematician) and Martha (a communications technician; maiden name, Dash) Yellin; married Charles J. Vedral (divorced, April 11, 1976); children: Marthe Simone. Education: City College of the City University of New York, B.S., 1970, M.A., 1973; New York University, Ph.D., 1980. Politics: Republican. Religion: Protestant.

ADDRESSES: Home—P.O. Box A 433, Wantagh, NY 11793-0433. Office—Department of English, Pace University—New York, Pace Plaza, New York, NY 10038. Agent—Mel Berger, William Morris Agency, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019.

CAREER: Pace University—New York, New York, NY, member of faculty, beginning 1980; also worked as a high school teacher.

MEMBER: National Council of Teachers of English, New York City Council of Teachers of English.

WRITINGS:

A Literary Survey of the Bible, edited by Dennis Baker, Logos International (Plainfield, NJ), 1973.

I Dare You! How to Use Psychology to Get What You Want Out of Life, Holt (New York, NY), 1983.

(With Bill Reynolds, Jr.) Supercut: Nutrition for the Ultimate Physique, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1985.

(With Gladys Portugues) Hard Bodies, Dell (New York, NY), 1985.

Now or Never, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1986.

My Parents Are Driving Me Crazy, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1986.

My Teenager Is Driving Me Crazy, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1987, published as My Teenager Is Driving Me Crazy: A Guide to Getting You and Your Teen through These Difficult Years, Adams Media (Avon, MA), 2003.

I Can't Take It Anymore, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1987.

(With Rachel McLish) Perfect Parts, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1987.

The Opposite Sex Is Driving Me Crazy, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1988.

The Twelve-Minute Total-Body Workout, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1989.

Boyfriends: Getting Them, Keeping Them, Living without Them, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1990.

(With Cameo Yvette Kneuer) Cameo Fitness, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1990.

The Fat-Burning Workout, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1991.

Gut Busters, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1992.

My Teacher Is Driving Me Crazy, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1992.

Get Rid of Him, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Teens Are Talking: The Question Game for Teens, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1993.

Bottoms Up!: The Total-Body Workout from the Bottom Up; From Cellulite to Sexy—in 24 Workout Hours, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1993.

(With Betty Weider) Better and Better: Six Weeks to a Great Shape at Any Age!, Dell (New York, NY), 1993.

(With daughter, Marthe Simone Vedral) The College Dorm Workout: Fight the Freshman Fifteen in Twenty Minutes a Day without Starving to Death, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Definition: Shape without Bulk in 15 Minutes a Day, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Top Shape: 12 Weeks to Your Ideal Physique, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Look In, Look Up, Look Out!: Be the Person You Were Meant to Be, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Eat to Trim: Get It Off and Keep It Off!, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Weight Training Made Easy: Transform Your Body in Four Simple Steps, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Bone-Building/Body-Shaping Workout: Strength, Health, Beauty in Just 16 Minutes a Day!, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1998.

The Bathing Suit Workout, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Contributor to magazines, including Muscle and Fitness, Shape, Self, Guideposts, Christian Herald, and Parent Connections.

SIDELIGHTS: Joyce L. Vedral once told CA: "I write about fitness—physical and mental. All of my books are about empowering: the mind affects the body and the body affects the mind. I approach the problem from both directions, whichever helps first; it doesn't matter. Get in shape first and then your mind will follow, or get your mind in shape, and then your body will follow. In this sense, all roads lead to Rome!

"My book Get Rid of Him is a book addressed to women who are in relationships that are draining their energy and are more trouble than they're worth. It is an inspirational book that helps to shine a light on a woman's negative relationship and to build her self-esteem so that she can leave and enjoy and respect her life alone for a while. There are chapters for every situation, from leaving a man who bores you to death to getting out of it if you're staying in it just for the money, the security or the children. The chapter, 'Fifteen Ways to Leave Your Lover' tells you how, and the chapter, 'Oh What a Catch,' warns you when to throw back that 'DOGFISH,' CHAMELEON, CRAB, AND BLOWFISH before you get burned. Not a man-bashing book, the book encourages women to stop blaming men and take responsibility for their own lives.

"My two best-selling bodybuilding books originated with my taking up bodybuilding. Supercut: Nutrition for the Ultimate Physique is a bodybuilders diet book, showing professional and amateur bodybuilders how to diet in order to achieve the best possible competitive form. More than 200 low-fat, low-sodium recipes are included. Hard Bodies is a book that shows women how to sculpt their bodies through the use of weights into the most sensual possible form.

"My two latest body-shaping books provide a solution for women, The Fat-Burning Workout, and men, Gut Busters, who want to get in shape but have only fifteen to twenty minutes four to six days a week to spare. Combined, they have sold nearly a million copies. My files are replete with before and after photos of men and women who rejoice that they were able to do it in twelve weeks time!"

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Library Journal, April, 2003, review of My Teenager Is Driving Me Crazy: A Guide to Getting You and Your Teen through These Difficult Years, pp. 117-118.*