When Working Out Isn't Working Out: A Mind/Body Guide to Conquering Unidentified Fitness Obstacles

Michael Gerrish shares his rare combination of deep technical knowledge, compassionate caring, goofy humor, and more than anything, his personal experiences with the challenge of wrestling his own body into shape. "When Working Out Isn't Working Out" includes a wealth of resources and motivating tips to guide the way towards fitness for any of us mere mortals. Sure, I can read a book about the weight training method du jour, or about someone's latest research on no protein, no carb, no fat (!) nutrition, but where else will I find information that connects sleep apnea, or Attention Deficit Disorder, with my lack of so called will power? This book helps me to be gentler to myself. In the dead of winter I now see that maybe those grey skies and short days are what's got me sleeping through my morning jog, rather than that I am a worthless slug who can't stick to my workout schedule. I have new knowledge, and can make a point to get out in the sun more often. Read this one, and find out your own personal UFO's. Your body and mind will thank you!

This book was a real eye-opener. As a personal trainer, I've worked with my share of clients whose efforts have failed to pay off. I'm happy to recommend this book - without any reservation. It's an INVALUABLE resource, and one I refer to often. Whenever I'm stumped when a problem arises involving one of my clients, I know that somewhere inside this book is the insight (or answer) I need. As a fitness professional, reading this book was a humbling experience. I was surprised by some of the "obvious" things I was missing when working with clients. I also liked that it was written in plain English (a commendable feat, considering all of the ground that was covered).

Despite hoards of evidence to the contrary, many "experts" still advocate eat less, exercise more). For those who have tried this and failed and are ready to abandon hope, this book is the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. In friendly, easy-to-read language, the author explores the long list of cultural, chemical, medical and emotional reasons your efforts to lose weight or get in shape may have failed in the past (that you are "too weak" or that you lack the "will power" to make a commitment to your health are not among them). As a fitness writer-I just reviewed this book for Shape-I have a library full of books on the subject, many of which never get a second glance. Mr. Gerrish's is one I will read, recommend and refer to for years to come

I held off on buying this book at first, mostly because I assumed it was for exercise dropouts or people who couldn't lose weight. I was wrong. This book can be of tremendous help to advanced exercisers, too. I'm a 29 year old male, 6'0", 185 lbs. I work out regularly (5-6 times per week) and have done so for about ten years. Prior to reading this book, I tried just about every diet and exercise program imaginable, but had never been able to get my body fat below 14% Although 14% is considered fairly low for someone my age, it isn't as low as it should be, considering how hard (and how long) I've trained. It wasn't until I read this book that I discovered: 1) I was not training right for my body type (Ayuvedic body type "Kapha"); 2) I was ignoring (or forgetting) important workout-related details (I have symptoms of attention deficit disorder); 3) My adrenal function may have suffered as the result of using the wrong type (or dose) of a medication (Hydrocortisol); 4) I injured my shoulder by moving too quickly, and in the wrong way, with too much weight; 5) I'm insulin-sensitive (I'd often eat "high-glycemic" foods that decreased my fat-burning rate); and 6) I suffer from "snack amnesia," which caused me, without even realizing it, to eat too much between meals. I found out a whole lot of other things, too, but these were my main UFO's (Unidentified Fitness Obstacles). The happy ending to this story is that for the first time in my life, my body fat percentage is now below 10%! Now that I've followed the author's advice, I eat MORE and don't gain weight! I'm also a lot more focused and have more energy when I work out. This book gets a huge thumbs-up from me. I must say, I was surprised.

I've already read an advanced copy (twice) and can't wait to read it again! Kudos to Michael Gerrish for writing a truly original book, the first that I've read in a long, long time that really does break new ground. With insightful, compassionate guidance, Gerrish suggests that "it's not our fault" - that when we work out (and fail to succeed) it's not for the reasons we think. He reveals what he calls "UFOs" (Unidentified Fitness Obstacles) and clearly shows how, unknowingly, they prevent us from reaching our goals. The best thing about this book, though, is the spirit in which it is written - sensitive, smart, and informative with uncommon respect for the reader. Not only that, but it made me laugh (some parts are done tongue-in-cheek). I found myself nodding and smiling a lot from the intro right through to the end.Thanks to this book, I've radically changed my perspective about working out. I now have a sense of what's "really" been making me struggle to get in good shape. With simple, self-diagnostic tests, I discovered my top UFOs (chemical allergies, SAD, and weight-training at the wrong speed) and now I'm prepared to address each one in the way that the author suggests.Enlightening, clear, and well-conceived, this book is a wonderful read. The stories are great, the tone is sincere, and the self-tests are easy to take. In fact, I'll be shocked if this hot new book doesn't prove to be widely embraced. If you're anything like I am (you've read every fitness book there is), you're going to appreciate reading this one - it has all the answers you need!