Brains & BRAWN. - Review - book review

American Fitness, Nov, 1999

For those who can't seem to stay with a fitness program, there are two new books that explore the psychology of working out. In The Fitness Groove (Breakthrough Enterprises, $12.95), Dr. Scott Lewis, a chiropractor, describes how to achieve workout longevity. He believes each person has their own compelling reason for getting fit, but not everyone knows what their reason is. Discovering the reason for working out is key to making workouts a priority. To help define what motivates a person, Dr. Lewis has developed the SEARCH technique, a program employing motivational tapes. SEARCH stands for Seeking Emotionally Appealing Reasons to Change (and Create) Habits. The goal is to see your life in terms of choices you make rather than events that happen to you, according to Dr. Lewis.

Dr. Michael Gerrish believes fitness obstacles sometimes get in the way of working out. In When Working Out Isn't Working Out (St. Martin's Press, $14.95), Dr. Gerrish explores these blocks--emotional, physical, biochemical and nutritional. Gerrish calls them UFOs (Unidentified Fitness Obstacles). A UFO can be perfectionist behavior, premenstrual syndrome, a side effect of a medication or food allergy. Dr. Gerrish demonstrates how to unmask UFOs and how to address them. The process of getting ourselves in shape is much like solving a puzzle, according to Dr. Gerrish. Before we can solve this puzzle, there are pieces that must be found. For more information, visit www.amazon.com.