Mind over Matter: Personal Choices for a Lifetime of Fitness

By Susan Cantwell and Silken Laumann Susan Cantwell

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0773732160
• ISBN13: 9780773732162
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Stoddart Pub
• Length: 131 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 0.8" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Definitely Worthwhile!

In her clearly written book, with its positive and supportive tone, fitness trainer Susan Cantwell comes across as the coach who really believes in you and your ability to make positive, lasting life changes. The book discusses 6 major stages of change, from initial resistance through termination; the latter stage occurs when the changes you've made become permanent, and you are no longer tempted to resume unhealthy behaviors. This is the one I'm aiming for! According to the author, the stage most often omitted is that of planning/preparation. Thus her book includes useful planning exercises, such as committing time in your schedule in advance for exercise, menu planning, meal preparation. Another helpful exercise asks you to anticipate potential obstacles to your new healthy lifestyle and write down in advance your plans for handling them. One very minor criticism: the food chart on p. 12 is totally inadequate. If you can fit everything you eat in a week on this form, chances are you don't have a weight problem! So you may want to adapt or develop your own. Still, I highly recommend this book as a motivating, helpful, and practical tool in your journey towards making permanent healthy lifestyle changes.

Hits the Nail on the Head

I have only just begin to read this book but can already tell that it is what I've been searching for. Susan Cantwell writes in a very understandable fashion, and she makes things MAKE SENSE! It is behavior modification at it's finest, and I can't wait to get home and read the next section! You will NOT be disappointed.

Now I know what I was doing wrong

My fitness trainer loaned me this book and before I got halfway through it I knew I had to own it. I will be referencing it again and again and recommending it to everyone I know who is seeking a healthier lifestyle. What a refreshing change to all the books that promise you can become healthy with little or no work or planning. Do it the hard way (gain, lose, gain, lose) or learn to do it the right way, using this book as a guide.You'll be delighted to find out you can throw words like "determination" and "willpower" out the window and replace them with "commitment" - and when you are ready to make the commitment to become a healthier person, you'll really find yourself making those changes.This is a very sensible approach to health and fitness, and is not a diet or fitness plan - you'll find no menus or exercises in here. This book is great for mentally preparing for your journey to health and wellness.