5 Essentials for a Winning Life: The Nutrition, Fitness, and Life Plan for Discovering the Champion Within [Hardcover]

Chris Carmichael (Author), Jim Rutberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 12, 2006

The personal coach to Lance Armstrong shares the philosophy and program that have not only made him a world-class coach but inspired him to gain control of the rest of his life as well

Chris Carmichael's outstanding coaching experiences have convinced him that great success in any area of life is only possible if we first achieve an integrated, healthy, and balanced lifestyle. Only by harmonizing what he considers the five essential aspects of life--fitness, nutrition, relationships, career, and health--do we construct the strong, stable, and supportive platform from which we can reach for our dreams.

In his 5 Essentials Program, the coach who guided Lance Armstrong to his record-breaking seven Tour de France championships now provides the empowering tools--including step-by-step action plans--that today's men need to achieve their personal, professional, and athletic goals while performing at levels thought only possible in youth. There are many books that offer advice on making a change in one specific area of life--whether it is diet, fitness, career advancement, or relationships. The Five Essentials Program provides the integrated approach that really works to release the champion within and create lasting change.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"5 Essentials for a Winning Life goes far beyond workouts and meal plans; it's the performance plan for living life to its fullest." --Lance Armstrong

About the Author

CHRIS CARMICHAEL, Lance Armstrong's longtime coach and founder of the Carmichael Training Systems, was named the US Olympic Committee's Coach of the Year in 1999. He has presented his "Train Right" methods on NBC Nightly News, CNN, 60 Minutes, The Discovery Channel, ABC's World News Tonight, and other venues. Coauthor of The Lance Armstrong Performance Program and author of the New York Times bestseller Chris Carmichael's Food for Fitness: Eat Right to Train Right, Carmichael lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Jim Rutberg has been working closely with Chris Carmichael for more than 7 years, starting as an athlete and then progressing to a pro coach and Director of Publishing for Carmichael Training Systems, Inc. Rutberg and Carmichael have written innumerable articles and four other books together, including The Ultimate Ride and the national bestseller Chris Carmichael's Food for Fitness. Jim lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife, Leslie, and their son.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (December 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594864551
• ISBN-13: 978-1594864551
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #933,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chris Carmichael is an endurance coach and adviser to Olympic athletes and teams around the world. He is Lance Armstrong's personal coach, as well as coach to athletes of all levels. During 1997 and 1998, Chris dedicated his time and talents to shaping Lance Armstrong's return from cancer to professional racing. In 1999, he founded Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) to bring quality coaching to elite athletes and active people alike.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but experienced endurance athletes beware, January 14, 2007

By 

GJC (World) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 5 Essentials for a Winning Life: The Nutrition, Fitness, and Life Plan for Discovering the Champion Within (Hardcover)

First, I respect the Carmichael industry and what he has done for Lance is undisputable. This is an excellent program for the out of shape or entry level endurance athlete. If you haven't worked-out seriously, or have found yourself greatly out of shape at 40 this is the book for you.

But it fails to deliver for anyone who has already competed in endurance sports for more than one year. As an age-group triathlete (several short course, and a couple ironmans performances under my belt), this book really doesn't add anything new to the table.

After a disappointing performance in an Ironman (despite following a strict work-out plan) and reaching a crux in my life concerning my exercise program, I hoped this book would help bring some balance and love of training back into my life. I bought this book because I was interested in the other essentials to a winning life, especially on the ones on relationships, and career. These chapters offer very little that is not tied to exercise (the career chapter only focuses on how exercise will help you at work), and the relationship chapter is surprisingly really focused on the need for sex as we get older and how exercise can help fulfill this need. Other than that there isn't really much new said about either relationships or career.

So in all, this is a great book for the athlete just getting started, the mid-life person who suddenly finds himself 30 pounds over weight, or anyone wanting to get started on a serious lifestyle change. But for those of us who already have been training and who are looking for literature to find balance or rebound from a disappointing performance, this book is not the solution.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really happy my wife bought me this book!, January 11, 2007

By 

Wes Shug (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 5 Essentials for a Winning Life: The Nutrition, Fitness, and Life Plan for Discovering the Champion Within (Hardcover)

My wife bought me this book because she knew I wanted to lose some weight, get more fit, and most of all, lower my blood pressure and get off these damned drugs. I was worried it was going to be the same old stuff about eating less and working out more, but I was pleasantly surprised. The book moves fast, makes great points and offers real advice I've already put to use. So many books give you an exercise plan or a diet program without talking about how to deal with the stress from work and keep up a healthy relationship at home. This one does, and it makes following the program so much easier.

I'm working out more, eating better, happier with my job, and having more fun with my wife and son than I was three months ago. To me that means Chris's program works. And I, for one, really appreciated his straightforward delivery style - he tells it like it is and isn't afraid to point the spotlight on mistakes he made in his own life in order to illustrate his point. Overall, it's a great package. The recipes are great, the meal plans are easy to follow (especially with the shopping lists), and I'm already seeing great results.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent recipes! Awesome plan!, April 20, 2008

By 

Rollie74 "jp" (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 5 Essentials for a Winning Life: The Nutrition, Fitness, and Life Plan for Discovering the Champion Within (Hardcover)

If you are into fitness and eating correctly, this book is for you. My wife purchased this because she is really into cycling (Chris coached Lance Armstrong). I was a little tentative (I am more into running), and expected it to be mostly hype. However, she started cooking some of the meals, and they were really good (excellent flavor), and we started trying new foods (have you ever eaten Kale, or had Parsnips instead of Fries?). The food was excellent, and I can actually feel the difference in energy levels when I eat these recipes. I have even started preparing several of the recipes myself, and if I can do it, anyone can. Overall, I feel much better following this plan, have more energy, and have been able to push myself much farther in running and even in riding.

Good luck meeting your goals!