The Intrinsic Exerciser: Discovering the Joy of Exercise [Paperback]

Jay C. Kimiecik (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 13, 2002

Too many of us exercise to lose weight and stay fit. Jay Kimiecik believes that focusing on those reasons make sticking with a fitness plan almost impossible. With full appreciation of the real problems people have with exercising, he writes that we must instead find personal pleasure in any physical activity we choose. Kimiecik's infectious enthusiasm and easy four-step plan will turn anyone into an intrinsic exerciser for life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fun, quick read that illustrates where to put that first foot on the path to a healthier life." Cooking Light

About the Author

Along with his work at Miami University, Jay Kimiecik has written The Y Personal Fitness Program: 12 Weeks to a Better You, which is used in hundreds of YMCAs in North America. Jay is also the host of FitTalk, a radio show on fitness and exercise.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; 1st edition (May 13, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061812490X
• ISBN-13: 978-0618124909
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A few good ideas, lost in a cookie-cutter self-help book, August 24, 2004

By 

David Huebel (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Intrinsic Exerciser: Discovering the Joy of Exercise (Paperback)

The psychological issues that help and hinder aspiring exercisers deserve more attention. Almost all exercise books offer a few superficial remarks, and some offer a few real insights, but this is the first book I've found that focuses entirely on psychology. I hoped that "The Intrinsic Exerciser" might be something larger and more coherent than the piecemeal wisdom that has been haphazardly accumulated through the years. Instead, when I read the book from cover to cover, I found the whole to be less, not more. The book's insights, while good, are lost in the cynical formulas and cliches that give self-help books a bad name. All the major shortcomings of "The Intrinsic Exerciser" are stereotypical self-help imperatives:

1. It promotes a complete, one-size-fits-all system and vilifies alternatives.

First and most appallingly, the author presents his system as an exclusive and unrivalled solution. He condemns all "extrinsic" motivations for exercise - health, longevity, attractiveness, etc. - as useless and even psychologically harmful. Yet there are many people who exercise regularly and love it, despite thinking hard and often about extrinsics. The author's advice is to "Expunge the extrinsic. Avoid any information or products that are primarily Outside-In or extrinsic-oriented." Given that many people have succeeded at their exercise goals using "Outside-In" methods, the author's unqualified insistence that every individual should abandon those methods and adopt his philosophy goes too far.

2. It revels in unnecessary neologisms.

"Inergy." "Exerimaging." "Feelization."

Quiz: The author uses these words because:

a) The concepts can't be explained concisely in standard English.
b) Having its own word makes a concept seem legitimate and important.
c) Using made-up words makes old ideas sound new.
d) b & c.

If you answered d), congratulations.

3. It cites many authorities and studies, for no good reason.

"The Intrinsic Exerciser" is chock-full of mentions of scientists, studies, and universities. Twenty pages of this slim volume are consumed by notes and a bibliography, even though it's a pop treatment aimed at people who are unlikely to take advantage of them. "The Intrinsic Exerciser" does not pretend to be a serious examination of ideas; it contains no acknowledgment of incompleteness or difficulties, no examination of alternatives. Why dress it up with citations? In fact, since the author's advice is to "expunge the extrinsic," why cite so many studies showing the extrinsic benefits of exercise? The citations are only there to create a sense of authority and scientific validity.

4. It makes difficult changes sound miraculously easy.

Certain facts of life are unavoidable, such as how much one weighs and how other people evaluate one's body. For many would-be exercisers, emotions related to these facts are the biggest obstacles to fitness. The author's prescription is to become unaware or unconcerned about these facts, a mental trick he offers no help in achieving. This dodging of difficult issues is the most disappointing aspect of "The Intrinsic Exerciser," and its breezy, shallow optimism makes the elisions rankle. This is another hallmark of a cookie-cutter self-help book: warn against attempting the difficult, and in its place prescribe the impossible.

I give "The Intrinsic Exerciser" two stars because it's encouraging to see a book dedicated to this topic and because it contains some sound insights. I hope that better books are on the way. Instead of a road map to a generic psyche, a better book would provide tips on learning to navigate one's own psyche. A better book might even offer practical suggestions on how to grapple with social issues such as embarrassment, instead of telling the reader to just think of something else. Above all, I am looking forward to the book that rejects the dystopian ideal of an inner life free of variegation and dissent and talks about how to play politics in the society of mind.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some inspiring ideas, February 13, 2005

By 

Robin Wolfson "Reliza" (Cameron Park, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Intrinsic Exerciser: Discovering the Joy of Exercise (Paperback)

First of all, David Huebel (see his review) is dead-on about this book. Yes, the phony words (inergy, exerimage, and, gaack, feelization) are silly. Yes, it ignores many issues that are most important to those who need help most -- those who don't exercise. Yes, it dresses up some common and important ideas (especially "visualization") in fancy clothes by giving them those new, silly names. Still, there are some nice ideas, the book is a quick, pleasant read, is easily accessible, and offers some nice bits of inspiration.

I think one of the most valuable ideas, that of breaking exercise sessions down into small tasks ("Just come and get dressed. Sign in. Do the smallest thing. Just get yourself used to coming in and getting on the treadmill."), doesn't really get enough credit.

So why have I read the book twice? The first time I read it out of curiosity. The second for research on some writing I'm doing to help women get into fitness.

So, who should read this book and why? It's a good choice if you're looking for inspiration to get into (or back into) exercising. It offers some good suggestions about how to focus on what exercising means to you and how to overcome some of the difficulties and learn to enjoy exercise. That said, it's a poor choice if you're already skeptical about exercise and self-help books, mainly because of the points David Huebel cites in his review.

All in all, three stars, although I'd still put it on a recommended list for beginning exercisers.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing approach to health and wellness, August 15, 2004

By 

Linda Ross, PhD (Covington (greater Seattle), WA, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Intrinsic Exerciser: Discovering the Joy of Exercise (Paperback)

This is a great book to take and read on the plane. It's a quick, easy read and shares the secret of those of us who've been avid exercisers for years and years...and that's the joy that you experience in the moment, while you're exercising. This book teaches you how to connect with your thoughts, feelings and perceptions as you exercise, which ultimately will lead to your becoming a person who exercises for the fun of it, not because of health, weight or appearance issues, and that's the key to life-long exercising success :-)

This is a book I recommend so highly, I actually have link to it on my website.