Mind Over Matter: Personal Choices for a Lifetime of Fitness [Hardcover]

Susan Cantwell (Author), Silken Laumann (Foreword)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 131 pages
• Publisher: Stoddart (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0773732160
• ISBN-13: 978-0773732162
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,139,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely Worthwhile!, February 2, 2001

By 

S. Birch (Corona, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mind Over Matter: Personal Choices for a Lifetime of Fitness (Hardcover)

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.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now I know what I was doing wrong, August 18, 2000

By 

S. McKenna "Karaoke Queen" (IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mind Over Matter: Personal Choices for a Lifetime of Fitness (Hardcover)

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.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hits the Nail on the Head, November 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mind Over Matter: Personal Choices for a Lifetime of Fitness (Hardcover)

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.