Tired of Being Tired (Paperback)

by Jesse Lynn Hanley (Author), Nancy Deville (Author) "Nineteen-year-old Jenny Harrington, known to her friends as "Scout,'' lives with eight other coeds in a house near the beach close to the university they..." (more)
Key Phrases: protein power drink, adrenaline rush lifestyle, essential fatty acid blend, Min Multi-Vit, The Schwarzbein Principle Cookbook, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Too tired to exercise, or, for that matter, do much of anything other than work or sleep? Most people think that's just an inevitable and depressing consequence of growing older, but Hanley, medical director of the Malibu Health Center, says it's not so. Hanley offers a program aimed at relieving "Adrenal Burnout," an all-too-common hazard of today's fast-paced, stressful life, whose symptoms include weight gain, exhaustion and irritability. As a way of categorizing people into specific types "driven," "burned out," "perfectionist" the author offers case histories along with a questionnaire, which readers can use to diagnose themselves. Once they identify their symptoms, they can adopt Hanley's 10-step program, which includes eating frequently, exercising less (though he does encourage yoga), getting more sleep and taking vitamin supplements. Hanley also offers healthy recipes (some of which sound a little distasteful, like Dreamsicle Tofu Power Drink), accompanied by tips on "good fats" (butter, cheese) and "bad fats" (corn oil, non-dairy creamer), stress-relieving breathing techniques, effective herbal supplements and more. Hanley's program isn't revolutionary, and much of it isn't even original, like "detox" days, fasts to jump-start a diet or getting more sleep. Some of his advice avoiding excessive exercise, for instance is just plain common sense. Still, the book's suggestions are sound, and readers amenable to self-examination will find this book helpful. (On sale date: Apr. 23) Forecast: An appealing title, along with a 30-city tour, should yield brisk initial sales for the book. After that, the book's success will depend on endorsements and media attention.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Fatigue, weight gain, and decreases in health and vitality are not inevitable facts of life. They are the results of adrenal burnout-a consequence of pushing ourselves to the brink in the quest for success. But Dr. Hanley's Ten Simple Solutions-ranging from "eat, eat, eat, all day long" to "exercise less"-helps readers restore their energy, their health, and their life. With unique herbal and supplement formulas as well as an easy fourteen-day meal plan, readers will get back on track and gain back the years lost due to hard work and striving.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (November 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425184595
• ISBN-13: 978-0425184592
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #136,437 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

88 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Avoiding Adrenal Burnout and Recovering From It, May 15, 2001

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Tired of Being Tired (Hardcover)

Adrenal burnout is one of those afflictions that few people have ever heard of, and few doctors test for it. As a result, most of those who have the problem are walking around feeling tired and do not know the reason. The only way to determine if you have adrenal burnout is to be tested for it. If you do have this condition, this book will be very helpful to you.

I discovered that I had adrenal burnout by accident, during testing for another condition. Other than telling me that I had it, my health advisor was not able to offer much other advice except to increase the essential fatty acids in my diet. I wish this book had been available then. I'm sure that I would have recovered much more rapidly!

Adrenal burnout is caused by many factors, most of which are related to stress. You can also increase the likelihood of having this condition by the amount of caffeine you consume. Basically, it is easy to become addicted to an exciting lifestyle where every event gets you charged up. Unfortunately, you then need more excitement to keep you charged up. Like a drug addict, you want more and more, and your body gets more and more tired as you do more and more.

Don't assume that you have adrenal burnout, just because you are tired all of the time. Clinical depression, certain types of yeast infections, low thyroid levels, kidney problems, heart disease, and even allergies can bring on similar symptoms -- as well as more serious illnesses. If you are tired all the time though, be sure that you get checked out thoroughly until you find the cause. I suggest going to a clinic for a complete work-up. Most general practitioners and internists will probably not succeed in diagnosing you.

Once you have been diagnosed as having this condition, you should take the test in this book to see how severe your need for recovery is. Then, you can follow the suggestions for that level of issue. I was surprised to find myself in the Dragging category, despite my best efforts to avoid putting stress on my adrenal system. I followed the advice here, and immediately felt better.

The solutions fall into these categories:

1. Eat more frequently, and with a focus on unprocessed whole foods in a balanced diet. Avoid sugars and flour!

2. Exercise regularly and moderately.

3. Do things to calm your nervous system like yoga and meditation.

4. Sleep more.

5. Stop taking stimulants.

6. Take food supplements that offer more vitamins and minerals.

7. Do deep breathing exercises.

8. Use detoxifying diets from time to time.

9. Be sure to have fun every day.

10. Cultivate a sense of self-fullfillment that includes treating yourself as well as you treat others.

I had two objections to the book. First, the advice often goes counter to studies that I have read about health. You are encouraged to take in lots of cholesterol from food, for example, by eating eggs. Now, my understanding is that your body can produce all the cholesterol you need by simply eating a balanced diet. So this didn't make sense to me. The advice about magnets also went counter to studies I had read.

Second, the diet advice is not specialized by blood type. The advice in Live Right 4 Your Type is probably more appropriate in this area, for that reason. I have questions about many of the recipes in the back, as a result.

I know of no other book that deals with adrenal burnout, so this is the gold standard for now. I look forward to reading more about Dr. Hanley's work as she writes more on this subject in the future.

By the way, the book provides the information you need to order adrenal tests on your own if you would like to be tested.

After you finish this book, I suggest that you think about the fact that you cannot help others if your own health is not based on a sturdy foundation. Be sure to keep a balance in who you give to and how much, so that you can give the most in the long run!

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely the best for those with burned out adrenals!, June 14, 2001

By	someone 22 (outer space) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tired of Being Tired (Hardcover)

Two and a half years ago I had surgery after having gone through some extreme stress. Since that time, my body has not even been close to the same. While I have found some ways to help my body recover, it has been most difficult. If only I had this book then! Over and over again it answers questions about what my body has gone through and why. Better yet, it also tells me what I can now do about it.

As others have already stated, the book contains ten steps that may be necessary for one to obtain adrenal health. You are not expected to do all ten but to pick and choose those that seem to be most important for you and your body. After accomplishing these, you can then move on to more if needed.

Those with tired adrenals can find their body doing some weird and strange things. For instance, my body greatly over-reacts to anything it deems toxic (antibiotics, for one). For the first time, someone explained why this happens.

This book may not be for everyone as clearly some may not wish to do what is required to achieve health. Perhaps they are not yet sick enough. But for those with various maladies that may defy explaination by the medical establishment, this book is a God-send. My extreme gratitude to the author.

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars SOME VERY HELPFUL INFO, BUT..., May 8, 2001

By	Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Tired of Being Tired (Hardcover)

I would have to rate this book somewhere down the middle. To the book's advantage it does contain helpful information, especially the section dealing with herbal supplements. The "Ten Step Program" to revitalize your body was also worth reading. However, there is absolutely nothing refreshing or new here that we have not read time after time in similar self-help books.

As for the "Dreamsicle Tofu Power Drink," it is anything but a dream; it took every ounce of willpower to keep the first mouthful down. My dog was watching with curious attention as I blended and poured; after one whiff of this obnoxious potion, her ears curled! As it hits your stomach, do not be surprised if it actually knocks your socks off! As for the remainder of the recipes, they are consistent with the power drink; your taste buds are definitely not going to be your best friend for awhile.

Weight gain and exhaustion often go hand in hand with the ageing process. Some of the tips and suggestions given here, such as yoga, vitamin and herbal supplements, and getting extra sleep may alleviate some of the problems that are causing you to be tired, but it is only common sense to first have a medical check-up to make sure the reason for your extended fatigue is not due to a more serious medical illness or disease. More often than not, chronic fatigue can be a symptom of severe depression, and if left untreated, the problem can manifest into physical problems as well. If your fatigue is a result of depression, all the power shakes in the world are not going to resolve the problem. The book may be worth reading, but I would not rely solely on the book to repair and rejuvenate the body, nor would I rush out to buy the book. Instead, I would spend my money on "The Okinawa Progam" - that is a top notch book.