Michael Gerrish - When Working Out Isnt Working Out: A Mind/Body Guide to Conquering Unidentified Fitness Obstacles

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Contents

Laying the Foundation for a Body/Mind Connection

Connecting Your Mind to Your Body; Walking a Mindful Path

Putting Your Heart into Working Out; Making a Spiritual Connection

Breaking Through Ego Barriers

(*Unidentified Fitness Obstacles)

Overcoming Emotional Blocks to Lifelong Physical Fitness

Common Health Disorders That Can Limit Your Fitness Potential

Exposing Fitness Obstacles with Physiological Roots

The Things We Dont Know That Hurt Us

Avoiding Common Obstacles to Peak Aerobic Fitness

Ensuring a Flawless Workout

Tailoring Your Program to Meet Your Personal Needs

To my wife, Cheryl Richardson,

and to my parents,

Curt and Pat Gerrish

Acknowledgments

As I think about all of the time and hard work that went into completing this book, Im grateful for having so many good friends who were eager to lend their support. What I fear, though, is that because there are so many folks who deserve to be thanked, theres someone Ive failed to acknowledge (whos going to assume he or she has been snubbed). So if your name isnt mentioned here, and you think you deserve to be thanked, I hope youll excuse the oversight and pardon my absent mind.

Without rambling on any further, thank you to the following people: the very nice folks who run Golds Gym in Salisbury, Massachusetts, in particular Eric Lever and the owners, John and Joanne. Thanks for supporting my work in the gym and for always treating me well.

My thanks to the Framingham Giants, in particular to Ed, Jon, Joe, Howard, Pete, Greg, Kevin, Steve, Adrian, Liam, and Jos, for the chance to escape, every now and then, from the rigors of writing this book. In addition, Id like to thank Sharon Day and Susan Wormwood Forsley, for their inspirational E-mails and for being such faithful fans.

My appreciation also goes to Greg and Christine Barnes. Thanks for your kindness and friendship and for always keeping the faith. Also to Brother Bob Russell, for encouraging my success. Thanks for seeing the spark in me and for pointing me down the right road.

Special thanks are also due to the following colleagues and friends: Howard E. Stone, Jr., M.D., for his integrity, skill, and compassion; Susan Duggan, for being there and lending a caring ear; the Springfield gangJon Berg, Jon Younger, Sue Forsley, and Mikey D.; Pat Rogers, for being so good to me and helping me find my way; Fred Kamlot, my first client/guinea pig, pig-out partner, and long-time friend; Ed Shea, Imago relationship coach, for his gentle, insightful advice; Niravi Payne, for making me mad (and for making me cut the crap); Joan Oliver and Marilyn Abraham, for their feedback on early drafts; George Carlin, for inspiring the mood of my ramblings in Chapter 3; my new friend, Gary Bat Mack (the best sports shrink in the West); and the lighthearted lama, Surya Das, for his wisdom and playful wit.

Thanks are due, in addition, to Patty Portwine and Ginger Burr, for always being so thoughtful and for being such wonderful friends. Also, thanks to Norb Carey, Paul Rogers, Teresa Consentino, Mark and Elaine Amundsen, Peter Valaskatgis, Linda Novotny, Stephen Cluney, Aryn Ekstedt, Gay Schoene, Ania OConnor, Hal Baycu-Schatz, my great virtual assistant, Stacy Brice, and my parents in-law, John (Papazita) and Ann (Mamazita) Richardson, all of whom played an important role in making this book come true.

Special thanks to my sister and very attractive friend, Max Dilley, whose whimsical mind and creative soul always keep me amused and intrigued. Your lighthearted side (and intense side) is always a joy to endure.

My heartfelt thanks to Jonathan Berg, the best chiropractor I know, as well as one of the very best friends that a person could ever have. Thanks for your unwavering faith and incessant votes of confidence. Thanks also for the adjustments, both to my attitude and to my spine.

My sincerest thanks to my spunky, crackerjack agent, Ashley Carroll, whose, charmingly warped sense of humor frequently boosted my wobbly morale. Also thanks to David Smith, for adding his timely advice and for being the kind of advocate every author hopes to have.

Im also very appreciative of the efforts of Heather Jackson, whose foresight and publishing instincts opened the door for me and this book. In addition, thanks to my editor at St. Martins, Becky Koh, whose responsiveness and belief in this book made the process of writing it fun. And also thanks to John Murphy, Elaine Bleakney, and John Karle, as well as to Mark Resnick and the entire St. Martins staff. Thanks for all the behind-the-scenes work and for getting behind this book.

A big thanks to all of my clients, who have helped me to love what I do. Thanks to all, past and present, for helping me grow and learn.

To the brothers three, Tom, Paul, and Chris, for deciding to cut me some slack. Thanks for not getting on my case (as much) as you normally would.

I would like to express special gratitude to my parents, Curt and Pat Gerrish, whose work ethic, strength, and integrity have been a guidepost for much of my work. Thanks for being so stubbornly sure that I have what it takes to succeed.

And finally, thanks to my gem of a wife, the most caring person I know, who makes me wonder, continually, what shes doing with someone like me. If marriages are made in heaven (and God is arranging the pairs), I cant help but think that, somehow, I must have done something right. Thank you Cheryl, for everything, with more love than words can say.

Introduction: Life in the Fat Lane

The Upside of Down

From our trials, we discover our trails.

Marvel Elizabeth Harrison and Terry Kellogg

Its not hard for me to remember what it was like to be ten years old. The things I remember best, in fact, are things that Id like to forget. Things like my fifth-grade gym class. The memories I have of what it was like are disturbingly unimpaired; from the ache I felt deep in my heart when I was the last one picked for a team, to the sting that I felt as wet towels were repeatedly snapped on my naked behind. Harassed for being heavy, and teased because I was shy, essentially I was an outcast, a casualty of my flaws, the classic case of an overweight kid belittled, rejected, and shamed.

The abuse, it seemed, was unending, but it didnt just come from my peers. It was also from my gym teacher. On his good days, his disposition could have been likened to Marquis de Sade. Whether poking my pudgy, protruding paunch, or lifting my shirt to expose it, he was always making me look like a fool in front of my classmates and friends. He once even taped an article from a magazine to my locker. The headline read something like, Too Much TV Takes Toll on Tubby Tots. As you might guess, I didnt care much for his manner of making a point.

Of all the bad memories I have of this time, theres one that is bittersweet. Its of a particular incident that marked a critical point in my life. It prompted the start of my lifelong quest to be optimally healthy and fit.

I was standing outside of the middle school gym on an overcast autumn day. While awaiting the start of gym class, I anxiously pondered my fate. Fearing the worst that could happen, I prayed that we werent going to run. Of course this was wishful praying. On this day, wed do just that; in fact, wed be timed for speed.