THE EVERYDAY ATHLETE

A guide offers a game plan for incorporating physical fitness into daily life.

Trapotsis advocates a “healthy addiction” to exercise and physical fitness in everyday life. Since he knows what kind of resistance he’s up against, he immediately addresses the foremost excuse people tend to make on the subject: They just don’t have the time. For the author, this is less a matter of time and more one of attitude. “Anything is possible,” he writes. “You can think differently about your day, and you can think differently about fitness and physical activity.” His book is primarily about exercise, but he also wants to stress that the strategies he imparts about self-awareness and the give-and-take of healthy relationships can apply equally well to work and family situations. He outlines many different tactics for improving these dynamics, from simple things like “Communication is not optional” and “Don’t go overboard” to more complex examinations of some of the most persistent obstacles that get in the way of healthier living. (“Commuting,” he points out, “is the hidden killer of balance.”) All kinds of broader contextual questions are skillfully addressed, from the importance of establishing support systems in the family to options for creating a healthier environment in the workplace. “Exercise during the day improves morale and makes employees more productive,” he asserts. These are complicated subjects, and Trapotsis readily acknowledges that they can also be a bit daunting sometimes, particularly if a significant other doesn’t support a person’s fitness goals. Still, the tone the author adopts throughout is one of bright, optimistic encouragement. He breaks down his information in clear, readable prose and effectively deploys stories from his own life to illustrate his points. These tactics combine to create a vigorously encouraging plea for self-reinvention.

A powerful and pithy call to pump new life into your regular routine.