GAME PLAN

A veteran sports trainer serves up a challenging plan for succeeding instead of just trying to get in a good workout.

How-to-build-a-better-body books litter the landscape, but Mancias has a built-in advantage: LeBron James follows the author’s program, writing in his foreword, “I’m staying in the game for as long as possible by being consistent with my training, my recovery, and eating as clean as I can—and a big part of that is because of Mike.” Mancias reinforces these key points by dividing the book into sections devoted to eating, moving, and mending. Before all that comes the mind—intention and commitment. Afterward comes the stretch. James stretches when he wakes up, before a game, and before going to bed, knowing that keeping the body flexible and tuned means longevity. Mancias counsels eating nutrient-rich foods that both allow movement and promote healing and recovery. As he notes, there’s no promise that his program will help a person shed weight, but if that’s a goal, it can be adapted to accommodate. One thing readers will notice is the author’s devotion to drinking water constantly; another is his view that five or six small meals are better than two or three big ones, since they provide “a constant level of energy that keeps your blood sugar levels even all day.” His repertoire doesn’t require superhuman ability, and some exercises seem downright fun (compared to, say, walking a treadmill) while reinforcing the maintenance and strengthening of the core muscles. Interestingly, those exercises require no equipment, and the author is humane about them. If you’re not used to exercise, Mancias allows a two-days-on-one-day-off schedule instead of a boot camp regimen. Finally, the author insists on recovery through sleep, meditation, and massage, among other things, reassuring, “None of these tactics are ineffective or self-indulgent.”

Sensible and demanding, training both mind and body.