Don't Count Yourself Out: Staying Fit After 35

America's example of peak physical fitness past thirty-five goes public with the exercise regimen that has kept him in the game and allowed him to face opponents twenty years younger than him at the 1991 U.S. Open.

"I may be 40, but I don't know when, if ever, I've felt more alive or more in control of my life than I do today." Standard pep talks are sprinkled throughout Don't Count Yourself Out! , but coming from former tennis star Connors--via the word processor of L.A. freelancer Harris, and with the assistance of Dallas physician and sports medicine specialist Gordon--the words take on a renewed credibility. The authors have designed two 16-week workouts--one for couch potatoes, the other for those more advanced in their fitness standards. To keep the exerciser on target, there's the "Connors Count," a point system calculated on type of exertion pursued over time, with a "success range" wide enough (35 to 100 points per week, with each point worth 20 calories) to encourage, not intimidate. Calculating the Connors Count does require making reference to charts on several pages, which can at first call for some dexterous page-flipping. But overall, this is an immensely sensible and straightforward book, with just enough tennis anecdotes (including the requisite swipe at Bjorn Borg) and trademark Connors spunk to keep it from becoming just another famous person's fitness confessional. In fact, Connors may be the best celebrity exercise cheerleader to come along in some time.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.