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Working Out Sucks! (And Why it Doesn't Have To): The Only 21-Day Kick-Start Plan for Total Health and Fitness You'll Ever Need
Tired of diet books that promise to change your life in five minutes? Tired of trying to get healthy and fit and really getting nowhere? Chuck Runyon, Brian Zehetner, and Rebecca DeRossett are here to confirm what you already know: Working out sucks. The good news? With the new approaches in this book, that is about to change. Working Out Sucks! deprograms those of us who have long been brainwashed by unhealthy habits, destructive attitudes, and misinformation about health, and offers a no-nonsense way to get back on track. Because, while working out may suck, the alternatives—from heart disease to premature aging and shortened lifespan--are a lot worse. As he does in his 1,700 Anytime Fitness clubs (with more than one million members worldwide--and growing), Runyon emphasizes user-friendliness and utility in this get-real, get-healthy message, complete with Zehetner’s 21-day kick-start plan and DeRossett’s tips for mental health.
- GenresHealthNonfiction
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2012
14 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 2, 2012
I was lucky enough to receive this book for free, but if this were say, 2004, I would've really benefited from it.
Working Out Sucks breaks down the concept of changing your life through habits, your diet, and working out. Much of the information in the book is already known if you've been working on changing your lifestyle for some time.
That being said, I really enjoyed the approach of the three writers. It wasn't preachy, and they put the onus on you to make the necessary changes. It's a very quick read, and if you've never made any effort to change your life, it could make a huge impact.
The 21 day kick start plan is more than achievable, with very basic meals that they even suggest you could alter as you see fit. It's not the ONLY book you could buy if you're interested in changing things, but it will definitely help.
Working Out Sucks breaks down the concept of changing your life through habits, your diet, and working out. Much of the information in the book is already known if you've been working on changing your lifestyle for some time.
That being said, I really enjoyed the approach of the three writers. It wasn't preachy, and they put the onus on you to make the necessary changes. It's a very quick read, and if you've never made any effort to change your life, it could make a huge impact.
The 21 day kick start plan is more than achievable, with very basic meals that they even suggest you could alter as you see fit. It's not the ONLY book you could buy if you're interested in changing things, but it will definitely help.
January 16, 2025
Everything about how this is written is obnoxious, from the assertion that skinny people do better in business because they "are goal setters" to the praising of Dr. Oz and weird assumption that Oprah is reading this passage right now so here's a personal message to Oprah. Also he quotes himself, repeatedly, in the inspiration quotes sections, which is...a choice.
Everything about this book is the energy of someone who has been inside the industry too long to remember what it's like to try and get into it, but he has thoughts anyway. Everything is a soundbite or a catchy turn of phrase or a (weird, weak) analogy to some catchy pop psychology idea. It's the basement level self-help guru who no longer conceptualizes how real people live their lives. It's also hopeless mired in the exact moment it was written and published, from references to Snuggies, the novel idea that things can be ordered online, to the assertion that the average home costs less than modern apartment rentals. It's trapped in a world that no longer exists, and may not have existed in the first place.
Anywho, I didn't like it.
Everything about this book is the energy of someone who has been inside the industry too long to remember what it's like to try and get into it, but he has thoughts anyway. Everything is a soundbite or a catchy turn of phrase or a (weird, weak) analogy to some catchy pop psychology idea. It's the basement level self-help guru who no longer conceptualizes how real people live their lives. It's also hopeless mired in the exact moment it was written and published, from references to Snuggies, the novel idea that things can be ordered online, to the assertion that the average home costs less than modern apartment rentals. It's trapped in a world that no longer exists, and may not have existed in the first place.
Anywho, I didn't like it.
May 13, 2020
I’ve majored in kinesiology so ideas these books as kind of a fun side thing. Always looking a. lol to recommend for people who seek advice on working out.
This book is great for beginners. It sends u a good kick in the butt and tells ya how to do it. Overall the methods discussed were great. Working out (when, how). Nutrition tips that’s aren’t outrageous but easy to create and eat. Supplements - I do not support huge uses of creatine (supplement to help build muscle) which he supports. I say this because it’s twice as easy to tear a muscle- be careful.
This book does seem to be commercially supported but they provide good website with how to’s on the work outs.
So again, great for beginners who are learning how to get their body moving.
This book is great for beginners. It sends u a good kick in the butt and tells ya how to do it. Overall the methods discussed were great. Working out (when, how). Nutrition tips that’s aren’t outrageous but easy to create and eat. Supplements - I do not support huge uses of creatine (supplement to help build muscle) which he supports. I say this because it’s twice as easy to tear a muscle- be careful.
This book does seem to be commercially supported but they provide good website with how to’s on the work outs.
So again, great for beginners who are learning how to get their body moving.
December 31, 2011
The CEO of Anytime Fitness, Chuck Runyon, has written a sassy, tell-it-like-it-is book. This 224-page paperback also has an important tagline on the cover. The book is about the reasons why working out sucks, the excuses we all make for not taking care of our own health, why those excuses don’t matter, and ways to start changing your lifestyle that are simple and small. Runyon is also joined by Brian Zehetner (MS, RD, CSCS), who offers nutrition and fitness plan advice, and Rebecca Derossett (MSW), who offers advice on beating the psychological challenges that stop so many from adding movement and nutrition into their lives.
Runyon starts by naming pretty much every excuse one could come up with for not working out, and then shooting it down in anywhere from one to three pages. No long, scientific explanations, just simple a simple “these are the facts” mentality. He does a very good job poking holes in the excuses, including some holes that I had never thought of myself. I recognized many of the reasons I used to cite for skipping a workout when I had just started my fitness journey and was going to the gym regularly for the first time in my life. Sometimes he sounds downright harsh – after all, we are all human, and I think that if a few of these excuses “win” and serve as the justification for a missed workout every so often, it’s really not a big deal in the overall scheme of things. However, the book is targeted to those who are just starting a fitness routine, so their “bigger picture” probably doesn’t contain an overall already-active lifestyle. If excuses are your problem (even if only occasionally for the already-active readers out there), this section is worth a read for some good mental tools you can store away to fight those excuses when they start creeping into your mind.
Rebecca Derossett’s psychology-focused section, which comes next, is also helpful in regards to the mental roadblocks that may get in the way of living a healthy lifestyle. She certainly has the education and expertise to back up her advice and tips. However, her section is not quite as relate-able (and not nearly as sassy!) as Runyon’s. Those who do not enjoy his tell-it-like-it-is writing style may enjoy Derossett’s writing more, though it is not gentle by any means! Her section also contains a lot of very inspiring success stories from a variety of Anytime Fitness members. That variety is key, because the number of readers who can relate will increase.
I consider myself a foodie first, so I was really interested in what Brian Zehetner had to say about nutrition and how those without much knowledge of or experience with it could make beneficial changes. He addresses important subjects like the carb debate, fiber’s benefits, protein needs, healthy fats, water intake, and supplements. Zehetner breaks down each subject and gives a very clear-cut bottom line. I think that’s what’s missing in a lot of nutrition advice, so I was impressed by that.
He also authors the next section, about what kinds of fitness (and how much of it) readers should be doing. The message is simple: movement is beneficial. It doesn’t have to be your typical exercise. Getting up and walking is a start for some, and that’s perfectly fine. I like that this book didn’t focus on just a “workout plan”. The message was really to just move – there are a whole lot more ways to do that than there are on a list of what you can do at a gym! That fact makes the message more attainable, something that could reassure those that were put off by Runyon’s feisty start to the book. Zehetner stresses the importance of stretching, something I know that many of us, no matter how active we already are, can do more of. I know I could! It’s nice to see that the typical “calorie-scorcher” areas of fitness aren’t the only one being promoted here.
The final portion of “Working Out Sucks!” contains a very useful, realistic 21-day fitness and nutrition plan – essentially, it’s a collection of “sample days” that gives great ideas for workouts and options for each kind of meal or snack. Someone new to fitness could simply find a day with a cardio plan, and follow it. A ravenous snacker could keep to book by his or her side and refer to the last section for endless healthy snack alternatives. Those who have been working out for awhile could even refer to the workouts as a source of a new routine (always good to change it up!), and healthy eaters who are getting bored of their go-to meals can use the back pages for new food ideas. I really like that rest days are incorporated into the plan. This serves as a reminder to dedicated fitness buffs that rest is OK – I know I need that reminder a lot (not saying I’m a buff or anything )
Overall, I found this book to be a useful, to-the-point tool for relatively inexperienced readers who are looking for solid advice on how to eat well and work out. A lot of confusion that’s probably out there regarding “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts” is cleared up. The tone may not be for everyone, but can definitely be used as effective motivational self-talk against those pesky excuses!
Runyon starts by naming pretty much every excuse one could come up with for not working out, and then shooting it down in anywhere from one to three pages. No long, scientific explanations, just simple a simple “these are the facts” mentality. He does a very good job poking holes in the excuses, including some holes that I had never thought of myself. I recognized many of the reasons I used to cite for skipping a workout when I had just started my fitness journey and was going to the gym regularly for the first time in my life. Sometimes he sounds downright harsh – after all, we are all human, and I think that if a few of these excuses “win” and serve as the justification for a missed workout every so often, it’s really not a big deal in the overall scheme of things. However, the book is targeted to those who are just starting a fitness routine, so their “bigger picture” probably doesn’t contain an overall already-active lifestyle. If excuses are your problem (even if only occasionally for the already-active readers out there), this section is worth a read for some good mental tools you can store away to fight those excuses when they start creeping into your mind.
Rebecca Derossett’s psychology-focused section, which comes next, is also helpful in regards to the mental roadblocks that may get in the way of living a healthy lifestyle. She certainly has the education and expertise to back up her advice and tips. However, her section is not quite as relate-able (and not nearly as sassy!) as Runyon’s. Those who do not enjoy his tell-it-like-it-is writing style may enjoy Derossett’s writing more, though it is not gentle by any means! Her section also contains a lot of very inspiring success stories from a variety of Anytime Fitness members. That variety is key, because the number of readers who can relate will increase.
I consider myself a foodie first, so I was really interested in what Brian Zehetner had to say about nutrition and how those without much knowledge of or experience with it could make beneficial changes. He addresses important subjects like the carb debate, fiber’s benefits, protein needs, healthy fats, water intake, and supplements. Zehetner breaks down each subject and gives a very clear-cut bottom line. I think that’s what’s missing in a lot of nutrition advice, so I was impressed by that.
He also authors the next section, about what kinds of fitness (and how much of it) readers should be doing. The message is simple: movement is beneficial. It doesn’t have to be your typical exercise. Getting up and walking is a start for some, and that’s perfectly fine. I like that this book didn’t focus on just a “workout plan”. The message was really to just move – there are a whole lot more ways to do that than there are on a list of what you can do at a gym! That fact makes the message more attainable, something that could reassure those that were put off by Runyon’s feisty start to the book. Zehetner stresses the importance of stretching, something I know that many of us, no matter how active we already are, can do more of. I know I could! It’s nice to see that the typical “calorie-scorcher” areas of fitness aren’t the only one being promoted here.
The final portion of “Working Out Sucks!” contains a very useful, realistic 21-day fitness and nutrition plan – essentially, it’s a collection of “sample days” that gives great ideas for workouts and options for each kind of meal or snack. Someone new to fitness could simply find a day with a cardio plan, and follow it. A ravenous snacker could keep to book by his or her side and refer to the last section for endless healthy snack alternatives. Those who have been working out for awhile could even refer to the workouts as a source of a new routine (always good to change it up!), and healthy eaters who are getting bored of their go-to meals can use the back pages for new food ideas. I really like that rest days are incorporated into the plan. This serves as a reminder to dedicated fitness buffs that rest is OK – I know I need that reminder a lot (not saying I’m a buff or anything )
Overall, I found this book to be a useful, to-the-point tool for relatively inexperienced readers who are looking for solid advice on how to eat well and work out. A lot of confusion that’s probably out there regarding “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts” is cleared up. The tone may not be for everyone, but can definitely be used as effective motivational self-talk against those pesky excuses!
December 4, 2018
Yes, it does suck!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2025
This book focused too much on weight loss and not enough on fitness. There was some helpful nutritional information in the book. The success stories were repetitive, as they were all very similar.
February 15, 2013
An interesting insight into how you take small steps to attain your fitness & health goals.
It goes into the psychological level as well as into the dietary & physical level (of course).
I found a lot of interesting facts, although the 'Get inspired' sections weren't really my thing since i was already won for the idea of starting before starting on the book.
But i can imagine that they would serve other people well.
Not too big, and well written, i'd recommend it !
It goes into the psychological level as well as into the dietary & physical level (of course).
I found a lot of interesting facts, although the 'Get inspired' sections weren't really my thing since i was already won for the idea of starting before starting on the book.
But i can imagine that they would serve other people well.
Not too big, and well written, i'd recommend it !
August 12, 2016
Three star 'average' in my opinion using the following factors:
Earns 3-4 stars for excellent discussion on the formation of habits and taking small steps with an end goal in mind. Anecdotes were used very effectively.
Earns 2 stars for exercise content.
View this book as lesson in exercise/fitness psychology and you may enjoy it.
Earns 3-4 stars for excellent discussion on the formation of habits and taking small steps with an end goal in mind. Anecdotes were used very effectively.
Earns 2 stars for exercise content.
View this book as lesson in exercise/fitness psychology and you may enjoy it.
April 22, 2012
Highly recommend if needing some inspiration to be healthy! Comes with a 21 day eating and exercise guide! What's good to eat and what's not are also included. Has inspiration stories and what sucks worse than working out!!
June 24, 2012
The idea behind the book is a good one and I really enjoyed it until I got to the "personal stories". It was just kind of the same thing, over and over. Plus, the "Working out sucks but" quote at the end of every chapter and personal story got really old, really quick.
January 21, 2013
"(...) I've also seen the power of exercise as medicine, and clinical evidence supports the idea that regular exercise lifts mood, increases happiness, decreases stress, and boosts confidence and self-worth."
April 10, 2012
This is a wonderful "working out for dummies" type of book. I learned a lot from this book and I am encouraged to learn more about health and wellness.
October 13, 2012
I think 24 Hour Fitness rocks as a gym but this is pretty much an extended inspirational advertisement for their chain.
November 13, 2012
AnytimeFitness reklama, bet nepaisant to pateikia nemažai sprendimų ir motyvacijos..
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews