Core Performance Essentials: The Revolutionary Nutrition and Exercise Plan Adapted for Everyday Use

by Mark Verstegen, Pete Williams

In Core Performance Essentials, Mark Verstegen—one of America’s most innovative and respected performance coaches—presents a streamlined version of his remarkable Core fitness program. Eliminating all excuses for not working out, this book breaks down fitness essentials into a quick, easy-to-follow routine that takes only 30 minutes and requires no special equipment. There are dozens of workouts designed to improve flexibility, joint stability, and balance—and to create a lean, agile, powerful physique that’s resistant to injury and the ravages of age.An ideal beginning workout for those who haven’t exercised in years, Core Performance Essentials is also perfect for bodybuilders looking for flexibility, athletes looking to improve performance and decrease the chance of injury, back pain sufferers in need of relief, and, most of all, busy men and women who need to fit their exercise into a crowded schedule.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published December 13, 2005

Reviews

[Alstin Benton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to get you thinking about the importance of core function and how it effects performance. Worth the time for anyone with chronic injuries or strength coaches looking to get more "Functional" sorry for the buzz word.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting program. I couldn't stay on it, but would definitely try it again.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the tone of this book is intended to be very accessible, especially if you're a baseball/football fan--it's rife with sports metaphors.

I read the section on nutrition, but personally, don't plan to take his advice on 6 meals per day. He also seems very comfortable with things like deli meat (way too much sodium) and fruit juices (all the sugar, none of the fiber), and whey protein, which I find to be pretty unnecessary, to name just a few things. However, there are plenty of people who agree with his advice, so who knows? I could be doing it "wrong" myself.

Now, on to the exercises, which is the part that I found most interesting. I plan on updating my review once I try them out, because as a runner, I'm really interested in strengthening and stabilizing my core. To be continued!

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

We happened to have this book sitting in the office at work, so I stole it. God knows no one there is ever going to pick it up. (I work at adidas, and very few fit people actually work there.) I have never been a fan of fitness books, but this one actually seems to be legit. I haven't been on the program outlined in the book for more than a week, so I don't know if it will really work or not yet. I do find myself having more energy, because I'm trying to eat really nutritious foods more often, instead of wolfing down 3 big fattening meals a day. The stage 1 exercises aren't that difficult, but you really feel the effects the next day. It says you're supposed to see results in three weeks, so we'll see what happens. If anything, at least it's keeping me from eating junk food.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

My physical therapist uses exercises from this book, so I decided to pick it up. I am bored by all of the competitive sports references (I can't relate), and skimmed through the mindset and nutrition stuff, but it is worth having just for the core movement chapters. The exercises really work -- I feel myself getting stronger and more flexible. There is a clear plan laid out and pictures/explanations to help you do the movements correctly. I love that the moves are dynamic -- I actually look forward to them each day. I definitely wonder if I'd made these exercises part of my marathon training, if I'd still have healthy knees to be training for my next.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helps with flexibility, technique.

[Rose]

613.7 Ver

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really liked it. some of the exercises were really hard even though you are using your own body for resistance. i would recommend this book to everyone.