The Intrinsic Exerciser: Discovering the Joy of Exercise

by Jay Kimiecik

Too many of us exercise to lose weight and stay fit. Jay Kimiecik believes that focusing on those reasons make sticking with a fitness plan almost impossible. With full appreciation of the real problems people have with exercising, he writes that we must instead find personal pleasure in any physical activity we choose. Kimiecik's infectious enthusiasm and easy four-step plan will turn anyone into an intrinsic exerciser for life.

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 13, 2002

About the author

JAY KIMIECIK (me) has published a new nonfiction book: Exploring the Concept of Feel for Wellbeing and Performance. Jay is a writer disguised as a professor in the psychology of health, well-being, and performance at Miami University (Oxford, OH). Raised among onion fields in rural New York, he developed an interest in how optimal experience can be found in everyday living (for example, while weeding onions on a hot summer day). He has always been writing something and worked as a sports writer and freelance writer early in his career where he honed his skills in interviewing and storytelling. His academic research work bridges the gap between the art and science of health behavior change, publishing both research articles and trade books. He has consulted with many health organizations and wrote the YMCA Personal Fitness Program manual, which was used in hundreds of YMCAs in North America. Jay has earned awards for both his writing and teaching excellence and has some eclectic talents. He created and hosted FitTalk, a talk radio show on exercise and fitness that aired for five years on Miami University’s WMUB, a national public radio affiliate. He also co-founded and directed Miami University’s Employee Health & Well-Being program for five years, moving back to his full-time faculty role when realizing he wasn't an administrator. He keeps exploring various writing genres and hopes his work can be a positive influence in the world beyond the classroom.

Reviews

[Hannah Gayle · Rating 2 out of 5]

We've all heard the phrase, "The best type of workout is one you actually enjoy."

But what if someone doesn't enjoy any type of exercise?

The author believes "we were all born to move—and move frequently. It's primarily our brain and our culture that get in the way of moving our body—and enjoying it."

While I don't disagree that some non-exercisers have a fraught, unhealthy, or negative relationship to physical activity, I don't know if this book goes into enough depth to be able to transform someone who's exercise adverse into a person who LOVES to move.

The book breaks down the process of becoming an intrinsic exerciser into 4 steps: vision, mastery, flow, and "inergy." While I think this book contains some interesting perspectives and prompts self-reflection, I take issue with labeling this process as "easy" and claiming it will "turn anyone into an intrinsic exerciser for life." The steps are simple, but—depending on the person and their exercise history—they may not be easy.

Despite all this, I think this book is worth a read. It's a low sunk-cost at less than 150 pages, and I do think there's some useful information within.

I'll end this review with my one complaint: the entire book talks about how to expunge external motivators (like weight reduction, increased longevity, better health, etc.) in favor of internal motivators (like enjoyment or skill mastery), but then contradicts that advice by using weight loss as a measure of success when sharing anecdotes from people who have become lifelong intrinsic exercisers. Can someone wholeheartedly love an internal experience if they are still desiring an external outcome? And isn't "loving the internal experience" the whole point of this book?

[Viv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt quite inspired by The Intrinsic Exerciser because of how it refocused my outlook on exercise toward sensuous pleasure in movement. Not only that, but my behavior has changed in addition to my outlook as a result of the encouragements in this book: I have already begun engaging in intrinsically motivated exercise every single day since beginning to read it several days ago.

I believe a self-help book to be generally effective if it helps accomplish any one of the following:

--Enjoyment; i.e., either the language or storytelling intrigues or entertains--check! Kimiciek's writing style is easy and fluid, and makes use of specific stories and anecdotes that are often relatable or touching alongside scientific examples and evidence, which thankfully do not dominate the narrative flow

--Soothing; i.e., the reading of the book causes someone who had previously felt anxiety or powerlessness to feel a sense of calm and empowerment in the process of reading the book, whether or not this translates into deep change in other aspects of one's life outside of the literal moment of reading--check! While this may seem to be a dubious quality of a self-help book whose lessons are explicitly expected to be brought out into the world, I do still believe that the immediate experience of reading a self-help book may sometimes be the best change it can offer, and that such an experience most often could be one of being soothed, calmed by the temporary but still momentarily worthy salve of the confidence of the writer and the simplicity and hope of change shared within the author's book

--The inducement of true behavioral or cognitive change; i.e., the ideas conveyed in the writing prove so compelling and persuasive that the reader finds herself literally abandoning the book from time to time to enact some of the activities and bits of advice recommended within--an enthusiastic check! I found myself reading this book slowly, frequently setting aside a chapter in favor of going on a quick brisk stroll or doing a few joyful spontaneous cartwheels outside in celebration of what I had been learning

The quality I enjoyed the most in The Intrinsic Exerciser was its formal dependence on various taxonomies the author has identified to define and distinguish the necessary steps to becoming an intrinsic exerciser, or in other words, to becoming someone who is motivated to exercise by virtue of their own values and pleasures, rather than from doctor's orders or a desire to lose weight. These taxonomies include:

--Explanations of the Outside-In and Inside-Out exercise approaches, as well as their differences (table of contents)

--The guided steps he deems necessary to becoming an intrinsic exerciser; namely, vision, mastery, flow, and “inergy” (table of contents)

--The qualities of motivational mindsets that are extrinsic in nature versus intrinsic in nature (page 24)

--The continuum for motivation (page 30), which includes, in order from least to most motivated, not motivated at all, external control, internal pressure, identified regulation, integrated regulation, knowledge, accomplishment, and stimulation

--Physical vision—the exerciser I know is possible (page 78)

--Inner vision—How I want my exercise to feel (page 78)

Many taxonomies developed in self-help books seem to me to be silly and entirely self-referential; as in, they seem only to be helpful within the fantasy world of the individual the self-help book itself creates. The taxonomies posited in this book, however, seemed to me as an athlete and an exerciser to be legitimate and intuitive, as well as helpful distinctions in terms of dividing up certain goals and tasks so that exercisers might be able to see a sense of improvement and progression through the mental changes and activities posed here.

I am positive I will continue to refer to this book throughout my life as I encourage others I know to find deeper attunement with their bodies and the sensations exercise can induce.

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. It had some good ideas in it and insight into the difference between people who exercise regularly for the long term and those who never seem to be able to make a habit stick. A very quick and easy read.

[Pixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for those who need encouragement. I even lectured based on this book for a job! But then again, I love teaching/learning about healthy lifestyles.