Pace: Rediscover Your Native Fitness

by Al Sears (Contributor)

PACE: Rediscover Your Native Fitness - exposes all the myths and misconceptions about health, aging and fitness. So throw away your jogging shoes, cancel your aerobics class and say goodbye to hours of long tiresome workouts. Then round up all your 'diet' books and throw them away in the garbage... Now YOU can get your hands on the same patented, easy to learn techniques that: -Rebuilds Your Lungs - For Life! -Burns Fat Like Nothing Else in the World -Reverses Heart Disease - And Prevents Heart Attacks -Adds Years - Even Decades - of Healthy Living To Your Life -Pumps Up Your Immune System - Making You Virtually Disease Proof -Builds Pounds of New Muscle - Without Lifting Weights!

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Fitness

143 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2006

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing in this book leaves a lot to be desired. A lot. I don't like reading books like this, where it feels like you're constantly being sold to. It feels like a used car sales pitch, which rubs me the wrong way. Plus, it could say the same thing in less than half the length.

Despite all that, I bought it and I'm getting through it, because my Chiropractic Neurologist recommended it to me. I waited until I had seen my new doctor for a month and saw tremendous improvements in my health before I even considered buying the book. But, what the hell, if he can help me feel like a normal human being again, and he recommended this book, I should at least read it, right?

The premise of the book is that the typical cardio exercise (moderately paced for extended periods of time) that is pushed on us these days is actually detrimental to our heart and lung health. He pushes the idea that 12 minutes of very intense interval training, with important rest periods in between, which is shifted progressively as we build our capacity for it, is what we need to lose weight, to strengthen our heart health and lung capacity. He refers to a lot of studies (all of which probably have counter-studies). It can be done with any mode of exercise (walking, running, swimming, biking, probably even skipping), and you don't need a gym. He also talks about diet and various supplements you can take, some of which I agree with, and some of which I'm highly skeptical of.

I'm almost done with the book, and I'm partially intrigued and partially skeptical of it. But, once I'm over this flu, I'll give it a try. I'm sure it can't hurt, and if it really does work, well, then, maybe I'll be sculpted back into my 18 year old body. That certainly wouldn't suck.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of repeat, and the idea comes across as a sales-pitch, but the actual exercise philosophy seems research-based. The author explains the process clearly (repeatedly ...) and talks about how to tailor the program to individual needs and fitness levels. If I remember, I'll come back and add a star if the program works for me. :)

Note: I disagree with much of the information about nutrition and supplements, so I basically skipped that entire section of the book. This review is only based on the exercise recommendations.

[Charise D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't enjoy fitness books, but this one was quick to read. As usual with this type of book, too much time is spent convincing the reader to do the program, but the plan seems like a good one and is clearly explained. I've been doing PACE for a short time and have seen some progress; now that I'm finished with the book I understand the program better and I think I can tweak it for more results.

[Donna Nettleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interval training. Calisthenics and eating protein. Time will tell if this works for me!

[Debbie Hull · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself could have been half the length as it kept repeating the same thing. Spoiler alert: in a nutshell, your lung capacity and strength is what helps you stay healthy and live long. In order to keep your lungs from shrinking, which they do with age and without being challenged, you need to bring up your heart rate for peak periods and then bring it down to a resting heart rate and do it again for 12 minutes of intense workout times. This can be done with any exercise as long as you bring your heart rate up high enough. The author, Dr Sears, states that running or jogging for long periods actually does not help your lungs grow as your heart becomes used the activity and your heart rate isn’t challenged. He gives examples of marathon runners he’s treated who have died from heart ailments. It challenged my way of thinking about duration and intensity of exercise.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I work for a doctor and I have no idea how he found out about this book, but he read it and then started recommending that all of our patients use this program to get their heart and lungs healthy.

Ever wonder why marthon runners and tri-athletes have heart attacks, these people who are in such great shape? well the book explains it.

Using the PACE workout from the book I took my resting heart beat from 85 to 64 in 4 weeks.

Try it out, if nothing else will educate you on why some people who are suppose to be in such great shape, end up dieing of heart attacks.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of working your body hard for a short duration appeals to me due to the fact that I've tried the chronic cardio and then couldn't get off the plateau. Thought I'd try this to prepare for a half-marathon. He did repeat himself extensively =(

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating way to look at excercise. What he is saying seems to make sense and I think he might be right.........I wish there was more data in the book to back up his theories though.

[Jaime Manser · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting and thought provoking. Have been giving his advice a try and feeling like I have more energy all ready after a week - wait and see what the scale does but so far it was worth it!

[Scottsdale Public Library]

A common sense fitness and nutrition guide that takes issue with the currently accepted notions about how to get fit and be healthy. --Kathy S--

[Ashfaq Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best Excercise book. Well researched, emperical and true to known physiological concepts. I as a doctor recommend this book and strongly believe that it may help.

[Me-- · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book.