Tired of Being Tired

April 1, 2001
Too tired to exercise, or, for that matter, do much of anything other than work or sleep? Most people think that's just an inevitable and depressing consequence of growing older, but Hanley, medical director of the Malibu Health Center, says it's not so. Hanley offers a program aimed at relieving "Adrenal Burnout," an all-too-common hazard of today's fast-paced, stressful life, whose symptoms include weight gain, exhaustion and irritability. As a way of categorizing people into specific types "driven," "burned out," "perfectionist" the author offers case histories along with a questionnaire, which readers can use to diagnose themselves. Once they identify their symptoms, they can adopt Hanley's 10-step program, which includes eating frequently, exercising less (though he does encourage yoga), getting more sleep and taking vitamin supplements. Hanley also offers healthy recipes (some of which sound a little distasteful, like Dreamsicle Tofu Power Drink), accompanied by tips on "good fats" (butter, cheese) and "bad fats" (corn oil, non-dairy creamer), stress-relieving breathing techniques, effective herbal supplements and more. Hanley's program isn't revolutionary, and much of it isn't even original, like "detox" days, fasts to jump-start a diet or getting more sleep. Some of his advice avoiding excessive exercise, for instance is just plain common sense. Still, the book's suggestions are sound, and readers amenable to self-examination will find this book helpful. (On sale date: Apr. 23) Forecast: An appealing title, along with a 30-city tour, should yield brisk initial sales for the book. After that, the book's success will depend on endorsements and media attention.