E.J. Neiman's new book 'Faux Fitness: A User's Manual for How Our Bodies Really Work' challenges a fundamental assumption in modern fitness culture: that demanding, oxygen-depriving workouts are inherently beneficial for health. The book arrives as many people grapple with burnout, chronic pain, and confusion about fitness despite gym memberships and wearable technology tracking every heartbeat.
Neiman poses a deceptively simple question that most fitness programs don't consider: Is working out without oxygen truly beneficial? This inquiry leads to the book's central claim that the widely accepted belief in punishing cardio and fitness routines as the best path to health may be mistaken. Instead, Neiman suggests that prioritizing workouts that deprive the body of oxygen could actually undermine long-term health outcomes.
The author's perspective was shaped by Dr. Thomas Griner's unconventional biomechanics research, which prompted Neiman to reconsider common fitness wisdom. His personal journey began with a childhood injury and a search for lasting relief that raised fundamental questions about why pain persists and why harder exercise often worsens it rather than providing solutions.
Neiman challenges several fitness norms through provocative questions in the book. He asks why humans alone intentionally raise their heart rates for extended periods or praise pain in gym settings when elsewhere in life pain serves as a warning signal. The book also questions whether aging necessarily means declining mobility, asking if grandparents could move as they did when younger with different approaches to physical activity.
Rather than offering another exercise program or diet regimen, Neiman asserts that 'It's not what you do for exercise, it's how you do it.' This represents a shift from force-based approaches to functional movement and from punishment to body awareness. The book covers not just fitness but broader health topics including food, cholesterol, heart health, and the distinction between feeling good temporarily versus achieving sustainable wellness.
Early readers have described 'Faux Fitness' as 'finally getting the owner's manual you didn't know you were missing,' noting its accessible approach that avoids dense medical terminology in favor of conversational explanations with touches of science and humor. The book is available through major book retailers including Barnes & Noble and online at https://fauxfitness.com.
This challenge to conventional fitness wisdom comes at a critical time when exercise-related injuries and workout burnout are increasingly common, suggesting that reevaluating how we approach physical activity could have significant implications for public health, fitness industry practices, and individual wellbeing. The book's premise that what we don't understand about our bodies still affects us offers a new framework for considering long-term health outcomes beyond immediate workout intensity.
