To bring out your inner athlete

If only we mere mortals had access to the pros’ fitness training secrets. Think how efficient workouts would be. No more aimless strolls on the treadmill or working the wrong muscles. With “Core Performance” (Rodale, 2004), it might be possible.

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“Core Performance”: Author Mark Verstegen is the founder and president of Athletes’ Performance, a 30,000-square-foot facility in Tempe, Ariz., where athletes from around the country come to train, including soccer star Mia Hamm, Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox and pro tennis player Mary Pierce. Verstegen’s new book incorporates training principles the pros use, but they’re adaptable for the out of shape as well as those who have been working out for years. The book emphasizes core (trunk) training, as well as often-overlooked workout components such as full-body warm-ups, flexibility and cool-down. It also details overall strength and cardio training, plus nutrition information. Individual exercises are clearly explained and illustrated with photographs, and combination workout routines are offered for those who want more advanced training. Nutritional information is balanced-diet basic, but Verstegen does advocate supplement shakes in addition to meals, and makes a shameless pitch for his own line of supplements.

Verstegen takes a work-

smarter-and-harder approach to fitness that he’s learned from the pros: “I think sometimes people are easily distracted, or they make excuses not to exercise. The attitude athletes have is, ‘I’m going to get this done.’ It’s hard work -- not necessarily more work, but they come in extremely focused and do what they need to get done.”

Price: $29.95; available at major bookstores and at Amazon.com.

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-- Jeannine Stein