The Diet Survivor's Handbook: 60 Lessons in Eating, Acceptance and Self-Care

I've purchased many books over the years on dieting & weight loss, specialty cookbooks, the power of the mind (think thin, why French women don't get fat), etc. but NONE have compared to the straightforward, honest book: The Diet Survivor's Handbook. There are 60 short yet very informative chapters (lessons) on taking a non-dieting approach to living your life, which in turn yields natural weight loss.Key issues the book focuses on: "Dieting" creates a mental & physical cycle that studies have proven to be inherently flawed & which inevitably backfires. Women must honestly stop striving to reach impossible sizes & standards set by the media - focus instead on finding your body's natural weight (sorry, but that might not be a size 0). What does work is tuning into your body's natural signals of hunger, eating what you honestly crave & stopping deprivation or "forbidden or bad foods," which ultimately cause you to want them more. Also, approaching exercise in a different way -- yes, you will still need to move your body -- but instead of forcing hours at the gym on the treadmill, focus on activities that you actually enjoy and that don't feel like hard work (ie. bowling, walking, bike riding, dancing, etc). Moving your body as often as you can (even if it's just a little bit here & there) will start to make you feel better about yourself, relieve daily stress & help you to become more healthy & in tune with your body needs. If you tune into & satisfy the rest of your body's needs & mental health or well being, losing weight will naturally follow.The book is also filled with great, realistic examples -- not idealistic tales of other people who struggled "just like you" and found great success. These are real lessons that you can begin trying right away & examples that you can actually relate to. As a person who has struggled with being overweight since childhood, I have read a lot over the years about nutrition, dieting, joined various weight loss programs, exercise regimes, etc. -- all to no avail. Why can I achieve other life goals except for losing weight & keeping it off, which is so dear & important to me? This book has finally given me new information & key insights as to why I keep failing at my dieting efforts. Like many women, I've simply been coming at it from the wrong approach. When you treat the real issue of the mind, spirit & body -- losing weight will happen.

I am a psychotherapist who has specialized in treating eating disorders for over 30 years. I buy this book in bulk to give to my patients free of charge, so there is no barrier to their getting the information and encouragement it contains. I see some very negative reviews, based on misinformation about scientific research, but also based on fear of trusting oneself. That is perfectly understandable.I do know Judith, but my recovery pre-dated her book by many years and I used the same techniques. There was a revolution in treatment techniques around the world in the late '80s that influenced me, Judith, and many other writers and therapists, including the authors of books on "intuitive eating." This is not an alternative, untested approach. It is what works. If you want to read about the science, look at https://www.amazon.com/Body-Respect-Conventional-Health-Understand/dp/1940363195I would just say, read the book. Then try some of the suggestions in the book as an experiment. It can't hurt you to try something completely different from everything you have ever read about solving the problem of overeating. As I have seen with many patients over the years, and with my own self, the ideas in this book are key to recovery. I have been recovered for over 30 years and have helped hundreds of patients along this path.Recovery is not about deprivation and suffering - just the opposite! It is about self-love, tuning into your natural controls over food, finding effective ways to use your emotions, connecting with people who can love you. It is about enjoying food! You might be surprised how fast you can get control over food after feeling out of control for years.

Excellent Book. I have spent 44 years of my life as morbidly obese. I wish this book had been around when I was 7 years old back in 1959. If you struggle with weight you must get this book. I highly recommend it and have purchased it for many friends who asked me about good weight books. And just remember 99% of all diets fail because people have to make up their mind for themself that they are going to lose weight. Nagging people or setting them up to fail, or trying to shame them into losing weight has never worked for anybody. You just want to make the person eat more because you're basically telling them they are fat and there's nothing they can do about it. Well they can...please check the book out at your local library but from one former fat person to others...this book will help you immensely if you're just honest with yourself.

I thought this was a really great step-by-step guide into the Intuitive / Attuned Eating process. It presents some great insight and information as to why dieting is truly harmful to us, as is mirrored in "Health at Every Size" by Dr. Linda Bacon, "Intutitive Eating" by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch and other IE works. My only gripe was that there seemed to be very little time spent on selecting nutritious foods. I realize that it is counterproductive to focus on nutritional guidelines or infornation in the beginning of the Intuitive Eating process, but feel that it should have been addressed near the end of the book. Overall, if you are looking to add to your understanding of Intuitive / Attuned Eating or are trying to get off the diet treadmill, this book is a really great place to start.

This book is compassionate and smart. Immediately after reading it, my life started changing for the better! The relief I feel knowing I can be in charge of my eating and relax around food, instead of the binge/diet cycle ruling my life!

A well written enlightening book that reassures you are on the right path to ditch the diets.

I bought it for my daughter. She is happy with it

Excellent

I recently started medication which affects my weight and made me gain weight. It's been very confusing and hard to come to terms with things, with being overweight and being okay with it, but this book helps. It helps to remind yourself that food isn't the enemy and dieting isn't a realistic, sustainable solution.

Same old stuff