I Can Make You Thin (Book and CD) [Paperback]

Okay, I have only been using this for one week, so I have no idea yet whether I am actually losing any weight, although given that I can once again breath while wearing my work trousers, something must be happening. However, already I feel I have benefited from the content of this tome because I no longer fear social occasions. As an habitual serial dieter I would spend much time worrying about visiting friends or going to functions as I would see them as "dangerous" to whatever faddy diet I was on at the time, knowing full well I would gorge myself and come away feeling worthless and guilt ridden. Now I know I can eat what I want and that I can control myself and trust myself to only eat when I am hungry I am actually looking forward to these events. No more guilt!!! What a relief. Thanks Paul!!

This is my first review of any amazon product, despite being an avid buyer, but I wanted to say something about this book/cd combo since I've genuinely had such a great experience with it.

Since my teens I've always been a little bit overweight. Although not madly upset by it I have tried all the usual diets, but I've never been able to stick to them for more than a few days at a time and always ended up binging to make up for my loss and putting on more weight! Still, I wasn't huge (average size 14) so it wasn't too much cause for concern past the usual New Year's resolution (we've all been there!).

But anyway, over the past year due to personal and professional stresses and a rather unhealthy lifestyle enforced by late nights at the office, I slowly put on about two and a half stone - naturally a big shock and blow when it finally hit me in May of this year.

I tried the usual things, but as usual they didn't work and made matters worse. Then I found Paul McKenna's book. I came on amazon, dubious, but after reading the reviews (the majority of which are very positive, and in my opinion rightly so) I thought I could at least give it a go.

And I'm really glad I did.

Four months later I've nearly lost all the extra weight I put on over the past year, and what's more I'm not hungry, grouchy, unhappy or exhausted from crazy exercise routines and eating plans!

His method is really simple, and the book and CD really helpful and motivating, especially in the early days when I needed the boost.

Eat what you want, when you want, but only if hungry and until satisfied.

If you're not hungry, ask yourself what you really want - I was shocked to discover how often I ate when actually not hungry; just bored or wanting a distraction or something to do! Or often - extraordinarily thirsty!!!

Simple.

Although in the first two months I slipped twice, I was able to slip right back into the method.

But here's the big thing: it works. While I've been doing it, I have lost weight and continued to lose weight - the times I slipped (mainly due to my being exhausted from work and not listening to what my body was telling me!) I didn't barate myself, I just reread his passage on "You Will At Some Point Slip" and felt tonnes better and just got on with it.

Now, I do all the points without thinking. I'm still losing weight, slowly but surely, and it's working. I'm happy, my clothes fit tonnes better and in fact in a recent shopping trip (my first since I started) I was able to fit comfortably into a size 10 button-up skirt - a first for me, ever! And my old 'usual' size 14s were a bit big, and I found I fit better generally in size 12s!

I don't listen to the CD so much anymore, but that's because I find I don't need to. The method is fabulous and really works - I eat what I want, when I want [the real shock was that I genuinely wasn't hungry a lot of the time when I was eating in the early days] and life is good.

My advice to anyone is go for it. If it worked for me, someone who has never managed to stick to a diet for more than a few days at a time and someone who has never managed to lose weight - then there's a chance it'll work for you :D

I know that its usual to get your review in on a book as quickly as possible, but with this book I thought what would be the point? Yes, I could tell everyone know how well it was written, what it said made sound sense, good layout, etc etc. But what I wouldn't have been able to tell you is whether or not it worked. I couldn't have done that without testing PKs theories first. So that's what I've been doing for the past four weeks. I gave it a fair go so that I could pass on exactly whether or not the book will do what it says it will do.
Background - Female, 54 years old, menopausal and of course overweight! And as we all know ladies, when Mrs Menopause comes aknocking on your door she brings with her several girlfriends, one of which is Mistress Weight Gain - bitch! And you know that weight gain at our time of life is nigh on impossible to get rid of. Yes, like you all I've tried every conceivable diet, fad going but the golden rule of thumb during the menopause is not to diet isn't it - Menopause without Weight Gain: The 5 Step Solution to Challenge Your Changing Hormones. What's a girl to do? I'll tell you what she does - she follows PKs instructions to the letter and DOES NOT DIET!!!!! THIS IS NOT A DIET.

Four weeks ago I weighed - 11st 12lbs (with clothes on) so say 11st 8lbs naked and I started on the 90 day programme that I hoped would be the beginning of a new way of viewing food. Today (18 April) was my second weigh in and lo and behold I was exactly 11st (naked). I have lost 8lbs in four weeks and never, ever in my entire life has that ever happened before. But here's the best bit: I've not once ever felt that hungry I was near to feinting (as you usually do on diets), I've not counted calories, I've not had to suffer the gagging reflex trying to swallow dry pieces of cardboard! I've not had to practically kill myself in the gym in the hope of losing a few ounces. I've lost 8lbs in four weeks just by being committed to giving this system a fair trial. And in short - IT WORKED FOR ME! What ran through my mind reading the book was - If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got! - Try something different - it just might work. It worked for me and the reason being was I was prepared to give this 100% commitment. I read the instructions, practiced the lessons and stayed with the programme and will continue to do so for the next 60 days. After which, this will be the way I will live with food for the rest of my life hopefully.

But all this doesn't mean that you don't have to put in a little bit of effort. You do. Effort into the programme, effort into staying with the four golden rules, effort into listening to the CD and effort into getting off your backside and doing something! For me its walking, sometimes, 30mins a day, sometimes a whole hour at as brisk a pace as I can manage. That's all you need to do honestly. But if you're feint of heart, don't have 100% commitment and still want to give the `Cabbage Soup' another go - then this book isn't for you.