Overcoming Weight Problems [Paperback]

A really practical do-it -yourself guide to changing eating patterns and losing weight.

This book gives you the information and guidelines to manage your own weight loss, keep it off and change your appearance and life style.

It makes you analyse yourself, why do you overeat, eat the wrong things at the wrong times etc! Positive and practical methods suggested to help ensure a slimmer, healthier, happier you for life long change.

Much cheaper than Weight Watchers!

As so many of us have, I've been struggling to lose weight for years and have followed several different fad diets. I have managed to lose weight in the past, but always put it back on within a short space of time.

What I love about this book is that it has not only helped me to address my underlying issues with food, but it has also helped me to adopt an honest and permanent change of attitude towards my eating habits - I basically have now completely changed my eating habits in a way that is 100% sustainable.

The other aspect of this book which mustn't be overlooked is the consistently supportive tone of the book. I did not feel alone at any point during my weight loss period and do still refer to the book on the days when I am struggling a little - those days are now becoming much less frequent.

Overcoming Weight Problems is an excellent and very practical guide to the psychological aspects of weight loss. The book starts with a few exercises to help you find motivation. I'd never seen anything like these before and they were very helpful. It then teaches you how to spot thoughts that are unhelpful or biased, and find new ways of looking at the situation. (A classic example would be, "I've blown it, there's no point in trying any more," after eating too much at a party.)

The rest of the book focuses on making gradual changes to your eating habits and activity levels that will work for you in the long term. Rather than tell you to launch straight into a diet, the authors ask you to keep a diary of what you eat and how much you exercise for a few weeks. You then analyse this, looking for changes that you can make with minimal disruption, spotting problems and coming up with solutions (the book teaches you problem-solving techniques). You aren't given a set diet or exercise regime to follow, as the authors rightly acknowledge that these resources are readily available elsewhere, and different approaches will suit different people. However, the book does provide information on popular diets, which ones are safe and healthy and which ones are likely to work in the long term. It also encourages you to look at your past dieting experience (if applicable) to help you choose an approach that is likely to work for you. Then the book ends with some information on dieticians, medication, weight-loss surgery, psychotherapy and other sources of help if you're struggling on your own.

The one thing I didn't like about this book was the chapter on emotional eating and hunger. I felt it came down too heavily on the side of, "Just put up with negative emotions. Don't listen to what they're saying - they're lying. Doing what you feel like doing never helps in the long run." My own experience is that I need to find a balance in life between doing what I should do and what I want to do. If I err too much on the side of the "shoulds", I become depressed and demotivated. So if I've had a hard day and I find myself thinking, "I deserve a treat," telling myself I can cope without one isn't nearly as helpful as finding some way to treat myself within my WeightWatchers points limit, or that doesn't involve food. I was amazed that this chapter didn't include any healthy coping techniques for painful emotions - the authors just tell you to read other books in the series!

On the plus side, I liked the acknowledgement that positive emotions (such as feeling happy and carefree) can also interfere with diet and exercise plans. And it was helpful to read that if you're sticking to a healthy diet, feeling hungry isn't dangerous, and doesn't mean you "need" to eat. However, I still maintain that if you make wise food choices, there is no need to go hungry when dieting. Choosing food which is filling but relatively low in calories is crucial for me (coupled with regular small treats!)

I'm just starting my diet and exercise plan, using an approach which has worked well for me in the past. However, this book has been a fantastic resource already. The motivation exercises alone are reason enough to buy it in my opinion! But as well as feeling motivated, I feel properly prepared this time. I learned a lot from my eating diary and I love the way that, if you slip up, you're encouraged to view it as a learning opportunity and a chance to fine-tune your plan rather than as a failure. I am confident that the techniques in this book will help me stick to my diet and keep the weight off for good.