Are you ready? Self-Talk for Weight Loss
Written: Jul 26 '01 (Updated Dec 01 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: This book has apparently helped thousands of people
Cons: Weight loss and keeping it off is never easy
The Bottom Line: I recommend this book for people who are truly motivated to reprogram their thinking about food and weight.
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| Suzer's Full Review: Self-Talk for Weight Loss: Lose Weight, Keep It Of... |
When it comes to weight, roller coaster is my middle name.
Some weighty history
I was five pounds at birth, and a scrawny kid growing up, but from my teen years on, it has been a battle, up and down, and in the middle. It has never been extreme, but I guess most women worry about their weight, and some men do also. At one point I got to 102 after having my first son, and people told me I was too thin, so even though I thought I was still too fat, I listened to them and deliberately put on ten pounds. I love sweets, breads and pasta.
At one point I even went to a hynotherapist. I told her to give me suggestions of disgusting things, so I would avoid ice cream, cookies, candies and so forth. It backfired however, and one night I ate a Haagen Daz ice cream bar, yummy, I really enjoyed it, and in the middle of the night I awakened with the taste of urine in my mouth and couldn't alleviate the taste. That was from the hynotherapist's suggestion to me, but apparently it was delayed. She thought it was hysterical when I told her later. I was not amused.
Now, in my ahem, middle years, I sometimes fill voids with food. Food is my friend, so why does it impact my self esteem so much. I saw the authors of Self-Talk for Weight Loss, Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. and Bob Schwartz, Ph.D., on the Oprah program a few years ago, and it definitely touched a nerve. And of course Oprah has fought her battle with weight for years. My weight is a little more than I want it to be now, so I searched high and low for this book again. I needed a refresher course, and this little 264 page paperback is a good way to go.
The authors from the book:
Dr. Shad Helmstetter is the author of seven books including the bestseller What to Say When you Talk to Yourself.Dr. Schwartz is the New York Times bestselling author of the classics Diets Don't Work and Diets Still Don't Work. Both lost fifty pounds each more than ten years ago, and niether has regained the weight, nor has either been "on a diet" since that time.
They state that overeating is merely a result of subconscious "programs" and how self-talk can actually alter the chemical patterns of your mind that have kept you from losing weight, or going through the roller coastering that I've experienced of being a little thin, average weight, or a little overweight.
They state that after reading this book you will tell yourself:
I have made the decision to take control of myself and that includes how I look and what I weigh.
I know that every good weight loss plan starts with a specific healthy desired weight, and nonstop daily determination to reach the goal.
I also know that the real first step is believing in myself, taking control of my life, and seeing myself the way I really want to be.
Here is how the book is set up:
Part I
How Self-Talk Works
Part II
Self Talk Techniques for Natural Weight Control
Part III
Naturally Thin Techniques to use with your self talk
Part IV
Putting it all together
There are several chapters of course within those categories.
Here are some of our old programs about dieting:
If I don't stay on this diet, I'll gain weight
It's hard for me to eat the right kind of food
I'd rather be eating something I like
I hate diets
I'll never lose weight
Food that's good for me doesn't taste good
No diet ever works for me
I lose the weight but then I gain it right back again
When I stop the diet, the weight will come back
Here we all think we are so original but when I read this previously, and read it a second time, I thought everyone has the same or comparable thoughts as mine.
They indicate the following old programs about exercising:
I'm too lazy.
I hate to exercise
The more I exercise the more weight I gain
I get started but don't stick with it
I hurt when I exercise
Here are the statements they mention we all have about eating:
I just love to eat.
Anything that tastes good is bad for me.
It's too complicated to eat the right food.
I eat when I'm bored.
I eat when I'm depressed.
I eat when I'm feeling good.
The authors then suggest that there are file folders that contain all of the programs you've ever received:
Health and physical fitness
Personal responsibility
Personal Motivation
Self-Esteem
Deserving to Succeed
Habits and Actions
Programs of Success and Failure
What I like about the book:
Self-Talk for Weight Loss makes a lot of sense. If we talked ourselves into having a weight problem or occasional weight problem, why shouldn't we just revamp our thinking, and reprogram ourselves. The book is written for the lay person, not the professional.
What I don't care for:
The book is pretty dry and I found it difficult (both times) to really concentrate on reading it. The print is rather small, so that exacerbated the problem for me.
Final thoughts:
If you are extremely motivated to lose weight, eat right, exercise, basically reprogram yourself, this may be the book for you. I did read it twice, but easily lost interest and had to reprogram myself about reading the book and following it. Perhaps Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. and Bob Schwartz, Ph.D. could reprogram me with hypnosis. Oh yeah, I remember last time.
Seriously, I recommend this for those people who are extremely motivated; motivated enough to read the small print, and textbook-like verbiage and style.
Published 1994, River Productions
St. Martins Paperbacks, 1996
264 pages
ISBN 0-312-95909-5
I give this book three stars.
Thanks for reading!
Suzi
Recommended:
Yes
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Suzer
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Member: Suzi
Location: Southern Calif.
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About Me:
Compromise-Art of slicing the cake so each person thinks they have the biggest piece.
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