Beyond Feast or Famine: Daily Affirmations for Compulsive Eaters [Paperback]

Susan Ward (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1990

These daily affirmations are for those of us who have problems with food--either because we eat too much or because we eat too little. Unlike those who have problems with drugs or alcohol, we cannot just cut food out of our lives, instead we must learn to live in harmony with it and with the body that nature has given us.

As we live day by day we learn, with the help of these affirmations, to accept ourselves and our problems with food. We reach for the serenity of knowing that we do not have to measure up to others' expectations of weight, height or body type. In doing so we can free ourselves from the hold that food and eating have had on us.

These daily affirmations are written to encourage you to follow your own path toward the many possibilities that are open to you. They have been written after years of experience working with those who have problems with compulsive eating, in the hope that what has worked for them will also work for you.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Susan Ward is a licensed social worker and psychotherapist in private practice in San Diego, California.  She is also the director of a national hotline and referral service for eating disorders.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

JANUARY 1
Beginning Today

I begin today by affirming my self-worth. Each aspect of myself--physical, emotional and spiritual--needs to be acknowledged and nurtured. I eat the amount of food that satisfies me as I acknowledge my body's limits. I nurture my emotional needs by encouraging myself to express my feelings rather than control them by restricting food, overeating or binging. I take one step at a time during my recovery. I nurture my spiritual nature by acknowledging a Higher Power, which gives me the strength to overcome any habitual behavior or thought. My conflict with food is a habit. I now take charge of changing my relationship with food.

Beginning today, I have all the strength and courage I need to make changes in my life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 370 pages
• Publisher: Health Communications, Inc. (August 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558740767
• ISBN-13: 978-1558740761
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 3.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a compulsive overeater's best morning friend..., January 24, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (new england) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Feast or Famine: Daily Affirmations for Compulsive Eaters (Paperback)

I bought one copy of this book five years ago, then ordered an entire case from the publisher... to give to my friends who struggle with a compulsive eating disorder, too. Susan Ward, thank you for writing with such acceptance, such insight, such good sense, and such restraint. Each entry helps me toward honesty, humility, and hope; each day I sit on the throne and regain my sense of self and hope in my own ability to recover. No real religious stuff, but gentle, healthy, spirited, friendly words. Buy it, then buy lots more and give them away! nancy

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Stay away unless you are a 12 step program member, April 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond Feast or Famine: Daily Affirmations for Compulsive Eaters (Paperback)

I found the meditations to be stilted and poorly written. They are so heavily laden with 12 step language that only a committed member of OA would be comfortable with it. The 12 steps are not the only way to go, and in fact are quite likely NOT the best way.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spiritual sustenance that resonates for a long while afterwards..., June 18, 2007

By 

Tamara (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Feast or Famine: Daily Affirmations for Compulsive Eaters (Paperback)

I am writing this review because I disagree wholeheartedly with two negative reviews listed here. I agree with one of the reviewers who wrote negatively about this book that the twelve-step program is not the way to deal with weight awareness, and it is true that this book does pull from that program. But the dipping that the author does is terrific, and I have been consistently surprised and uplifted by the quality of her daily writings here. Her urging to go way beyond mere dieting and her comments that make you think and explore the psychological reasons, restraints, and pressures that occur when one overeats only helps towards her goal which I think is this: Enjoying food, and finding out how to give it the proper place in your life. If you are a compulsive eater who wants to delight in eating but "eat to live" rather than "live to eat," I think this book is fabulous and terrific. I have shown it to several friends of mine who also have had compulsive issues with food and after reading several passages, they all wanted to buy the book. Plus, it's great to be able to read a short passage whenever one wants. Obviously, you can read a great passage from another day on a different calendar date. I find the bite-sized passages (pun intended!) just the right amount when I need help. I recommend this book for anyone of whatever size they are who has had issues with weight management and feeling happy about one's body. An ace book, five stars all the way.