But I Deserve This Chocolate!: The Fifty Most Common Diet-Derailing Excuses and How to Outwit Them [Paperback]

Susan Albers PsyD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2011

Most of us are really, really good at devising reasons to indulge in foods that derail our diets and healthy eating plans. Who among us hasn’t thought, “I had a stressful day, so I deserve this chocolate,” or, “Buttery popcorn would go so well with this movie!” When we view food as a reward, emotional eating can be difficult to overcome.

Most fad diets tell you to “control” your eating, use willpower, ignore your cravings, or just stop eating. Recall for a moment where this got you in the past. Feeling frustrated or hopeless? Maybe it led you to make more excuses? Perhaps you’re thinking I need to get control. This is a sign that the diet mentality may be deeply ingrained in you. Rest assured that there are alternatives to fad dieting and trying to “control” your body.

In But I Deserve This Chocolate!, psychologist Susan Albers takes aim at the fifty most common self-sabotaging thoughts and excuses that keep you from eating right and looking great. This guide dismantles each excuse and offers a mindfulness exercise to help reroute your thoughts so you can meet your health goals. Whether you’re a man or woman, teen or adult, this book is for you if you are trying to eat more mindfully, manage your weight, lose weight, or take charge of your eating habits.

Forget the chocolate and unwrap some truly nourishing habits you can feel good about—your body will thank you!

Editorial Reviews

Review

“In But I Deserve This Chocolate!, Susan Albers insightfully points out our fifty best diet-derailing excuses and shows one or two easy ways to tackle each excuse. The result is a punchy, inspiring book that is full of new ideas and practical tips for getting us past our most diet-destroying excuses. Fifty cheers!”
—Brian Wansink, PhD, professor at Cornell University, director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab, and author of Mindless Eating

“These tips can spur you toward success on your personal health journey by teaching you how to make your thoughts work for you.”
—Ashley Koff, RD, dietitian and author of Mom Energy

“Changing how we think about food, eating, our weight, and our bodies is a critical step in successfully overcoming struggles with eating and weight. But I Deserve This Chocolate! offers a wealth of practical exercises that can help end common thoughts that keep us stuck in such struggles. It’s a logical and easy-to-use addition to Susan Albers’ valuable series on mindful eating. We’re grateful to have this new resource for the women who come to us for help.”
—Marsha Hudnall, MS, RD, director and owner of Green Mountain at Fox Run, a women’s retreat for healthy living without dieting

“With Albers’ newest book, we learn how mindful eating is like jumping into a chilly pool on a hot summer day: Dipping your toe in might feel uncomfortable, but once you dive in, you never want to leave. She compassionately guides, challenges, educates, and empowers readers. You think you deserve chocolate? You deserve this book.”
—Leslie Goldman, author of Locker Room Diaries: The Naked Truth About Women, Body Image, and Re-imagining the ‘Perfect’ Body

“Giving the body what it needs is the foundation of self-care, whether your body needs nutrition, movement, sleep, relaxation, or even chocolate. When we meet these needs in a mindful way, we take away the power of the internal critic that can often derail our ability to find overall wellness. Susan Albers’ easy-to-understand mindfulness methods will fully engage readers who are interested in balanced, healthy eating.”
—Chevese Turner, CEO and founder, Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA)

“Susan Albers has done it again! But I Deserve Chocolate! exposes private thoughts about food that commonly lead to self-destructive overeating behaviors. She then offers simple ways to change negative patterns and resume our personal journey to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. This book is a gift to anyone with food control issues and I highly recommend it!”
—Denise Lamothe, PsyD, HHD, clinical psychologist and author of The Taming of the Chew and The Appetite Connection

From the Publisher

Bestselling author and mindful eating expert Susan Alber presents But I Deserve This Chocolate!, a pocket guide to outsmarting the fifty most common diet-derailing excuses thaabotage weight loss and encourage mindless eating.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; 1 edition (September 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1608820564
• ISBN-13: 978-1608820566
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.5 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan Albers, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic specializing in eating issues, weight loss, body image concerns, and mindfulness. She graduated from the University of Denver, completed an internship at the University of Notre Dame and was a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University. Albers is the author of Eating Mindfully, Eat, Drink, and Be Mindful, Mindful Eating 101 and 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food. She is an AOL Diet & Fitness coach. Her work has been quoted in O, The Oprah Magazine, Family Circle, Self, and The Wall Street Journal, and she conducts mindful eating workshops internationally. She was a guest expert on Dr.Oz. Visit Albers online at www.eatingmindfully.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuAMxfINXlk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatdrinkmindful

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Busy Moms! November 1, 2011

By Sally the Great

Format:Paperback

I had this book on the passenger side seat of my car during morning school drop-offs. As I pulled into Starbucks, it called to me "But, I deserve this pumpkin scone!" This book was like someone reading my mind. It identified all the reasons I tell myself I can't get started eating healthier today. For instance, here's my favorite excuses: I'm too tired or stressed out. Who isn't on the run? As a mom, I always put my kids needs before my own - swimming, homework, doctors, scouting, etc... This book was sensitive to the fact that I don't have much time or energy. I liked that I can pick up this book and read small parts of it whenever I have a few minutes. For example, I recently had about five to seven minutes while waiting in the grocery check out line (without my kids!) and I was able to read "It's Okay if I Eat this Because...Thoughts." I also liked that this book was down-to-earth and used realistic examples and quotes. As always, Dr. Albers books are compassionate and can help you get started. I loved this book as much as 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Help April 18, 2012

By Books and Chocolate TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

Sometimes the biggest battle with losing weight and embracing a healthier lifestyle is in the mind because of the self-talk we use to justify not doing what we know we should. Things like "I'll start a diet tomorrow" or "I can't afford to eat healthy." The author calls these detour thoughts; the kind of thinking that gets us off track and enables us to avoid doing what we know we should. Sometimes the thoughts are judgmental such as "I'm so fat", "I have no willpower", or "Why try? It won't work anyway."

The author takes each of the fifty excuses in this book and refutes them while also showing how to replace self-sabotaging thoughts with proactive ones that lead to success. The book begins with a chapter on mindful thinking which I found very helpful, especially the insights as to why we make excuses and are our own worst critics. Being aware of what is going on and what choices we are making helps us see the reality instead of resorting to the excuses. Albers writes, "...you do have the power to choose how you respond to whatever positive or negative thoughts happen to pop into your mind. It doesn't sound like a grand solution, but being conscious and mindfully aware of your thoughts can take you a long way."

The chapters addressing the excuses are short and can be read several at a time or one at a time as a daily focus. Each entry is followed by an "On Second Thought" section that prompts the reader to take action on something whether it be to create a discipline of reading the ingredients on a package, journaling prompts, suggestions for eliminating mindless eating in front of the t.v., etc. All are very helpful and practical.

I like this book and it is one I will keep on hand to review. Anyone who struggles with sticking with a diet or fitness plan will benefit from the information.

I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher but the opinion of it is my own and was not solicited, nor was a positive review required.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful September 12, 2011

By Kim Bell

Format:Paperback

I found this book to be very helpful because she really did capture the majority of the diet excuses that run through my head and give me ways to work around it. I put it in practice immediately and have found that just eating mindfully as she describes and using her tips to work around my excuses have made a big difference already. I'm glad I found this book! I also started reading 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food from the same author, which has also been good so far.