Calm Energy: How People Regulate Mood with Food and Exercise [Paperback]

Robert E. Thayer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2003

Obesity is reaching alarming proportions. In this insightful new approach to understanding why this is happening, acclaimed mood scientist Robert Thayer offers a new appreciation of the real cause--emotional eating. But this is not just emotional eating as previously known; rather it is a new scientific analysis of exactly how different moods affect eating. He shows how unprecedented stress in society and epidemic levels of depression have led people to food as a poor means of managing mood. In this original approach, Thayer describes how people's daily energy and tension variations occur, and how this knowledge helps overcome the urge to eat the wrong food and to achieve the goal of "calm energy." Also, in this most up-to-date scientific analysis of exercise and mood, he shows how physical activity is essential to psychological and physical health, yet why it is resisted. Thayer's work has been discussed in hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, and here he outlines in detail the cutting-edge theories and scientific research findings that have generated this extensive media attention.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Thayer's profoundly valuable research on energy and tension, the two decisive factors in mood, provides a practical set of guides for functioning up near our best, and feeling like it."--T George Harris, Founding Editor and Past Editor-in-Chief, Psychology Today

"As always, Robert Thayer is at the forefront in the new science of mood, its consequences, and its regulation. His research can (and has) changed the way people live their lives."--James A. Russell

"Thayer proves that we can manage our moods by simple lifestyle interventions--he scientifically vindicates the food-mood connection! I would like to recommend this book to all my colleagues and patients."--Ronald Hoffman, President of the American College for Advancement in Medicine

About the Author

Robert Thayer is a well-known mood researcher and Professor of Psychology at California State University, Long Beach.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195163397
• ISBN-13: 978-0195163391
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #336,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, January 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Calm Energy: How People Regulate Mood with Food and Exercise (Paperback)

While a bit repetitive in the beginning, I loved this book! It provides a framework for thinking about your behavior based on biologically-driven moods. It makes you more aware of your own moods, what causes them, and how they, in turn, influence your behavior (and not only in terms of food and exercise).

The author addresses the perplexing question of why people who know better still eat unhealthfully and do not exercise. I have often wondered myself, if I know exercise or meditation or whatever makes me feel so much better, why don't I just do it everyday? The concept of Calm-Energy vs. Tense-Tiredness is very convincing and useful. Also, the book puts the idea of "emotional eating" in it's larger context. Compared to the treatment emotional eating gets in the popular media, this is much more interesting and makes it seem very possible to intervene and change habits.

This is not a standard self-help book and doesn't give the clearest instructions on how to apply all this information to your everyday life. Rather, it gives you knowledge, understanding, awareness and--with the extensive footnotes and references to research--confidence that this guy really knows what he's talking about. I'm planning to read his "The Origin of Everyday Moods" next.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book on food and mood !, February 18, 2004

By 

Lee Mellott "Skin Care For Wrinkles" (Frederick, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Calm Energy: How People Regulate Mood with Food and Exercise (Paperback)

Ever dived into a chocolate cake after a stressful day at the office? Had your way with a bag of chips after fighting with the kids? Stuffed down more than your share of greasy fried food when you were feeling low?

Many of us are stress overeaters. And there are a number of books on the market that mention how we have emotional roadblocks that keep us from becoming slim. But few of these books discuss this issue in the depth that "Calm Energy" does.
And few give helpful solutions.

The author Robert Thayer Ph.D describes in detail how when we are feeling tense, tired, or depressed we often turn to high fat sugary foods. Citing a number of studies Thayer explains why we do this.

Then Thayer explains simple solutions. According to Thayer, "exercise is the single best way of coping with the tension and fatigue that inevitably result from stress." He describes simple techniques you can do when your urge to eat, what you don't need seems to overwhelm your body. A brisk 5 minute walk is one idea.

One paragraph in the book made a huge impact. Thayer recounts how a taxicab driver was very calm despite bad traffic, radio calls etc. The driver used worrybeads to release tension. According to Thayer small systemic movements like moving beads or squeezing soft rubbery objects can help relax your body.
I quickly hijacked my 14 year olds stringed bead bracelet and by manipulating the beads slowly released some stress and managed to avoid a trip to the kitchen to gobble up some goodies I didn't need! Simple, effective technique that I will use more often.

Overall an excellent look at the mood food connection with super tips on what you can do to destress and become healthier.

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Shining Jewel Connecting Food and Mood!, February 16, 2002

By 

M. D. MCGINLEY "Chief Highliner" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Calm Energy: How People Regulate Mood with Food and Exercise (Hardcover)

"Calm Energy" by Robert Thayer, M.D., is another winner in the area of "how people regulate mood with food and exercise." It is such a pleasure to read about physiological states from a doctor who hasn't forgotten the time-proven, sine qua non art of footnoting and referencing. We now have a believable, credible new sourcebook about "Mood, Self-regulation and Overeating" (Chapter 1), and also my favorite topic at Chapter 8, "The Biopsychology of Energy and Tension." Now we really know why diets don't work, for example, and furthermore why skipping meals doesn't help us to lose weight--instead it only makes us irritable and even more tense by throwing our rhythms out of whack. An outstanding presentation, with elegant and simple charts! Diet and nutrition students, you now have a new required reading book, one that you will find enjoyable and worthwhile. It was a wonderful learning experience merely to watch the author work, as Dr. Thayer dissolved the walls of diet myth and folklore, leading us instead into the realm of knowledgeable, practical solutions for enjoying life and living longer.

"Not only are negative moods in general improved with exercise, but exercise helps us overcome specific moods, such as mild depression" the author tells us on page 47. Dr. Thayer continues on page 69 with a similar note: "Our thoughts and behaviors are inexorably driven by eating habits when we are in the grip of these negative moods. He doesn't stop there and leave the reader hanging, like some authors do with unfounded assertions. Ka-chink! Those beautiful superscripts come down, engraving themselves on the pages, and sending us unemotionally to Dr. Thayer's sources. Even the cover is gorgeous, nearly a work of art itself. "Calm Energy" is easy to understand, yet does not at all lack the details needed to effect dietary changes (along with the help of a dietician or physician). It will take more than one reading session to fully comprehend the implications, but they are in no way beyond a reasonable understanding. Later, other people will think YOU'RE the doctor when they ask you why you're looking and feeling so good lately. Then they'll ask you where you found the answers, and why they're still struggling with their weight management instead of the spike-and-drop cycle of useless fad diets. Here are those answers.