The Enlightened Diet: Seven Weight-loss Solutions That Nourish Body, Mind, and Soul [Paperback]

Deborah Kesten (Author), Larry Scherwitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

For anyone who has ever fretted over calories or snacked in secrecy, THE ENLIGHTENED DIET goes beyond restrictive regimens and quick-fix claims to get to the roots of weight gain. Proving that it's not just what you're eating, but how, why, where, and even with whom you're eating, health researchers Deborah Kesten and Larry Scherwitz identify seven eating styles that lead to overeating and offer proven strategies for overcoming them. By accounting for both measurable nutrients as well as more intangible ingredients such as emotions, mindfulness, gratitude, companionship, and nonjudgment, this practical guide provides tools for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

 A research-based nutrition and eating program that reveals seven newly identified eating styles that put people at greater risk for overeating and weight gain, along with strategies for reversing them.Presents a detailed questionnaire to help readers discover their individual eating profile and create a personalized plan for addressing unhealthy eating behaviors.Reviews

"Quizzes, lists and a helpful guide to mastering life changes round out the book. For those who like their diets with a heaping side-order of spirituality, this book will be a pleasure."

-Publisher's Weekly

The Enlightened Diet is one of Health magazine's Best New Diet Books! Read the review

"Try this if you'¬?re ready to make major, introspective life changes. The bottom line: This easy-to-read little book is full of worksheets to help you understand your relationship with food, and self-reflective exercises to improve it."-Health Magazine

 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Taking cues from the Kabbalah, Buddhism, Tibetan medicine and psychotherapy, nutrition specialist Kesten and research scientist Scherwitz have compiled a menu of tricks to motivate and inspire the anxious dieter, abutting weight loss strategies with techniques for making sure "'all of you' will be nourished each time you eat." Less patient dieters might be frustrated by the authors' wide-ranging, holistic approach; rather than the promised seven solutions, Kesten and Scherwitz offer up a multitude of suggestions, hints and lifestyle adjustments for seven distinct categories of eaters (Food Fretters, Task Snackers, Emotional Eaters, etc.). The authors emphasize self-awareness and relaxation techniques such as meditation, as well as cooking clubs and al fresco dining (both good methods for eating more mindfully), and discourage tedious calorie-counting and self-denial. Quizzes, lists and a helpful guide to mastering life changes round out the book. For those who like their diets with a heaping side-order of spirituality, this book will be a pleasure.
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From the Publisher

* A research-based nutrition and eating program that reveals seven newly identified eating styles that put people at greater risk for overeating and weight gain, along with strategies for reversing them. * Includes a menu plan with more than 40 recipes for fresh, healthy, and easy-to-prepare alternatives to fast food. * Presents a detailed questionnaire to help readers discover their individual eating profile and create a personalized plan for addressing unhealthy eating behaviors.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Celestial Arts (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587613115
• ISBN-13: 978-1587613111
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #766,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nurturing Diet Program, February 5, 2008

By 

E. Topliffe - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Enlightened Diet: Seven Weight-loss Solutions That Nourish Body, Mind, and Soul (Paperback)

As someone who has struggled with weight and food issues for years, I was on my way to attempt a very restrictive calorie program when I got this book. It has really turned around my thinking. Now I'm focusing my diet efforts on nurturing myself as opposed to punishing myself. The tips and suggestions are very helpful--especially the mindfulness exercises for eating.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I needed, July 18, 2009

By 

Buddha Babe - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Enlightened Diet: Seven Weight-loss Solutions That Nourish Body, Mind, and Soul (Paperback)

I, too, have been struggling with my weight for several years. Who hasn't? What got to me, though, was how similar all the popular diets were to each other. They all consisted of restricting something and encouraging you to move more. That sounds fine and dandy in the lab and scientifically it is "proven" to work. If it "worked" then why didn't everyone who counted calories and exercise more lose weight?

I was one of those people. So I read this book, because the authors claimed to have identified 7 eating patterns that had (mostly) nothing to do with what or how much you were eating, but HOW you were eating. I've never seen the Zone, South Beach, Atkins, Weight Watchers, etc address how you eat with such emphasis, and even if they did they just gloss over it.

Not only does this book have science to back it up, it has techniques you can use. Most books just have suggestions; this one had steps you could take to make their advice work in your life. Some of it does sound corny, especially if you're unfamiliar with meditation or mindfulness. But I figure if you're so desperate to lose weight, you will try anything. And all you have to do is buy this book and read it. It was wonderful and pleasant to read (although the author constantly used phrases like "remember when I mentioned earlier in the chapter" and then summarizes what she's written so far. I do have a memory, lady.)

I intend to use the techniques in this book starting now!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars figure it out!, January 30, 2009

By 

K. Woelfel "flounder no more!" (milwaukee WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Enlightened Diet: Seven Weight-loss Solutions That Nourish Body, Mind, and Soul (Paperback)

This book is a must read handbook to those of us who want to understand the how and why we eat the way we do. Very practical, very real make sense stuff! I can actually say I get it now!