Habits Not Diets: The Secret to Lifetime Weight Control [Paperback]

James M. Ferguson MD (Author), Cassandra Ferguson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1997

The ground-breaking guide breaking the diet cycle

In this updated classic, psychiatrist James Ferguson provides a realistic, inspirational, achievable alternative to the dubious enterprise of dieting. Dr. Ferguson focuses his easy-to-follow weight-loss workbook or changing unwanted behavior. Dieters thwarted in past efforts will find this detailed 21-week behavior-modification program rational, upbeat, and extremely effective.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Obesity, chronic health problems, fatigue, excess stress, and an inadequate sex life are often the result of the sedentary American lifestyle. The remedies are all based on whole, unprocessed food, exercise, stress management, and attention to the spiritual aspect of life. The problems are interrelated, as are the solutions. All the titles here address improving lifestyle for better health; all agree there are no quick fixes to long-term problems. Fergusons's Habits Not Diets is an expansion of his original 1976 title. It offers a detailed behavior modification program lasting 21 weeks for a do-it-yourself approach to weight loss. It is upbeat and inspires confidence through use of many charts to track eating habits and exercise. Special chapters help cope with family participation and holidays. As a result of reading the book, this reviewer modified eating and exercise behaviors and lost weight. Strongly recommended. In Never Be Tired Again , Gardner and Beatty direct their emphasis to relieving fatigue. Once past the hype of their expensive spa program, they offer detailed and helpful nutritional information, including symptoms of deficiency and overdoses of all vitamins and minerals. To address spiritual well-being and stress management, they have provided helpful positive imagery exercises. Precise physical exercise programs in many sports, from skiing to yoga, and breath-control techniques complete the program. Lists of brand name foods and recipes are also provided. Highly recommended and helpful for improving basic health whether or not fatigue is a problem. Love, Sex & Nutrition addresses improving health with the goal of better sex and love life. Author of several other controversial health titles, Jensen is a clinical nutritionist and holistic doctor. He too calls for changes in diet and activity level through a "master feeding program" and exercises. This title appears to be based more on the author's opinions than factual information than the other titles. There are inaccuracies in the nutritional information and questionable claims, such as cure for fertility problems via a regimen of herbs, vitamins, and natural "medications." Sexist remarks and illustrations may offend. Disregard unless author has a strong following in the community. Lamb's The Weighting Game addresses weight control (loss and gain). Most of the book is directed toward how food is processed in the body. The main point is that it is harder for some people to effect weight change; there is not much advice on the topic. Of particular interest are special exercises to reduce "beer bellies." For diet book junkies only. Manahan's Eat for Health takes a hard look at caffeine, salt, sugar, fats, milk, and processed food and relates them to a myriad of chronic health problems and allergies in a very wide range--kidney stones, colic, canker sores, migraines, and cataracts among many others. Tables and charts compare name brand products for amounts of harmful substances. Strategies for reducing or eliminating the harmful substances and suggestions for alternatives are included. Essential reading and an outstanding selection.
- Karen Jackson, Susanna Wesley Sch., Tallahassee, Fla.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

James M. Ferguson, MD, is a nationally prominent clinical psychiatrist specializing in weight control and the treatment of eating disorders. Cassandra Ferguson, his daughter, is currently in research at the University of California–San Diego.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 337 pages
• Publisher: Bull Pub Co; 3rd edition (June 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0923521410
• ISBN-13: 978-0923521417
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #305,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Applicable to everyday life., November 2, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (USA - Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Habits Not Diets: The Secret to Lifetime Weight Control (Paperback)

The book provided safe advice with realistic solutions. The weekly worksheet allowed hands-on application of the philosophies shares within each chapter. Rather than focusing on fad-diet solutions, the authors focus on activities a person performs each day and how these activities mold eating habits (both good and bad). Each chapter builds on the previous, allowing application of the weekly goals easy to attain one step at a time.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars much better than any diet, July 9, 2000

By 

Glenda S. McKinney (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Habits Not Diets: The Secret to Lifetime Weight Control (Paperback)

My son wanted to become more fit, and his pediatrician gave him the go ahead to lose a few pounds and become more active. This book has been a tremendous asset in meeting these goals. It's all common sense--no weird food combinations or impossible prohibitions, and no outrageous exercise requirements. His awareness of eating habits and activity habits has made a huge difference in his weight and in his fitness. The only flaws are a few typos and a rather dull, humorless approach to the topic.

4.0 out of 5 stars Same as earlier edition, March 28, 2011

By 

MaryW - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Habits Not Diets: The Secret to Lifetime Weight Control (Paperback)

This is an excellent step-by-step workbook to help you change your eating habits. However, I have the earlier edition and it is exactly the same. Nothing new.