Customer Reviews

The Healthy Obsession Program: Smart Weight Loss Instead of Low-Carb Lunacy

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I suggest that the Author review ALL of the research available on the subject of obesity. Start with Bant and progress forward. This "theory" is an attempt to over simplify human metabolism and try to fit the square peg of Keys and the politically correct elite non-scientists into the very complex and still inadequately explored world of human physiology .

The Healthy Obsession Program(HOP) philosophy will work for people interested in losing a moderate amount of weight without the crazy rules imposed by other popular programs. The focus of this book is on cutting fat from your diet and becoming obsessed about a healthy life style. HOP is the basis for the teen weight loss program at the WellSpring Weight Loss Camp where most kids weigh over 300lbs. My son and a friend's daughter attended their camp only to regain the weight they lost at this very expensive camp. The advice and the camp all make sense on the surface. But people who are so morbidly obese don't have surface issues. At best, they need intense therapy akin to the kind that addicts receive and behavior modification therapy. The book and the program don't provide any of this guidance. Ultimately, my son had bariatric surgery and is receiving the therapeutic help he will probably require for life. I would urge the writer, the WellSpring administrators and anyone who has a binge eating disorder to pursue a more comprehensive approach to this life-threatening problem.

Beware of not only this book, but of the camps that are promoted within it. If you have an overweight teen, sending them to a highly controlled camp can set them up for failure, and feelings of failure, and can even put them on a path towards a full blown eating disorder, due to the inability to recreate such a controlled environment as is experienced at this camp. (They will come home with feelings of anxiety about this)

Kirschenbaum has an over simplistic solution for the complex psychological issues behind over-eating. This is glossed over by him,in an arrogant style. Look for a hospital based program, a not for profit program (opposite of wellspring!) and make sure your teen is recieving individualized counselling to deal with the issues behind the eating. There are serious problems with this program and the camps.

Kirschenbaum essentially uses a theory similar to the Thrifty Gene hypothesis (called the hunter-gatherer theory) to say it's not a person's fault if they're overweight, and that genetics are the main culprit. The basis behind the hunter-gatherer theory is that some people's bodies are hardwired to store fat and eat excessively due to genetics dating back thousands of years ago. This was an age where food wasn't readily available, so being able to store fat was an important and oft-desired trait. While there are genetic factors that make weight gain easier, poor eating habits are often learned rather than genetic. True genetic obesity is relatively rare and occurs mostly in people with problems such as Prater-Willi Syndrome or Bardet-Biedl Syndrome.

To Kirschenbaum's credit, he does gives practical advice, namely to love foods that love you back. Find healthy foods you enjoy eating rather than reaching for junk food.

He also shamelessly promotes his chain of camps, Camp Wellspring. He provides a lot of information basically saying that Camp Wellspring beats Camp Shane, New Image, and several other weight loss camps. While Wellspring has a good after-camp support system, your child's experience could put a huge dent in his or her ability to keep the weight off once camp ends. I went to the one that used to be at Paul Smith College in New York state, and for one, a certain head honcho's view doesn't align with Kirschenbaum's statements in the book; he says that if you find it hard to follow his diet, it's okay; try again when you feel ready. The head honcho however, says, "If you can't do this program, you're completely hopeless and will never be successful!"

Normally I wouldn't bring up something like this, but Kirschenbaum brought it up first and I wanted to warn people before they got the wrong idea.

Dr. Kirschenbausm book and program at Camp Wellspring has changed my daughters life. This book is the most honest, no nonsense and factual book on Healty Eating. This is one book I think should be in every physicians bookself who deals with adolescents. Any family dealing with obesity will find this research based book is the answer for making lifelong changes.

I've read all the books and tried all the diets; The Zone, Atkins, Protein Power, Sugar Busters, Eat for your Blood Type, etc. They all made sense and I followed intently and achieved significant weight loss in all of them. But none of it was permanent weight loss. This book is about a healthy lifestyle, not a diet. It is straight forward and backed by years of clinical research. By eliminating the fat in our diet, my whole family has lost weight...slowly and steadily it melts away, and I feel good every day. No bad breath or light headed feelings from the low carb luncay. I've been losing 2 lbs a week for months...this book will lead you to the promised land!

My daughter is currently in a boarding school (Academy of the Sierras) that helps teens lose substantial amounts of weight, as well as to learn a lifestyle that they will want to follow for the rest of their lives. Dr. Kirschenbaum is the Clinical Director for the school. I was fortunate to meet the author this past weekend at a Parent Workshop and to hear him speak about the program.

This book is very comprehensive and returns us to a very low fat eating approach, and to develop a "healthy obsession" for eating and exercise. From reading this book, I believe you will be inspired to take action to implement his approach. My entire family is now following the guidelines he sets forth, which are very simple. I know that it's easier for us to follow his guidelines because he has explained the program, via this book, in a way that is easy for us to understand.

His writing style is much like his speaking style....low key, empathetic, solid, factual and with some humor thrown in. You can tell he absolutely is an expert on the subject, yet the way he presents the material is not overwhelming, nor overly scientific.

I also recommend that if you are trying to find a way to solve a friend or loved one's obesity issue, that before you give up and go the way of gastric-bypass, etc, that you read this book and check out the school's web site. [...] I am SO grateful to have found this program for my daughter, and if you read this book, you may be able to truly help yourself or someone you care about.

The approach outlined by Dr. Kirschenbaum is not only sensible, it's tracked for long term success. When we looked for a weight loss camp for our son, we wanted to know that the people running the camp knew what they were talking about. The Wellspring camps and Academy of the Sierras school track long term results, and not just weight loss while at camp or school. The program outlined by the book is not merely successful, it's ridiculously easy, compared to other diet programs we have tried to implement. It has to be, since it has to be something a teenager can remember and follow. To help our son, after camp ended our entire family followed the program, and 3 of our 4 family members have lost at least 40 lbs each. And the weight has stayed off. Our 4th family member never needed a weight loss program, and he eats whatever he wants -- which, at home, obviously, is what we eat. He is fine -- He has not lost weight or gained weight. So this is a plan that will work for a family with mixed needs. With weird things like surgery as alternatives, you owe it to yourself to check out this entirely free and open program. (Well, Ok you have to buy a book and you may choose to buy a pedometer, a food scale, and anodized pans. But you don't have to subscribe to an expensive program or buy only the program's food (yuk). You don't have to tortuously convert nutrition facts into "points".) What's to lose except lbs?

I am a parent whose daughter is in the Wellspring Camp this summer and I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Kerschenbaum last weekend talk about his "healthy obsession" program. I had read all of the information online and in the enrollment package before deciding to send my child to this camp to help her begin to tackle her weight issue. I knew that the camp was based on solid scientific understanding of weight controlling. But my decision to send her was based on faith that we needed an outside intervention. However, hearing Daniel Kerschenbaum was inspiring...and reading his book has been edifying. More importantly, it is clear to me that following this program is something that we as a family can and must do, not only for my teens health, but our own. This program is based on their rendition of the KISS principle...keep it simple, scientific, and sustainable. Having the statistics on what is needed to let go of weight and seeing that it can be broken down into a doable and simple system has given me the courage and the information to tackle my own weight issue. This book is a must read for anyone with a weight concern.

This book is not just about losing weight. Its about making a lifestyle change. It definetly saved and changed my life!!! I lost sixty pounds and have maintained the weight loss.I am now off all meds due to my being overweight. Its like I have a new life. It has taught me how to be an energetic and very active person. I highly recommend!!!!!! Also Highly recommend anything to do with Wellspring Academies, Summer camps and Adult retreats. This program definetly works if you work it.