Love to Eat, Hate to Eat: Breaking the Bondage of Destructive Eating Habits [Paperback]

Elyse Fitzpatrick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2004

More than 80 percent of all Americans have been on a diet at some point in their lives. Low fat, low carb, high protein—you name it—they’ve tried it. Isn’t there a better way to break the cycle in the battle of the bulge?

After years of futile dieting, readers know there’s more to weight control than what they eat. Having discovered the power that food has over their lives, counselor Elyse Fitzpatrick, author of Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety, helps them:

• identify destructive eating habits
• break the vicious cycle of emotional eating
• develop a flexible plan suited to unique situations

God knows everything about us...where we’ve been and where we’re going. Because He knows us so well, He can deeply transform us, giving us the contentment we long for.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers; Reprinted edition (August 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736914382
• ISBN-13: 978-0736914383
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Recovery > Drug Dependency
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Personal Health > Women's Health > General
  • #4 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Faith

More About the Author

Elyse Fitzpatrick was born in 1950, but more significantly, was re-born by God's grace in 1971. She married Phillip Fitzpatrick and set about raising their children while completing her BA in Theology.
In 1986, sensing a distinct calling to disciple and counsel other Christian women, she began training in biblical counseling with The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. She became a member of the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors in 1991 and earned a Master of Arts Degree in Biblical Counseling from Trinity Theological Seminary in 1997. Then in 1998, her first book, "Women Helping Women", was released, winning a Gold Medallion Finalist Award.
Since that time, Elyse has written 12 books aimed at encouraging, enlightening and comforting her sisters and brothers in their Christian walk. In recent years she's become convinced of the centrality and relevance of the Gospel message to every area of life and has found renewed zeal and joy in the ancient (and perhaps all-too-familiar) message: Jesus Christ died to save sinners! He rose again for our justification!
Elyse lives with her dear husband, Phil, and their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (Tanner and Rosie). Her children (and their wonderful spouses) have presented her with 6 delightful grandchildren: Wesley, Hayden, Eowyn, Allie, Gabriel and Colin -- her darlings. She loves the Southern California lifestyle -- riding bikes (and attending classes at Westminster Theological Seminary) all winter and riding waves all summer. She attends Valley Center Community Church where you can find her nearly every Sunday morning rejoicing in the grace that transformed her life so many years ago.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christian perspective to refocus your approach to eating., July 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Love to Eat, Hate to Eat: Breaking the Bondage of Destructive Eating Habits (Paperback)

The author writes warmly with a clear,thorough approach to eating and food, covering eating disorders as well as everyday struggles with diets. Her use of Scripture guides you to refocus your thinking. If I had not read it myself, I would not have believed what an impact it could make. Wonderful book! Christians will be particularly inspired! Not a recipe in it...just sound professional advice.

86 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ for all Christian women struggling food, March 31, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" (NM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love to Eat, Hate to Eat: Breaking the Bondage of Destructive Eating Habits (Paperback)

This book will help any person that is struggling with food. Eating disorder or not! Not an ounce on condemnation in this book if you read it with an open heart. Elyse Fitzpatrick constantly reminds her readers how much God loves them......they are His children, how could He not love them? He would never hurt them on purpose, but He is also a perfect, holy, and just God who cannot sin and hates sin. The person from Corona, CA (below) is right when he/she said: 'But the fact is that the individuals embroiled in this cannot help themselves.' We cannot help ourselves, but God can help us! That is why we need to look to God's word for advice. 'All scripture is give by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.' 2nd Tim. 3:16-17 (NKJV) How can we place our faith in man (a therapist) to help us change? ESPECIALLY if that therapist's beliefs are not built upon a Christian foundation? Looking within is not the answer, looking to Jesus is. Jesus can take away all the past hurt and pain from our lives. That is why He died for all of us! Jesus Himself tells us to DENY OURSELVES, to take up our cross DAILY, and to follow Him. I don't know about you, but I want to follow Him with all my heart. Elyse Fitzpatrick is pointing us in the right direction by showing us just how we can deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him. She herself lived through the pain of disordered eating and is sharing how God has set her free. You can be set free too, if you will allow yourself realize disordered eating is focusing on yourself and that that thinking needs to change. If the SON sets you free......you will be free indeed! I recommend this book highly if you are seeking true freedom from the bondage of an dieting or disordered eating. A+++++++++ book!

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The truth is sometimes hard to take, May 4, 2006

By 

makaher "makaher" (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love to Eat, Hate to Eat: Breaking the Bondage of Destructive Eating Habits (Paperback)

Yes, this book claims that eating disorders are rooted in sinful behavior. Now don't let this put you off. The author does at no point condemn those suffering from anorexia, bulimia, over-eating etc. Quite contrary, Elyse Fitzpatrick's way of approaching God's truth (the only Truth for any Christian) is understanding, warm and supportive. Her style is easy-to-read and backed with examples from her own life. Still, no author can change the truth about eating disorders. They are sin. Or does anyone seriously think that starving God's temple and idolizing food are in line with God's will? I fully agree that this truth is hard to take once you have to realize your share in your behaiour, but Fitzpatrick doesn't leave the reader at this point. She is not the one with the raised index finger making the reader feel bad about herself or himself. Again, she does the opposite by showing how we need to rely on Christ to fight this sinful behavior, by showing what thoughts and mechanisms lead to eating disorders and how we can face them with our hearts turned to the Lord. Don't be afraid to read this book because you might feel you are just being told that it is all your fault and to get on with life. Instead, be ready to meet a sometimes painful truth and an answer full of hope and truth. And let me add: this book gives excellent advice for how to cope in everyday life. Knowing that Christ is the answer is one thing, but Fitzpatrick provides practical advice for the compulsions and urges we need to fight every single day. Has this book cured me from my ED? No. It still is a fight. But in contrast to the time before I read the book, I am now ready and well-equipped for the fight and I grow more successful every day.