Customer Reviews

The Magic Pill: A Mental Health Companion for the Gastric Bypass Patient

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Gimme a break! gastric bypass surgery is not the end of my weight problem. It's good to finally read about the truth. It just doesn't cure you and thats it. I liked this book because it talks about the added work involved in keeping the weight off after you lose it surgically. It was worth it's cost just to hear someone say that it takes more then having a gastric bypass to lose weight and keep it off. I wonder if folks have trouble getting this book because it says stuff we don't really want to hear someone say.

If you're looking for medical facts about weight loss surgery Teri Holtzclaw's books are definitely not what you are seeking.
This author is controversial because her books are about tough topics surrounding weight loss and not about weight loss specifically. Her books are geared towards WLS patients who are over the euphoria of losing all their weight and are now concentrating on retaining their weight loss, despite their brain's attempt to sabotage it. The Magic Pill conbines Teri Holtzclaw's Primer with many of her useful messages. I find that the her method of providing short-read's, some call it brochure-like,to make sense. I think the author knew what she was doing when she called her books "companions" and not "novels." Since my sugery, I can only digest small qauntities of food at a time. The Magic Pill is just small enough for my spirit to digest on a daily basis. I think I liked this book so much because the author reminds us to feed our souls.

This book was recommended to me by my personal therapist because she wanted to know my opinion of the book. It is wonderful to read a book written by a therapist who has been through the surgery and used the gastric by-pass procedure as a tool, not the cure.

Anyone who reads this book and says that she is not saying anything new is in denial. We obese folks (myself included) do not like to hear what she has to say. A lot of this book is geared toward helping people let go of the habits and the anger that created our health problems.

As far as I am concerned, Dr. Holtzclaw is right on the money. I did not become 200 pounds overweight overnight. Developing the mindset to keep 200 pounds off is not going to happen overnight. I am only 1 year out from my by-pass surgery and I feel that I am in the most vulnerable time of my recovery from obesity.

The issues are complicated and different for each person but the "magic pill" is still the same. There is no "magic pill" for personal integrity. I will re-read this book several times in the next few years. This book has helped me focus on what I need to do for success.

It is unfortunate that Holtzclaw's important message is lost in such a mess. The main problem with this book is that it is so riddled with spelling, gramatical and punctuation errors, that it is impossible to read without becoming irritated. Did she not have an editor? Didn't anyone bother to actually read through the manuscript before sending it off to a printer? Also, there is not enough substance here for a book in the first place and the author ends up saying the same things over and over again to fill up the pages. I found this to be a very frustrating read on many levels and I'm sorry I wasted my money on such an amateur effort!

Covers a wide range of topics and issues in small amount of space. This book is a welcome contribution to the growing literature on gastric bypass surgery. I think this author deserves some credit for getting information out there to a public who is starving for something to read on this particular process.

This book takes a little over an hour to read, but its unique insights can last a lifetime.

This therapist is no writer! Clearly, she is a genius first and a writer second. Once I set aside my highlighter and realized that she was selling her "spirit" and not her "words," the object of her intent became obvious. It's rare to find someone so willing to be published in the "raw" and offered up for scrutiny by critics as myself. Once rid of my writer's angst, I gave in to the "spirit" of The Magic Pill's author. I suggest if you wish to gleen anything from this book that you too, lay down your highlighter, and open up your heart and mind. This self published, self financed genius has no business writing, but I am a better person having read her "human" works.

I found this book to be of absolutely no use to me or others that are post-gastric bypass. There are many emotional issues that must be resolved in order to "heal" after surgery and I must report that I found that this "easily read in 20 minutes" book to be no assistance in attempts to help in the development of tools for long term coping. I do, however thinkg that the writing of the book was probably extrememly therapeutic for the author and she should definitely be commended on her tremendous progress. Her writing does indeed evidence her healthy recovery and obvious use effective coping skills in her lifelong battle with obesity. I did not read "This is not Brain Surgery" but I must say that the title of that book pretty much says it all. Oh, I had gastric bypass on 4-23-01 and have lost 145 lbs and am currently within 10 lbs of my goal weight! Thanks for allowing me to express.

Simple. Easy. Soothes the body and the mind. Gentle guidance and simplicity has always baffled the masses. This author is going to confuse the most intellectual bound with her simple heartfelt message of peace and harmony. If you don't find her inspiring and exceptionally beautiful you haven't gotten the message. I recommend this book to anyone seeking more then just losing weight in this lifetime.

I heard this author speak and her books do reflect her ideals on weightloss and wellness issues. She points out that all of us need to consciously and purposely create an extraordinary and energetic new way of living;always in her warm, gentle, and affirming style. Great companion to anyone's therapeutic program.