Nice Girls Finish Fat: Put Yourself First and Change Your Eating Forever (Paperback)

by Karen R Koenig (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
How often have you thought no but said yes? About as many times as you've thought fruit cup and ordered cheesecake?

Sometimes diet and exercise alone just aren't enough! Many women put too much on their plates, both literally and figuratively. For those who always put others first, psychotherapist Karen R. Koenig explains the link between being too nice and eating too much and gives detailed advice on how to lose that extra baggage -- both emotional and physical -- by becoming more self-focused and assertive in every aspect of life.

- Take the "How Nice Are You?" quiz to figure out if your Good Girl persona is sabotaging your weight-loss efforts.

- Try the "Grab Your Thinking Cap" exercises to understand why you mightbe finding fulfillment inside the fridge instead of in other aspects of your life.

- Use the "Nice Girl Recovery Tips" to learn practical strategies for saying noand putting yourself first...so you can finally lose the weight you want.

Karen Koenig's on-the-page psychotherapy helps women attack the source of their food issues and find a different path to happiness -- one that doesn't pass through the kitchen and does lead to healthy habits for life.

About the Author
Karen R. Koenig is a cognitive-behavioral therapist and author of three books on eating and weight. A national speaker, she regularly teaches workshops on eating to groups around the country. She lives in Sarasota, Florida.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (June 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416592644
• ISBN-13: 978-1416592648
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #294,278 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I saw myself, June 13, 2009

By	Stella Nemeth (Macungie, PA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Am I a nice girl? I honestly don't see myself that way, but I had no trouble seeing myself in the descriptions in the book or in the various people profiled in the book. So I guess I am.

I am one of those people who try to do too much. I used to take care of myself better than I do now, but yes, even with trying not to, I tend to take a back seat.

Karen Koenig has written other books, and I've read all three of her books for laypeople. And each of them has been quite different from the others. This is not one of those situations where if you've read one book, you probably have everything the author has to say in hand. One of Karen Loenig's books does a great job of teaching the rules and principles of normal eating, and another is a workbook about the feelings that drive a lot of us to eat too much or eat emotionally.

This one is about the underlying belief that we always need to be the nice girl who puts everyone first, and who thinks that taking care of themselves is selfish. Karen Koenig talks about how we got where we are, and about why we need to put ourselves first at least some of the time.

Like I said, I saw myself, and I learned a lot from reading the book. It is an extremely readable book, and going back the second time, I've got things to think about and journal about, and because of how the book is organized that is going to be very easy to do.

If you've learned about normal eating, and you are at peace with food most of the time, but there are still those emotional eating episodes, try reading this book as a second viewpoint on the situation. If you know nothing about normal eating, you might find a unique entry into learning how and why you eat too much, too often, or when you are too upset.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars That's Why It's Called " Lean and "Mean", July 2, 2009

By	Christina V. (new york, new york) - See all my reviews

I worked full-time in a demanding professional job for 26 years and packed on the weight. Work took 60 hours of my time each week....then there were all the demands on my time for the kids...and the house...and the rest of my family and friends. I always thought "If I didn't have to work, I'd be so thin. I'd work out all the time and really take care of myself".

Well guess what? I left my job and "retired". I felt a personal freedom I never had. One year into retirement, however, I was only 10 pounds lighter. Didn't even make a dent in my physique.

What happened? I filled all that extra time with volunteer work and trivial activities. I essentially substituted the time I spent on my job with time for other people. Never made the time to get myself in shape and on a wellness program.

I wasn't aware that I had done this until I read "Nice Finish Fat". The book was a wake-up call.

Now I put myself on my list of things to do each day and take much better care of myself. It's paying off big-time.

Someone once told me that when you are on an airplane, the safety instructions remind you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first. Then you can help others. This is what this book is all about.



Take care of yourself. First.

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Girl No More, July 5, 2009

By	Amy Matathias "Amy in MD" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is written very well and is also enjoyable to read. It's not your typical vacation reading but I read this while on vacation and I am glad I did.

I always knew I was a nice girl. I play by the rules and I do for everyone else. I didn't know that there was a link between being nice to others and neglecting myself, rewarding myself with food, or stuffing down the feelings with food. This book was enlightening and I saw myself in many of the women profiled.

If you are a woman who does it all but neglects herself this book is for you. If your niceness is keeping you from taking care of yourself then you need to read this book. Self care is not over rated and this book will help you take care of you. As a result you may develop a healthier relationship with food, I know it helped me.