Turn Off The Hunger Switch: Reset Your Brain to Change Your Weight [Hardcover]

Paul Rivas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2001

Why can't you lose weight ... and keep it off? Why does excess weight stubbornly cling to your body, despite workouts and demanding diets? It's all in your head. This text explains the idea that chemistry affects your weight more than diet and exercise.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul Rivas, M.D., is a graduate of the University of Maryland Medical School, and is a board-certified internist. He has specialized in the treatment of obesity since 1994, and in those years has treated over 10,000 patients with great success. As an expert on medical obesity, he has done interviews for newspapers and on radio and television. He has also published clinical papers on obesity, and has given numerous seminars on medical management of the condition to health care providers in the Baltimore area. He is currently a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, the North American Association for the study of Obesity, and the American Obesity Association.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall Press (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735203008
• ISBN-13: 978-0735203006
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #872,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid science, good advice, January 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Turn Off The Hunger Switch: Reset Your Brain to Change Your Weight (Hardcover)

As a person who was thin for about the first 30 years of my life, I haven't been able to figure out my "problem" with not being able to lose the weight I've gained. I know WHAT to do (reduce calories and exercise), but I lack the motivation to do it, and also feel hungry almost all of the time. Dr. Rivas' book explained the brain science behind my situation and even helped me peg the events/timeframe that this became an issue for me. I will be talking with my Dr. about his recommendations, although I'm glad he gives natural supplements as well as prescription medications as alternatives. This is not another "6 weeks to a great body" type book. Turn Off the Hunger Switch provides practical recommendations - as long as you're willing to ingest natural or pharmaceutical supplements to achieve your goals! P.S. Calories and exercise do matter as well, but they're not the end-all and be-all according to Dr. Rivas. His ideas are worth reading and considering if you're not having success with the regular approaches.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Turn off the hunger switch forever, January 18, 2002

By 

tammy dressel (maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Turn Off The Hunger Switch: Reset Your Brain to Change Your Weight (Hardcover)

Recently my mom was a patient of Dr. Rivas, so it was no suprise for me to see that Dr. Rivas wrote a book. My mother lost 80 lbs. on Dr. Rivas's diet and the book gave me an understanding to how the program and medicine works for her specific brain type and body type. I found the book very informative and interesting to read. My mom tried every diet imaginable and Dr. rivas was the only one in the medical field who saw her problem as not her fault and cureable. This book makes it easy for people to go to their doctor with a knowledge that they can be cured of obesity and there is help. I recommend this book highly for anyone who has fought to lose weight and needs answers.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a solution that works., August 17, 2002

By 

Theresa (Glen Rock, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Turn Off The Hunger Switch: Reset Your Brain to Change Your Weight (Hardcover)

I heard the tale end of an interview with Dr. Rivas on the radio this past Spring, enough to spark my interest anyway. The few reviews that were currently on this site indicated that the book was probably worth the read.

Even though I run regularly and try to eat a healthy diet, I have continued to gain weight for the past 8 years. I tried counting calories, increasing my weekly running mileage, group weight loss programs, etc. The scale just kept creeping up.

After reading this book I was able to determine what "type" I was and purchase the supplements recommended. Since starting on the supplements 8 weeks ago, I've lost 8 pounds. I'm eating well, but the sugar cravings and compulsive evening eating have dissappeared. I'm not "dieting," simply eating when I'm hungry and making good food choices most of the time. When I do decide to eat something decadent I don't feel complelled to eat great quantities, a little is quite satisfying these days. All of the behaviors that have sabotaged past attempts at weight loss are gone!