50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food [Paperback]

Susan Albers PsyD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Food has the power to temporarily alleviate stress and sadness, enhance joy, and bring us comfort when we need it most. It's no wonder experts estimate that 75 percent of overeating is triggered by our emotions, not physical hunger. The good news is you can instead soothe yourself through dozens of mindful activities that are healthy for both body and mind.

Susan Albers, author of Eating Mindfully, now offers 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food, a collection of mindfulness skills and practices for relaxing the body in times of stress and ending your dependence on eating as a means of coping with difficult emotions. You'll not only discover easy ways to soothe urges to overeat, you'll also learn how to differentiate emotion-driven hunger from healthy hunger. Reach for this book instead of the refrigerator next time you feel the urge to snack-these alternatives are just as satisfying!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A thoughtful volume filled with practical solutions for emotional eaters everywhere."
—Madelyn H. Fernstrom, PhD, CNS, founding director of UPMC Weight Management Center, professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

"Albers's soup-to-nuts list of creative, accessible, self-soothing tips will undoubtedly help anyone who has struggled with dieting, food, or body image. Beyond that, her exercises in mindfulness, deep breathing, and journaling are top-notch tools for finding balance in life overall."
—Leslie Goldman, author of Locker Room Diaries

"Albers has done it again! 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food makes complex psychological concepts simple and accessible. I highly recommend you buy this book if you have ever turned to food for comfort and want to learn a new way of coping."
—Kathleen Burns Kingsbury, LMHC, CPCC, coauthor of Weight Wisdom and founder of KBK Connections, Inc.

"You don't have to be worried about your waistline to reap life-changing benefits from Albers’s easy-to-follow guidance. Reading this little book will boost your mood, reduce stress, and provide soothing alternatives to that next dessert! I highly recommend it."
—Amy Weintraub, author of Yoga for Depression and director of the LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute

From the Publisher

In 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food, Susan Albers, eating disorder specialist and best-selling author of Eating Mindfully, presents fifty exercises readers can do to soothe themselves, calm stress, and end emotional eating.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; 1 edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572246766
• ISBN-13: 978-1572246768
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Eating Disorders
  • #7 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Recovery > Drug Dependency
  • #69 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Personal Health > Women's Health

More About the Author

Susan Albers, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic specializing in eating issues, weight loss, body image concerns, and mindfulness. She graduated from the University of Denver, completed an internship at the University of Notre Dame and was a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University. Albers is the author of Eating Mindfully, Eat, Drink, and Be Mindful, Mindful Eating 101 and 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food. She is an AOL Diet & Fitness coach. Her work has been quoted in O, The Oprah Magazine, Family Circle, Self, and The Wall Street Journal, and she conducts mindful eating workshops internationally. She was a guest expert on Dr.Oz. Visit Albers online at www.eatingmindfully.com

EVENTS:
Lecture, Florida Dietetic Association July 20th, 2011
Lecture, 92Y in NYC, October 11th, 2011 www.92y.org
Webinar with www.eatright.org in November 2011

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource to help stop mindless eating, October 30, 2009

By 

Jason Greif (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food (Paperback)

As a psychologist, I'm frequently on the lookout for books that can help the people I work with. Dr. Albers's book is an excellent resource for people who are struggling with eating issues. As many people struggle with eating mindlessly (when they're not hungry or are upset, for example), it is important to learn other ways to cope with difficult emotions. She gives an overview of mindfulness and then details 50 exercises focusing on different ways to redirect the impulse towards self-destructive behavior. Many of the exercises in this book would work well for people dealing with other problems too, such as substance abuse.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you eat out of boredom or loneliness, this is for you., March 19, 2011

By 

Tori Wolfe (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food (Paperback)

I've lost all the excess weight because of this book! The suggestions have saved me thousands and thousands of calories. It is a list of things to do instead of eat.

I used to think that I was a compulsive eater, but really, I didn't have any alternative behaviors to lean on in times of boredom, loneliness, or stress. The book taught me how important it is for my mental health to have hobbies, do puzzles, and play games. I used to think that those were frivolous and childish pastimes. Now I know it is a sign of a mature person who has positive coping skills. I have expanded the list to include what I really enjoy and what I can really get absorbed in. Computer Mahjong, the Rubix's Slide, clicker training my dogs, and blogging (I think blogging is suggested in the book). I'm so glad I read this book and put the suggestions into practice. I can't recommend this book enough.

Also, if you are stuggling with an addiction of any kind, I believe you would benefit from this book as well.

64 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book for Stress Eaters, October 18, 2009

By 

Mary M. (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food (Paperback)

I saw this book in the Washington Post. A few days later I actually hear the author on the radio. She seemed to make a lot of sense. I was surprised at how much this book described my stress eating to a tee. I can identify with many of the stories. I keep the book in the kitchen and read it when I'm tempted to eat because I'm nervous or stressed out (which is often!). It's helped me a lot.