Product Description

From their ground-breaking work with CBT techniques in London's only NHS clinic for obesity, Drs Jeremy Gauntlett-Gilbert and Clare Grace have developed this accessible self-help guide, based on clinically tested methods that will help change thinking and overcome weight problems once and for all. This title discusses how to: develop real motivation to change; deal with negative patterns of thinking and blocks and understand why you have gained weight and can't shift it; develop a healthy and sustainable eating plan and understand why quick-fix diets are not the answer; bring more activity into life over the long term; and, handle difficult emotions and physical feelings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47237 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Clinical Psychology Forum, No. 172, 2007
...a clinically tested and comprehensive course in an easily readable form that may offer a solution for people with weight problems ... As a stand-alone self-help guide, it is full of good common sense, encourages the change of eating habits and discourages the concepts of quick fix yoyo dieting ... We have had the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, the Cabbage Diet and many more. Perhaps we are seeing the start of getting it right without fads or deprivation in the application of CBT principles to weight loss.

Clinical Psychology Forum
`As a stand-alone self-help guide, it is full of good common
sense, encourages the change of eating habits and discourages the concepts
of quick fix yoyo dieting ... This book is a welcome self-help contribution
for clients that can enhance therapy or help those deal with weight issues
in general.'

From the Author
This is a practical book on changing eating and physical activity for the long term. Many people are highly motivated to do something about their weight problem, but are sceptical of quick-fix diet solutions. This book may be part of the answer - along with a certain amount of personal effort! Changing long-term habits around food and exercise can be tough, but it is always possible - for example, many smokers try to give up repeatedly before they finally succeed. This book contains tried and tested behavioural techniques, covering topics such as motivation, self-awareness, dealing with strong emotions and dealing with other people - as well as the best current advice on diet and exercise. Cognitive behavioural therapy is a scientifically proven method for weight loss - specialist clinicians have always known about it, but in this book we try to make it available to the general public.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant book for changing your lifestyle and losing weight
A really practical do-it -yourself guide to changing eating patterns and losing weight.

This book gives you the information and guidelines to manage your own weight loss, keep it off and change your appearance and life style.

It makes you analyse yourself, why do you overeat, eat the wrong things at the wrong times etc! Positive and practical methods suggested to help ensure a slimmer, healthier, happier you for life long change.

Much cheaper than Weight Watchers!

A diet plan for life!
As so many of us have, I've been struggling to lose weight for years and have followed several different fad diets. I have managed to lose weight in the past, but always put it back on within a short space of time.

What I love about this book is that it has not only helped me to address my underlying issues with food, but it has also helped me to adopt an honest and permanent change of attitude towards my eating habits - I basically have now completely changed my eating habits in a way that is 100% sustainable.

The other aspect of this book which mustn't be overlooked is the consistently supportive tone of the book. I did not feel alone at any point during my weight loss period and do still refer to the book on the days when I am struggling a little - those days are now becoming much less frequent.

A fantastic resource with one weaker chapter
Overcoming Weight Problems is an excellent and very practical guide to the psychological aspects of weight loss. The book starts with a few exercises to help you find motivation. I'd never seen anything like these before and they were very helpful. It then teaches you how to spot thoughts that are unhelpful or biased, and find new ways of looking at the situation. (A classic example would be, "I've blown it, there's no point in trying any more," after eating too much at a party.)

The rest of the book focuses on making gradual changes to your eating habits and activity levels that will work for you in the long term. Rather than tell you to launch straight into a diet, the authors ask you to keep a diary of what you eat and how much you exercise for a few weeks. You then analyse this, looking for changes that you can make with minimal disruption, spotting problems and coming up with solutions (the book teaches you problem-solving techniques). You aren't given a set diet or exercise regime to follow, as the authors rightly acknowledge that these resources are readily available elsewhere, and different approaches will suit different people. However, the book does provide information on popular diets, which ones are safe and healthy and which ones are likely to work in the long term. It also encourages you to look at your past dieting experience (if applicable) to help you choose an approach that is likely to work for you. Then the book ends with some information on dieticians, medication, weight-loss surgery, psychotherapy and other sources of help if you're struggling on your own.

The one thing I didn't like about this book was the chapter on emotional eating and hunger. I felt it came down too heavily on the side of, "Just put up with negative emotions. Don't listen to what they're saying - they're lying. Doing what you feel like doing never helps in the long run." My own experience is that I need to find a balance in life between doing what I should do and what I want to do. If I err too much on the side of the "shoulds", I become depressed and demotivated. So if I've had a hard day and I find myself thinking, "I deserve a treat," telling myself I can cope without one isn't nearly as helpful as finding some way to treat myself within my WeightWatchers points limit, or that doesn't involve food. I was amazed that this chapter didn't include any healthy coping techniques for painful emotions - the authors just tell you to read other books in the series!

On the plus side, I liked the acknowledgement that positive emotions (such as feeling happy and carefree) can also interfere with diet and exercise plans. And it was helpful to read that if you're sticking to a healthy diet, feeling hungry isn't dangerous, and doesn't mean you "need" to eat. However, I still maintain that if you make wise food choices, there is no need to go hungry when dieting. Choosing food which is filling but relatively low in calories is crucial for me (coupled with regular small treats!)

I'm just starting my diet and exercise plan, using an approach which has worked well for me in the past. However, this book has been a fantastic resource already. The motivation exercises alone are reason enough to buy it in my opinion! But as well as feeling motivated, I feel properly prepared this time. I learned a lot from my eating diary and I love the way that, if you slip up, you're encouraged to view it as a learning opportunity and a chance to fine-tune your plan rather than as a failure. I am confident that the techniques in this book will help me stick to my diet and keep the weight off for good.