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Women Food And God - Even The Book Title Makes You Think

August 27, 2010   9 Comments

I promised my Snack Girl readers that I would keep them updated on my Snack Girl Challenge (to lose 10 pounds). Well, I hit a bump this month.

"Women Food and God" Book Review

That bump was grief for a relative that died in July. The pain stopped me in my tracks, and while I'm happy to say I didn't turn to food for comfort - I did stop exercising.

For me, comfort is sitting really still and not moving. Why? I have absolutely no idea. I just wanted to spend the month under my covers looking at my bedroom ceiling. Fortunately, I have two children that will not let me stay hidden from view.

During, this time I picked up a self help book called "Women Food and God" by Geneen Roth. I must say that the title just grabbed me. The book only took me about 2 hours to read and was filled with a discussion about our relationships to food.

Here is an excerpt that I liked:

The Voice-induced decisions - those made from shame and force, guilt or deprivation, cannot be trusted. They do not last because they are based on fear of consequences instead of longing for truth.

Instead, ask yourself what you love....What motivates you to be kind, to take care of your body, your spirit, others, the earth?

The "Voice" she refers to is the critical voice inside our heads. And, I think she has a point. Motivate yourself with a positive force. Punishing yourself for being fat is going to get you nowhere.

Geneen Roth fills her book with insights that may or may not help you. My biggest criticism was that the book lacked an actionable plan. Yes, tune in, meditate, etc., but how do you do that with a crazy life? Of course, I would love a week to sit and ruminate on my eating habits - but it ain't gonna happen.

On the other hand, this book made me think about my relationship to food in a new way and I thank her for that. She helped me feel less crappy about my 10 pound tire and more reflective about its sources.

Essentially, she wants you to feel good about yourself (like that happy little girl above) and from that place change will happen.

Anyone else give this a read? I would LOVE to hear what you thought of it.

Have you read this book? Please share the books that have motivated you to change.

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9 Comments:

Sounds to me like the book DID have a great action plan. Beginning to THINK differently is the first step toward making any change stick.

The ability to make lifetime, lifestyle changes comes from changing our thoughts -- regularly, consistently, one step at a time.

Wrote a blogpost this week about our thoughts and how they can affect us ;-)

www.RebuildingWellness.com/blog

Keep up the good work! You've changed so much already and that self-education is priceless for your health and for your family.

Sue

This is definitely a move in the right direction! Becoming healthy is more than diet and exercise. It's also spiritual/internal. If this is changing your way of thinking about food, that's a positive thing!

I read this book as well. I have been struggling with eating disorders since I was 14. I was nervous at first that it would be to focused on God but I was happy to find out it was not. I agree it is a good read to help understand your personal relationship with food. I am sorry for your loss and if I can help you get back on track please let me know!

I have read this book numerous times. I use it constantly in my weightloss practice and urge many of my clients to read it. People often eat to avoid unpleasant feelings. The main thing i got out of it is that we are more afraid of what those feelings will feel like than the actual feelings themselves. I tell my clients when they start to feel something uncomfortable come up...Sit still and FEEL IT...fully!! It will NOT kill you. Let it wash over you. And then it can pass. Feelings you resist only Persist.

I definitely saw a plan and have been using it myself... (1) BEFORE you eat, ask yourself if you're truly hungry - in your belly (2) if you are, ask your body lovingly what it wants and needs to feel great -- usually something healthy and not junk food (3) eat with gusto AND awareness, noting when you are satisfied and stopping there (4) if you're *not* hungry - which is usually true - ask yourself what's going on in your head, what you are feeling (5) be curious about the feelings and explore them, sit with them, make friends with them - knowing that NO feeling will kill you. IT WORKS. But - you must work on staying present and loving yourself with the same kindness and gentleness you would give to a child.... LOVE love love this book! I have read three books on emotional eating and this is the only one that's gotten through.

I love her writings! I've read many articles she's written for PREVENTION Magazine, and they are easy to relate to.

I haven't read this one, but I have read other books by Geneen Roth. As far as I know, she's doing something that no one else is doing. She has helped me immensely in understanding why I eat when I eat, and how to adjust my attitudes towards food and my body!

firstly, sorry to hear about your loss and am proud to know that you have to taken up to eating, because this is something that i had always failed to do. When am sad, i eat!

will check out the book, thanks for sharing :)

This book is very helpful to us woman who have struggled with our weight and self esteem for our whole lives. That covers just about everyone. Geneen Roth writes with honesty and compassion, and great words of wisdom. Very interesting reading with lots of great tips!

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