Beyond Chocolate: How to stop yo-yo dieting and lose weight for good

by Audrey Boss, Sophie Boss

Are you unhappy with your body but fed up with constant dieting?Would you like to lose weight without depriving yourself of the food you love? Beyond Chocolate is a radically different approach to weight loss. Serial dieters for years, Sophie and Audrey Boss finally overcame their weight problems when they discovered the key to success: break free from the diet mentality and learn how to listen to your body so that you can make food choices that really work for you. This book sets out a new, liberating approach to establishing a healthy and satisfying relationship with food, and a positive body image. Based on extensive research and workshops for women with weight issues, Beyond Chocolate will help you to:* Eat whatever you want without feeling guilty* Lose weight and not worry that you'll put it back on* Only think about food when you are hungry* Stop when you are satisfied* Feel comfortable in your body* Wear clothes you like and feel good in Beyond Chocolate is your passport to freedom!

Genres: Health, Self Help, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published September 21, 2006

Reviews

[Noha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Philosophy of Food, I love how this book can change your relationship with food, food is not our enemy, it's a pleasure and you have to enjoy it :) ( without exaggerating of course )

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was recommended this book by someone I met in anorexia recovery as a good guide to intuitive eating. Coming from a place where I feel a need for complete control over what I eat, I felt like it would be useful to read this to understand how I could trust my body more. I was disappointed by weight loss mentions, as this is obviously not appropriate for plenty of people, but it is also entirely contrary to the message of the book, and was apparently only added in at a publisher's insistence... I think the correct decision here would have been to find a different publisher! There were some tips which I felt should be avoided in anorexia recovery (the eating slowly with no distractions is something to move away from, not towards), and one tip which I felt should be avoided altogether (about going to restaurants with friends but sitting there and not eating if you're not hungry. Food should be about more than being hungry, and it's fine to eat for social reasons!). There were, however, also really good tips of finding movement that is enjoyable not about weight loss, and about tuning in to your body regularly and not judging what it asks for. I'd prefer if this book had been less gendered and, as mentioned, had not included weight loss as a 'benefit' of intuitive eating, but it still felt like a worthwhile read.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has had a love-hate, obsessive relationship with food most of my life, this was a revelation. I will probably need to re-read it several times to keep the concepts fresh in my mind, but it has given me hope! Written in a very practical, down-to-earth style with helpful suggestions and real-life examples.

[Katie Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting read and seems like a sensible approach to working with food issues. Now to see if it works in practice.....

[Karin Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

An alternative to dieting. The authors encourage you to eat and move more intuitively and trust yourself. Lots to think about.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some sound principles: sensible advice (apart from buying 30 packets of crisps and 40 chocolate bars, I wonder how that worked out for binge eaters...?!) to eat when hungry and stop when full, to pause and consider how you really feel when tempted to reach for the biscuit tin, to be more mindful (though it’s a little too early for the more recent term to be used freely here) about enjoying and savouring meals, no food is forbidden etc etc but part of the title is after all:

‘How to Stop Yo-Yo Dieting and Lose Weight for Good’

I don’t think there’s much likelihood in the way of weight *loss* with this theory. A better balance and mental attitude perhaps, but I’m not convinced those who need to cultivate heathy eating habits will do. But perhaps it’s enough that they will not gain anymore weight to begin with, and will start to look at themselves with a less critical eye?

Since I read the book I’ve looked on the website for Readers’ Corner, long since defunct I imagine since it’s now 16 years since the book (or the edition I’ve read) was published. Ho hum that’s no biggie. But then I read on the BC website blog that it was the editor/publisher who pushed for weight loss to be included on the strap-line, and the sisters hurriedly added mentions of weight loss at the end of paragraphs etc. Way to go ladies! Stick with your principles and core beliefs why don’t you?!


23.11.19

[Lesley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book and it’s online face book page are just an excuse to be fat and stay fat. They don’t agree that being fat is unhealthy, they think that being fat is attractive and if you dare disagree with the cliquey group you are jumped on from a great height, your posts are removed and the fatties in the group attack you. This happened to me because I dared say that I had diabetes from being too heavy. I find it a very dangerous book in this age of growing obesity.

[Kathleen]

The British take on the issues.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot but I was little put off by the negative references towards Paul McKenna and the book and hypnosis track that he released.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book made lots of sense.