Diet Rehab: 28 Days to Finally Stop Craving the Foods That Make You Fat

by Mike Dow, Antonia Blyth

The co-host of TLC's hit series, Freaky Eaters , reveals the ultimate diet plan to kick the junk-food habit in just four weeks- without the pain of withdrawal. In March 2010, The Scripps Research Institute released a study showing how rats on a junk-food diet had just as difficult a time-if not more so-giving up excess fat and sugar as the rats who were struggling to recover from cocaine dependence. The results showed that certain foods actually alter the brain's chemistry, making our consumption of these foods less like an indulgence and more like an addiction. Our brains require two key neurotransmitters to maintain proper mood and function, serotonin and dopamine. We get a rush of the two when we eat junk food, but the converse is also If we stop eating them cold turkey, we go through serotonin and dopamine withdrawal. This is what causes so many dieters to ultimately fail. In order to successfully lose weight, explains Dr. Mike Dow, dieters should be sensitive both to their emotional and physical needs. Dr. Dow, a psychologist who specializes in addictive behavior and eating disorders, introduces a four-week program for breaking the hold that food has over the body, mind, and spirit by gradually decreasing the amount of "bad" foods while increasing activities and foods that boost serotonin and dopamine levels. Sensible and uniquely effective, Diet Rehab eliminates the withdrawal pains of most diet plans, and provides the structure for a sustainable, healthy, and happy lifestyle.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help

336 pages, Hardcover

First published December 27, 2011

Reviews

[Julia Seargeant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is powerfully changing my life. It has been completely amazing. Well thought out and written. Dr. Mike explains how certain eating habits directly correlate to many people's brain chemistry - particularly dopamine and seratonin. Oh how I have been eating to stimulate them! This book was a perfect fit for me. There were two aspects of the book that I found completely different from other "diets' and yet made sense.

First, he has you add certain foods and activities into your life before you are ever expected to take anything away. The funny part is, now that I've been following his program, is that you don't feel like your taking anything away! You just naturally (yes naturally) stop craving the other foods! I've lost all desire for them and if sometimes I think I want them - I have them and don't finish them! I can't recall a time before now when I've put down a cupcake after 2 bites. Or didn't eat 1/2 the family size bag of lays potato chips. Or ate only 1 cookie. In an entire day. Just amazing!

The other really great thing about this book is that by incorporating these foods and activities into your life you stop worrying about the weight. Don't get me wrong. You know it's there. You just stop stressing over it. You put activities into your life that make you feel better about who you are and you become okay with whatever happens. (these aren't "exercise" activities per se. They are easy ones like playing with your dog. Going for a walk. Kissing. Meditating. Writing. etc.) He has you put your scale away for 28 days. I'm not quite to 28 days yet, but I can tell you I don't have any desire to get on that scale. I don't need to know what I weigh. I feel good about who I am and the direction I'm heading. But, even better, is the weight comes off - as a happy result of all these other changes. Not even a month and I'm down a pant size. I've yet to check the circumfrence of my waist, but I know it's smaller. Significantly smaller. I feel great about it all and so I keep plugging away - and it's okay. I'm done with putting unnecessary pressure on myself.

As I stated before, this book is changing not only my relationship with food, but with life. It's visible. People are commenting on it. As someone who has been into every diet out there over the last 4 years - I can say that I believe this book works. I have no doubts at all that I will not gain any "weight loss" back. If you think you have an unhealthy relationship with food, take a chance on this book. It may just change your life too.

[Zita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Voltak benne hasznos információk, egyszerre volt rossz, de jó, hogy sokat ismételt. Tetszettek a tesztek, de mivel se nem folytatom az amerikai étrendet, se nem vagyok túlsúlyos, a könyv 40%-a nem hozzám szólt.

[Donna]

This book absolutely makes scientific sense but it is not possible for a ridiculously food-picky person like me. I cannot survive on the seven foods I will eat (I'm counting all fish as one) that are in the good category.

[Jacqui Schischka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book about brain chemistry and food addiction. Personally, I got a lot out of it and think I will be better equipped to handle the lows of life without resorting to a comforting bag of crisps or chocolate :)

[Christy Harrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using these ideas to help me and my son with ADHD.

[Duygu Berber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kitap en başta çok sarmıştı fakat daha sonra sürekli kendini tekrar etti. Ve ne yazık ki verilen tarifler ve yemek önerileri bizim kültürümüze uymuyor. Ama mantığını beğendim...

[Richard Angelus · Rating 4 out of 5]

In March 2010, the Scripps Research Institute release a ground-breaking study (read page 15-16) that find rats who were fed high-fat, high-sugar diets such as bacon and chocolate (lucky rats!) developed full-brown food addictions such as drug addictions. Oh ya, they gave cocaine to the rats too. Amazingly, the food had altered their brain chemistry. Because of this, these rats – overweight and food-addicted – desire for more and more 'junk' food to experience pleasure or at least, just to feel normal. 

"Now here's the even scarier part," writes Dr Mike, a psychology expert on addictive behaviours, disordered eating and food addictions, "After cocaine-addicted rats stopped taking the drug, it took only 2 days for their brain chemistry to return to normal. For the food-addicted rats in the food study, though, their brain chemistry took 2 weeks to return to normal. In other words, food habits affected their brain MORE than drugs in some ways!" Now, that is scary!

To read my review of Dr Mike Dow's Diet Rehab: 28 Days to Finally Stop Craving the Foods That Make You Fat (2011), CLICK HERE: https://www.richardangelus.me/2019/11...

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. This talks a lot about the reasons we crave certain foods and why we tend to go back to these foods breaking the diets people go on. The brain chemistry is interesting because it explain the reasons behind this and then the book goes on to some cognitive behavior practices that can be used to change our behaviors as well as add things to our lives instead of just depriving ourselves. The "diet" itself adds things before it switches things out for alternatives.

[Limonlusutlac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Şu kitapları okuduğum kadar uygulayabilsem çoktan sıfır beden olmuştum şaka şaka sıfır beden olmak iyi değil. Kitap benim gibi bu konularda advance araştırmacilara çok fazla şey katamaz ama seratonin, dopamin ve yemekle bağlantısını öğrenmek isteyenler için güzel yazılmış.

[Maide Karzaoğlu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bir oturuşta alıp bitirilesi, yeme bağımlılığım olmayışıma sevindiresi kitap...

[AES · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro con instrucciones claras y bien documentado.

[Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting approach to dieting. Lots of good tips and ways to recognize emotional triggers.

[mrsrou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas in here, a bit repetitive, but I think it's a very helpful book.

[Juanita Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only regret is that I didn't find it earlier. Like when I went into withdrawal from sex and love addiction. It finally makes sense. I've often said its not just the food, I need other things to do besides eat. Dr. Dow has been there and he understands. I ate my way to 100 pounds overweight moving through my sex and love addiction withdrawal. I didn't know what else to substitute but food. Now it feels like giving up food is my last haven. Dr. Dow has tossed me a lifesaver. He has given me an action plan to work through my withdrawal from food addictive substances. This is less of a "diet" book but more of a behavior modification guideline. So, before it can be successful for you, you have to be willing to admit there is a problem. Willpower won't work here. But a willingness to change will.

[Chiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye-opening information about symptoms and food addiction related to low levels of brain chemicals Dopamine and Serotonin. The book included information on how to raise the levels of these brain chemicals through activity, nutrition, and consciously changing chemical-depleting thought patterns. Enjoyed that there is still room for a couple of portions of "pitfall foods" or pleasurable fattening or sweet foods which would make the program more realistic to continue with as a lifestyle change.

[Minnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really makes sense. It discusses overindulgence as a symptom of chemical imbalance and then proceeds to give sound advice on how to rectify this imbalance. I believe that if you were to follow the do's and don'ts of this book not only will you lose weight but you will gain insight into yourself and your self-defeating habits as well.
OK, so now I've read the book, let's see if I can start on this journey and follow through!!!!

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how this book wrote about like why it is not your fault that you crave for food and you don't follow on diet, it give you self encouragement and explain it in science too. Also i love how this book tell you to continue eating those food you crave for, but just add in healthy food and so on... and it really work somehow and i am excited to embark on this journey!

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really makes sense. I like how Dr. Mike not only helps you change food habits, but also gives you daily tasks to enhance your life and make it fuller. I'm going to give it a try. His philosophy for eating is based on research and facts, so I'm hoping for great results.

[SJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that this book gave a lot of science based reasons why we eat bad food and the plan is helpful, but at the end of the day it's eat right and exercise. The plan is good because it's very slow to integrate changes. Would really like to give it 3.5 stars.

[Pedro Brescia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melhor livro sobre emagrecimento que já li. Para quem for ler em português, não se deixe levar pelo título ridículo ("Dieta das emoções"). Trata-se de um livro sério sobre dependência alimentar, focado em fornecer estratégias para produzir equilíbrio hormonal.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't get into it- maybe I'm not ready.

[Shilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

One week into the rehab and it is really working!! I've lost weight and feel great and the best part, I'm getting more sleep and better sleep!! Highly recommend this book.

[Alane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Life changing!

[Mary Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stuff you probably already know about food addictions

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

O.K., here I go!

[Kathryn Kozody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting look at food addiction and the brain chemicals that come into play

[Amy]

Great book, bad title.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes a lot of sense! I listened to it three times in two days trying to soak in as much information as possible.