Shades of Hope: How to Treat Your Addiction to Food

by Tennie McCarty, Ashley Judd (Foreword)

The founder of Shades of Hope Treatment Center offers real-life solutions and a step-by-step program that teaches you how to stop the never-ending cycle of diets, binges, negative behaviors, and broken promises that come with food addiction.

Includes a Foreword by Ashley Judd

There are millions of people who bounce from one diet to another with no understanding of the link between emotional eating (compulsive overeating) and not being able to keep off the weight. Author Tennie McCarty was herself an overeater, food addict, and bulimic. Tennie believes that food addiction is a physical and mental problem with a spiritual solution. Tennie confronted her addictions to unhealthy relationships, food, work, and was finally able to find the one thing we all ultimately crave—serenity.

In her work with clients, Tennie helps them uncover why they yo-yo diet, why they compromise their health with a diseased relationship to food, why their uncontrollable need for control has left them feeling broken, and what it is about their past or present that leads them to seek comfort in the oscillating consumption and restriction of food. As Ashley Judd, a former patient says, “Because if there was hope for Tennie McCarty, there was hope for me.”

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Health

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about food addictions. I am not grossly overweight, but I have been walking an average of 20 miles/week for a year, and my weight hasn't dropped as much as I'd like it to. So, after having a physical exam, my doctor said I should weigh a lot less if I really do that much walking. ( I do, I track it on my smart phone and record the mileage on an exercise chart.) The answer must be in what I eat. I know that I am an emotional eater, and if food is in front of me in the office, I eventually give in and eat it, even when I'm not hungry. This book helped me develop a better mind set about food, and identify that I'm a chocolate addict. Once I start eating it, I crave it and can't stop. So, I've tried to eliminate it from my diet, and I actually feel better. The book also includes a healthy meal plan pattern, which I have been trying to stick to. I don't have a scale, but my clothes are looser, so I guess it's working. I'd like to be a size 10 again, and I'm getting closer to my goal.

[Diane Mulligan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read A LOT of books about giving up dieting in favor of a saner, healthier lifestyle. This is the worst one I've ever read. The advice is buried in rambling chapters in which the author makes herself out to be anything but sympathetic and describes her patients in disturbingly critical ways. The final instruction that everyone needs to be on an "abstinence eating plan" to curb food addiction is basically saying, "you need to go on a strict diet for the rest of your life," which clearly undermines the "stop dieting, start living" claim of the subtitle. Want to read a book that actually preaches an end to dieting? Pick up anything by Geneen Roth.

[Cindy Brookshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually the second time I've read this book. It is a good companion to 12-step literature, worth keeping on the shelf as a reference as one lives their recovery from addiction to food, one day at a time. I'm going to pass on this copy to a friend who is moving - stress of moving can disrupt recovery. I'm sure I'll buy another copy in the future. Look up Tennie McCarty - she's still actively helping folks at her recovery facility in Texas.

[Kelsi Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great & realistic

A lot of personal stories about different people recovering! It does give a food plan at the end which was nice if you had no idea where to start! It explains in depth how your emotions feed your food addiction! It was a good book but not one I’d keep on hand and refer back to!

[Tarnya burge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful, down to earth wisdom.

Easy to read, with lots of wisdom, I found Tennie’s book very helpful for myself and would recommend to anyone struggling with their relationship with food.

[Jcart21 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt the author focused too much on Religion, Faith, God, etc. in the book. These are very personnel subjects and did not have to be added to the content.

[Missy Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOT on in linking and helping people understand that their eating disorders, food compulsions and obsessions, weight problems...etc are addiction.

The term "addiction" is hard to swallow and so many people miss the mark. This book is for people who - beyond suspecting...kind of know they have a problem but they don't know why or exactly what is making them eat/not eat.

This book explains perfectly, and provides many exercises you can do to explore your emotional core (I skipped that. I'm in therapy) but throughout which are personal stories that are entirely worth reading.

At the end they do recommend a super-clean "abstinent" diet which is something I wholeheartedly believe in. The rational behind strictness is explained beautifully. However she is CLEAR in expressing that the food plan will not work if you don't do the work. Amen.

I sort of fell in love with Tennie after watching her show. Now I am REALLY into her. (0:

[Ryan]

I've known of Tennie McCarty and her treatment center in Texas, Shades of Hope, for several years now, and was supposed to go do some training with her 2 years ago, but I didn't. I recently had the opportunity to spend an hour and a half in the car with her (long story), and found her terribly delightful. I am really hoping after I graduate to be able to finally go spend some time with her at Shades and learn from one of the masters. This is a great primer on the destructive power of food addiction, something many people would argue doesn't exist. Great stories, and a hopeful message of recovery.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

While there is some good information in here, I felt as though she pathologizes people who may over- or under- eat. I do not believe everyone who has disordered eating is a "food addict" who needs treatment. Also, while entertaining, many of the stories she tells are far-fetched and hard to believe. This book is based on a 12 step anonymous model. Had I known that, I would not have read it, as I do not prescribe to that model. It also focuses heavily on Christianity, initially called "higher power" (as in a 12 step program) but then turning to a focus on God.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have struggled with food issues either compulsive overeating, binging/purging or anorexia this book is for you. Shades of Hope does good work and has a excellent reputation in our local area and around the country as well.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read 100 pages and learned more about the author's struggles with her husband's drinking problem than about weight issues. Now it has turned control of eating into an evangelical issue. This book is not for me!

[Laura Jablinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one I am sure to read again many times.

[Jamie Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a long time to finish this book. You cannot just read this without taking small breaks to process the impact of Tennie's words.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening about food being an addiction for some.

[Aiza Idris (biblio_mom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non-fiction that uses story-telling formats of writing. I like it and it has diet plans as well. Would like to re-read in future, maybe to change rating. Not sure yet.