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The Diet Survivor's Handbook: 60 Lessons in Eating, Acceptance and Self-Care
The best non-diet book for those looking to embrace a positive and satisfying relationship with food. This empowering guide, crafted by experts in the fields of nutrition, psychology, and self-development, offers a refreshing approach to breaking free from the dieting cycle and cultivating a healthy relationship with food and body. In this comprehensive handbook, you'll uncover sixty practical and insightful lessons that will help you embrace your unique body and nurture it with compassion. Say goodbye to restrictive diets and hello to a sustainable lifestyle centered around nourishment and self-love. Each lesson is strategically designed to guide you through the challenges of diet culture, emotional eating, and body image struggles, empowering you to reclaim your autonomy over your health and well-being. Whether you're a long-time dieter seeking liberation or someone looking to develop a healthier relationship with food, this handbook is your indispensable companion on the path to healing, growth, and self-discovery. Join the movement towards body positivity, mental well-being, and nourishment!
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2006
85 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 31, 2011
First off, the personal reaction to this is at the bottom.
The authors both come from the field of Social Work, and a majority of that experience is specifically with eating disorders of all kinds. They address the conclusions coming through the news media from the medical community - they often make connections the average person can't make (i.e. some examples where researchers have released statements saying their work was misrepresented, and the media chose to minimize those statements; some examples where studies are funded by diet and drug industry leaders and the information is heavily biased; etc.). There are thorough investigations of assumptions people make about diet and exercise. They present evidence to the contrary.
Then they present a series of exercises that are designed to put you back in touch with how you respond to your hunger - your natural eating instincts - and your habits of relying on food to address emotions. They ask you to suspend criticism of yourself and take a leap of faith. My first thought was, "I don't think a yay twinkies!!! approach is going to work..." but they say early on that this isn't that. The exercises progress to becoming aware of the messages overt and subliminal all around you about bodies, food and weight. (I see a LOT of fat-hate out there, I never noticed it before.) They present a series of exercises designed to help you break the tie between your emotions and eating. They present a series of exercises designed to help you differentiate between control (which they argue will break under stress) and choice (you can opt for healthier things, if that's satisfying).
Personal reaction:
I'll gloss over my most personal level of interaction with this book to say that, since 4th Grade, when my mom (well intentioned, mis-informed, doing her best) put me on a very restrictive diet. It's been a rough road ever since. I've never formally dealt with it, but chances are pretty good I'm one of those borderline cases of eating disorders. So.... when I saw this book, I felt like picking it up and at least reading it through. I'm working through the 60 lessons. They're difficult, but they make sense for me. Enough of the personal.
The authors both come from the field of Social Work, and a majority of that experience is specifically with eating disorders of all kinds. They address the conclusions coming through the news media from the medical community - they often make connections the average person can't make (i.e. some examples where researchers have released statements saying their work was misrepresented, and the media chose to minimize those statements; some examples where studies are funded by diet and drug industry leaders and the information is heavily biased; etc.). There are thorough investigations of assumptions people make about diet and exercise. They present evidence to the contrary.
Then they present a series of exercises that are designed to put you back in touch with how you respond to your hunger - your natural eating instincts - and your habits of relying on food to address emotions. They ask you to suspend criticism of yourself and take a leap of faith. My first thought was, "I don't think a yay twinkies!!! approach is going to work..." but they say early on that this isn't that. The exercises progress to becoming aware of the messages overt and subliminal all around you about bodies, food and weight. (I see a LOT of fat-hate out there, I never noticed it before.) They present a series of exercises designed to help you break the tie between your emotions and eating. They present a series of exercises designed to help you differentiate between control (which they argue will break under stress) and choice (you can opt for healthier things, if that's satisfying).
Personal reaction:
I'll gloss over my most personal level of interaction with this book to say that, since 4th Grade, when my mom (well intentioned, mis-informed, doing her best) put me on a very restrictive diet. It's been a rough road ever since. I've never formally dealt with it, but chances are pretty good I'm one of those borderline cases of eating disorders. So.... when I saw this book, I felt like picking it up and at least reading it through. I'm working through the 60 lessons. They're difficult, but they make sense for me. Enough of the personal.
May 2, 2021
I loved this book, it's written in such a compassionate way that encourages compassion to oneself too. It cares about me as a diet survivor in a way I've never felt before. If you're sick of diets not working then envelop yourself in this warm hug of a book and change your life for the better.
August 25, 2021
Just what I needed to hear. Thank you.
It’s a scary journey AND one I’m confident will be worth it. I wish I had read this book as a teenager and I hope to empower others with the knowledge I now have. Can’t wait to see where this’ll take me.
It’s a scary journey AND one I’m confident will be worth it. I wish I had read this book as a teenager and I hope to empower others with the knowledge I now have. Can’t wait to see where this’ll take me.
March 8, 2025
I have to keep reminding myself that this was written in '07 because it's such an advanced understanding of the evils of diet culture. An awareness we are still struggling to raise in society nearly two decades later.
The only thing that (I think) shows its age is that it entirely focuses on the experiences of cis women. We have the knowledge now to understand that diet and body image culture negatively affects men, women, trans, cis, and everyone else in different, more nuanced ways.
Still, it's a very illuminating read and a very good starting point for educating yourself on the subject. It also provides a bunch of recommendations for other books and resources to learn more. I'll be checking those out when I can. Overall, a very useful book to have and to keep for reference.
The only thing that (I think) shows its age is that it entirely focuses on the experiences of cis women. We have the knowledge now to understand that diet and body image culture negatively affects men, women, trans, cis, and everyone else in different, more nuanced ways.
Still, it's a very illuminating read and a very good starting point for educating yourself on the subject. It also provides a bunch of recommendations for other books and resources to learn more. I'll be checking those out when I can. Overall, a very useful book to have and to keep for reference.
May 9, 2019
If you've been a slave to diets as I was for many years, this is a very helpful, enlightening guide to stepping away from cultural messages and self-punishing, damaging diets. I recovered from extreme diets a long time ago but this book affirmed me in all my efforts to love myself the way I am while being mindful of what I eat and why I'm eating it. It's a process, but so much better than counterproductive, demoralizing dieting.
May 29, 2019
Not just for diet survivors but anyone who wants to stop making weight loss or control the main focus of their eating and believes we all need to quit with body talk ("Have you lost weight?" What kind of diet did you use?" "I'm intermittent fasting!" Etc.), this book delineates how to move away from weight-focused eating and move toward mindful eating. It turns out that weight is not as big of a health determinant as we thought. Highly recommend.
January 30, 2019
Amazing book on self acceptance and how to love yourself. Does a great job of exposing the diet industry and how we are trained to hate our bodies. Walked away with a greater sense of how to love myself and my body.
August 25, 2019
Made me think
As someone who has been on every diet known to man, this made me reevaluate how I've been living. I will never look at dieting the same way again. I'm not even sure I'll be able to go on another diet again after this. I am hoping not.
As someone who has been on every diet known to man, this made me reevaluate how I've been living. I will never look at dieting the same way again. I'm not even sure I'll be able to go on another diet again after this. I am hoping not.
April 30, 2021
Lots of useful information and thought-provoking ideas. The "activities" are less useful since we all know we're not actually going to do them.
June 21, 2018
Great rules if you want to change your relationship with food and swear off diets forever. Easier said than done!
March 28, 2020
There's some parts of the book that feel a bit too "it's okay to give up!", but it's still good advice on how to stop dieting and actually try to eat to satifaction.
May 25, 2023
This book has been absolutely life changing. I will be rereading and using the lessons for the rest of my life.
November 5, 2014
Luckily for me, I've only been on a diet once in my adult life, though that lasted for quite a long time - over year long. And it definitely damaged me psychologically. This book was instrumental in letting go of guilt and shame associated with food and in accepting myself as a fat girl who will probably stay fat and still has full right to enjoy her life.
January 29, 2020
One of the best books I have read on this topic. I loved the lessons and I loved the exercises. The format was helpful - I could focus on one or two lessons at a time and really dive in, rather than trying to race through the book.
December 9, 2008
This book is good for recovery of a life time of dieting.
June 27, 2014
It should be required for every woman to read this book. Diets do not work and this book makes you actually accept and feel free from that idea.
February 14, 2016
I liked it enough I'm buying it so I can do the journaling
October 8, 2018
Excellent book about changing our view on food and health as a lifestyle change instead of a yet another diet plan.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews