Think Yourself Thin: A 30-Day Guide to Permanent Weight Loss

by J.J. Smith

The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse returns with this revolutionary guidebook filled with the crucial mental strategies that will provide the missing piece in your weight loss journey once and for all.

After helping dieters lose over two-million pounds in two years, JJ Smith realized the most important, yet most overlooked, factor for permanent weight loss is mental mastery. In Think Yourself Thin, Smith helps you uncover the root of your struggle and address the spiritual or emotional issues tied to your eating behavior. By applying the strategies outlined in this book, you will have the tools you need to take control of your weight, and thus your health, and experience the joy of having your dream body.

Divided into four parts, Smith’s book uncovers the five psychological stages required to lose weight and keep it off. Smith also introduces the all-new SUCCESS System detailing the mental habits and approaches necessary for permanent weight loss. Filled with inspiring, motivational success stories and user-friendly principles that provide the guidance you need to eat in a manner that helps the body burn fat and lose weight, Think Yourself Thin makes long-term weight loss a reality by starting with what matters most.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2018

About the author

JJ Smith is a nutritionist and certified weight-management specialist, passionate relationship/life coach, and inspirational speaker. She has been featured on The Montel Williams Show, The Jamie Foxx Show, and The Michael Baisden Show. JJ has made appearances on the NBC, FOX, CBS and CW Network television stations, as well as in the pages of Glamour, Essence, Heart and Soul, and Ladies Home Journal. Since reclaiming her health, losing weight, and discovering a “second youth” in her forties, bestselling author JJ Smith has become the voice of inspiration to women who want to lose weight, be healthy, and get their sexy back! JJ Smith provides lifestyle solutions for losing weight, getting healthy, looking younger and improving your love life!

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok. Nothing revolutionary.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The vast majority of dieters who lose weight will gain it all back within three to five years.” To permanently lose the weight, the author suggests that dieters must Think Yourself Thin.

Beginning with the five stages of weight loss: Fed Up, Honeymoon, Stall (weight-loss plateau), Ideal Weight and Maintaining, the author reviews what could go wrong. Her solution is:
Slay resistence
Use visualization
Commit
Control emotions
Establish habits
Support system
Spiritual life

Finally, the author includes a 30-day mental mastery plan and quite a few success stories. The plan includes journaling thoughts, meditating, mindfulness, prayer, and visualizing success.

I’m disappointed that there isn’t much new in Think Yourself Thin. For the author of the 10-day Green Smoothie Cleanse, I expected more originality. However, if you haven’t already read a diet book addressing the mental aspects of dieting, this would be a good choice. Think Yourself Thin motivates the reader with its Can Do attitude. The success stories at the end encourage by the variety of ways these people overcome various challenges and finally lost the weight. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've studied a lot about the psychology of losing weight, so I didn't find much new in this book. However, it was refreshing reminder in an upbeat way. There were a few nuggets that I liked. The 30-day program sounds intriguing. However, as I was listening to this book, I don't remember them all. I might have to check it out of the library so I can remember the steps. (While I liked the book, I'm not interested in owning it.)

I would have given this book five stars because I was enjoying it a lot--until we got to the very long chapter of commercials. She labeled them as success stories, but their stories weren't that concrete and didn't add anything to the book. And they all seemed to push JJ's green smoothie cleanse. Yuck! After a few of the commercials, I skipped the rest of the chapter.

[Mom2triplets04 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this book for Nonfiction November. I'm doing Weight Watchers and I thought this would be a great addition to my journey. I enjoyed all the positive messages this book says to help you stay mindful of what you are eating. It is a great resource to stay motivated and to keep you on track. I did drop it down a star due to the fact that the author kept promoting her green smoothie detox method often. So pick and choose what you want to get out of this book. In conclusion it does promote a great positive message and gives you tips on journaling your journey. Also it is a great audio book to listen to while driving or doing mundane stuff around the house.

[Sugarrr · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's was Not As good As I had hoped. :(

[Sharron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I expected that this would be trying to sell me a product and there was some of that, but more it was trying to sell me another book! Second book I've read this year that was trying to sell me another book.

Most of the actual content is just common sense stuff and it ends with a slew of testimonials. It's also very repetitive.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not terribly helpful. The message of the book is pretty much will yourself to lose the weight and use prayer/meditation to lose weight. No useful tips.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tips towards changing your mindset as you navigate the changes for a healthy lifestyle verses just a diet. Will reference this book often.

[Theresa MG · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would give this negative stars, if I could. This book is filled with every fat-phobic, body-shaming, individual-blaming, just-do-better and get-right-with-god cliché ever thought or said or unfortunately believed.

I wanted to stop after she said “be grateful if you have a relative who will tell you if you picked up a few pounds” so early on! But I kept going to see if there were any redeeming parts. Sadly no. Just more of the same old dieting advice with a side of “be more committed” and avoid “spiritual laziness” shaming.

Don’t read this book. If you have concerns about your body image or your eating Check out The Body Is Not An Apology, Intuitive Eating, or talk to a trained eating disorder therapist. Shaming yourself into a smaller body will not promote physical, mental or spiritual wellness.

[Traci Fontenot · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main reason I wanted to read this book was for some visualization techniques, as well as mental and emotional mastery tools. I’ve struggled with hormonal imbalances the last couple of years and want some tools in my toolbox to help control stress responses, as well as tools to aid in visualizing my highest self. I feel this book delivers that. I do not plan on utilizing her green smoothie diet book mentioned, I do not have emotional overeating issues, and I do not live a sedentary lifestyle. But overall it was a good read with several very good takeaways.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new here, yet principles are sound.

Repetitive, yet that’s not necessarily a bad thing when drilling in said principles.

Success stories are fine but know that these read like commercials for the author’s program.

Overall, good reminders for healthy living (in a non-revelatory kind of way).

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/3.0

It's okay. The best part is the 30 day guide which gives you something to do each day. They are simple with some being thought provoking. I thought it referenced God more than a weight loss book should.

[Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay book. Heard lots of this before. Hadn’t heard of her green smoothie cleanse program so I will take a look at that.

[Dee’s Cozy Corner Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new. Just putting it all together in a book.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book. It has motivated in to more than losing weight.

[Lorena Olaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative

Encouraging and informative about losing weight. Gotta be stronger though. Love the tips for keeping your the over weight out.

[Teresa Crockett]

Did not finish

[Dyane Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading JJ Smith's "Think Yourself Thin" because it's positive, inspiring, and is imbued with Smith's unique perspective. "Think Yourself Thin" is clearly written and well-organized. I like the author's emphasis on the psychological stages involved with long-term weight loss and I've only just begun to put the "mental mastery" principles into practice, but I'm definitely optimistic..

[Bonny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot recommend Think Yourself Thin by JJ Smith.

There are a lot of reasons; I wrote pages of notes before I gave up and wrote this review, anyway. This isn't the space for constructive feedback to help the author rewrite. It's the place for readers to determine if they want to read a book.

First off, I am the market for this book both personally and professionally. I have lost and gained weight multiple times in my life and have helped others with their weight loss goals. From those experiences, I am of the firm belief that our mindset has more to do with our weight than what we put into our mouths or how much (or little) we exercise.

Yet this book offers little actual advice, engagement or comfort. The chapter on spirituality - which I suspect was misnamed so as not to offend non-religious readers - spent the entire section explaining what spirituality is. Unfortunately, their definition of spirituality wasn't clear or accurate. At the end of the chapter, the suggestions to use spirituality to enhance our weight loss included - wait for it - "enlightenment".

I felt sorely disappointed with this chapter when it had a lot it could cover and accomplish. I said to myself after reading it, "Did I really just waste my time with that?"

For me, the author's tone felt mixed and jumbled. At times they speak from an authoritative viewpoint, quoting statistics, noting none of the statistics in a bibliography or footnote. In other places, sometimes in the same paragraph, they move to a more "let me tell you how it is" perspective. Which would be great if I believed for a second the author has ever struggled with their weight. Maybe they have? I saw no personal conversation about it.

Instead, what I read was a section on how society marginalizes how overweight people. I'm not sure why the author felt it necessary to tell overweight people this - when we obviously already know it intimately and live it every day. How about.... telling us what we can do about our weight problem, instead of telling us how horrible it is to be overweight?

I encountered no substance in this book, and a lot of junk science I couldn't find or back up on my own. Where I could find the resources, the author misquoted them or hadn't read the study to discern what was important. It was as if they'd taken a slew of poorly constructed blog posts of theirs and other people's and threw it into book format.

The premise of this book? Excellent. The performance? Abysmal. Which surprises and upsets me, considering the number of 5-star reviews I found on Amazon.