The Taming of the Chew: A Holistic Guide to Stopping Compulsive Eating

by Denise Lamothe

Psychologist and doctor of holistic health Denise Lamothe presents a complete program to combat overeating, showing compulsive eaters how to take control of their dependence on and obsession with food. Lamothe targets the enemy as "the Chew," which she describes as the "hurtful, persistent, out-of-control part of each of us." The Chew is what keeps overeaters from sticking to a dietary plan and can compel them to go on eating binges. Lamothe shows how to tame the Chew by explaining the problem from psychological, social, spiritual, and biological perspectives; presenting her comprehensive plan for holistic healing and change; and showing how to avoid relapses by building self-esteem.

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2002

Reviews

[Korine Kolivras]

This book may have been written in 1998 but it was surprisingly ahead of its time for several reasons. The author encourages choosing unprocessed foods and avoiding sugar-laden treats even though the book was written in the heyday of the "eat low fat and you're all good" era. BUT she's also all about being forgiving and kind to yourself when you do indulge. She also takes a mindfulness/Buddhist approach throughout which is more common today.
I found this book to be incredibly useful for understanding emotional eating. It breaks down different aspects of "self" that contribute to unhealthy (mental and physical) choices, and in the end pulls them all together in a holistic manner.
It's a relatively quick read with a kind approach to making healthy choices. The last section is a handy list to refer to in challenging moments. Highly recommended.

[Nettie Vaughan]

Some insightful stuff for a book written in the late 1990's. This author lived in Epping and I was intrigued by her writing style and early thoughts about refined foods, dairy, and sugar.

[Spook Sulek]

I don't know if it's because I just finished a Geneen Roth book, but this one didn't speak to me at all. I think my main problem with it was that it really focused on the battle between your weight and you, and I tend to think that, for all I dislike being overweight, it's still part of me. There aren't evil gremlins in my mind making me eat; it's a choice I make. *shrug* I think I'll go request some more of Roth's books now.

[Corinne]

Fantastic book on obsessional eating. I emailed the author to let her know how amazing I thought it was and referred it to a client (who loved it).