Eating Less: Say Goodbye to Overeating

by Gillian Riley

This work presents a breakthrough system that transforms your relationship with food. As anyone who has ever been on a diet knows, they simply don't work. No one can diet indefinitely and, once you stop, the weight simply piles back on. "Eating Less" is not about dieting; instead, it places the emphasis where it belongs, on healthy eating and eating less. This revised and updated edition offers you a unique and inspiring solution to its aim is to look at thoughts and beliefs about food, unravel the mind's addictive impulses, and retrain it to have a more healthy, balanced relationship with food. It introduces you to practical techniques that you can apply in your daily life; it shows you how to set your own limits without feeling deprived and becoming rebellious; and it gives you the ability to develop greater control by helping you to overcome addictive behaviour. So simply follow "Eating Less" and see your weight fall off and stay off. ""Eating Less" is likely to succeed where diet books fail. The utter simplicity of its message and techniques makes it easy to start and continue with a programme that revolutionises your attitude to eating and weight." - Sarah Litvinoff. Gillian Riley is an addiction counsellor and runs the extraordinarily successful Full Stop course for those who want to give up smoking and "Eating Less" courses for those who want to take control of addictive eating. Her sell-out courses drew the attention of the world-renowned health retreat - Ragdale Hall - who Gillian now works for in addition to her private client work. Gillian lives in Leicestershire and teaches throughout the UK and Ireland.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help, Psychology, Diets, Cooking, Nutrition

264 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 1999

Reviews

[7jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very useful book to read, good for even those who overeat only sometimes. The solution(s) were clear, simple and easy to understand; the exuses for overeating were talked through and shown to be just exucuses. Also it was great that it was shown that as a reason, anything to do with looks is not a good enough a goal to lose weight - one should do it for health and self-esteem rising.

The reason I gave it only three stars (would've added half more if it was possible though) is that I disagreed with some food tips that were included. I don't believe that the only good fats are olive oil, butter and coconut oil, especially the last. And I don't believe in low-carb that much, just less-carb and less-wheat. And I definitely won't stop using the microwave - I don't use it to make food so much that I could believe there could be massive damage.
I will plan and build what I eat from other books.

Having said that, this was only a tiny small part of the book that I didn't agree with, the rest was very good, supportive information and worth re-reading occasionally. So in the end it's a book worth reading for all interested.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book to help identify overeating and how to successfully manage it on a long term basis. I have never dieted before and I'm not overweight but did recognise that I ate too much at meals times / snacks and sometimes ate incredibly bad food. Now I know why I do this and how to work through it I am more able to make healthier choices.

[Slow Man · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is honest and covers a lot of issues of overeating. It makes perfect sense to prioritize health and not appearance to achieve long lasting change. I like the part about the freedom to make mistakes. The important thing is to pick ourselves up and try again without feeling defeated. In that way we can learn to coexist with the addiction and work through them one step at a time.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Бросила на 26 процентах (страница 266/1021 в моем ридере). Просто надоело, муторно. Хотя книга неплохая с точки зрения психологической поддержки худеющих. Но я сейчас поняла, что люди верно жаловались в отзывах на Литрес на постоянное откладывание полезной информации на "где-то в следующих главах".
Ноооу... мне надоело, не хочу на следующий год оставлять такие "хвосты", это морально давит. Думала, честно говоря, что книга будет интереснее.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eating less — isn't a book about diets. Nowadays, few of those who constantly struggle with excess weight, realize the reasons why it appears in the first place or why it always comes back. Few of us admit that eating can cause the same addiction as smoking, computer games, gambling etc.

Most of all I liked the idea that one should not focus on his/her appearance. According to the author, the goal is not losing weight, but something different and more valuable (health, self-esteem, self-control, motivation, etc). Nowadays it is quite hard to accept this point of view, because the industry surrounding us shows us that slim and pumped-up bodies is exactly what you should strive for. But your main aim should be something else -- not the size of your jeans and a six-pack on your belly.

Also, Riley's book led me to the idea that products that don't contain almost any healthy elements for our organisms (like chips and other fast-food) should be sold and promoted like alcohol and cigarettes. It seems that unhealthy food is not as bad for you, but reality is harsher. Why is alcohol promoted with a warning about its bad influence, but when buying "Bounty" chocolates we only hear about "the taste of paradise"?

I would recommend this book to anyone who used food as a "cure" from stress and sad feelings, dissatisfaction, loneliness and emptiness. Riley also draws your attention to the fact that even if you eat two buckets of green salad (to satisfy your crave for food), it doesn't mean you're eating healthy and that you are not a victim of this unpleasant food addiction. Beware.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riley's book is my favorite book about emotional eating. Her recommendations are simple and straightforward. And she seems to really "get it" with regard to how difficult this problem is to overcome.

[Sian Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another diet book? Really? I wasn’t even sure if I had read this one. However, it looked interesting, so I picked it up from the library. It is not really a diet book. It is a book about being addicted to eating. The book outlines clearly what addictive eating us, how we fool ourselves when we are doing it and what we can do about it. Focusing purely on weight loss for appearance sake only will not work. We need to raise our self esteem and eat healthily through choice. We need to lose the diet mentality of ‘I can’t have that’ which we invariably rebel against, to one of choosing which is best for our health. Gillian has a good website and has a Ted Talk on YouTube. I would recommend looking at these to help you decide if the book is right for you. The book has made me look at my own eating habits and I can recognise when I eat addictively.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short book so good for light reading on a short journey. The advice is nothing new but often forgotten and delivered in a humorous tone.

[Nancie Lafferty · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many practical techniques and strategies for changing overeating habits in this book. I would rate that information probably 4.5 stars. On the other hand, there is too much particular and easily outdated information on exactly what foods to eat. If you have ever tried to diet or even “eat healthy“, you know that the “healthy choices“ are constantly changing. One minute coconut oil is good, the next it’s bad. Low fat is in favor one month and then the elimination of carbs becomes the fashion. Sans the nutrition information, I found quite a bit of useful information once I got over being called an “addict”.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The missing pieces to the overeating puzzle

I recommend this book for anyone who struggles with emotional eating, addictive eating, compulsive eating, or overeating. Well written and backed with scientific research. I am surprised at the simplicity of Gillian’s suggestions, as well as their validity. I can already see changes in my own life!

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Наверное книга из разряда: задуматься и проанализировать своё пищевое поведение. Жаль, что интересные статья -научные факты выкинуты в сноску. И еще не хватало разъяснений с примерами: гликиемическая нагрузка, и др...

[Ievgeniia Rudkovska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Полезная, но ничего нового

[Stuart Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

She helped me give up smoking but her I don't think her approach to eating will help me in the same way.

[John Bleasdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful

I found this book very useful and positive. I don’t know if it will work but it’s the first book I’ve read of this kind which has encouraged me to try.

[Xavier Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book obliterated each and every on of my excuses...

I love it

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very useful book and I found the author to be very intelligent and smart in her approach to this subject.

I recommend this book because it talks about a problem that is wise for everyone to get a chance to break away from.

I'm not a big fan of these kinds of books in general, I look forward to just cut to the chase, but the book had an important point that I was happy to be reading about. It's relatively easy to read and I found some words to have helped me think differently, which is always a plus.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and incredibly helpful guide to getting your head right about the whole eating thing. Transformative.

[Tatiana Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Просто провал! Или это ужасный перевод или это такой оригинал. Несколько цитат: "Худшие виды жиров те, которые производятся из овощей и злаковых"
"Вегетарианцы могут получать белки из овощей"
"Крахмалистые углеводы, их лучше есть поменьше, особенно сахара и пшеницы"
"Нежировые ткани" нет не мышцы, а именно нежировые мышечные и нежировые ткани.
Как такое издательство как МИФ могло выпустить такой ужас)))

[Michele]

Very useful, simple technique that’s working for me. Best supplemented with a sense of humor and appreciation for good food (just less of it).