Amara
asked:
I'm just a couple of hours into this hefty audiobook, and already have been told I need to lose 30 pounds. Having a background in fitness, etc. I am concerned about disordered eating concerns when he talks about losing weight for health in almost any way. Does he address that at all in this book? If I know it is coming up I can keep on listening in peace.
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How Not to Diet,
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Boy Blue
He doesn't address your concern directly but I think it's important to look at the premise of the book.
It's not about dieting but about creating eating habits that will help you eat well for the rest of your life. As he says, a diet naturally has an endpoint, while he's more interested in how you will eat when not on a diet. He doesn't want you to lose 30 pounds by next week, more find a healthy diet and use it as a guideline to reach your healthy weight and stay there. He also reminds you that you can make mistakes, "have a bad day" etc but not to let that derail you.
Interestingly, I had a similar response to you when he started throwing around BMI's as the best indicator of health, when we all know that athletes tend to measure as obese because it doesn't take into account body composition. He does go on to address this later on but I think not adequately enough.
There is talk of eating disorders of an overconsumptive nature, and talk about the starvation diet but he certainly doesn't address bulimia, or anorexia nervosa, because it's not what the book is about.
It's not about dieting but about creating eating habits that will help you eat well for the rest of your life. As he says, a diet naturally has an endpoint, while he's more interested in how you will eat when not on a diet. He doesn't want you to lose 30 pounds by next week, more find a healthy diet and use it as a guideline to reach your healthy weight and stay there. He also reminds you that you can make mistakes, "have a bad day" etc but not to let that derail you.
Interestingly, I had a similar response to you when he started throwing around BMI's as the best indicator of health, when we all know that athletes tend to measure as obese because it doesn't take into account body composition. He does go on to address this later on but I think not adequately enough.
There is talk of eating disorders of an overconsumptive nature, and talk about the starvation diet but he certainly doesn't address bulimia, or anorexia nervosa, because it's not what the book is about.
Cynthia Wheelehan
I had a similar concern, but his focus in on teaching people to tell the difference between sound dietary information and advice that ultimately harms you... He addresses exercise and some about eating disorders - but this book is about healthy eating.. He does not address, or try to treat, eating disorders in this context - those require individual assessment and treatment... That said, I cannot think of anyone that would not benefit from his approach to food and diet...
I started with the audio book - then I tried a Kindle sample - but I have just bought a hard copy because I need to make notes and tag certain areas with pen and clips... I have also read his first book "How Not To Die" - and I am getting both cookbook because the recipes look delicious as well as healthy.... For what it is worth, I have been a nurse for 35 years and this is the best sourced and complied nutrition and diet book I have read....
I started with the audio book - then I tried a Kindle sample - but I have just bought a hard copy because I need to make notes and tag certain areas with pen and clips... I have also read his first book "How Not To Die" - and I am getting both cookbook because the recipes look delicious as well as healthy.... For what it is worth, I have been a nurse for 35 years and this is the best sourced and complied nutrition and diet book I have read....
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