BOOKS and BLOGS

[Fit2010]

No, we're glad you did tell us what you're learning, Lins! That's what we're going through together....dealing with feelings as they happen instead of overreacting by numbing ourselves with food or punishing ourselves with food or nurturing ourselves with food. Sounds like a good book.

"It's Not About Food" --who is it written by, is it pretty interesting to read?

[eptexy]

Reading South Beach Supercharged. It's teaching me so much about the glycemic index which is the basis of medi wellness. There's also a lot about metabolism and exercise which has changed way I work out. So far so good and highly applicable.

[Fit2010]

Erin - I just read all of Suzanna's blog (a pal from our LCF site here), she had it listed on the Newbie thread a couple days ago. It was informative to see her journey from Atkins and then gluten-free w/ protein/veggies/fruit, to successful weightloss in MediWeightLoss in 3 to 6 wks (lost her final 19 lbs in 6 wks to hit goal with MWL), and now learning how to eat and maintain.

Suzanna - I hope you don't mind that I mentioned it here. I've added it to my favorites so I can keep up with your progress and exercise goals. I'm so far behind...just started adding exercise to my life about a month ago. Now with my weight loss I'm finally not so winded when walking and even jogging....I have mitral valve prolapse and that makes me susceptible to being short of air....but NOW down 41 lbs I am not carrying and perfusing all that extra body weight so I'm doing so much better! I think a goal for me will have to be low glycemic and carefully adding in carbs.

Erin - I think your book sounds very applicable to meet this goal and decrease carb cravings, yet still add flavor and variety!

I love all the inspiration we are getting online from each other!!

[SonoRoo]

Debbie, sorry it is taking me so long to get back to you. I am having a difficult time trying to read the book (Living Low Carb by Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS). I keep taking it to work but we are so busy right now I haven't had much time to read it. I am also working on my BSDMS degree through Florida Hospital College and studying for my RDCS Fetal Echo registry. So between this weightloss program, school, my registries, and all the weird call schedule at work I am overwhelmed. Plus our hospital just unionized (ARGH!!!). It's why I get a little freaked out at times. I also have two teens and a hubby who is gone half the year. My plate is a little more than full. I think I may give up the RDCS FE for now and just focus on the rest.

I like Jonny Bowden and I like that he gives a review of the plans. The clinical portion of my personality really wants him to cite more hard numbers and studies in the front of the book. He uses a lot of anecdotal information from other people and their books which has a tendency to annoy me. I want to see the statistics, studies, and derivitives myself and he just doesn't provide it. However, I am working this low carb plan and it seems to be working so I am going with it. I have not lost weight with other diets so I am wanting to agree with his summation although I feel like he could provide references for those of us who need more. Especially since the whole uproar with low carb diets is that doctors tend to misread or ignore the data supporting it. This book could have done more not to be dismissed by the medical establishment. JMHO.

But as a lay person as well, I really enjoy the book and think it tends to be the most comprehensive source for information on the different types of low carb diets. I also like that he gives an explanation of who would most benefit by each type. He led me to Dr. Berstein's Low Carb Diabetes Diet for my mom who is type II diabetic. She didn't want to do my program because she is afraid, so I bought both of Dr. Berstein's books from Jonny's recommendation in this book and hopefully it will help her. We'll see.

[Fit2010]

Shelley - I have Dr Bernstein's "Diabetes Solution" and have only skimmed through pages since I bought it a couple months ago. I knew I'd need to be studying it more as I get closer to maintenance. I have a strong family history of diabetes (type II).

Erin - I opened up my Beck's Diet Solution CD and listened to at least a chapter today. I'm very interested to listen to more and think cognitive therapy is really going to make a difference in my previous negative self talk and sabotaging behaviors. Sounds good!

Still reading my Fat Chance book too and allowing God to teach me where my strength can really come from!

[alngarcia]

I write a blog about my weight loss and healthier living and I would love anyone to come and check it out. The Road To Losing It I also read a great book called Food Rules. It is 64 rules about food...some promote a vegetarian lifestyle, but it's really about making healthy choices and adopting a few rules. I loved it and have read it 3 times! It think it's about $8 or $9 at most stores.

[Fit2010]

alngarcia - I just looked at a couple dates....you look great with the new body! It's obvious from your blog you are feeling MUCH better! Congratulations!!

[alngarcia]

Originally Posted by Fit2010

alngarcia - I just looked at a couple dates....you look great with the new body! It's obvious from your blog you are feeling MUCH better! Congratulations!!

Thank you so much!!!! I am a new person in my Medi body! I hope that you keep checking, I love having new readers!

[lins]

I am almost done with Body Intellegance and it has been really good. A few repeated things from It's not about Food, but still really great. It also has a whole chapter about teaching your kids how to eat smart, which I am getting ready to read. I have 3 girls so I am very aware of what I say around them so that they have a good self image and don't hear me complaining about my weight/body all the time. I am interested to what this book is going to say about teaching them to eat.

[mommy2princesses]

Lins - anxious to hear what you think about the chapter involving teaching our kids how to eat. That is exactly the type of thing I'm looking for. As a mom of 2 girls, I really want to teach them the ways to eat healthy and incorporate exercise (basically, I guess, how to live a balanced life). I try REALLY hard to not talk about a "diet" because my almost 5 year old mimics everything I say - she is constantly asking me if her snack is "healthy" (since I always tell her that Mommy is eating healthy now). Keep me posted!

-Keri

[lins]

I am going to read that chapter tonight after my run. My 7 yr old is the one who always asks me if what she is eatting is healthy. I have never told them I was on a diet I just told them I was making healthy choices so that my body would work better. My 5 yr old is a healthy eatter already so she's never really said anything, and my 2 yr old doesn't notice...LOL

[Mary T8M]

So what is the general consensus on the book the Beck Solution? Is it worth the read? Does it work with Medi?

[Fit2010]

Hi Mary, I had ordered the Beck Solution through Amazon in CD audio form and I listened to it while in the car, cleaning the house and garage, etc and it helped me to be realistic about my temptations, put things in perspective, make a plan, and take charge of my responses. I recommend it. In fact, I may listen to it again now that I'm in transition and adding some of those starchey foods back in. I really was helped by the book by Julie Harden "Fat Chance" too. You and your husband are doing so great!

[lins]

I liked the Beck Diet Solutions book, but I've really learned that it doesn't matter what I'm reading most "diet" books keep me motivated. So I just go to my library and pick out "low carb" type diet books, and exercise books and emotional eating books ect.... and read those. I just try to fit them into a Medi lifestyle. But I do best on this program when I am always reading about some kind of healthy lifestyle, even if I don't agree with everything the book says. Right now I am reading, Secrets of a Former Fat Girl, and it's GREAT!

[Ortal]

I read "Such a pretty fat" by jen lancaster and its hilarious A very quick read too. I recommend. It isnt much in the way of dieting advise, but its great for the gym and for perspective.

[msawhitt]

I just finished "Mindless Eating" after getting the recommend from this thread, and it was interesting! Not exactly a "diet" book, but some really interesting perspective on the habits in eating we have picked up over the years. It is a good read if you are interested in changing things in your environment and daily life to help you eat less and more, well, "mindfully" : )

[Charlene4]

I'm not sure if I have ever mentioned this blog but if those of you who are mothers haven't checked it out, go to theshapeofamother dot com. It is awesome. I have posted to it a couple of times and I find it very inspirational. I keep meaning to post some more recent pictures on there...it's just on the long "to-do" list.

[YankeeMom27]

Ortal,

I have read "Such a Pretty Fat" too- I loved that book! I've started to read the other books that Jen Lancaster has written. I don't think everyone would like her sarcastic humor, but I guess being from the Northeast, I'm used to that!! I love that even though she is overweight, she is still so confident with great self-esteem. I never had that being overweight. I became overweight as a teenager and I always felt judged by my weight. It's nice to know that there are people out there who don't let their weight get in the way of living life like I did for so long!

[Ortal]

Originally Posted by YankeeMom27

Ortal,

I have read "Such a Pretty Fat" too- I loved that book! I've started to read the other books that Jen Lancaster has written. I don't think everyone would like her sarcastic humor, but I guess being from the Northeast, I'm used to that!! I love that even though she is overweight, she is still so confident with great self-esteem. I never had that being overweight. I became overweight as a teenager and I always felt judged by my weight. It's nice to know that there are people out there who don't let their weight get in the way of living life like I did for so long!

I read bitter is the new black (which I liked a lot), bright lights big as$$ (which i liked but not as much), and now I'm on 'my fair lazy', which is okay so far but my least favorite of the three. Bitter and Such a Pretty are my favorites for sure. This is what happens when people write about themselves, it gets less interesting as they get more famous/rich because theres less issues for them to write about. Im saving 'pretty in plaid' for the end.

[SDC2]

I don't remember if anybody (or me for that matter) has mentioned this book, but it was suggested reading when I first started at Medi. It is all based on studies, so has a lot of validity in my mind.

Another great read for the dieting mindset is "Think Thin, Be Thin: 101 Psychological Ways to Lose Weight"

[SDC2]

I haven't read this book yet, but our clinic doctor seems to think this a good read and addresses the emotional reasons why we eat.

Amazon.com: Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to...

[AllisonB]

I am a big fan of Passing for Thin, but I did not like Angry Fat Girls at all. It was boring and just did not ring true. I also read Frances's blog, but she updates so infrequently that it's easy to lose interest.

[Mary T8M]

I have a friend who started Medi.....then quit due to financial reasons, but is still working to get her weight back to "normal". Anyway someone at her family DR. office (not the DR. I'm sure.....) suggested she read THE DIET CURE. She read it and was very impressed. She said she had a LOT of carb cravings especially in the evening.........NOT that she was hungry, just had to fight WANTING to eat! She has a VERY stressful job, and homelife (in the middle of a nasty divorce) She started using Glutamine (suggested in the book) and other vitamins, and has been amazed with the results. She said she has NO more cravings, and believes that she is building more muscle as she exercises........she thought she was losing muscle mass along with her fast wieght loss.
Has anyone read this book? What are your thoughts?