 Hits the Nail of the Head
I struggled for years with overweight and emotional eating. This book was my "eye opener" and probably saved my life. Dr. Gould addresses every angle of emotional eating and gets to the heart of the matter so that when you begin to understand the "why" of what you are doing, you are better able to take control of it.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who struggles with food for comfort. It's the best self-help book out there.
He gets it.
Having struggled with this issue for more than 30 years, it's been incredible to read this book because it in so many ways it feels like he's writing from inside my head....analyzing my feelings and the ways I torment myself. I've no idea how many different books and programs and plans I've tried in an attempt to figure out a solution to this. Short term success occasionally, but always, always in the end whatever it was failed. This works, for me at least. And in reading the book it seems like Dr. Gould's has met a lot of people who are struggling with the very same thing I've struggled with alone and ashamed and feeling like a freak for so long. He gets it. His methods are firmly grounded in years of clinical research....he's not a quack trying to get rich quick on another diet scheme aimed at taking advantage of people who, like me, are desperate to find a way to end the struggle and deal with food like a normal person does. Good luck. I hope this is the answer for you as well.
Tremendously helpful
I've read the book and am near completion of the online program. I really feel like a big part of me has changed, that the pain has shifted and I don't have the desire to stuff myself anymore. And I've read a lot of books on emotional eating but they just seemed really hokey. I'm not into the spiritual thing, and I'm not really big on meditation or yoga. That seems to be what a lot of emotional eating books and sites suggest. And yeah, I suppose it helps with relaxation and whatnot, but I'm a very practical person. I like to know why things are happening. When I know why, it makes the issue easier to approach. When I'm sitting there, stuffing my face with cakes and hot dogs, knowing full well that I'm not really hungry, it drives me nuts to not know why I keep doing it, why I keep sabotaging my own efforts at losing weight. It's irrational to eat when you're not hungry but I couldn't help myself. Dr. Gould showed me why, and now that I know why and what alterntaives I have, the emotional eating episodes have vanished. And happily, it doesn't involve meditation, yoga, or hugging a tree :) - though those are perfectly acceptable activities if one finds them theraputic. I'm just so happy I found something that focuses on cognition rather than spirituality. It really feels like I've gone through therapy.
Oh, and shameless plug: the online program is 10X more powerful than the book alone. It isn't cheap but there's a reason: it works. Dr. Gould even gives you your money back if you're not satisfied, but I can guarantee 100% that you'll be happy with the results - as long as you're ready for the work. It is a lot of work. But it will open your eyes and show you parts of your psyche you didn't know existed. I know I must sound nuts, but this really changed my life and I want to share it with others who could find it helpful :)
THE SOLUTION to Emotional Overeating.
This book is a 5-Star in my opinion because it DELIVERS. For the past decade I've researched the internet and read MANY books on Weight loss/Emotional Overeating/Compulsive Overeating and this book ties it all together splendidly.
I will say this: I now have full control for the past week (I will give another update in a month's time) and have already lost 5 pounds and NOT from dieting; NOT from counting calories BUT from doing some very effective but (in my opinion) SIMPLE mental and emotional exercises and learning to apply the techniques he teaches in his book.
I was primed for the contents of this book and so was very receptive to its message and exercises but I could see some other Emotional Overeaters not getting what they need out of this because they are NOT READY. I was and I am now OVER Binge-eating. If you suffer from Binge-eating disorder or Emotionally overeat and are really truly sick and tired of the Saboteur inside of you then this is the book for you. Thanks much, Dr. Gould & God BLess! :-)
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UPDATE: June 9
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Okay, so it's been 2 months and I've lost approximately 20lbs. Most importantly, it's been effortless. I have simply paid attention to my True appetite and increased activity but nothing crazy. I'll admit I've had a few ups and downs but my attitude is much more adult-like and responsible towards my food choices, health & well-being. I feel almost, dare I say it... Normal!!
His book and website (I suggest you subscribe to his website ([...]) it's been amazing) have been power tools on my journey to full recovery. His HungerCoach app is fantastic and is used at the time of cravings to help you cope and regain your power in THAT MOMENT.. you know the one ;-). This IS hard work due to the "getting in there" part of it and dealing directly with your REAL & sometimes painful issues/emotions; getting yourself to the point where you see that you're not hungry but SAD or you're not hungry but OVERWHELMED. The idea is to get yourself to the point where you truly realize and truly believe you don't need (excess) food to cope with your life.
A few ways my life has changed since I started engaging his methods: at least 80% reduced cravings and even less binge episodes; ability to take charge of troubling or stagnant issues in my life has increased... This may seem mundane but my house has never been this clean for this long, my finances are falling into better order, projects are getting completed, etc. I've cleaned up lots of emotional issues & communication issues. I'm more at peace, feel more empowered, much much less susceptible to being bowled over by life's problems as they come & I feel more capable than ever. In short, this book has helped me do the growing up that I had put off (unintentionally) for the past 10 years of my life.
It struck me the other day that though the title "Shrink yourself" obviously refers to your size and literally shrinking it down, it can also be interpreted as Shrinking yourself (as in psychiatrist/therapy) to heal those neurotic, emotional issues that keep you from letting go of food as self-medication.
Shrink yourself has helped me grow up and find peace again. GET THIS BOOK.
 More like....4.5 Stars...
I will have to agree with a lot of reviewers that this book is really great. I've recently come to understand that a lot of my eating issues are "emotionally rooted", so I've been searching for a book (because good therapists are hard to find as well) to help me understand the "why" of things and to work through issues.
This book takes you through several practical exercises to help you drill down into the root of it all. He does it in ways that don't intimidate you (which is the first thing that would make me put the book down) or seem like it's even homework (the 2nd thing that would make me put the book down). There are very helpful tools to even take with you once you're done reading...if you don't plan on going through it multiple times like a lot of reviewers here.
This was, by far, the most helpful book that I've found and I'll be reading it again (of course).
The reason for not giving it 5 stars is that I would've liked it to be more of a "workbook" style where you could do some writing in the actual book vs. finding a notebook or doing it on my computer. Not a huge thing, but just my reason for not giving it 5 stars.
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