Welcome to the continuing diary series "Let's Read a WHEE Book Together!" This week, we're continuing with David Kessler's The End of Overeating, Chapter 45. If you're just discovering this diary series, you will find links to the previous installments at the bottom of this diary.
WHEE (Weight, Health, Eating and Exercise) is a community support diary for Kossacks who are currently or planning to start losing, gaining or maintaining their weight through diet and exercise or fitness. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are working on your weight or fitness, please -- join us! You can also click the WHEE tag to view all diary posts.
The End of Overeating, by David Kessler, M.D.
Chapter 45: Making the Critical Perceptual Shift
It seems like just a couple of weeks ago that I reviewed the end of Part 4 of the book. In fact, it WAS just a couple of weeks ago that I reviewed Chapter 39. As we approach the end of the book (the end of "The End..."), the chapters are getting shorter and the pace is getting faster. In fact, Chapter 45, the last chapter of Part 5, is less than a full page in length.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, in Chapter 45 Kessler turns away from the eminently sensible attitudes that have characterized the previous chapters in part 5 to return to the "moralistic" attitudes toward food found in the earlier parts of the book.
Back in Chapter 41, Kessler said
As you master the art of portion control, establish new habits, and realize that the triggers of overeating are beginning to lose their power, you may be able to end the total ban on foods high in sugar, fat, and salt...Once you are confident that you have established structure and can eat satisfying food in appropriate amounts, nothing will automatically be off-limits. But from a practical point of view, most combinations of sugar, fat, and salt will remain in the danger zone...
Now, in Chapter 45, he's back to the all-or-nothing-for-the-rest-of-your-life approach:
The enduring ability to eat differently depends on your coming to view these [hyperpalatable] foods as enemies, not friends.
"Enemies"? "Friends"? Are these the only two choices? Or is it possible to get past this dualism? Is it possible to enjoy food, even "hyperpalatable" food, outside the framework where all the things one likes are either illegal, immoral, or fattening?
For Kessler, of course, food is not only an enemy, but an addictive drug. Trying to use food as a stress reliever will not relieve the stress, but only lead to to more cravings. However, if you can make the "perceptual shift" of the chapter title, you'll be able to stop seeing food as stress relief and start "...to see food in a new light."
Previous chapters from The End of Overeating:
Part 5: Food Rehab
Chapter 44: Avoiding Traps: On Obsession and Release (reviewed by Clio2)
Chapter 43: Eating Is Personal (reviewed by me)
Chapter 42: Letting Go of the Past (reviewed by Clio2)
Chapter 41: Planned Eating (reviewed by me)
Chapter 40: The Treatment Framework (reviewed by Clio2)
Part 4: The Theory of Treatment
Chapter 39: Emotional Learning (reviewed by me)
(there are links to chapters 36 through 38 in my Chapter 39 review)
Part 3: Conditioned Hypereating Emerges
Chapter 35: The Culture of Overeating (reviewed by me)
(there are links to Chapters 27 through 34 in my Chapter 35 review)
Part 2: The Food Industry
Chapter 26: Purple Cows (reviewed by Clio2)
Chapter 25: The Science of Selling (there are links to Chapters 14 through 24 in my Chapter 25 review)
Part 1: Sugar, Fat, and Salt
Chapter 13: Eating Behavior Becomes a Habit (reviewed by me)
(there are links to Chapters 1 through 12 in my Chapter 13 review)
Scheduled WHEE diaries:
January 31
Sun AM - ???
Sun PM - ???
February 1
Mon AM - NC Dem- Muscle of the Month- External Obliques
(monthly muscle diary, weekly diarist)
Mon PM - ???
February 2
Tues AM - ???
Tues PM - Clio2 (Kessler, Ch. 46) (weekly diary)
February 3
Wed AM - ???
Wed PM - Edward Spurlock (weekly diary)
February 4
Thurs AM - ???
Thurs PM - ???
February 5
Fri AM - ???
Fri PM - Wee Mama
February 6
Sat AM - ???
Sat PM - Edward Spurlock (Kessler, Ch. 47) (weekly diary)