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 43. 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 43: Eating Is Personal
In chapter 43, Kessler reintroduces us to to Andrew, who first made an appearance in the book's introduction. Andrew's out-of-control relationship with food is contrasted with that of Penny, Andrew's wife. Penny manages her food intake consciously and mindfully, choosing meals based on fruits, vegetables, and protein.
In Wee Mama's diary yesterday evening, she talked about rules she has developed to eat more slowly, including always chewing each bite thoroughly and never reading while eating. I believe Penny would find Wee Mama a kindred spirit. Kessler says,
I asked Penny how her approach contrasts with Andrew's. One big difference, she said, is that she pays attention when food arrives, and he doesn't. "Without even noticing, his brain seems to say, 'Oh, there's something good here.' He puts the food in his hand and he eats it." By contrast, she consciously registers the presence of food and then decides what to do next. "I look at it and say, 'Oh, there's food. Am I hungry? Is it good? Let me focus on it...Am I going to feel better off after I eat this? Am I going to be satisfied?"
Such questions never seem to cross Andrew's mind.
Kessler uses Penny's strategies to illustrate an important point: weight loss strategies should be tailored to the individual, rather than following a one-size-fits-all plan. He then introduces us to Frank, a one-time "fat kid" who became an even fatter adult before developing his own set of rules about eating. Finally, Kessler introduces a weight-loss consultant named Jordon Carroll, who will spend time with her clients in their daily lives in order to develop a custom set of strategies for them.
The eating plans Jordon Carroll develops for her clients are based on limited amounts of protein (around 2 oz at breakfast, 2.5 - 4 oz at lunch, and 4 - 6 oz at dinner), plus fruits and vegetables. In fact, Carroll's plans sound like the plan Penny has worked out for herself. But again, neither Carroll nor Kessler are pushing this plan on everyone for life. Carroll allows her clients to eat a larger lunch as long as it's followed by a smaller dinner. After they've developed an understanding of correct portion sizes, her clients can even enjoy a slice or two of pizza or piece of fried chicken. It's all about developing a plan that works for the individual.
Previous chapters from The End of Overeating:
Part 5: Food Rehab
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 24
Sun AM - ???
Sun PM - ???
January 25
Mon AM - NC Dem
Mon PM - ???
January 26
Tues AM - ???
Tues PM - Clio2 (Kessler, Ch. 44)
January 27
Weds AM - ???
Weds PM - Edward Spurlock
January 28
Thur AM - ??
Thur PM - ??
January 29
Fri AM - ??
Fri PM - ??
January 30
Sat AM - ??
Sat PM - Edward Spurlock (Kessler, Ch. 45)