The Eden Diet: You Can Eat Treats, Enjoy Your Food, and Lose Weight

This book has been the best thing to come down the pike in a LONG while. I was the collaborator for the Hallidays on "Thin Within," so I feel able to speak to this. :-) Additionally, I have released 100 pounds using the same principles that are presented in this book. Honestly, I must confess that I do wish the title was different as this isn't a "diet" in the typical sense of the word. The book does speak of what God originally intended relative to our eating-- that we would allow our bodies to physiologically indicate when we are in need of fuel. And since the word "diet" refers to whatever we eat, the title *is* fair. But it won't prescribe foods you can and can't eat. Isn't it just like us humans to want someone to tell us what to do, when and what to eat? The truth is, this book promotes a freedom that many of us find scary! But once we get past this, we can live this way for the rest of our lives! Yes, this is a book most suited to Christians or "Christian-friendly" people. The author brings references from the Bible to the topic, but I didn't feel she mishandled the Word at all. The reference to prayer is to garner support when we feel drawn to food for reasons other than physical need. Truly, if you think this is a no-brainer--to eat only when you are physically hungry and to stop when you are no longer hungry--try it! You will likely see that you are drawn to food much more frequently! Prayer helps to fend off this temptation to eat "just because," or to handle things that food just can't satisfy. There is no deprivation to eat. No starvation endorsed here. Simply, if you are hungry, EAT! But if you have other things that make you turn to food, food isn't going to satisfy those anyhow. Dr. Hancock reminds us that we need to engage our brains when eating this way--not just our tastebuds. If we have just finished a reasonable amount of food and still think we are hungry, she reminds the reader to consider that the size of the stomach is relatively small. It takes very little food to fill the physical space of the stomach. She challenges us to consider this when we have eaten a reasonable amount and yet want to keep eating. Dr. Hancock also points out that it will take less of the foods that are more calorie dense to fill our stomachs. She reminds us to consider this fact when indulging in the chocolate cake featured on the cover. :-) To say this book is filled with only common sense is to overlook most of the content. If what was between its covers was so common, our country wouldn't have the obesity epidemic it currently does! Dr. Rita isn't one of those MD quack-type people. She was an undergraduate at Cornell University and did some intensive studies of "gastric diseases." She has studied nutrition until the cows come home. You can read more about her at her website. Dr. Hancock consistently demonstrates that she knows her medical "stuff," and we are reminded of some basic bible truths as well as her take on what really does mak

Ever since I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in April of 2009, I have been searching for a way to lose weight. I've read various diet books, but none of them were quite right. They were either too restrictive, meant giving up my favorite foods, too complicated, or too time-consuming. I had pretty much given up hope that I would ever find the right diet for me. I was thinking about just creating my own diet. But then I was at the local Christian bookstore. I always make a habit of looking through the diet section in the Christian bookstore. I've even bought several books. But even here, I was disappointed. The diets were Christian-based, but again, I found them too restrictive. I mean, seriously, is it really realistic to think that someone can completely eliminate sugar from their diet? On a short-term basis it's doable, but for a lifetime? I really don't think so? My willpower is not that strong. The first thing that attracted me to the Eden Diet was the title. I was a little hesitant to even pick it up, because I thought it would be another "Eat only stuff that grows on trees or comes from a plant" type of diet. But it didn't take me long to realize that the Eden Diet is NOT that type of diet. Far from it. I was also concerned that this might be a faddish, junk-food diet. But I was wrong about that too. Dr. Rita does give you permission to eat sweets or other typically "forbidden" foods. The key is eating them in moderation. This diet does not advocated pigging out or eating only sweets all the time. In my opinion, the previous reviewer who said that Dr. Rita expects you to be really hungry before you eat is just plain wrong. Here is a direct quote from the book. It can be found on page 92, towards the middle of the page. "Don't go hungry for too long. Eat when you're mildly to moderately hungry. If you wait too long, you may become extremely hungry and overeat out of sheer panic." I don't know about anyone else, but that doesn't sound like Dr. Rita is suggesting that you must be really super hungry before you eat. In fact, it sounds like she is recommending the opposite. Mild to Moderately hungry does not mean starving. Simply put, the Eden Diet is a sensible, commonsense, Christ-Centered approach to dieting. There are no gimmicks and no fads to be found here. Just a straightforward, easy to implement approach. In the past, I have used the "eat only when you're hungry" approach to eating, and I know it works. But I also like the idea of eating smaller portions. Unlike other diet plans, there are no forbidden foods here. The fact that Dr. Rita is a medical doctor who has training both in psychology and nutrition training from an Ivy League school, gives me confidence that she knows what she is talking about. This book also deals with important topics like emotional eating, overcoming temptation, and binge eating. Dr. Rita is also very forthcoming about her own weight struggles and how she overcame her own poor eating habits. T

I am in my 50s, have studied and done probably every diet and had been praying about what I needed to do about the few pounds that had been creeping up every year and no matter what I did, those pounds just wouldn't go away. Another Christian friend told me she had ordered The Eden Diet so I did, and it was like it was the answers to my prayers. I got the book, couldn't put it down, finished it and knew I needed to share it. We started the Eden Diet Bible Study at our church on August 6th, and now six weeks later, I not only have lost 8 lbs., but am just loving my new lifestyle. After the first few weeks of consistently waiting till you're really hungry before you eat and then, eating less, you start noticing that you are not focusing on food all the time, you are not as hungry as you used to be and for me, I've stopped craving sweets and any junk food. I want my calories to count. I've completely stopped mindlessly eating. I am getting so much positive feedback from the Bible Study group, and a lot of excitement about how simple and effortless this plan is and how you can't believe you're losing when you don't feel like your dieting!! Other comments have been how freeing it is NOT to diet and NOT to feel guilty when you do have a treat! I feel so great and just have no desire to eat "big" again for several reasons: God did not intend for us to overeat, I hate feeling stuffed, it is so freeing to not diet and not worry about what I am going to eat, I love finally losing these excess lbs. and am only a few lbs. away from my goal, I have knee problems, and I know that every pound I lose takes five lbs. of pressure off my knees. I am so thankful for Dr. Hancock and her program The Eden Diet.

Diet books come and go, but Dr. Hancock's prescription works because you let God be in control. From the catchy title to the workbook and meditations, this book is very well written and easily understood. To eat only when you're hungry sounds so simple, yet it takes discipline, and is the beginning of a diet that works as it changes your lifestyle. The best advertisement for the Eden Diet is Dr. Hancock herself, since she wrote this book from her 26 yrs of education, training, and hard-earned personal experience.

"The Eden Diet" has some amazingly simple ideas to help you lose weight with the right attitude. Once you put God first in this endeavor, losing weight becomes less of a challenge, and it is nothing like a diet at all. The idea that no food is off limits makes you realize that this is a lifestyle change, and not a lose weight quick scheme. The exercises in the workbook as well as the meditation are both great ways to help you succeed and stick with this plan.