The Me I Knew I Could Be: One Woman's Journey from 292 Pounds to Peace, Happiness, and Healthy Living

I bought myself a copy of "The Me I Knew I Could Be"a few days before Christmas and enjoyed it so much Ibought another copy to give my sister for Christmas. WhatI liked best about this book is that Crystal Phillips hasreally been there--she knows what it's like to be unable tostop binge-eating even though your weight is very high. Binge-eating is a serious problem, and as yet medicalscience doesn't really have the answer to why people doit, nor do they have the cure. Those of us so afflicted areleft to struggle with lifestyle management changes asbest we can. In some ways it's like a diabetic strugglingalong without insulin--there are some things you can doto help yourself, but without the real answer, it's tough.Nonetheless, that's the current state of the art. We do thebest we can. The best way of living with this situation isto take a positive, pro-active, joyful and life-affirmingposition, and that's what Crystal Phillips does in this in-spiring book. Crystal offers some helpful tips (like eating wholefood meals made in a Crock pot to promote satiety), andalso offers advice about journaling and facing youremotional demons. What I liked best was that she hadbeen there, truly been there, and was offering a sisterhood and a sense of camaraderie to the rest of us. As a nurse practitioner student and eating disorders counselor, as well as an overweight person, I was delighted with this book and have already reread certain sections several times. I'll recommend it to clients and friends. Ihope to use it this year to meet my New Years Resolutions. Thank you, Crystal.

I too had been on the diet roller coaster most of my life. But not only did this book give me great insights as to how to change my ways of thinking and eating, it taught me how to love the process of self-improvement.So many people want to lose weight, but they think it has to be painful. Crystal not only has shown me that weight loss can be permanent and painless, but I can also learn to love myself during the process. So far I've lost 20 lbs (on my way to permanently losing 50), I work out 3 times a week in something that I love, and I feel and look so much better.Loving yourself and believing in the life change you are making are the keys. And her journals reveal a human side of the process too, showing that this change is really possible. Totally inspirational.Thank you Crystal!

Thank you Crystal for getting to the root of the problem: the feelings that lead us to overeat in the first place. So many books about weight loss only attack the outer problem. But Crystal shows us how, by documenting her own process, to get to the root cause and deal with that. There's no quick fix here, and Crystal states that up front in the introduction. If you're not ready to get down and dirty and do the real work of facing compulsive overeating and its causes, this is not the book for you.Crystal shares her story and reactions to situations and events in life that many, many women share, regardless of race. She reminds me of things I had long forgotten. Books that bring up the pain have the power to change us. Crystal encourages us to take a look at that stuff, even when we're thinking "that was 30 years ago. How can that have anything to do with today?" It can and it does. By sharing her journaling techniques and encouraging us to embrace age-old pain, Crystal leads us to see the root cause of our dependence on food and how to get free forever. Thanks, Crystal, for having the courage to share and help women who are struggling with this problem everywhere. And thanks for doing it for YOU, not for a man or anyone else.

This book is awesome! I purchased and read it all in the same day! Crystal, I felt your pain as it brought some issues very close to home for me. You Go Girl!

Ms. Crystal Phillips, the author of, "The Me I Knew I Could Be" has definitely written the most personable, and inspiring weight loss book I have ever read.Because Crystal takes us back to her childhood to her first memories of binge eating and everything that happened after the incident with her grandfather in California, we got an honest, inside view of how someone can reach 292 lbs. It is amazing what one can accomplish if they look inside of themselves to heal their spirit to get rid of what is ailing them.Not only was the book touching, it was also humourous and just overall a very personable book. I feel like I know her. Thank you Ms. Phillips for sharing your experiences with us to help others get out of the rut they may have gotten themselves into because they didn't have the courage to look inside and get to the heart of their problems!! What an inspiration!!