The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size

Julia Cameron is not someone I would have expected to write a book on dieting. Well-known for her books on writing, this subject seemed out of character for her. How did writing and dieting fit together I wondered when I came across The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size. From reading the front inside flap, I discovered that Cameron had noticed that students in her writing classes would often lose weight during the course, leading her to believe that creativity can block overeating. Recently I, a compulsive overeater, had taken several on-line writing classes and discovered that when I got into the flow of writing an essay, I would often forget about food for hours at a time. That Cameron had written a book that connected with my own experience made it a must-read for me. It quickly became clear that Cameron has wrestled - and is still wrestling - with weight problems herself. Her sympathy with and compassion for those struggling to achieve control over food is apparent in The Writing Diet. She very accurately and sometimes humorously describes the thoughts and feelings that are common to those of us with weight/eating concerns, almost as if she is reading our minds. The tools she offers include writing morning pages and a journal, but she includes several excellent non-writing tools as well. The section on "Situations and Solutions" is very comprehensive, and most of us can relate all too well to what she writes about in each of the chapters. She encourages us to forgive ourselves when we DO slip up and eat too much or something we know we shouldn't. Best of all are the "Tasks" that follow each chapter, most of which involve writing. This is a diet book that does not include food lists, tables, charts, or menus. It is about using creativity (writing in particular) to discover why we overeat and to fill in the empty emotional spaces that many of us have been filling with too much or the wrong food. It turned out to be THE book for a writer wannabe and compulsive overeater like myself. I devoured it in just two sittings and plan on having seconds soon - of the book, that is!

***** This outstanding new book from creativity guru Julia Cameron explores the idea that creativity can block overeating, and the opposite, that overeating can block creativity. After reading the book, and trying it out it my own life, I know that this is true for me. Using seven key tools, readers are given ideas to overcome their problems with overeating. The seven tools are morning pages (stream of consciousness writing in the mornings), journaling (especially at times of being tempted to overeat), walking, asking oneself four key questions about hunger and food choices, culinary artist dates, HALT (hungry-angry-lonely-tired), and the body buddy. This book will be of key interest to anyone who does creative work. However, it will also be helpful to those who do not...releasing blocked creativity can be an important aid in dealing with overeating and weight issues. The book also includes almost forty chapters that cover "situations and solutions" like relapse, night eating, food as sedative, affirmations, and much more. The are part musings from Julia Cameron, part common sense advice about weight loss, and part wisdom from twelve step programs. All combine to make a powerful program of recovery for those people who are open to writing and/or to accessing their creativity in a more powerful way while at the same time empowering themselves to deal with their food issues. I found this book very helpful and inspirational. I don't know of anything else like it out there. Each of the fifty or so chapters has exercises you can do at the end, and I can't imagine how this could not be helpful for anyone who is open to working even a few of the ideas the author puts forth. Highly recommended. *****

The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size I became aware of this book and started doing what was recommended. I have been faithful to doing 3 morning pages. What I have noticed is that my mind is making better choices, I am calmer, and I am making better food choices. My appetite seems more under control and I have lost 4 lbs in the last week. Buy the book you won't regret it.

From the second I purchased this book I was not able to put it down. It is simply inspirational. I have already implemented Cameron's advice into my daily life and have noticed changes not only in my weight, but also in my psychological well-being. One of my favorite chapters was on walking. I used to think that I hated walking, but forcing myself to take daily walks and then write about them made me realize that I enjoy walking, but simply prefer to walk alone and not tell anyone I'm walking. For me, it's a secret hobby. I probably would not have realized this without daily reflection time in my writings. As a struggling and overweight writer, I can say that this book has been pivotal to turning my life around. I'm happier, I'm thinner, and I'm able to write more each day. Even if you're not a writer, I strongly recommend buying this book. Cameron makes it easy for everyone to follow this path. Best of all, she doesn't specify what you can eat and when, but leaves the choices up to you. She simply opens up your Inner Mentor and helps you realize who you want to be.

I am an avid reader and recreational writer. When I heard about this book in a health magazine, I thought the concept sounded interesting and decided to check it out. I received the book today, and I have already finished reading it. Julia Cameron advises her readers to do what many weight-loss experts say works, write about your eating. Her idea is most people overeat because of stress or depression, or some other outside influence. As a writing teacher she witnesses the theraputic effect of writing with dealing with daily life problems. She intructs readers to write every day. Write about when they eat or when they want to eat. Why they are eating and why they chose the foods they did. She also instructs readers to walk everyday, even if it is only 5 minutes, just get some sort of exercise in. I look forward to starting the activities and daily writing assignments in the book. This book is training wheels for someone trying to control their emotional eating and a support system as you work toward writing and living a healthy lifestyle