The Weigh Down Diet

I bought this book as part of my bookclub list. I've heard mixed reviews, and I'm anxious to read it myself.

If you have struggled with a weight problem as long as you can remember ( like me ) this is the book for you. I finally feel free of food, and I am losing weight!! I have never felt, so much freedom in all of my life. This is the first time that I have been on a diet that as soon I started, I knew this was the last diet that I would ever need.

...I was a person who tried many different diets and diet products and exercise programs...I heard about the "Weigh Down Diet" from friends. I dismissed it as yet another diet fad. Then about a year later I met up with a friend I hadn't seen in awhile. She had lost a lot of weight. In very casual conversation, she told me about the Weigh Down Diet and how it affected her life. This is someone I highly respect and look up to. Soon, I ordered a copy of "The Weigh Down Diet" for myself... I began putting the ideas of WD into practice the very evening I received the book. And I have never gone back! I am happy to report I lost all the extra weight and have been maintaining my weight now for over TWO YEARS! This is the first time I can ever say I have done this. Not only that, contrary to what many people might believe, I am extremely healthy. In fact, I'm rarely sick. And since reading the book, I've been learning to seek God more and more for help in other areas of my life. Even now, when I am tempted to eat when I am not truly hungry, I call on Him to help me and He's not failed me yet! As a result, I have a healthier body (one I'm also happier with) and an even closer walk with Him. What could be better? :-) *** NOTE: I wrote the above review in July, 2000 before any of the controversy regarding Ms. Shamblin's religious teachings came out. While I do not agree with all of her theological/doctrinal beliefs nor do I support them, the main principles of Weigh Down are sound and do work. I wouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater, but would be cautious about further religious instruction she might offer. Having said that, I've managed to maintain my weight using WD's principles, now in the year 2005. If I am not careful to eat only when hungry and stop when full, I can tend to put a few pounds back on, but if I get back on track I lose them again and begin maintaining. Being out of the classes now has not encouraged me to keep seeking God as much about this as I did when taking them and I do think mutual support is helpful to WD and ANY diet program. Of all of them out there, I still prefer WD over those that limit foods, make one count calories, carbs, etc. and/or points. It's the simplest and easiest form of losing weight I know!

From looking at these reviews, there is no middle ground--people either love this book or they hate it!I look around me every day and see people who preach low-fat diets, fitness fads, miracle foods, and super supplements. At one time I bought into many of those things, but none took the weight off permanently. They did not deal with the problem--my overeating. People are looking for easy answers, quick results, and bottled solutions to their problems; it is as if they view their problems as external to themselves, rather than in their own hearts. The basic message of this book, I feel, is this: In the grand heirarchy of creation, God ranks above you, and you rank above food and just about everything else. Never serve that which is lesser than yourself, even if it's 100% whole wheat.I've lost 60 pounds in the last nine months, with another 40 pounds to go. My life no longer revolves around food, dieting and/or exercise. (Even though I was and still am overweight, I spent a lot of time, money, and energy trying to lose weight.) I recommend this book to anyone who has tried everything else. This is not a diet. This is an attitude adjustment. Serve the Lord instead of your dinner plate and the pounds will vanish!