Amanda H. (loveofjoe11) -
Helpful Score: 16
I think my expectations were too high going into this book. As a teenager, I struggled with anorexia, which later turned into compulsive eating. Having gone through therapy, a lot of Roth's ideas were not new to me. She hit the nail on the head, but nothing really jumped out and spoke to me personally.
I've also been struggling with my faith for a year to two. I really took the title to heart. I think I was hoping this book would show me a way to reconnect with my faith or that I'm feeling distant in my faith because of my history of disordered eating. That wasn't the case.
I think this book could be spiritual and beneficial for some, but it wasn't for me.
I've also been struggling with my faith for a year to two. I really took the title to heart. I think I was hoping this book would show me a way to reconnect with my faith or that I'm feeling distant in my faith because of my history of disordered eating. That wasn't the case.
I think this book could be spiritual and beneficial for some, but it wasn't for me.
Peggy M. (ladywing) reviewed Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
This book could basically be summarized into very few words: figure out what your food triggers are emotionally and spiritually, then eat when you are hungry. Her basic assumption is, this is how she figured out how to lose weight for her and it will work for you once you figure it out. Never found anything to help the reader figure this out for themselves that was helpful.
Ms. Roth does not seem to grasp a difference between "dieting" and "diet," the latter meaning "how and what we eat" as opposed to the "dieting" meaning "restricting food intake." Unfortunately, in not addressing this, she doesn't address the poor nutritional habits of many in the US population.
Her "eating guidelines" are what anyone in a Weight Watcher meeting would learn (if listening and attending meetings because it really is about more than just "points").
This book was really a disappointment. Additionally, I should have found out what Ms. Roth's educational background is, and after trying to, I'm still looking. There is nothing on her website giving credence to her as an "expert" other than the multiple books and seminars she has done. Her "experience" is basically "here's how I did it and you can too." Perhaps, this is to sell more spots in her seminars?
This book alone may work for some to figure out why they live to eat rather than eat to live, but it's missing the boat on a lot of other issues surrounding diet (yes, the "what we eat" kind), nutrition and exercise that is the full complement of good health basics.
As far as how God fits into the picture? Not at all, just that eating is "spiritual." God may have been added to the title to pique interest and sell books.
Ms. Roth does not seem to grasp a difference between "dieting" and "diet," the latter meaning "how and what we eat" as opposed to the "dieting" meaning "restricting food intake." Unfortunately, in not addressing this, she doesn't address the poor nutritional habits of many in the US population.
Her "eating guidelines" are what anyone in a Weight Watcher meeting would learn (if listening and attending meetings because it really is about more than just "points").
This book was really a disappointment. Additionally, I should have found out what Ms. Roth's educational background is, and after trying to, I'm still looking. There is nothing on her website giving credence to her as an "expert" other than the multiple books and seminars she has done. Her "experience" is basically "here's how I did it and you can too." Perhaps, this is to sell more spots in her seminars?
This book alone may work for some to figure out why they live to eat rather than eat to live, but it's missing the boat on a lot of other issues surrounding diet (yes, the "what we eat" kind), nutrition and exercise that is the full complement of good health basics.
As far as how God fits into the picture? Not at all, just that eating is "spiritual." God may have been added to the title to pique interest and sell books.
Helpful Score: 4
I am so glad I borrowed this book from the library. It would have been a total waste of good money! When someone puts God in the title, I expect to learn more about Him. Not so...this author is 100% in love with herself! I have lost 35 lbs. by learning intuitive eating and trusting in Him. I do not "hear a voice" that puts me down all the time. I don't talk nasty and use God's name in the same breath! What filthy language! What an utterly lost life this lady has and she is teaching others this garbage? I learned more from the Overfed Head by Rob Stevens in less time with better results. Oprah has been scammed again!
Charlotte O. (cchar333) reviewed Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I was severely disappointed with this book. There was nothing new in it and it was put together poorly, making it hard to follow. It seemed like the author was denigrating her retreat participants. There is very little of a spiritual slant on this problem with food even though the title led me to think otherwise.
Chris B. (ceebab) reviewed Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This book is really well written and insightful.
I am currently in a weight loss coaching group, and I feel that I got more out of this book than I am out of the other woman's coaching group, even though many of the concepts are the same.
Geneen Roth just explains things better, more intuitively. I have high hopes for how I can bring this book to work for me.
I am currently in a weight loss coaching group, and I feel that I got more out of this book than I am out of the other woman's coaching group, even though many of the concepts are the same.
Geneen Roth just explains things better, more intuitively. I have high hopes for how I can bring this book to work for me.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book and ordered it after reading the copy from the library. Although there may be many things in here that I've heard before, I really connected with this book at this time in my life. As a recovered self help addict, I appreciated the idea that we are not broken and do not need fixing. The eating guidelines are not new but this time I really saw and committed to them. The techniques to identify underlying causes may also be repeats from other authors, treatment programs, spiritual paths, but this time they made sense. Geneen says if you connect, go for it, if you don't, discard it and find what does work for you. I recommend this book for those of you who are burned out on programs that tell you that you are not enough, good enough, wise enough or otherwise damaged. Implementing the principles in this book will be a welcomed challenge especially letting go of my story after over 26 years in programs that keep us stuck in the story. If you connect as I did, the adventure begins and an exciting one at that.
Monique B. (deltareviewer) reviewed Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything on + 43 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I purchased this book because the author was on Oprah and my mom wanted to know wanted to know what the book was about...oh, and I was interested in the concept. There are insights and ideas about living your life in the moment and taking back your life. Roth says that most of us live for food when we should live for ourselves, eat what our bodies need and meditate on life. All was good until she encourages using Buddhist mediation and other non-Christian teachings...the God in the book is open to your personal interpretation of God...which is all good unless you are a firm believer that Jesus Christ (the Holy Trinity) is the only way. You will find the meat of this book in addendum which is 5 pages. More hype than book...interesting concept that will definitely work if you know the one and only Jesus Christ...just keeping it real.
Helpful Score: 1
So many of us have unhealthy relationships with food...and in many cases, this way of perceiving and behaving around food leads us to struggles with weight. This book, well-written, easy to absorb, helped me to better understand my own struggle, and that of my daughter, who is dealing with a full-blown eating disorder. I highly recommend it to anyone who eats....
Helpful Score: 1
I thought this book would have been different than it was. It focused on women who beige or emotionally eat. There were though a few good thoughts to make you think about your life outside of just the eating aspect. She guides you through figuring out where some true emotions may come from that can be applied not only to the eating.
Katy S. (tomoromayrain) -
Wonderful book! It answered questions I have had for years.
CJ B. (amoebastar) -
A friend talked me into getting this book because she felt it was very profound. However, I realized half-way through that it's basically an "Intuitive Eating" book that I have read before in other forms. It just took a couple hundred pages to get there.
The summary?
1) Putting food in your mouth (or refusing to) is not going to fill the God-shaped hole (whatever you call God) you have inside.
2) Eat what you *actually want* when you are *actually hungry*, giving yourself permission to eat.
Through the second half of the book, she talks chapter after chapter on her eight Eating Guidelines, but never mentions them. Hint: They're on one of the last pages. I got the most out of the Prologue and then out of that list at the end. I plan to swap the book ASAP.
(Review cross-posted at Shelfari.)
The summary?
1) Putting food in your mouth (or refusing to) is not going to fill the God-shaped hole (whatever you call God) you have inside.
2) Eat what you *actually want* when you are *actually hungry*, giving yourself permission to eat.
Through the second half of the book, she talks chapter after chapter on her eight Eating Guidelines, but never mentions them. Hint: They're on one of the last pages. I got the most out of the Prologue and then out of that list at the end. I plan to swap the book ASAP.
(Review cross-posted at Shelfari.)
Michelle C. reviewed Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything on + 18 more book reviews
There are a lot of books on eating disorders or intuitive eating I would recommend before I would recommend this book. At times, Ms. Roth comes off as condescending towards the women she is supposed to be helping. It reads more as a personal memoir than as a self-help book.
If you're looking for a book on intuitive eating, try Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon.
If you're looking for a story about one woman's battle with emotional eating, this is not a bad choice.
If you're looking for a book on intuitive eating, try Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon.
If you're looking for a story about one woman's battle with emotional eating, this is not a bad choice.
Susan G. (onstagegirl) reviewed Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything on + 81 more book reviews
Interesting philosophy on life.
This book was full of philosophy/mumbo jumbo about using your food to squelch your emotions. Basically the book says to listen to your body, eat when you are hungry, and stop when you are satisfied. Try telling that to an overweight women with a cake in front of her. Some people are just overweight because they like the taste of food and their habits have slowly increased portion size and calorie count. Also there is little mention of God in the book.
Nada A. reviewed Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything on + 1395 more book reviews
I just finished re-reading this book and really got a lot out of it. Several "aha" moments. A lot of tools and techniques for dealing with emotional eating. The one thing I did not like was the continual tie-in that emotional eating has its roots in our childhood and our parents. At this point in my life, I am responsible for my own actions. It's not where we begin that matters; it's where we end up. I still really like the book for its tools on how to proceed on that path.
Lisa M. (lasergirl70) reviewed Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything on + 34 more book reviews
When I was flipping channels one day, I came across an episode of the Oprah Winfrey show featuring Geneen Roth. I sat down and listened to her talk about her new book. This book. Like most women(people) I know who have struggled with their weight, I have tried just about every diet out there. Some worked, some did not, some I just gave up on. So I was eager to try something new. I picked up her book.
This book is not a diet plan. It's about our relationships with food. It's about looking beyond the plate in front of us, and stop centering everything around what we eat.
Geneen is someone who has been there. She has gained and lost over 1000 over the years. She knows how it feels. I can respect advice from someone who has been in my shoes.
I admit, there was a lot of talk in this book about the "Eating Guidelines" Geneen puts forth. I kept asking myself "ok, when do we get to the guidelines?" And yes, she does list them-at the end of the book.
Now , I could have flipped back and just read them and said "ok, I will do this and my life will change", but really it's about more than just that. If I had jumped ahead, I wouldn't really understand why I need to adapt to these guidelines. Truthfully, I might have done it and because I had not fully understood the concept, I most likely wouldn't have learned anything. But I DID read the entire book and I learned quite a lot about about my own eating habits. I learned I probably do everything OPPOSITE of the GUIDELINES.
So I am going to take what I learned and incorporate it into my life.I can't say it will work 100%. But I sure am willing to try.
This book is not a diet plan. It's about our relationships with food. It's about looking beyond the plate in front of us, and stop centering everything around what we eat.
Geneen is someone who has been there. She has gained and lost over 1000 over the years. She knows how it feels. I can respect advice from someone who has been in my shoes.
I admit, there was a lot of talk in this book about the "Eating Guidelines" Geneen puts forth. I kept asking myself "ok, when do we get to the guidelines?" And yes, she does list them-at the end of the book.
Now , I could have flipped back and just read them and said "ok, I will do this and my life will change", but really it's about more than just that. If I had jumped ahead, I wouldn't really understand why I need to adapt to these guidelines. Truthfully, I might have done it and because I had not fully understood the concept, I most likely wouldn't have learned anything. But I DID read the entire book and I learned quite a lot about about my own eating habits. I learned I probably do everything OPPOSITE of the GUIDELINES.
So I am going to take what I learned and incorporate it into my life.I can't say it will work 100%. But I sure am willing to try.
Jodi G. (love2bcrmommy) reviewed Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything on + 34 more book reviews
Warning to Christians~The author really doesn't see God as we do. Doctrinal errors such as Heaven is here on earth(God help us if that is true with all the evil in this world), God is a SHE, WE are God. This book was way too new age for me.
Rebecca H. (rebeccaherman) reviewed Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything on + 20 more book reviews
Good book!
