Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything

This book is about looking within to discover your true nature and why you do what you do, especially with food. Geneen Roth discusses the importance of feeling emotions and dealing with these emotional feelings in a constructive way instead of overeating or mindless eating. Her general philosophy about food is simple - eat when you're hungry, stop when you're not, eat what your body needs and don't eat when you're distracted.

Having struggled with weight issues all my life and failed attempts at dieting (especially after having a baby) I desperately wanted to love this book. Sadly, the parts of the book that I did enjoy and the amount of useful information contained within could have been condensed into a five page magazine article. The author quite often used as many sentences as possible in a roundabout way to convey the same message thus dragging out the chapters and leaving readers confused. To be honest, at times I even skipped paragraphs because I was losing patience with what appeared to be "psycho babble" rants and personal stories with little to no importance. When exploring the topic of feelings, Geneen actually asks a workshop retreat member if her feelings have a color or a shape. The absurdity of the writing was often unbearable at times and I have no idea how I got through it.

For a book that received rave reviews and continually dominates different bestseller lists for weeks at a time, I thought this was going to be an awesome read; unfortunately, this was not the case.

For those looking for a quick fix and easy answer, this isn't the book for you. For those truly looking for insight and understanding of themselves and why they do things. For those really interested in making change that lasts irregardless of the work or the degree of discomfort then you must read this book. I'm not saying that following this book is difficult but I am saying that facing yourself in the mirror honestly and with integrity can be and often times is. I'm not overweight but I listened to the author and found her message intriguing so I picked up this book out of curiousity. I was fascinated from beginning to end as well as having some of my own AFGO's during my read as I began to understand motivations for several habits that I have that aren't about eating as well as some of my habits with eating that could create problems for me if I don't understand my reasoning. So, for anyone truly looking to learn, to grow and to understand themselves. For those truly looking for change rather than validation - check out this book's insights. You won't be disappointed.

This book has literally transformed my eating habits. I am a long time habitual eater, whether out of boredom or emotions...I have struggled with weight, especially after 4 children in 6 years. I was never really obese but always seeking a way to shed my 10-30 pounds. Just maintaining, perhaps lose a few here and there. Now that I am that much older I struggle more than I ever have. Then I made one of my best decisions, when I picked up this book. I sit down with my little page-flaggers and a highlighter and I truely see it now. I see my relationship with food for what it was and I am learning to stay in the moment! I no longer stress about going to occassions where food will be spread out on table tops galore...it will be there later too, when I am hungry... Read this book! It will quite possibly change your life!

Very insightful and thought provoking. Made me want to attend one of her seminars to experience the process and explore the over eating landscape in full to see what it really is about for me.