If I'm So Smart, Why Can't I Lose Weight?: Tools to Get It Done

I originally borrowed this book from interlibrary loan, planning to just read it and return. However, now I am buying the book, because I got so much out of reading it. Brooke has a personable, warm style that is a little quirky for an author, but the book reads comfortably. Her purpose is in guiding the reader, presumably someone who wants to lose weight, through the thinking and feeling concepts and exercises that seem to be the core of her weight loss coaching practice. She has some excellent insights to share! I thought so highly of myself that I didn't expect to learn much, but I was wrong and humbled. I have lost 50 pounds this past year and I thought I knew how to lose weight (and I do), but her approach is in helping you get to the essence of yourself, your values, what you really want, your goodness, your vitality, and learn better how to respect and appreciate and honor yourself, in your body, but also in your mind and heart. Weight loss, she posits, is a natural response to this different, better way of thinking and behaving. I have been successful losing weight counting calories and exercising, but I've been concerned for quite a while trying to think of how I'm going to maintain my weight loss without counting calories. Now I know! Her exercises are real; they are not hypothetical or fantastical. She really does have a solution to overweight that is more about solving the source of the problem rather than treating the symptoms (overfat). I don't consider myself to have a self-esteem problem; the book is still valuable. Brooke coaches you on how to get what you really want. In this way, the book is transformative. I truly looked at myself and my life differently and much more positively after and because of reading this book. That is a blessing. It has given me hope and confidence in other areas of my life where I am struggling a bit. Kind of magically, this other area has suddenly become much easier and not nearly as much of a burden. I think because I am thinking and interpreting differently, on account of what I learned in this book. Lastly, in the book, Brooke shares some personal details about herself and her life and perhaps even some things that she might not normally share (e.g. some not-so-flattering personal stuff), that she is easy to appreciate as a person and accept direction from. She is humbly sharing her gift. So, I recommend the book.

This is a great book that can change your thinking. It clearly shows you that you can easily be satisfied with much less food. It nicely describes various stages of fullness or hunger using a scale ranging from -10 to +10. Also it clearly reminded me that our stomachs are quite small and don't allow space for that much food at one time. Another important factor covered nicely is the psychological and emotional factors that cause us to over eat. Everything is nicely explained in a simple and sometimes humorous way.Since getting the book a little more than a week ago I've already lost 3 pounds. That's quite an accomplishment so far because all other so called weight loss books that I've read over the past 10-15 years did almost nothing to help. Another great thing is that the author has a sense of humor making this an entertaining and fun book to read. Each chapter provides you with numerous tools and tips to help you lose weight more effectively.I only have 2 minor objections. Some of the exercises provided actually do little to help in my opinion. For example listing excuse strategies is unnecessary. Anyone trying to lose weight knows that excuses have hindered their progress. Just being aware of the excuses is sufficient for me. Also the author is a weight loss coach and constantly refers to those she helps as "clients". To me this word "client" is not appropriate for us "overweight" people. Perhaps it would be more appropriate for those involved in a lawsuit. Nevertheless, the author does a terrific job of explaining how to lose weight.Overall this book is very well written and can definitely help with the weight loss battle. I think everyone is different, however, which means that some parts of the book can be ignored while other parts should be taken very seriously. I definitely recommend this book to all who, like me, have tried and tried but can't lose much weight. This is definitely the best book I've read about weight loss because it's unique, truthful and effective.

From the onset of this book, the whole new agey vibe weaves itself into the author's amateur advice. For example, in chapter 4, which deals with our belief systems, Castillo tells you to "find your own truth -- you decide what your truth is" and then in the next breath says, "The truth is..." and tells you what is true (as she sees it; so her truth is more true than whatever truth you came up with. This is the problem with postmodern philosophy.). This undermines her credibility, and I think it just adds to the hokeyness of much of what she writes. There are glimmers of sensibility with practical advice (such as being mindful of how hungry you actually are and to stop eating before you feel fully satisfied; to allow yourself to ride out the temporary I'm-not-hungry-but-want-to-eat feelings) but Castillo and I part ways when she tries to weave in the "wisdom" of popular culture. She is clearly influenced by all of the many self-help books she has read (which she honestly confesses to in the introduction). Back to the idea of finding your own truth: the author recognizes a Creator (she says so later on in the midst of her Belief chapter) and that we all have a purpose, but she doesn't seem to recognize that that Creator IS the source of truth (and we aren't; "The heart is above all things deceitful."). So the answer to finding truth is not found by filling out a multitude of introspective worksheets or repeating happy mantras to yourself in the mirror -- it is seeking the Truth found in the Words of the Creator -- the Bible. I have been picking my way through "If I'm So Smart...," trying to discern what is foolish from what is true, but I'm about ready to just chuck it. I think this dieter's time might be better spent turning her eyes from herself onto something more important.

Interesting book, easy to understand helpful and made good easy to follow suggestions, worth the money a good read.

As usual Brooke's practical no nonsense approach - getting to the nitty gritty but not preaching

fab

La prima cosa che mi viene in mente é x quale motivo non é stato ancora tradotto. L avrei consigliato a tantissime amiche c'è lontano contro i kg di troppo. Non parla di diete miracolose ma ti fa fermare e pensare. Super consigliato! L'avevo letto sul mio kindle ma poi l ho comprato anche in versione cartacea per poterlo consultare sempre, sottolineare e scriverci sopra appunti.

I loved how easy this was to understand because it was broken down into simple steps and ideas.I would recommend this book to anyone!