Ok…I have to ‘fess up. It is time to “come clean.”
I have been reading another book. One that wasn’t even written by Judy, or anyone at Thin Within.
This book has been the best thing to come down the pike in…well…a LONG time. Maybe since Thin Within! Actually, if I can be quite truthful, lots of things I wish we had said just a bit differently when we were writing the Thin Within book, have been said just right in this easy-to-read treatise.
Book titles aside (and I wish it wasn’t called what it is, but I think I understand why Zondervan and the author chose it), The Eden Diet by Dr. Rita Hancock is well worth the read. Absolutely! Dr. Hancock consistently demonstrates that she knows her medical “stuff,” and we are reminded of some basic bible truths as well as her take on what really does make good nutrition sense. You might be surprised, in fact.
This lady isn’t just one of those MD quack-type people either. She was an undergraduate at Cornell University and did some intensive studies of “gastric diseases.” She has studied nutrition until the cows come home. And well, you can read more about her at her website. I won’t repeat it all here.
More than just an expert from afar, however, Dr. Hancock has also struggled deep in the trenches of obesity–she knows what it is like to have a HUGE hurdle ahead of her and to rise to conquer it! She has allowed God to transform her thinking, has lost a boatload of weight and has kept it off “imperfectly” for 25 years. This lady has a lot to say and she knows of what she speaks.
How, you may wonder, if I was the collaborator (writer) for the Thin Within book, can I possibly so unashamedly declare the praises of “the competition?” The way I figure it…the reality is, we are all in this together. If someone can say it in a way that I think is helpful, then I am ALL for it! Especially if every page holds truth that is consistent with my life’s message and, more importantly, what I believe God wants for his people. He calls us to freedom–listening to our bodies, engaging our brains, and using the spiritual insight he has given us.
What is the difference between this book and Thin Within? Why might someone enjoy reading this book? Well, Dr. Hancock is very NO-nonsense in her approach. She cuts to the chase in a point-blank sort of way. There is no pussy footing around. If you find yourself a bit tender or a sensitive person, she may be a bit “harsh” for you. But what I found was that, for me, she was downright practical. Don’t get me wrong…she blends this with plenty of biblical wisdom and spiritual insight. She just doesn’t mince her words.
Where Thin Within has chapters chock-full of invaluable exercises that have helped many of us get to the root of our overeating and obsessive behaviors, Dr. Rita is more likely to say, “Sure, you can ask why, but the point is, you have to STOP it. To STOP it, you have to retrain your mind to think and believe differently! So HOP to it! Oh…and here is HOW!” (This isn’t a quote, so please don’t email me that I misquoted her…it is her tone I am trying to capture!)
For the record, I didn’t find one word of condemnation in The Eden Diet. I haven’t launched into the workbook study yet and plan to soon.
Anyhow, in the days ahead, I will likely share some of the nuggets of wisdom I have gotten (and will continue to get) from reading The Eden Diet and working through the workbook. In the meantime, let me say this…where I needed a drill sergeant to sort of call me to HUP TO and to RISE UP and DO that to which God has clearly called, God provided Dr. Rita’s voice in her book. In the past two weeks that I have spent reading this book, I have found myself seeing all my many excuses (more than I thought!) for what they are…SIN! 🙂 Not only that, but well…I have been STOPPING it! WHOO HOO! My size 16s are fitting better now. But the best part of all is the clean conscience that I have as I stand before the Lord…obedience IS possible, one baby step at a time.
This book gets 5 stars from me…HUGE thumbs up! WHOO HOO! Thank you, Dr. Rita Hancock and thank you Jesus for providing someone to say it short, sweet, to the point but purely! Pointing to you!
Heidi I have to say I really agree with what you said. Having had made TW things a low to some sorts the past 8 months or so, reading this book cleared that right of the way and brought me back to God. I have no reason to not obey, really. I have really been brought to a new level of accountability and a new level of obedience in my eating. I like how you describe her attitude or tone of voice in the book, she too was like a "drill seargant" to me in a way and has helped me a lot! I am so glad I read this book and I am finishing Freedom From Emotional Eating in February and also have a few other monthly goals that I made very prayerfully and am going to start the Eden Diet workbook come March. I really like the 30 day (or monthly) goals. So glad I read this book! Thanks for this awesome review!!Kim
Heidi I have to say I really agree with what you said. Having had made TW things a low to some sorts the past 8 months or so, reading this book cleared that right of the way and brought me back to God. I have no reason to not obey, really. I have really been brought to a new level of accountability and a new level of obedience in my eating. I like how you describe her attitude or tone of voice in the book, she too was like a "drill seargant" to me in a way and has helped me a lot! I am so glad I read this book and I am finishing Freedom From Emotional Eating in February and also have a few other monthly goals that I made very prayerfully and am going to start the Eden Diet workbook come March. I really like the 30 day (or monthly) goals. So glad I read this book! Thanks for this awesome review!!Kim
I meant I made things of TW a LAW (not low) LOL!!!
I meant I made things of TW a LAW (not low) LOL!!!
This is where I'm at now. This has helped me more than you know.
This is where I'm at now. This has helped me more than you know.
Dear Heidi,Thanks so much for all the kind words about my book and for all the work you've done to advance Thin Within! I agree with you about the Eden Diet and Thin Within being entirely additive to each other. Neither replaces the other. As you have said, Judy and I are preaching the same truth from different perspectives and with different voices, but for the same purpose: to glorify God and break people free from bondage to food. The other night, Judy and I had a delightful telephone conversation for over an hour. It felt like we were long-lost cousins. Someday, I'm sure we'll all meet….blessings on you, girl, and thanks again!
Dear Heidi,Thanks so much for all the kind words about my book and for all the work you've done to advance Thin Within! I agree with you about the Eden Diet and Thin Within being entirely additive to each other. Neither replaces the other. As you have said, Judy and I are preaching the same truth from different perspectives and with different voices, but for the same purpose: to glorify God and break people free from bondage to food. The other night, Judy and I had a delightful telephone conversation for over an hour. It felt like we were long-lost cousins. Someday, I'm sure we'll all meet….blessings on you, girl, and thanks again!
WHOO HOO! Thanks, Ladies, for your comments.Dr. Rita, thanks for taking the time out of your schedule (and studying–I am praying!) to stop by my blog and to comment.I loved what you said here about the message you and Judy are sharing and it is, of course my heart too…to speak a message:to glorify God and break people free from bondage to food. !!!!!WHOO HOO!
WHOO HOO! Thanks, Ladies, for your comments.Dr. Rita, thanks for taking the time out of your schedule (and studying–I am praying!) to stop by my blog and to comment.I loved what you said here about the message you and Judy are sharing and it is, of course my heart too…to speak a message:to glorify God and break people free from bondage to food. !!!!!WHOO HOO!
Heidi, I'm reading the book because I saw your review, and I have to laugh at your first 2 lines in this post – I feel a little bit like I'm cheating on TW. But like you, I'm finding a Biblically based sound program that complements TW. I'm going to add it to a "recommended reading list" for when my groups are on break. (OK, I'm going to create a recommended reading list thanks to this book).I like the no-nonsense approach – that very much appeals to me. And like you, I'm finding that "just stop it" is working for me. Yay! I do think that we need to get to the heart of the matter, but sometimes we wallow so much in that, we forget to work on the behavior as well.Enjoying the book. Thanks for your review.Melanie
Heidi, I'm reading the book because I saw your review, and I have to laugh at your first 2 lines in this post – I feel a little bit like I'm cheating on TW. But like you, I'm finding a Biblically based sound program that complements TW. I'm going to add it to a "recommended reading list" for when my groups are on break. (OK, I'm going to create a recommended reading list thanks to this book).I like the no-nonsense approach – that very much appeals to me. And like you, I'm finding that "just stop it" is working for me. Yay! I do think that we need to get to the heart of the matter, but sometimes we wallow so much in that, we forget to work on the behavior as well.Enjoying the book. Thanks for your review.Melanie
Heidi — as always, THANK YOU! Just when I needed it, God used you to bring me a word of wisdom.Recently I asked Him if there was another book out there on the h/f method from a Christian perspective (much as I liked TW before, I still have "issues" with it)… and then I come over to see your blog today — partly because I went to see Beth Moore, LIVE!, this past weekend, and her topic was "God is Doing a New Thing", which had me thinking of YOU and your blog! LOL — and what do I find, but a new Christian h/f book! :DThank you, thank you, thank you! I'm going to try to get myself a copy of "The Eden Diet" so that I can see what the fuss is about, and hopefully have a kick-start fire lit under my butt. ;)~MizB (Jenn)
Heidi — as always, THANK YOU! Just when I needed it, God used you to bring me a word of wisdom.Recently I asked Him if there was another book out there on the h/f method from a Christian perspective (much as I liked TW before, I still have "issues" with it)… and then I come over to see your blog today — partly because I went to see Beth Moore, LIVE!, this past weekend, and her topic was "God is Doing a New Thing", which had me thinking of YOU and your blog! LOL — and what do I find, but a new Christian h/f book! :DThank you, thank you, thank you! I'm going to try to get myself a copy of "The Eden Diet" so that I can see what the fuss is about, and hopefully have a kick-start fire lit under my butt. ;)~MizB (Jenn)
Heidi, thanks so much for your comments. I lost my weight with Thin Within-45 pounds and have improved my walk with God. After I had covered all of the material available with TW, I needed something new to keep me focused, and that is how I found The Eden Diet. They are both great books and based on the same principles. They both give God all of the glory. I thank both Judy and Dr. Rita for taking the time to inspire me and saving my spiritual and physical life. Love you ladies.
Heidi, thanks so much for your comments. I lost my weight with Thin Within-45 pounds and have improved my walk with God. After I had covered all of the material available with TW, I needed something new to keep me focused, and that is how I found The Eden Diet. They are both great books and based on the same principles. They both give God all of the glory. I thank both Judy and Dr. Rita for taking the time to inspire me and saving my spiritual and physical life. Love you ladies.
Hi, Housemag. Praise God! Thanks for your encouraging words. 🙂
Hi, Housemag. Praise God! Thanks for your encouraging words. 🙂
Hi Heidi!As you know, I actually wrote The Eden Diet. May I please mention here that from May 7th -11th 2012, I'm giving away TOTALLY FREE on Kindle, the condensed e-version of The Eden Diet in booklet form? It contains many of the highlights of the book, as well as directions on how to obtain many other Eden Diet freebies. The link to the e-booklet is shown below, but remember it won't be free until May 7th. So, if you link to it beforehand, you'll see that it costs money.Blessings!http://www.amazon.com/The-Eden-Diet-Condensed-ebook/dp/B007RH1S78/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1335373112&sr=1-1
Hi Heidi!As you know, I actually wrote The Eden Diet. May I please mention here that from May 7th -11th 2012, I'm giving away TOTALLY FREE on Kindle, the condensed e-version of The Eden Diet in booklet form? It contains many of the highlights of the book, as well as directions on how to obtain many other Eden Diet freebies. The link to the e-booklet is shown below, but remember it won't be free until May 7th. So, if you link to it beforehand, you'll see that it costs money.Blessings!http://www.amazon.com/The-Eden-Diet-Condensed-ebook/dp/B007RH1S78/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1335373112&sr=1-1