from New Harbinger Publications:

 

"In this book, psychologist Pavel Somov introduces techniques, exercises, and tools to help you control overeating. These practices can be used at mealtimes to develop a more positive and healthy relationship to food. You'll learn to develop awareness of the experience of eating and become more centered around your eating. By developing habitual awareness and a playful attitude about the process of eating, you will find that your eating slows down, becoming less compulsive and dictated by external forces such as boredom, emotional pain, or habit.

There are 141 specific exercises in this book to promote mindful eating. Also included are brief discussions of why we eat and stop eating, mindfulness principles, finding meaning in food and the act of eating, and guidance for developing a personal "philosophy of eating."

Endorsements/Reviews for

 

“Eating the Moment is a quick, enjoyable read full of creative, clever exercises and insightful, thought-provoking text. Rather than being shamed into deprivation, readers are taught original exercises to help them learn about their palates and manage their appetites. Who knew that weight control could be so fun and empowering?”

 

—Dina Cheney, author of Tasting Club

 

“In Eating the Moment, psychologist Pavel Somov gives you the practical tools you need to reap the rewards of eating more mindfully. Read it and discover how to have a relationship with food that is smarter, healthier, more conscious, and enjoyable.”

 

—Deborah Kesten, MPH, author of The Enlightened Diet

 

“Somov is one of the most creative psychologists around. He is knowledgeable about research-based and effective therapy techniques. He is aware of Eastern philosophies, and Buddhism in particular. And he is a productive therapist who knows how to translate knowledge into personal action for clients. All of these gifts are evident in Somov's book, Eating the Moment, which is not only informative, not only good reading, but also tremendously helpful in the most difficult area of behavior change—losing and keeping off weight.”

 

—Stanton Peele, Ph.D., JD, author of Seven Tools to Beat Addiction and Addiction-Proof Your Child

 

“Eating the Moment is a thoughtful feast for those who want to understand the psychology of eating and how to overcome mindlessness with food. The 141 eating practices are easy-to-grasp appetizers for becoming more aware, overcoming craving, and transforming your experience with food. If you have ever wanted a primer on eating skills that you never learned at home or in school, this book is an excellent place to start.

 

—Donald Altman, author of Meal by Meal and Art of the Inner Meal

Review of "Eating the Moment" in Library Journal

Verdict: An excellent introduction to mindful eating for consumer health collections looking for alternatives to fad diet books.

Background: Studies show that the faster we eat, the more we eat. Somov, a clinical psychologist, offers methods for readers to slow down and become conscious about what they are eating and why. He addresses cravings, how to manage when dining out with others who are eating too much or the wrong things, and how to recognize satiation. Somov’s suggestions are all sensible and well presented; he does not overdo the scientific underpinnings of his theories and remains a coherent and very persuasive guide.

—Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with the Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH

 

Editorial Review:

Mindfulness itself has been studied in recent years and found to effectively reduce symptoms of chronic pain, anxiety and panic, fibromyalgia, psoriasis, and depression, as well as a range of other health and psychological problems. Recent research has shown mindfulness to be effective in helping binge eaters control their binging and to feel more in control of their eating.

In this book, psychologist Pavel Somov introduces techniques, exercises, and tools to help overeaters to slow down and become more aware of their food and food-related issues such as triggers for overeating. Readers can then use these techniques to get control over their overeating.

 

• Topics include:
• Environmental triggers for eating
• The process of eating
• When and why we stop eating
• Cravings
• The sensual aspects of eating
• Emotional eating
• Searching for meaning in food
• Developing a philosophy of eating

 

Unlike most books about eating, Somov doesn't judge the reader for emotional eating, being triggered into eating, or eating out of boredom. He doesn't tell the reader how to eat; instead, he helps the reader become more aware of why he or she is eating at the moment, and helps the reader slow down, develop awareness of the experience of eating, and become more centered around his or her eating. Binge eaters and compulsive eaters usually report that they feel out of control of their eating. When they overeat, they may feel shame and guilt, leading them to restrict their eating, which makes them feel punished and unhappy, which then triggers them into overeating again. By developing habitual awareness and a playful attitude about the process of eating, a compulsive eater will find that his or her eating slows down, becoming less compulsive and dictated by external forces such as boredom, emotional pain, or habit. There are 141 specific exercises in this book to promote mindful eating, as well as brief discussions of why we eat and stop eating, mindfulness principles, finding meaning in food and the act of eating, and developing a "philosophy of eating."

From the Publisher

Psychological know-how and Buddhist wisdom combine in Eating the Moment to offer readers compassionate, meal-by-meal advice for developing a healthful and satisfying relationship to food that can correct problems with binge eating, compulsive overeating, and other food-related problems.

 

New Harbinger Publications: in stores - November 2008

order at amazon.com

5 x 7 • 224 pages • ISBN • $15.95 • item code: 543