50 More Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food

November 15, 2015

Licensed clinical psychologist Albers (Eat Q)uses her experience treating eating issues and related disorders to offer a wealth of strategies and practices to deal with comfort eating. The author first describes the vicious cycle of stress, eating, comfort and guilt, then illustrates real-life examples of replacing eating with healthier activities. Taken from the field of integrated/complementary medicine, plans include moving and speaking mindfully as well as using biofeedback, grounding, and meditation. Alternative therapies include tapping, aromatherapy, self-massage, and yoga. Albers presents an abundance of calming methods, any of which would certainly relieve stress and the desire to eat. VERDICT An excellent choice for just about anyone who reaches for a bowl of chips instead of taking a few deep breaths.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2015
Why do we eat? To fill an empty stomach? Or to fill an empty soul? Albers, a nutrition expert, contends that food, in many cases, has become a coping strategy rather than the response to physical hunger. Reasons for comfort eating, according to Albers, range from accessibility and habit to boredom and impulsivity but always result in guilt. The good news is the author of 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself without Food (2009) has come up with 50 new and improved ways to self-soothe without reaching for the cookies. She begins with mindfulness, meditation, mindful breathing, alternative therapies, yoga, and mindful movement. For readers more comfortable with Western philosophies, there are arts therapies (writing, music, dance, art, origami) and sense therapies (aromatherapy, feng shui, teas, herbs, and sex). The short chapters are filled with anecdotes from her practice and specific, step-by-step instructions for soothing strategies. All of Albers' low-cost suggestions can be practiced within short blocks of time and require little equipment. The variety of the approaches and the popularity of the topic will give this title wide appeal.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)