I think my expectations were too high going into this book. As a teenager, I struggled with anorexia, which later turned into compulsive eating. Having gone through therapy, a lot of Roth's ideas were not new to me. She hit the nail on the head, but nothing really jumped out and spoke to me personally.

I've also been struggling with my faith for a year to two. I really took the title to heart. I think I was hoping this book would show me a way to reconnect with my faith or that I'm feeling distant in my faith because of my history of disordered eating. That wasn't the case.

I think this book could be spiritual and beneficial for some, but it wasn't for me.

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This book could basically be summarized into very few words: figure out what your food triggers are emotionally and spiritually, then eat when you are hungry. Her basic assumption is, this is how she figured out how to lose weight for her and it will work for you once you figure it out. Never found anything to help the reader figure this out for themselves that was helpful.

Ms. Roth does not seem to grasp a difference between "dieting" and "diet," the latter meaning "how and what we eat" as opposed to the "dieting" meaning "restricting food intake." Unfortunately, in not addressing this, she doesn't address the poor nutritional habits of many in the US population.

Her "eating guidelines" are what anyone in a Weight Watcher meeting would learn (if listening and attending meetings because it really is about more than just "points").

This book was really a disappointment. Additionally, I should have found out what Ms. Roth's educational background is, and after trying to, I'm still looking. There is nothing on her website giving credence to her as an "expert" other than the multiple books and seminars she has done. Her "experience" is basically "here's how I did it and you can too." Perhaps, this is to sell more spots in her seminars?

This book alone may work for some to figure out why they live to eat rather than eat to live, but it's missing the boat on a lot of other issues surrounding diet (yes, the "what we eat" kind), nutrition and exercise that is the full complement of good health basics.

As far as how God fits into the picture? Not at all, just that eating is "spiritual." God may have been added to the title to pique interest and sell books.

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I am so glad I borrowed this book from the library. It would have been a total waste of good money! When someone puts God in the title, I expect to learn more about Him. Not so...this author is 100% in love with herself! I have lost 35 lbs. by learning intuitive eating and trusting in Him. I do not "hear a voice" that puts me down all the time. I don't talk nasty and use God's name in the same breath! What filthy language! What an utterly lost life this lady has and she is teaching others this garbage? I learned more from the Overfed Head by Rob Stevens in less time with better results. Oprah has been scammed again!

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I was severely disappointed with this book. There was nothing new in it and it was put together poorly, making it hard to follow. It seemed like the author was denigrating her retreat participants. There is very little of a spiritual slant on this problem with food even though the title led me to think otherwise.

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This book is really well written and insightful.

I am currently in a weight loss coaching group, and I feel that I got more out of this book than I am out of the other woman's coaching group, even though many of the concepts are the same.

Geneen Roth just explains things better, more intuitively. I have high hopes for how I can bring this book to work for me.

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Interesting philosophy on life.

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There are a lot of books on eating disorders or intuitive eating I would recommend before I would recommend this book. At times, Ms. Roth comes off as condescending towards the women she is supposed to be helping. It reads more as a personal memoir than as a self-help book.

If you're looking for a book on intuitive eating, try Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon.

If you're looking for a story about one woman's battle with emotional eating, this is not a bad choice.

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When I was flipping channels one day, I came across an episode of the Oprah Winfrey show featuring Geneen Roth. I sat down and listened to her talk about her new book. This book. Like most women(people) I know who have struggled with their weight, I have tried just about every diet out there. Some worked, some did not, some I just gave up on. So I was eager to try something new. I picked up her book.
This book is not a diet plan. It's about our relationships with food. It's about looking beyond the plate in front of us, and stop centering everything around what we eat.
Geneen is someone who has been there. She has gained and lost over 1000 over the years. She knows how it feels. I can respect advice from someone who has been in my shoes.

I admit, there was a lot of talk in this book about the "Eating Guidelines" Geneen puts forth. I kept asking myself "ok, when do we get to the guidelines?" And yes, she does list them-at the end of the book.
Now , I could have flipped back and just read them and said "ok, I will do this and my life will change", but really it's about more than just that. If I had jumped ahead, I wouldn't really understand why I need to adapt to these guidelines. Truthfully, I might have done it and because I had not fully understood the concept, I most likely wouldn't have learned anything. But I DID read the entire book and I learned quite a lot about about my own eating habits. I learned I probably do everything OPPOSITE of the GUIDELINES.
So I am going to take what I learned and incorporate it into my life.I can't say it will work 100%. But I sure am willing to try.

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Wonderful book! It answered questions I have had for years.

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