Product Description
Severe dieting often results in periods of reactive binge eating. a phenomenon experienced by one in twenty American women. Responses to these periods may include prolonged fasting, self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives and diuretics, and obsessive exercise: all symptoms of bulimia. This workbook contains tools to help bulimics break the cycle of bingeing and reacting, allowing them to take control of their lives and make positive behavior changes. Use it to recognize the symptoms of bulimia, its causes, and the health risks it poses. Then work through the exercises to normalize eating and deal with the issues that underlie the symptoms. Take control of your recovery process with checklists, self-monitoring assessments, and thought diaries.Practical advice and real-life examples reinforce attitudes and offer encouragement. Discover that it is possible to overcome your disorder and live a happier, more fulfilling life.

This comprehensive guide covers everything from bulimia’s symptoms, causes, and risks to how to normalize eating, shift eating-disordered thoughts, build on personal strengths, improve self-esteem, deal with underlying issues, prevent relapse, and understand what medications can help. With many real-life examples, this book also helps readers learn through the experiences of other sufferers how to overcome their disorder and live a happier, more fulfilled life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Useful adjunct
As a professional in this field, I am always searching for user friendly instruments to keep in my office.I like the suggestions, the accessibility of the material.

So much better than I could have ever imagined
I didn't think that people would be able to understand me or my eating disorder. I mean, I didn't even understand it very well myself. But with every page I turned in this book, I found myself going "wow, that is exactly me!" If you haven't yet, this book will make you realize that it's really not you, it's this textbook disease called bulimia. But I think the most important thing this book has made me realize is that binging and purging has always given me a short-term escape that's kept me coming back again and again, but in the long-term, it's taken everything from me. Please, if you are considering recovery, pick up this book. It's written by people who clearly DO understand what bulimics go through. Good luck, and remember that there is no such thing as a "last time" or "just one time" when it comes bulimia (or any other addiction).

Use with Therapy
I initially picked this up prior to my first visit with my prior therapist. I would say that used in conjunction with a good therapy program this book has the ability to be useful but I wouldn't recommend using it as a sole source of treatment. It has some suggestions that are just completely unrealistic (for example, removing ALL low fat, sugar free and diet foods from your home) and it seems to simplify things a lot. Admittedly, this book is probably not geared toward individuals like me who have been suffering for over 12 years and need more intensive treatment. Worth a look? Yes. There are many sections that helped me come to some important realizations so I would hate to discount this book entirely. However, I don't recommend that you use this while forgoing visits with a qualified counselor.

Overcoming Bulimia Workbook
Excellant book to assist you in overcoming bulimia. I am recovering after 36 years of eating disorders. This workbook went right along with my recovery plan. Would recommend it to anyone suffering from bulimia.

this is what helped me
i've been suffering from bulimia for over 14 years. and i was at a loss what to do. i even had suicidal thoughts. but, i got this book and after i understood what was going on in my mind, i felt real better and also the exercises on this book were real helpful and most importantly, i got over bulimia at last.
the best thing for me in this book is "normalized eating". this book tells you what is normal eating: no more dieting, no more food restrictions, no more urges to overeat. and i have to tell you, normal eating won't make you fat. rather, i think some might even lose weight by eating normally; in fact i'm one of them.
now i eat normally and i'm not on a diet anymore. i don't even think about my weight and shape. and i feel real good about it. this is the happiness and freedom this book gave me, and i really want to say thank you guys and this book is highly recommended for anyone who's suffering from bulimia and wants to get out of the nightmare. this book will help you. ... Read more

Product Description

Why would a talented young woman enter into a torrid affair with hunger, drugs, sex, and death? Through five lengthy hospital stays, endless therapy, and the loss of family, friends, jobs, and all sense of what it means to be "normal," Marya Hornbacher lovingly embraced her anorexia and bulimia -- until a particularly horrifying bout with the disease in college put the romance of wasting away to rest forever. A vivid, honest, and emotionally wrenching memoir, Wasted is the story of one woman's travels to reality's darker side -- and her decision to find her way back on her own terms.

Customer Reviews (427)

excellent book, tragic story
This is the tale of an intelligent, thoughtful, considerate young woman who nonetheless falls prey over and over again to her disorder. This book leaves the reader hoping very much that Ms. Hornbacher will be able to turn the massive amount of brainpower that goes into a book as stunningly evocative and effecting as this one to healing her own disorder.

The best book on E.D. out there.

Interesting but way too wordy
I really did like this book but it is SO wordy and I feel like it is too wordy to be a memoir.It is obvious she is very intelligent but it has a little too much fluff for such an intense topic. Plus she definitely contradicts herself a lot which irritates me.

brilliant
This memoir is absolutely spellbinding - the elegant writing and deep-found intelligence of the author make this true story impossible to put down. Particularly for those who have suffered from eating disorders, Hornbacher's brutal honesty and courage in addressing such a taboo issue and emotional state are not only relatable but inspiring - may you find solstice in her words.

Pathological
This book has the feel of someone boasting about just how bad and pathological she was.In reality, she was not recovered and was still in the grips of her eating disordered thoughts and mindset. (Significant personality pathology as well). Warning to those who are easily triggered--this book is not right for you.This book could be useful for professionals wanting to get an "insider" perspective of someone with severe symptoms.However, would not recommend this book for eating disordered sufferers who need to recover.This book would likely set you backwards.

wasted
This book was so very honest that I made my twin sister read it to have some understanding about myED. My own husband did not even know I had an ED for years until I left him a letter on the dinner table one night. I wish I had Marya's Strength. This book can be a trigger and I found myself reading certain parts over and over again just not to feel alone when I was re-living the same habbits of this horrible disease that she was. I like to think That I have recovered and I still pull "Wasted" off the book shelf once on a while and re-read it. I am thankful for Marya's complete honesty no matter how ugly it gets because I was able to just hand this book to my family and give them a sense of understanding. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (20)

just want I expected. in good shape. good book
This is a great book for anyone struggling with an eating disorder.The book is full of thoughtful insight from someone who's been there herself.

Yikes!
I've never written an opinion before, but this book needs one.

I've been bulimic for many years, and blindly pulled it off a book shelf and started reading. It turned my from a binge purge four times a day bulimic to a not eating for days anorexic. The guidelines for "things to do instead of eating" were wonderful, but you find yourself at the intersection of not knowing exactly when its okay to eat. In the whole three week program at the end of the book, only once did it mention to have a "meal" to enjoy.

I respect the author, but i'm firm in my beliefs that if you have an impressionable mind, you might want to find a softer method to help yourself, instead of no eat boot came.

A Great Experience
This book is awesome it has a three week guide to stop bingeing, I do the homework and all the morning warmups, it is a must to have if you are stuggling with Bulimia.

Insightful
This book is not only a wonderful resource for sufferers of bulimia. But it is also a resource for thier family and friends. The book explains bulimia, tells Lindsey Hall's personal story, and has a special chapter for family and loved ones. Everyone who suffers from bulimia or has a spouse, family member, or friend with bulimia, should read this book.

A Guide to Recovery Review
This book was full of useful information and written so the layman could understand.I was completely satisfied with the information I received. ... Read more

Product Description
Thousands suffer from bulimia secretly and in silence. They are never diagnosed and their story goes untold.

Bulimics on Bulimia is a collection of accounts by people who are living with the disorder, shedding new light on the day-to-day struggle of coping with bulimia. This book challenges the stereotypical image of the bulimic teenage girl, revealing that bulimia affects a far wider range of people, and dispelling the myth that bingeing involves only food and purging involves only vomiting. The powerful stories in this book provide new perspectives on the experience of bulimia, revealing the complex realities of the illness and the different ways in which different people view themselves and the disorder that has become a part of their lives.

This book is a must-read for counselors, psychologists, and mental health professionals and will strike a chord with anyone who is suffering or has suffered from an eating disorder, as well as their friends and families. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

easy read
really enjoyed this book, was easy read, and gives great insight into the world of ED's. might be unhealthy for people who engage in ED behaviours... some people may find it triggering..

Bulmics On Bulimia
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; as an individual sruggling with bulimia, I found it intriguing to read others' accounts of the disorder.

confused at first
I read the whole book right away and got mad at first because I actually ended up skipping reading the important parts that would have told me that this book was made up from many different sufferers of ED's. For some reason the whole time I was reading it I actually thought that it was about one, and could not understand why each chapter was different. After I read the parts I previously skipped, I felt pretty dumb! Now I really do like it, and am glad I can read it again and understand it better!

Absorbing, Informative, and Gripping!
Bulimics on Bulimia is a collection of 19 personal accounts from Bulimic individuals. This book surpasses others because it is told while the women are in the disorder.

The complexity and difficulty of recovery is truly visible when told by people who are NOT recovered. Hopefully, this book will shed some light on this serious illness.

The book is unique because it tries to bring attention to bulimia. Most media stories focus more on anorexia (even if the individual is also bulimic). These women discuss how the supposed "inferiority" of bulimia causes even greater self hate and damage.

This book does not have the luxury of a sensational story line, or the confessions of famous women.Instead it shows the secret lives of women (and men) who live amongst us. The success of this book relies on people who care enough to learn about the secret torment of regular women.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A light in the darkness
I got this devotional several years ago, and it gave me hope.
Earlier this year I spent time at Remuda Ranch, and this devotional continued to lift my spirits. I have, unfortunately, relapsed badly, but my little devotional continues to give me encuragement and to remind me that recovery is possible.
Barb-bulimic/walking addict since 1986

little steps toward recovery
As a former patient of Remuda, I was given this book on my first day of treatment.I read it faithfully throughout the year, and I found hope and encouragement in those pages as I read the stories of women like me.For anyone struggling with an eating disorder or for their loved ones, this book is an important tool for recovery.

Good daily meditation/devotional
My daughter has used this book and was recommended by a counselor to her.It is very good for beginning the day with God and touches on many struggles, joys, fears, etc. that those with an eating disorder go through. ... Read more

Product Description
At the root of bulimia is a need to feel in control. While purging is a strategy for controlling weight, bingeing is an attempt to calm depression, stress, shame, and even boredom. The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bulimia offers new and healthy ways to overcome the distressing feelings and negative body-image beliefs that keep you trapped in this cycle.

In this powerful program used by therapists, you'll learn four key skill sets-mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness-and begin using them right away to manage bulimic urges. The book includes worksheets and exercises designed to help you take charge of your emotions and end your dependence on bulimia. You'll also learn how to stay motivated and committed to ending bulimia instead of reverting to old behaviors. Used together, the skills presented in this workbook will help you begin to cope with uncomfortable feelings in healthy ways, empower you to feel good about nourishing your body, and finally gain true control over your life.

This self-help workbook is an excellent tool to help alleviate bulimia nervosa symptoms. It is also a useful guide for the practitioner who is assisting the patient in his or her quest to overcome an eating disorder. I highly recommend this workbook to sufferers and mental health professionals alike.
-Daniel le Grange, Ph.D., professor and director of the eating disorders program at the University of Chicago

I never knew how to ride the rollercoaster of life without resorting to bingeing until dialectical behavior therapy helped to change my behavior and my life.
-Sharon, client of coauthor Ellen Astrachan-Fletcher

Customer Reviews (4)

Treatment Aspects
I just spent over a month at an eating disorder treatment center, Timberline Knolls, and had DBT classes twice a week.Understanding the core of DBT has enabled me to grasp this concept even further for the specialized version for Builima.My therapist had recommended this book a few months back and while I started it, I didn't get very far as it was at times confusing when you don't know the four aspects of DBT skills.Now back at home and ready to jump on the recovery train for the long haul, I am excited to get back into the workbook and tackle this disorder that has plagued me for over 30 years.

Creating a life worth being present in: Useful workbook for both clients and clinicians
"The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bulimia," by Drs. Ellen Astrachan-Fletcher and Michael Maslar, is a much needed adaptation of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for bulimia.This self-help workbook not only outlines the essential DBT "modules," including Mindfulness Skills, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Skills, but it also does a nice job orienting individuals to both DBT and bulimia.Further, the book is filled with useful and practical hands-on examples, activities, and vignettes to facilitate learning and teach individuals to synthesize their DBT skills.Much like the therapy it is based off of, this workbook takes a nonjudgmental yet encouraging and motivating stance.If used effectively and consistently, the tools in this workbook *will* help in the recovery from bulimia.

While this book is marketed as a "self-help workbook," it is important to highlight that it can be used by treatment providers.As a clinician, I have found that this workbook provides a welcome method for facilitating DBT informed treatment (both individual and group).It is especially useful in translating basic DBT skills for the specific population of individuals suffering from disordered eating.

Clear guidance towards recovery for Bulimia
"The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bulimia" is a hands-on workbook for individuals who suffer from bulimia nervosa that can be used alone or can accompany a formal treatment program with a mental health professional.The book has eleven chapters that cover a psychoeducational piece, purpose and behavioral pattern identification, training in and integration of all four DBT skills and maintenance and relapse strategies. The exercises throughout the book facilitate understanding of the concepts, which could otherwise be difficult to grasp for individuals who have never been in treatment. This, coupled with numerous clinical examples, highlights the practical, hands-on nature of the volume. The ultimate premise of DBT, "to create a life worth being present in" is frequently brought up, reminding the reader of the long-term gains they could achieve with treatment. Special acknowledgment should be given to the authors for the clarity in their explanations and the adaptation of DBT to this particular clinical population. Clinicians working with eating disordered patients will find that the book is an excellent tool for patient as an extension of their treatment and for themselves as a resource to expand their technical repertoire. Individuals with bulimia will have a better understanding of the work ahead towards recovery; reading this workbook and putting the skills into practice can very well serve as their first step in the recovery pathway.
Gaston Baslet, M.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago

Good for patients and providers alike
This new book by Drs. Astrachan-Fletcher and Maslar fill a big need in the self-help workbook area by covering the application of DBT skills for bulimic behaviors. This is a useful and timely application of mindfulness-based skills to a significant and often difficult to treat set of behaviors. The book is well written and the handouts are easy to use. I highly recommend it for individuals struggling with disordered eating and therapists looking for additional resources for their clients. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
“Having read many books on eating disorders, I am always inspired by ones that are written from a personal perspective. Learning To Be Me is so honest and bravely written. It offers readers immense hope, and I am already recommending it to some of my clients.”
—Andrea Wachter, coauthor of The Don’t Diet, Live-It! Workbook

Customer Reviews (24)

Triggering to say the least
This book is NOT a book to be read by those struggling with EDs! One of the cardinal sins for successful intervention is that we must not discuss weight. Not only is this triggering to readers who may suffer from an ED - but EDs are NOT not only about food, but they are certainly not about weight or any other numbers for that matter.
It's fine to write a book about one's experiences with their eating disorders...it does help others feel a sense of universality - that they are not alone in this battle. However, there are very fine lines that must not be crossed due to the very fragile nature of the beast.
I strongly recommend that those of you who are experiencing disordered eating or a full blown eating disorder NOT read this book.

Very Informative
As a counselor, my graduate education included a course on eating disorders; however, when I read this autobiography about a person suffering from Bulimia, the nightmare dimensions of this disorder became concrete. The author shares details of her daily pathological behaviors. I appreciated her candor and accuracy. I will certainly offer this book to others who may be experimenting with Bulimia. The Bulimic journey is so brutally self-destructive.

Poorly Written
This book is honest but poorly written.The author details her childhood and battle with bulimia, but fails to provide much information about her recovery.The book is not well-written, as some people have suggested.It is obvious the author isn't really a writer.Beyond that, I was able to identify with her struggle, as I have struggled with bulimia for twenty years.After reading the book, I had the impression that the author wanted a pity party rather than to inspire others or help them overcome bulimia.If you or someone you love is bulimic, you may want to look elsewhere for a better book to help you through the recovery process.

Excellent Resource
This book provides excellent insight into the psychological and emotional issues that drive anyone with an eating disorder. As the book eludes to, this disease is really not about food but rather the emotional and psychological issues the sufferer can't effectively cope with. If you wish to have a deeper understanding of the root of this disease I feel this book will help you greatly. As stated by earlier reviewers, this is not a self help or book about treatment. Treatment is covered albeit briefly at the end. Understanding the underlying causes of this disease provides one with a much better chance of a succesful outcome. This should be recommended reading for anyone dealing with or treating an eating disorder sufferer.

An insightful and honest look into life with an eating disorder
This book is probably my favorite eating disorder memoir I've read (and I've read quite a few). I really felt like this book was written from a place of recovery. Instead of getting the sense of "look how sick I was!" (as I have gotten from many other memoirs), Golden seemed to genuinely want to help others recover. She even includes a list of alternatives to binging near the end of the book. I very impressed with the insight she she had gained from her hard work in therapy, and from the very beginning of the book, she intertwines her retrospective understanding of why she needed to engage in those behaviors with how she felt at the time. And her honesty and openness is amazing! I would recommend this book to both those struggling with and those in recovery from bulimia, as well as their friends and family. ... Read more

Product Description
The classic book that offers understanding and a positive approach.Sherman and Thompson answer the questions asked most frequently by the families and friAnds of bulimics. Why do some women become bulimic? What are the medical risks? The authors—both experts on the causes and treatment of eating disorders—have created the first authoritative step-by-step guide to this complex disease. They reveal bulimia's insidious nature including the fact that those who care the most about helping can actually make things worse. Filled with practical information and advice, this essential resource offers hope to millions of bulimics and their loved ones. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

easy read
very easy read, good for families and friends as a first book on education regarding ED's... is repetitive at times

Best book of the 3 I bought
I bought three books to learn how to help my daughter.This book is the best of the three by far.

Everybody should read this book
This book not only gives information about bulimia, but also about eating disorders in general.Furthermore, it gives information about types of personalities, family dynamics and the effect the environment has on all of us.All of this in a clear and articulate way without any psychology jargon.

A Very Helpful Book
I found this book very helpful.It helped me understand the problem, but it especially had a lot of good info on what I can and should do now.Thank you so much .

Read this and get help
This is a great book for a spouse or a fmaily member who wants to help.It details what is happening and what can be done.However, it is not a substitute for therapy.Please get help for your loved one immediately. There is hope. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

IT
This was written like an instruction manual to putting together your next stereo. It was dry and without life, when the intent is to promote well-being.

Excellent Eating Disorder Treatment Manual
An excellent Maudesley model treatment manual for clinicians to use in treating Bulimia Nervosa. The authors chose to address Bulimia in a separate edition from their first manual, TREATMENT MANUAL FOR ANOREXIA NERVOSA. The psychological and family dynamics are somewhat different in Bulimia, though the family centered approach is essentially the same. With treatment broken down session by session, it becomes possible for for most clinicians with a family therapy background to deliver effective treatment to bulimic teenagers and their families - with minimal additional training.

As with with the anorexia manual, the approach is very prescriptive - from the initial "intense scene" where the therapist informs the parents that their child has a fair chance of dying unless they both take a leave of absence from work to personally supervize her meals - to the insistence the parents take charge of the patient's eating, compulsive exercising and purging - until she successfully frees herself from the spell bulimia holds over her.

As with anorexia, the second session always involves a picnic lunch the family brings to the office - enabling the therapist to "coach" the parents on getting their daughter to eat. This is followed by weekly visits to ensure the family is continuing to provide close supervision of dietary choices, meals, exercise and purging.

In treating bulimia the main focus is not weight restoration (often bulimic patients are sightly overweight), but ending the cycle of binging and purging (either via self-induced vomiting or laxative abuse). There also tend to be more co-occurring psychiatric conditions (most commonly depression and suicide ideation) with bulimia, which may need to be addressed first.

On average, it takes around 10 to 12 weeks for bulimic symtpoms to come under control. At that point the family enters Phase II, a 3-4 month transitional phase, during which the teenager resumes more control over her own eating and the family begins to work on autonomy issues (issues relating to the teenager separating and becoming independent from her parents). The latter tend to be more prominent in bulimic than anorexic patients.

Phase III consists of 3-4 sessions one month apart, during which the family and therapist practice problem solving around typical adolescent issues and develop a relapse prevention plan.

got the goods
If your a parent with a bulimica child, this book has the insight to what you need.
Just to warn you, it is advanced stuff.You may need a dictionary and you may need to commmit a lot of time to get what you need out of this book-to help your child.But look, God made us to think and what could motivate us to learn even difficult things more than saving our own children.
Bulimia is serious and may lead to anorexia- which is potentially fatal.
Please be encouraged that there is help for your child, but not without a cost-you may need to work your brain really hard.
Studies have found that therapists treatment is less successful than a parents healthy involvement. ... Read more

Product Description
Vibrant, talented, strong, and beautiful, Andrea Smeltzer seemed destined for a great future. But after a one-year struggle with bulimia, she died in her sleep at age 19, catapulting her mother Doris into a wrenching but ultimately rewarding journey of discovery. This unabashed account not only speaks about one family’s tragedy, but also critiques the social and personal attitudes toward our bodies and appearance that create victims like Andrea. Andrea's poetry and journal entries, combined with her mother's reflections, offer insight and understanding about a crushing disorder that afflicts far too many young people. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Poignant and powerful
Reviewed by Jeanine Cogan, PhD, Policy Director, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action, Washington, DC:

"Doris Smeltzer gives voice to the unbearable grief of losing her child, Andrea, with such courage and grace the book is ultimately an inspiration. She weaves Andrea's voice throughout her own story so that mother and daughter are telling it together, capturing the deep bond that connects them to this day. Andrea's words are poignant, powerful and beautiful revealing to us both her wisdom and struggle on her journey to growing up. Reading this book is like wrapping yourself in a blanket of poetry that wakes up your heart with tenderness and compassion."

courageous and compelling story
Reviewed by Abigail Natenshon, MA, LCSW, GCFP, Author of When Your Child Has an Eating Disorder:

"Doris Smeltzer loved her daughter and left no stone unturned in caring for her. Her courageous and indomitable spirit and her capacity to tell a compelling story keep Andrea alive in readers' hearts and minds. Moreover, Smeltzer's inspired story telling offers the strength, wisdom and hope patients and families hunger for in their own struggle to prevail...and to survive... in the face of lethal eating disorders. Through Andrea's Voice, mother and daughter enjoy the capacity to save other precious lives."

A powerful lesson
Reviewed by Dr. Dean Edell, MD, health expert and media personality

"There are lessons here for all of us. This is not just a story of one family's tragedy with eating disorders but a perspective about our culture and our attitudes about our bodies. Food and body image are powerful symbols for us and understanding the interactions is critical for our mental as well as physical health."

A Must Read
The title of my review sums it up for me, this book is a must read for anyone struggling with an eating disorder, for families or loved ones of someone with an eating disorder, or for someone who is not sure if their relationship with food constituts and eating disorder. You will be moved, touched, and definitely enlightened about the seriousness of these illnesses, and that understanding is a gift that Andrea has left us and that Doris and her family have shared with us. From Sari Shepphird, Ph.D., author of 100 Questions & Answers About Anorexia Nervosa

Frightening and Sad
As someone who has struggled on an off with Bulimia Nervosa for over a decade, I has mixed emotions about this book. It was beautifully written, the material well handled, and the emotion very pure. However, as a current sufferer, I found myself horrified both because of how easily Andrea died and because the things she was doing is "kid stuff" compared to things I've lived to tell about. It is definitely one of those rare books worth recommending on the subject but tricky for an active sufferer to handle well. ... Read more

Product Description

Break the Cycle of Bulimia and Take Charge of Your Life

Have you ever had a false friend-someone who you thought was on your side, but let you down in the end? Bulimia is a false friend, too. As you depend on it more and more, your life only gets worse and worse. You may have found that you need to hide food, mislead others, and schedule your bingeing and purging cycle in order to keep bulimia in your life. If you're ready to ditch bulimia and make room for the real friends in your life, you can. This book will show you how.

The Bulimia Workbook for Teens presents 42 exercises that will help you end the chaos of bulimia so that you can focus on becoming the person you really want to be. These exercises teach skills for overcoming bulimia based in cognitive behavioral therapy, a kind of therapy that psychologists use and research has shown really helps.

The skills in this workbook will help you to:
• Build the strength to reduce your dependence on bulimia
• Overcome perfectionism and be kinder toward yourself and your body
• Manage difficult emotions without bingeing and purging
• Transcend bulimia by accepting and loving yourself unconditionally

Customer Reviews (3)

Honest Hope
I read your book last week and it was very good!I was impressed not only with the undertaking of writing the book itself, but with the real, honest, open and straight forward way in which you talk about your struggles.It is an inspiration to anyone who struggles with an addiction of any kind.I don't often get to discuss bulimia with my patients because most young girls won't admit to it.But when I do find someone struggling with an eating disorder, especially if they are Christian, I will recommend that they read your book.Your personal journey of recovery, as the subtitle calls it, reads like a companion talking to the reader.I think this approach would be very helpful for a young person struggling to admit and accept their disorder to realize that it is a real problem, they are not crazy and there is hope.Thank you for the gift of sharing your story!I am certain many people will benefit from your courage.

Powerful story
The author's story is powerful.Her struggling from the depths of despair and self-loathing to confidence and being able to help others is inspirational.Any man or woman fighting against an eating disorder should gain hope, strength and "techniques" for survival from this book.

amazing insights!
I have struggled with an eating disorder for a long time and read many books on it, but this one really broke through to the core of my being.I'm going to read it over and over.It gave me a lot of hope and I think it'd help anyone with not only any addiction but just whoever is struggling to grow closer to God amidst life's "stuff". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Two Week Program to Stop Binging
Lindsey Hall cured herself after nine years of bulimia. Her books have helped thousands of bulimics in their own recoveries. They are used in more than 750 colleges and by 4000 professionals who treat eating disorders.

This book includes:
* Insight from 217 recovered and recovering bulimics
* Answers to questions most often asked about bulimia
* Lindsey's own inspiring story, Eat Without Fear
* Things to do instead of binging
* A "Guide for Support Groups"
* Specific Advice for Loved-Ones
* "A Two-Week Program to Stop Binging"
--- from book's back cover ... Read more

Product Description
Early treatment literature on anorexia nervosa and bulimia reported almost exclusively on brief treatment approaches that entailed either psychopharmacological or cognitive-behavioral interventions. While this literature demonstrated that one-third of these patients were treatable with brief therapy and another one third showed improvement, the final one-third of these patients did not respond to brief interventions. Recent research indicates that this last group of patients may also suffer from significant personality disorders or Axis II co-morbidity. Considered difficult to treat, these patients require longer term, informed individual psychotherapy. Designed specifically to address the challenges of this difficult-to-treat population, this volume is the first to focus exclusively on exploring eating disorders from a psychodynamic perspective. ... Read more

Product Description
“Appetite for Life is a breakthrough in the field of eating disorders and for those who suffer from them. Through real-life stories of inspiration and recovery, Margie Ryerson’s fresh, effective approach proves that it is possible to triumph over eating disorders and live a healthy, happy life. Not only will I use Margie’s powerful examples in my own practice, I will also recommend her book to all my clients, their families, and all the eating disorder professionals I know.”
—Debra Waterhouse MPH, RD, best-selling author of Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell and Outsmarting the Mother/Daughter Food Trap

Customer Reviews (5)

Heartfelt and Excellent
I'm 18 years old and suffer from anorexia. I am currently in the process of recovering. I really enjoyed reading this book because it gave me hope that I can recover. There were also some very useful tips and suggestions mentioned. However, my only qualm is the fact that more than one of the stories focused on how having children saved the eating disorder sufferer's life. I can appreciate this and while it's a very valid point, it is not a tool I can currently use. I only wish there were more examples in regards to how people found a life outside of their abusive relationships with food.

If you struggle with an eating disorder, I would HIGHLY recommend "Appetite for Life."

A decent overview of eating disorders
As an eating disorder counselor, I've worked with over two thousand women with eating disorders at an inpatient treatment facility.This book gives a good overview of what an eating disorder is, what it can do to a life, and the great changes that come with recovery.But it is just that, an overview.Because the stories are short, they cannot paint a deep picture of who these people (in the book) are, or the true self-destructive nature of eating disorders.This book is inspiring in that you will read about several people who have made significant changes in their lives for the better, but you will not come away with a particularly deep understanding of the diseases.This is a good book to read if you are hopeless about your own eating disorder, but not if you want to learn about eating disorders overall.

A Great Approach
I was very impressed with this book. I found that I could not even put it down! There is something wonderful about reading a book that focuses on people's lives and how they overcame terrible situations. "Appetite for Life" approaches eating disorders from a different angle, and I have already told all my friends, especially those with young daughters, to read it!

"Interesting and Educational"
"Appetite for Life" is one of the most interesting books that I have read on the subject of eating disorders. Reading about seven people and their experiences made the problem much more understandable than just a regular how-to book. I like how the author combines these stories and examples from her therapy practice. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about eating disorders.

Heart, Hope and really good information....
Having gone through my own recovery from compulsive overeating, I have found that books on this topic have often been either over-simplified and condescending, or complex and intimidating.Personal memoirs have been either overly dramatic and maudlin, or saccharinly sweet.Ryerson's compilation of stories is refreshingly free of all of these extremes.She adds clear prose and heartful insights to her clients' stories, so that the book reflects a tone of partnership, the kind of thing all of us could use when grappling with this topic:We're not alone, even when we might feel alone."Appetite for Life" did indeed inspire me - to keep on keeping on with my recovery, and in the process, I was moved to tears, smiles and some of my own insights about myself. This is the kind of book that would be great to read even if you're not a recovering addict - but want to be informed, and read some plain-ole-good stories while doing so.And what a gift this book will be for friends and family members still struggling. ... Read more

Product Description
The Overcoming Eating Disorders, Second Edition program addresses the cognitive-behavioral treatment of Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. CBT has been proven the most effective treatment for helping patients improve their eating habits and overcome their disorder.

The treatment described is divided into three overlapping phases: behavior change, identifying binge triggers, and relapse prevention.The main focus of the program is the normalization of eating. Patients use self-monitoring forms to track their eating habits on a daily basis while they work toward establishing a pattern of 3 meals and 2 snacks per day eaten at regular intervals. Once a regular pattern of eating has been established, patients move on to recognizing and eliminating their triggers for binging and purging. CBT techniques like problem-solving and cognitive restructuring help patients deal with negative mood states, faulty interpersonal interactions, and errors in thinking. The final phase of treatment consists of a review of the positive changes that have occurred during treatment, as well as a discussion of any residual problems and ways to handle setbacks or lapses. Homework exercises are assigned at each session and play an important role in keeping patients motivated throughout the duration of treatment.

This newly revised and updated Therapist Guide includes expanded information regarding weight and shape concerns and an entirely new chapter on adapting the treatment for use as a time-limited, therapist-assisted self-help program.Complete with step-by-step instructions for delivering the treatment, this guide is an indispensable resource that no clinician can do without.

TreatmentsThatWorkTM represents the gold standard of behavioral healthcare interventions!



·All programs have been rigorously tested in clinical trials and are backed by years of research


·A prestigious scientific advisory board, led by series Editor-In-Chief David H. Barlow, reviews and evaluates each intervention to ensure that it meets the highest standard of evidence so you can be confident that you are using the most effective treatment available to date


·Our books are reliable and effective and make it easy for you to provide your clients with the best care available


·Our corresponding workbooks contain psychoeducational information, forms and worksheets, and homework assignments to keep clients engaged and motivated


·A companion website (www.oup.com/us/ttw) offers downloadable clinical tools and helpful resources


·Continuing Education (CE) Credits are now available on select titles in collaboration with PsychoEducational Resources, Inc. (PER) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

CBTBN
I love this book. It enabled me to ask the hard questions about bulemia and to work in a way that have been evidence based, rather that making it up as i went along. It helped me gain confidence in working with those with bulemia, using a CBT approach. Using the workbook enabled my client to work towards discharge and a beter future. Thanks!! ... Read more

Product Description
Filling the void in written resources for teenage girls with eating disorders, Perk! is the first title in Gurze's new education and prevention series for kids, teens, and young adult. Perk, whose real name is Priscilla, is a high school student with self-doubts, weight concerns, and puppy love--all of which impel her into bulimia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Amazing book
Although this was not the highest-quality book I have ever read in my life, I do not think that "Perk" glorified any of the aspects of bulimia like so many other eating disorder texts.I identified with Perk's situation and liked that the author 1) never mentioned specific weights and 2) did not set up a "perfect life" for her main character. Perk emphasizes that one can have an eating disorder at ANY weight-that you do not have to be emaciated to be tortured by eating disorders.

I can relate to this book
I read this book because I am a Bulimic myself and I understood what Perk was going through, food can be your best friend when no one to talks to you and when your parents are to busy to pay attention to you, but it can also be your worst enemy.
For Perk it was hard to resist food, when she is feeling down she stocks up on food and feels guilty about it later on.
This is a very good book especially if you are a Bulimic, you can really relate to the character in this book.

Not the best I have read
Perk is a novel about one girl's struggle with her family issues, and how it leads her to bulimia. Her family is cruel to her, and seem to care about her little sister more than they do about Perk. This leads Perk to binge and purge. This becomes the most important thing to her until something serious happens and Perk realizes that she can no longer live this way.
The ending is poor. It makes recovery from an eating disorder seem very easy and like eating disorders are more of a choice then an illness. However, it is a good read if you are as obsessed with eating disorder literature as I am.

Um...
Okay, this book is insultingly bad.

Liza (as in Minelli? or as in Gibbons?) is, I hope, writing for the pre-teen crowd.... but still, Judy Blume she's not. When I was twelve, I could still reccognize (bad writing) when I read it.

If your daughter wants to read this book, give her a copy of The Bell Jar (at least that book has some cultural significance). Let her thank you later....

simplistic and pedantic
A young adult book that's written to be educational rather than as a piece of literature. And it shows. Perk is a sympathetic character and her disorder is portrayed realistly enough, but the conclusion of this book is far too easy and cheerful. You'll get a small look into the life of a bulimic, but this book wants to leave you thinking recovery is easy and your life suddenly becomes perfect. ... Read more

Product Description
Dr. Sacker and Dr. Zimmer explain in full detail the causes and symptoms of these disorders and how and where to find help. Using case histories and first-person accounts by patients, their families, their physicians and friends, Dying To Be Thin is the complete resource for anyone concerned with these dangerous disorders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Dying to be thin
This is a great book and very informative. There are accounts of what anorexia is truly like from people who suffered from this. It made it less difficult to see how and why they become this way.

A Life Vest Thrown Into A Stormy Ocean
With society placing the stress it does on females being physically thin, I think the numbers this book quotes for the totals of US women with serious eating disorders is, if anything, on the low side. I along with virtually every woman I know has at one time or another had what amounts to an eating disorder and in a few cases, had them to a serious extent. With body image being as important as it is, particularly with teenage girls, I'm pessimistic that this book or anything else can do more than try to spur the one suffering from this insidious disease to WANT to do something about her affliction. I read this book because I was curious to see if things have gotten any better in the last decade as far as treatment of eating disorders goes, and also in the level of collective recognition among young women that a disorder is there in their own lives. From what I read here, I'd say the answer to both is no. On the positive side, this book did one of the better examples of addressing this life-threatening situation and if it can be gotten to the right hands, it could truthfully save some lives that might be in danger right at this very moment.

Amazing - the authors have an in depth view of the disease
Dying to be Thin helped me in ways beyond measure. I knew that a lot of what I was doing to my body was destructive, but only after reading the book did I want to seek help to end the disease- or try to at least. A big thank you and hugs to the authors.

Wonderful book. It gave me the courage to quit.
I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who suffer from anorexia or bullemia.I purchased this book at the height of mydisease in 1997 and it gave me the courage to quit.The stories are realand so easy to relate to.I cried through half the book realizing howpathetic I was.I would love to someday personally thank the authors...

Excellent and complete case studies-format; packed with info
I read this book as my daughter was hospitalized for anorexia.The fear and guilt were HUGE as I began reading (they still are) but Zimmer's and Sacker's work as an M.D. specializing in Eating Disorders has provided much-needed insight into sufferers' motivations and pain.My daughter, age 14, marked all the pages that "spoke" to her...she marked MANY pages. Authors Zimmer and Sacker attempt, and for the most part succeed, in explaining all variations of EDs. Esp poignant for me were the comments from a mother, and her powerlessness to stop her daughter from destroying herself through starvation.I bought several copies to distribute to family members so that they can support my daughter in recovery.Very useful is a section for educators on how they can assist a student who has an ED. ... Read more