REVIEW: “The Eden Diet” by Rita Hancock, MD
“Listen for hunger pangs, and when you feel them,
eat small quantities of the foods you enjoy.”
(from page 182)
That, right there, basically sums up this book’s premise. 
THE EDEN DIET is a good guide for learning how to eat according to your “internal weight control system”. Dr. Rita’s approach is very freedom-focused, and she gives people ‘permission’ to eat what they truly enjoy, no matter their starting weight. There’s no guilt or condemnation here! She, herself, knows what it’s like to struggle with being overweight, as she lost 75 lbs with this way of eating, and has kept it off (if imperfectly) for over 25 years.
Even though the program is a Christian one, and God is a primary focus, this book is not at all “preachy”. I think, even if you don’t have a Christian worldview, you could still read this book for its weight loss advice/plan without feeling like you’ve been beat over the head with the Christian message.
The challenges presented inside — from the 7-Day Challenge, to the 30-Day Blocks, to the Apple Test — are all very helpful, but they’re not so complicated or intimidating as to scare you off. They have just enough to them to motivate you.
Many topics are covered inside, including (but not limited to): whether or not to eat breakfast, how to handle buffet meals and other special occasions, food- and people-triggers, and how to still eat when your family does.
I really liked how, at the end of each chapter (and even at the end of some sub-sections), Dr. Rita would give you a summary of what you’ve just read in order to help cement the ideas presented.
Overall, this is a fantastic book, and a terribly sensible plan. I definitely give this book my highest recommendation (and will be back in a few months to let you know how it’s working for me!). 
5*****
(Rated: A+)
Wow. Sounds like something I should read for SURE.
Good advice but my hunger more than pangs…lol Check out my teaser here:
http://bookventuresbookclub.blogspot.com/2010/03/teaser-tuesdays_30.html
http://forgetfulone.blogspot.com/2010/03/teaser-tuesdays-is-weekly-book-meme.html
Sounds like good advice! Thanks for hosting this great meme!
Here’s mine: http://carolinebookbinder.blogspot.com/2010/03/teaser-tuesdays-from-mixed-up-files.html
Luckily my diet consists of: eat what you want, in moderation, and walk a half marathon twice a year (with training). Seems to work.
There’s an interesting post over at the Health Journal Club that makes the case that people should just not eat anything that wasn’t a food 100 years ago. Gets rid of the aspartame, bleached GM flour, high fructose corn syrup garbage they try to pass off as food these days. If interested you can read on it here,
http://healthjournalclub.blogspot.com/2010/01/100-year-diet.html
Thank you — and, while that’s all well & good, this book’s premise is that you don’t *have* to give up anything — not even the HFCS that everyone says is sooooo bad! You can eat foods that have it… just make sure you remember M-O-D-E-R-A-T-I-O-N!
Be FREE from the dieting dogma!
Hi, Nice post!
I really like it especially the part “Even though the program is a Christian one, and God is a primary focus, this book is not at all “preachy”. I think, even if you don’t have a Christian worldview, you could still read this book for its weight loss advice/plan without feeling like you’ve been beat over the head with the Christian message.”
I will surely reading your other posts.
Thanks!
The Eden Diet? I bet it must involve an apple. Thanks for the info. I’ll buy the book once I lay my hands on the nearest bookstore’s rack.