Since I began this weight-loss project, a bunch of kind folks have sent me information about books and other resources on the topic that they have found useful.

I realized, looking at all these recommendations, that I’ve been given a great resource…So why should I keep it all to myself?

In no particular order, here are the recommendations I’ve been given. I make no claims about any of them. Please feel free to add your ideas in the comments, and if you have given me a recommendation but I didn’t get it in here, I apologize. [Read more…]

“It’s not bad enough that I have to eat healthy, wholesome food,” I complained to my wife, Fawn. “The real kicker, the real thing that’s driving me crazy, is that I have to dedicate so much time to preparing it!”

I’d been on my weight-loss journey for about two months. I’d lost 11 pounds, and felt good about that.

But at the same time, I’d been starting to feel genuinely harassed by having to prepare my own food. And I was grumbling to Fawn about it. [Read more…]

I’ve been writing about the emotional journey of my weight-loss project, but obviously there’s more to weight loss than emotions.

There’s also science.

I recently found a book that does a great job explaining the science of overeating, and today I’d like to share with you some of what I’ve learned from it.

The book is called “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite.” It’s by a former US FDA head, David Kessler, MD.

You can get the book on Amazon.com here.

In this post I’ll share some of the quotes from the book that really struck me, and my thoughts about them. But be aware — there’s a lot in this book I won’t be sharing with you. I won’t be sharing his research about how the food industry works to “load and layer” food so you’ll become addicted to it. I won’t be sharing the theory of treatment of “Conditioned Hypereating.” I won’t be sharing many other parts of the book. If you like this blog post, “The End of Overeating” may be worth checking out. [Read more…]

“I want to eat whatever I want, as much as I want, whenever I want, and never exercise. That’s what I want.”

My wife Fawn had asked me what I wanted my relationship with food to be like. Hearing me answer, I think she was starting to regret having asked.

“I want to eat hot fudge sundaes. I want to eat donuts. I want to eat chocolate chip cookies — In fact, that’s such a great idea, if I wasn’t talking to you I’d go get some cookies right now! That’s how brilliant that idea is. I want to eat what I want, when I want it, and as much as I want of it, and nobody can stop me.”

We were talking because I had committed to lose weight and become more healthy, but — and this is putting it mildly — I wasn’t feeling like doing what it would take to get those outcomes.

“Cookies, and more cookies,” I continued. “That is what I want.” [Read more…]