Spiritual starting point to healthy changes
I seem to keep recommending Marianne Williamson’s book “A Course in Weight Loss.” So seems like a great book to review.
A Course in Weight Loss helps people with binge eating, those trying to lose weight, and eating disorders. If you are seeking a connection to God/spirituality/higher power, recognizing your value and realizing your worth is powerful. Not to come from a place of shame, but to feel loved. The cycle of self-hate is not the place to make healthy change from, it won’t work. Even though so many people who binge and find that they overeat feel so much self-hate. Does this sound familiar?
Many people who I treat in therapy are trying to make healthy changes but have some anxiety or depression or trauma that makes it hard, sometimes in surprising ways. So to be proactive, they get counseling support so they can keep going. I notice that many of them don’t go to church or a formal spiritual community, but do find strength in spiritual answers as part of their growth.
The name of the book is somewhat deceptive, this book is so much about surrendering unhealthy eating habits to a higher power. And the course is a course in your eating habits and their connection to your relationship with God (however you express that). It’s about loving yourself. The author does have prayers in each chapter. I would encourage people who don’t feel comfortable formally praying to just try to say the words out loud to yourself.
“A Course in Weight Loss” can be grounding for that purpose. The book has action steps along the way that are small rituals to recognizing your relationship with food and giving food a healthy place in your life, and honoring the goodness in yourself. Many people who are trying to lose weight or living with eating disorders feel such shame and hatred, and feel more of it as they try to find a healthier pattern. When they are most motivated, they may be feeling their worst.
Not from the book, but a reason this book can be a good support: we make great changes when we 1) know why we want to make them and 2) feel good about our ability. That feeling good grows on itself and becomes a “feel-good snowball” and we take more and more healthy steps that build on each other that way.
If you are interested in other books on binge eating/eating disorders/body positivity:
The Parent’s Guide to Eating Disorders
Intuitive Eating
Life without Ed
Body Kindness
8 Keys to Recovery
Health at Every Size
