Shades of Hope: A Program to Stop Dieting and Start Living

by Tennie McCarty Narrated by C. J. Critt, Ashley Judd

Overview

One of the foremost experts on eating addiction, Tennie McCarty uses her own inspiring story, as well as the treatment from her famous retreat center, Shades of Hope, to help readers break the endless cycle of diets.

This is not a guide to losing weight. There are millions of people who bounce from one diet to another without understanding why because they never look beyond their plates. McCarty believes that food addiction is a physical and mental problem with a spiritual solution. An interactive book that asks readers to be a part of their healing, Shades of Hope shares the teachings, therapies, exercises, and mind-set that McCarty has used and developed throughout her career in treating addiction. Drawing from her own personal story, as well as those of her patients, McCarty shows readers how they can create new relationships-with food, their loved ones, and themselves.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

McCarty and Shades of Hope, her treatment center in Buffalo Gap, Tex., are familiar to fans of Oprah, Dr. Oz, and the Lifetime TV show, Ruby. During her years of success helping overeaters, bulimics, anorexics, and multiple-dependence drug, alcohol, and food addicts confront their disease and heal, McCarty has advocated an approach based on Alcoholic Anonymous’s 12 Step Program. A folksy and straight-forward professional, Tennie has seen it all and learned from her own addiction and recovery that eating disorders respond well to addiction treatment. The book suggests: Admission, which identifies why food addicts seek to fill a void and how to face the problem; Beliefs, about family roles and body image; Decision, which offers a key 12 Step spiritual component; Action, outlining the steps required to process such emotions as anger, fear, and loneliness; Results, about making amends and embracing feelings. Unlike other diet and nutrition books, there is scant scientific information about food and addiction, i.e., why sugar, flour, and caffeine cause physiological dependence, or why “trigger foods” change brain chemistry. The value of this book lies in its wakeup call about dysfunctional relationships to food. As hopeful as this book is, the remedy it provides is one that succeeds best in a therapeutic community. Agent: Trena Keating. (Apr.)

From the Publisher

"A pioneer in her field who is highly regarded by her peers, [Tennie] combines canny knowledge with intuitive genius, welded together by the hard-earned gifts of her exquisite empathy. She is brilliant." Ashley Judd, from the foreword

"… this book will touch on you and change your life. Whether struggling with stuff like food, relationships, shopping, or bottom-basement self-esteem, Tennie shows you how to interrupt the blame, shame and guilt to find your inner good-good self, whatever that may be. The only question now is: Are you ready for her? I hope so. Here's to that hope . . . in every shade you find it!" -Brad Lamm, Addiction Specialist

"As I read Shades of Hope, I felt as though Tennie were sitting across from me sharing her wisdom. Tennie has given a miraculous gift to us all, she has brought Shades of Hope to us. . .-Shades of Hope will open your eyes, and you will start living. Start turning the pages, and begin the life you were supposed to live!"--Ruby Gettinger, author of Ruby's Diary: Reflections on All I've Lost and Gained

AUGUST 2012 - AudioFile

The author is a recovering binge eater and bulimic whose eating disorder treatment center involves the familiar 12 steps of AA and a lot of structure and emotional work. Her narrative unfolds gradually as the book describes how pathological overeating is often rooted in family-of-origin identity issues, low self-esteem, and co-dependent relationship patterns. Narrator C.J. Critt delivers this material with a steady tone and a good ear for phrasing. She tilts her performance toward the dramatic, which works well with the many inspirational anecdotes but less well with the insights and recommendations. The book’s approach to recovery involves acknowledging the power of one’s addiction to food, following rigid food plans, and understanding how particular emotions cause destructive eating patterns. T.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171813710
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	03/06/2012
Edition description:	Unabridged

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