Elizabeth Somer

I have generally had a love/hate relationship with self-help or improvement books. Some of them are tedious, some are preachy, some are downright boring and others reek with the obvious intent to make a buck (and make that buck alone). I was pleasantly surprised with Eat Your Way to Happiness.

I found the writing fresh and easy to take in, without an ounce of preachiness or self-righteousness. The book is broken into easy to follow and read chapters, complete with accounts of "real people" that Ms. Somer has counseled and advised.

The main proponent to Eat Your Way to Happiness is the old adage "Your are what you eat". Ms. Somer takes this saying and runs with it - - encouraging readers to cut processed foods, fast foods, foods heavy in sodium and soft drinks out of our diets, replacing them with natural, whole foods, the right kind of carbs and fats, and a better combination of foods that will keep you energized and work with your brain chemistry to keep you calmer and happier (and therefore more likely to stick with the diet). And yes, chocolate and wine can be good for you!

Eat Your Way to Happiness not only mentions several different types of diets, such as Mediterranean and Vegetarian, but also includes suggested menus, recipes and a shopping list. It also encourages the reader to combine better eating with exercise, shaking off the notion that any diet alone will successfully instigate weight loss.

I enjoyed and appreciated this book so much that I began following some of its tenants (not all of them . . .yet). I have noticed a difference in my general demeanor - - less tired, more energy and less stressed - - which is perhaps the best recommendation a self-help book can get.

To anyone who is interested in changing their diet in order to lose weight, or simply to improve the way they feel, and especially for those who dislike any type of dieting, Eat Your Way to Happiness is an excellent choice and I would highly recommend it.… (mehr)

This is not a typical diet book in that it doesn't spend a lot of time outlining a meal plan or giving you workouts to follow. Instead, it attempts to synthesize 10 mistakes (or "habits") that women make in their diets. It then spends a chapter on each, going over why people might make these mistakes and what they can do to avoid them.

Not every chapter was super useful, but I did find it enlightening and fairly dense with information. I think one of my biggest revelations was from the "Skip the Broccoli, Eat the Fries" chapter - I tend to think I eat more vegetables than I actually do. I used to think I ate fairly healthfully, but when you really look at what you're eating (or not eating), it's quite surprising. I think I also tend to overestimate portions when I cook for myself which is why I like to stick to Lean Cuisines and other frozen dinners when I'm trying to diet.

Anyway, it's not going to revolutionize your thinking about diets, but it's a good synthesis of information about why your diet might be failing and what you can do about it.… (mehr)