Here's the thing. I usually don't rate or review books I DNF, even when that DNF-ing is very intentional, but I felt like this book could be actively harmful and, as it has had popularity and success as a Christian book I felt compelled to say something.First, somehow, despite it being abundantly clear in the subtitle, jacket copy, and cover imagery, I missed that this book is first and foremost about dieting. In my head-copy, the book was about our tendency to idolatry and the ways we try and f...

I hate to give Lysa one star, because I imagine her heart is in the right place, but this is the same legalistic message that I’ve read in other Christian weight loss books. Try really really hard and pray a lot and then God will become more important to you than food and then you’ll have self control. But I have done this multiple times. I have even succeeded in sticking with it for a few years and losing weight. But then I get tired of “being strong” and “controlling myself” and “being good” a...

I was really interested in exploring the spiritual connection between food and God. She made a few interesting points, but seemed to contradict herself throughout the book. While she claimed that diets don’t work, and your worth is not measured by the number on the scale, she’d go on to write things that sounded like fat shaming to put it nicely. Lots of diet culture to be found here, with frankly quite mean and negative self-talk. It was really frustrating to get through. Would not recommend. E...

I didn't take this book as a lose weight book since I read so many of those in the past; moreover, it was about her food addiction and craved it more than her relationship with God (which some did lose weight once they changed their mindset on how they viewed or thought about food).What moved me when I first started reading/reviewing the book before church service, November 20, 2011, was the breakdown of cravings (which I also shared in my Facebook groups):1 John 2:15-16--passage details three w...

I loved this book. I have been struggling with weight like thousands of other people, and like thousands of other people of have tried many things. I would lose weight and then gain it back. If you struggle with weight and are a Christian this book will open your eyes to a new way of looking at food and how you can change your life from wanting food to wanting to be closer to God. I am not on a diet, I am on a spiritual journey. What a wonderful concept. Lysa TerKeurst takes you on a walk throug...

It took me six months to read this book. Although I really liked it -- and I want to go back and read parts of it again -- I just couldn't take it in big chunks. I would read a chapter and mull it over for quite a while -- but then often forget what I read. But I think Lysa TerKeurst really got it right.

There were a lot of things that I found problematic in this book, but the most important one is this: TerKeurst makes weight loss a spiritual journey in which the dieter grows closer to God by denying themselves (certain) foods. There is nothing wrong with turning to God in prayer for help in achieving a goal, nor is there anything wrong with denying oneself something for spiritual purposes--like fasting. But I think there is a danger in trying to put those two things together. Fasting isn't abo...

The author and I have different definitions of making healthy changes. She gave up all bread, pasta, potatoes, rice and sugar and viewed eating any of those as "messing up" or "cheating." I am not eliminating sweets and starches from my life but am aiming for moderation, so I didn't relate to her in this. I did like her larger point that often when we think we are craving unhealthy foods, we are using them to cover a deeper issues and a craving for God. She had some wonderful points, but I also

That was an excellent book.It took me a while to finish it because I started it kind of cavalierly because it was the next one on the shelf (I'm taking advantage of my mom's book shelf while I'm here), and well, I was convinced it wouldn't really have anything to say to me. I am nothing if I'm not a highly balanced and controlled person. At least, in the area of food anyway. So, I was like, well, I'll read it, mark it off the list and move on to something juicier. I got about two thirds of the w...

This is a personal review for me. I have struggled with my weight since I was a teenager. I've tried every fad diet, some with great success, but something always tripped me up. The reviews of this book are quite mixed, so I was hesitant to pick it up. I've never been one for the "self-help" variety, but after seeing Lysa speak, I decided to take the chance on this one. I was raised a Christian, but it wasn't until about a year ago that I truly gave my life over to Christ and began to take my fa...

I love all of Lysa's books, I really do. I learn so much through her teaching and life experiences.This one though, I did find myself wondering about it and not too sure I would recommend it to just anyone.Definitely a book for a person who has been a believer for awhile and mature in Christ. I would hate for a newly saved person or one who is struggles with eating disorders to read it and get discouraged. This is her story of how she took on her food issues and her spiritual journey. It’s her s...

This book reads just like her blog. You can imagine yourself sitting down and chatting over a cup of coffee, which makes it very easy to listen to. There are a half dozen stand out statements that I would have liked to copied to my journal, but with the nature of audiobooks, it's said and then it's gone. And since I listen while I drive mostly, rewinding and copying it down isn't an option.I would recommend this book, I liked it, but didn't love it. But being that it is in the VB Overdrive catal...

This was a hard book to read - the words themselves are not difficult but seeing their truth as reflected in your own life in ways that aren't pretty is hard! I highly recommend this to any Christian, woman or not (though it is directed to women, I think men could get a lot from this book too). It comes down to examining the value we give food in our lives - to comfort, console, and reward ourselves, and whether it displaces God. This was so challenging and full of truth - highly recommended. I

I cannot believe how high this book is rated. An incredibly harmful book for those that struggle with eating...tying weight with spirituality is dangerous. So disappointing that a woman wrote this for other women.

I had one major problem with this book: it didn't really speak to me. I couldn't really wrap my head around the whole "God cares about what you eat" concept. I know it was more about obedience to God than eating 4 peanuts or 54. I tried to read this as one chapter a week with some co-workers but it became apparent that this timeline was way too slow and ineffectual. So we disbanded the group and agreed to finish in our timeline and answer the questions. So I did that.Even then, I just didn't fee...

Great book! It's a challenge for all if us not to "live to eat" when there's so much enticing food. Keeping a check on why we eat is very needed. God alone fills all those cravings which we instead fill with overindulgence.

If you're the target audience, I can see the worth in this book. I was not it. This isn't a book about food issues; it's a book about weight issues. I struggle with craving and unhealthy relationships with food, but not with the number on the scale. Half way through the introduction it was obvious that Lysa and food is indistinguishable from Lysa and her weight ~ even when she is viewing them with a healthy perspective. I kept skimming until I hit a point talking about "skinny girls." They were

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and don't understand the bad reviews. Yes, this book is targeted toward women who struggle with food. What's wrong with that? There are plenty of other books targeted for other groups of people, it that interest you more. The subtitle tells you what this book will be about, so there are no surprises there. I enjoyed this book because I thought it was practical. It wasn't preachy but included great examples (half of which I have used myself as excuses) of reasons we...

I can only think of about two books I’ve read that were worse than this. I have a lot of respect for the author I’ve read other books by her and truly enjoy them. However, I found this book to be dreadful. First off what kind of friends does this woman have that are constantly talking about people and judging them and remarking about how they physically look instead of who they are and how they make people feel? I about lost it when she said her friend in gym class was talking about how her sist...

"I truly think on some level most of us girls struggle with this whole 'getting healthy' thing. After all, like I've said before, the very downfall of humanity happened around a circumstance where a woman was tempted with food. So, I do think this is an issue God takes very seriously."I think Lysa did an excellent job unearthing the spiritual side of disordered eating. She writes from her own struggles and victories and so she brings a great deal of wisdom to the table, especially since she reli...