Do you wake up every morning marveling at the infinite capabilities of your body?
Do you see the possibility of enjoying the food you like without incessantly worrying about your ability to stop when you're full?
Could you believe that our bodies follow a higher intelligence but our brains get in the way too often, too much?
Did you ever wonder Why only humans (and pets) are the only creatures capable of suffering from eating disorders & subsequent body image and self-esteem issues?
American poet and writer Archibald MacLeish once said, “The only thing about a man that is a man . . . is his mind. Everything else you can find in a pig or a horse.â€
Yet a horse or a pig don't suffer from obesity or eating disorders (unless domesticated). Clearly, the root of the issue is not our bodies.
Dr. Seif struggled with binge eating and poor self-image for years. Like many, he has been sold on the notion of dieting. He read and listened to countless self-help material to strengthen his willpower and resolve in the hope of attaining the body he always wanted. A body that would enable him to pursue his more daring aspirations. Aspirations that only resided in his fantasy.
Despite his sincerest intent and relentless efforts, the results were always puzzling. His eating disorder deepened and he felt worse. Life was a perpetual cycle of bingeing, guilt, stress, jaw-clenching attempts and inevitably succumbing.
It wasn't until he had an epiphany (read about it in chapter 9) that he finally stopped fighting and became invested in making himself feel better NOW without repressing his emotions or resorting to bone-chattering willpower attempts.
It was only then that Dr. Seif was introduced to how the mind works, how to prime it for learning, the truth about the higher intelligence governing our bodies and the wisdom of our ancestors.
But his most astounding discovery was the reason for the secrecy around this knowledge.
Choice is what you truly have as to whether continue your trial and error journey until you stumble upon the truth (which you eventually will if you really want to) or follow someone who already did and made it work for his benefit and later on for the benefit of his patients (being specialized in clinical nutrition).
The Fat Kid Within is born out of compassion nurtured by sound scientific evidence. It is not a diet book with food restrictions nor it is a philosophical book that discusses abstracts.
Today, Dr. Seif is an avid fitness enthusiast ( see pictures in author bio ), he completes triathlons and is relentless about continuously celebrating his body in new undertakings and spreading knowledge.
In the last chapter, after discussing how the brain works and sprinkling bits and pieces of his personal story, Dr. Seif walks you through how he used his approach, rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy, to help his patient Susan break free from poor eating habits and how you can too.
Here are some of the things you will learn:
- The friction between your brain’s cognitive and emotional faculties.
- Perception and memory of what is pleasant and what isn't and how we can exert influence over our experience without jaw-clenching attempts.
- Movement and how the body can affect the brain's chemical makeup and how it compares to the use of SSRI antidepressants.
- Our bodies ability to push the brain into growing new brain cells and how this biological phenomenon can literally change our perception of our world.
-The truth about the new age hype for meditation, mindfulness, and yoga and whether it could serve your transformation journey.
A wise man once said:
When a superior man hears of the Tao (the way),
he immediately begins to embody it.
When a foolish man hears of the Tao,
he laughs out loud.
This book is an invitation for you to join in becoming your superior self.
