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4.22.2011

You Can Love Food and Still Live Well

Can you love food and still lose weight and keep it off? In Love Food and Live Well, author Chantel Hobbs says you can, but she defines “love” in a different way than most overeaters would. She teaches that attitudes about food are crucial to getting past unhealthy cravings and binging.

The principles in this book aren’t new. Hobbs advocates eating less and exercising more. She also talks about the 80/20 principle, a concept that’s been around for a while in the Love Food and Live Well: Lose Weight, Get Fit, and Taste Life at Its Very Bestdieting world. You eat foods that give maximum fuel to the body 80 percent of the time and splurge 20 percent of the time on things that aren’t as healthy. Some other authors advocate a 90/10 principle which is similar.

The book includes a few recipes and a section of exercises with photos of each exercise in the back. These use a balance ball. She also talks about interval training and has a chart showing the amount of exertion one ought to feel at each level.

The unique thing about Hobbs’ book is that she brings a faith component into the process of losing weight. She talks about how God has played a role in her own success. She says those who want to make a change can’t manage it the old way.  “You need the guarantee of knowing that surrendering to the living God your life, your own strength, and your ability to change is a daily occurrence. You have to lay down your desires whenever they get in the way of what God wants to do in your life” (p. 57).

She talks a lot about “the deal” that God offers. And because of that deal “you can be free to love food and live well for a lifetime” (p. 57). I’m not sure it’s quite as simple as Hobbs says it is, but I’m willing to give it a shot and see how her plan works out for me. What made it click for her, isn’t necessarily what will make it click for everyone, but people who have tried weight loss without the faith element ought to read this book.

I love Hobbs’ writing style. She’s conversational and easy to read. Her own story is very inspirational. Anyone who has lost 200 pounds and kept if off knows what it’s really like. I’d pick up a book from someone like Chantel who has been there any day before someone who has never shared my battle.

I give the book 3.5 stars. I'd rate it higher if it said something that was brand new. But those looking for new ideas will be disappointed.

I received this book from WaterBrook Press as part of the "I Blog for Books" program in exchange for my honest review. See my page about blogging for books.

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