Thrive at Any Weight

A psychotherapist of 30 years, Nancy Ellis-Ordway explains how she helps people get off the weight loss roller coaster, make peace with food and their bodies, and improve their health to find happiness and a better quality of life.Widespread publicity about "e;the war on obesity"e; has led to pervasive anxiety, distress, and shame about eating, says psychotherapist Nancy Ellis-Ordway. Many people feel at war with their bodies rather than at home, in large part because of weight stigma and the unrelenting pursuit of thinness in America. This book offers a detailed approach for change, with a particular focus on "e;the message we give ourselves"e; when we eat, exercise, and interact with other people. This process incorporates operating from an internal locus of control as a way to improve self-esteem. Elllis-Ordway, in contrast to the "e;diet mentality"e; that is full of restrictions, first has clients focus on building self-esteem and growing a desire for self-care. She teaches clients to develop an ability to "e;listen to their own bodies"e; for guidance to eat for physical and mental health. The better we listen to and fulfill our body's needs, she explains, the better our self-esteem and health becomes, and the more we believe we are "e;worth it"e; and are able to meet our objectives.

A psychotherapist of 30 years, Nancy Ellis-Ordway explains how she helps people get off the weight loss roller coaster, make peace with food and their bodies, and improve their health to find happiness and a better quality of life.Widespread publicity about "e;the war on obesity"e; has led to pervasive anxiety, distress, and shame about eating, says psychotherapist Nancy Ellis-Ordway. Many people feel at war with their bodies rather than at home, in large part because of weight stigma and the unrelenting pursuit of thinness in America. This book offers a detailed approach for change, with a particular focus on "e;the message we give ourselves"e; when we eat, exercise, and interact with other people. This process incorporates operating from an internal locus of control as a way to improve self-esteem. Elllis-Ordway, in contrast to the "e;diet mentality"e; that is full of restrictions, first has clients focus on building self-esteem and growing a desire for self-care. She teaches clients to develop an ability to "e;listen to their own bodies"e; for guidance to eat for physical and mental health. The better we listen to and fulfill our body's needs, she explains, the better our self-esteem and health becomes, and the more we believe we are "e;worth it"e; and are able to meet our objectives.