TURNING FAT INTO LOVE

A down-to-earth approach to weight loss that begins with loving oneself.

Even a cursory glance at bookstore shelves will reveal a glut of self-help and diet books, and it can be difficult for readers to wade through the competing theories. Kerkhoff, however, has discovered a new way to slim down, not by cutting out a particular food or exercising until you drop, but by listening to the real emotional needs beneath the cravings. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a young woman, Kerkhoff became motivated to take care of herself by drawing emotional strength from the love of others and, eventually, her love for herself. The wisdom she’s gleaned from her own experience may be useful to many, regardless of whether they’re looking to lose weight. The first step in Kerkhoff’s program is to become your “authentic” self by truly engaging with the world and your feelings at any given moment. Once you participate in the present moment, she says, you can form meaningful relationships. She recommends cultivating at least eight such relationships, which show you that you’re worthy of love and have a right to be valued for who you are; they also teach you how to interpret others’ behavior in new, less harmful ways. Other steps include retraining your brain to frame setbacks in a positive light, taking responsibility for your circumstances and setting a course of action to improve them, managing the fear of failure, and exercising your mind. What sets Kerkhoff’s approach apart from others is her philosophy that the self responds best to love and gentleness, not criticism and hatred: “I don’t want you to feel deprived; I want you to feel fulfilled. I don’t want you to feel scared; I want you to feel confident. I don’t want you to feel alone; I want you to always feel good in your own company. Because it matters. It is practice.”

A debut diet book with an effective method and a warm heart.