5 Books To Read When You’re Trying To Lose Weight

Losing weight is hard, especially when you’re trying to do it on your own. But are you really alone when you have millions of books to read on the subject? Here are five all-time favorite books you should read when you’re trying to lose weight. Remember, you’re not in it alone!

1. Skinny Bitch

Skinny Bitch: A No-Nonsense, Tough-Love Guide for Savvy Girls Who Want to Stop Eating Crap Start Looking Fabulous! by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin is a must-read when you are first starting to lose weight. The authors combine their sense of humor with motivation for you to start looking at what you’re putting in your body. According to the back cover, “If you can’t take one more day of self-loathing, you’re ready to hear the truth of: you cannot keep shoveling the same crap into your mouth every day and expect to lose weight. Authors Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin are your new smart-mouthed girlfriends who won’t mince words and will finally tell you the truth about what you’re feeding yourself. And they’ll guide you on making intelligent decisions about food. They may be bitches, but they are skinny bitches. And you’ll be one too – after you get with the program and start eating right.” The back cover is harsh, yet true. You know what you’re doing wrong, and most likely it’s the food. The authors are both former models, one of which has a degree in Holistic Nutrition. So if you think tough-love is the only thing that’s going to get you motivated, this is the book for you.

Promising review: “I read this book in three days. I’ve tried to read a lot of health books before but they were all so boring they were difficult to read… Well not this one! The comical language and references while stating facts makes it a brilliant, interesting read. I’m starting my new “Skinny Bitch” lifestyle tomorrow and I can’t wait. These authors are truly inspiring and will keep you laughing at the same time throughout the book.”

2. Mindful Eating

Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food by Jan Chozen Bays is a fantastic read. This is a good book if you don’t want to follow a diet, or if following a diet simply isn’t working for you. This book will guide you in analyzing your eating habits, how you feel when you’re eating, and other tips and tricks. Here’s a look at the back cover: “Food. It should be one of life’s great pleasures, yet many of us have such a conflicted relationship with it that we miss out on that most basic of satisfactions.  But it is possible—and not really all that difficult—to reclaim the joy of eating, according to Dr. Jan Bays. Mindfulness is the key. Her approach involves bringing one’s full attention to the process of eating—to all the tastes, smells, thoughts, and feelings that arise during a meal. She shows you how to tune into your body’s own wisdom about what, when, and how much to eat, eat less while feeling fully satisfied, identify your habits and patterns with food, develop a more compassionate attitude toward your struggles with eating, and discover what you’re really hungry for. Whether you are overweight, suffer from an eating disorder, or just want to get more out of life, this book offers a simple tool that can transform your relationship with food into one of ease and delight.” This book could be the bridge between you and your positive relationship with food. Dieting doesn’t always have to be about cutting things out.

Promising review: “This is a wonderful work about our relationship with eating. This book is very well written and I like the easy peaceful style. I loved this book chapter after chapter. Americans have become estranged as a nation from our very important relationship with eating. Mindful eating is a practice that is of mega importance in our life. Read this book and shift your relationship with food.”

3. The Obesity Code

The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss (The Wellness Code) by Dr. Jason Fung is also a really good read when you’re looking for informative books. The authors talks about intermittent fasting, one of the main focuses of today when looking at weight loss. The back cover reads as “Everything you believe about how to lose weight is wrong. Weight gain and obesity are driven by hormones—in everyone—and only by understanding the effects of insulin and insulin resistance can we achieve lasting weight loss. In this highly readable and provocative book, Dr. Jason Fung sets out an original, robust theory of obesity that provides startling insights into proper nutrition. In addition to his five basic steps, a set of lifelong habits that will improve your health and control your insulin levels, Dr. Fung explains how to use intermittent fasting to break the cycle of insulin resistance and reach a healthy weight—for good.” If you’re looking for a book that delves into the science of losing weight, this is the one for you. Forget diets, forget pep talks, look at the molecular structure of your body.

Promising review: “Quite a revelation! Well written and clear, with a touch of humor. It explains why low fat/low carb diets don’t work – and why I feel so cold and irritable when trying to lose weight that way. And offers a different approach …. watch this space!”

4. A Year of Positive Thinking

A Year of Positive Thinking: Daily Inspiration, Wisdom, and Courage by Cyndie Spiegel, while not a book specifically about weight loss, is still just as important. When losing weight, whether you are succeeding or struggling, the process can take a toll on your mental health and it’s important that you carve out time for yourself to improve not just your physical health, but your mental health as well. Many people skip this aspect of losing weight, and when they become discouraged, they don’t understand what went wrong. But here I am now, telling you that you need to stay positive and take care of yourself emotionally throughout the whole process. According to the back cover, “Yes, you can change your life by changing your thoughts. In A Year of Positive Thinking, you’ll transform your mindset and motivate positive life changes one thought, one day, and one year at a time. From day one, this book teaches you the power of positive thinking through quick and digestible affirmations based in positive psychology, neuroscience, and personal development. Spanning one full year, from January to December, these daily meditations guide you towards visualizing and living your best life.” This book will be there for you for an entire year, and I hope you give it the value it so deserves.

Promising review: “I heard Cyndie Spiegel speak this summer, and it was an incredible experience. Cyndie is a dynamic speaker with a simple, yet a revolutionary, message for women. This book is designed to change the way you think through daily doses of truth and positivity. Cyndie brings her trademark honestly, wisdom and wit. I purchased a copy for myself, as well as one for my Mom”

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5. Good Vibes

Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness by Vex King is another book dedicated to your mental well-being. Like I said before, your mental health is just as important as your physical health. You’re not going to lose weight or accomplish any of your goals if you are continually treating yourself badly or surrounding yourself with people who treat you badly. This book serves as a guide on how you can learn to love yourself, even if you don’t right now. The back cover is as follows: “Vex [author] overcame adversity to become a source of hope for thousands of young people, and now draws from his personal experience and his intuitive wisdom to inspire you to: practice self-care, overcome toxic energy and prioritize your wellbeing, cultivate positive lifestyle habits, including mindfulness and meditation, change your beliefs to invite great opportunities into your life, manifest your goals using tried-and-tested techniques, overcome fear and flow with the Universe, find your higher purpose and become a shining light for others  In this book, Vex will show you that when you change the way you think, feel, speak and act, you begin to change the world.” This is a great read for those who need an extra push of positive motivation to start them on their weight loss journey.

Promising review: “I read Vex’s book in one sitting and it was truly a real, uplifting read. I follow Vex on Instagram and every single one of his posts has hit home. I was eager to read his book and was not disappointed. I felt a surge of positive energy in me after reading this book, and truly felt like I can stand up to my challenges with a more positive mindset. Thank you Vex!”

Hopefully, these books can offer you some guidance on your journey to lose weight. Remember that there is an unlimited amount of resources out there for you and I encourage you to look into them! You’ll find something that is right for you.

As always, please leave any questions or comments below! Have more suggestions for our readers? Drop them in the comments.