... The Writing Diet - Write Yourself Right-Size ...

Posted on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 09:02 in recommended books

I have just received this book hot of the presses - The Writing Diet ... had ordered it mid-December, but it hadn't been officially published yet or something because it took several weeks for it to arrive in my mailbox! Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, has written a new book based on the premises in that book. I have read almost half of the book since last night and it is like a HUGE lightbulb has gone off!! The author recommends several techniques that involve writing in place of eating. In the morning, upon waking, I am to write out my stream of thoughts before beginning my day. She recommends writing three pages, but I decided that I was going to write for 20-30 minutes. I'm just to write whatever comes to mind ... there is no "right" way to do this. The idea is that you'll find yourself writing the same thoughts over and over and these are the ones to pay attention to and deal with.

The 2nd technique is to write in a journal (I'm going to use the same one that I'm writing my morning thoughts in). Whenever you feel like you are hungry or want to eat something, you are to write about your feelings at the time answering 4 questions:

1. Am I hungry?

2. Is this what I feel like eating?

3. Is this what I feel like eating now?

4. Is there something else that I could eat instead?

The idea is to really THINK before you eat! I am bad about this as I am an emotional eater and will eat when bored, tired, stressed, cranky, etc. I don't think about it ... I just eat! Having to answer these questions should help me eat better and only when I'm really hungry, too.

I'll blog more about this book as I read thorugh it. I can already tell that it is going to give me a way to handle my thoughts and I am looking forward to some personal growth through the journaling. You can read more about this book on Amazon.