has anyone read any books written by dr. Phill? If so which one would you recommend? thanks

I've read The Ultimate Weight Solution, the 7 keys to Weight Loss Freedom...

It's an interesting read, if you are an emotional type eater rather it seems to help.. it gives some insight into why perhaps you've gained the weight you have... and I suppose if you know why then you can fix teh problem rather than just wonder.

The keys are (typed from the table of contents):
1. The Right t hinking
Basically what this came down to is a Positive Mental Attitude, if you beleive you will fail, then you will fail, beleive you will succeed and you will. Shutting off the negative voices is one of the hardest things I face...

2 Healing Feelings
This deals with emotional eating and food as comfort - I'm not sure that this chapter was useful to me - I am very much an emotional type eater... but I'm not good with feelings and that crap.

3. No Fail Environment
Basically, don't set yourself up to fail... if you will hoover an entire container of Ben and Jerry's Karamel Sutra Ice Cream - don't buy it... and avoid the lady in the office who's got the big jar of hershey's kisses on her desk..

4. Mastery Over Food and Impulse eating
This was about learning new habits when i comes to food like eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full.. Leslie Sansone's book Eat Smart has a great chapter on this subject -that basically says... Eat only at the dining room table, stop multi tasking while eating and concentrate onthe food. (French Women Don't Get Fat basically works under the same premise.. to use food as a treat - and make it an enjoyable experience... not watch television, or read, or whatever.. enjoy the food and the flavors..)

5. High Response cost/High Response Nutrition
this is a lesson in nutritional balance which is simply -eat the right things

6. Intentional Exercise
Well, ya have to move if you want to lose weight...

7. Circle of Support
Surround yourself with people who will encourage and support you (Kinda like here) rather than people who will push food at you and tell you that that one chunk of choclate fudge cake won't matter...

Hmmm the ideas are common sense and sound... may be I shold read the book again..

It's got an appendix (which I'd be happy to scan in) that has "the right food choices" which are basically what youwould expect regular healthy eating to be... It's a good book - I find him incredibly annoying so as long as I don't have to listento him - it's OK..

Review from Health Magazine

Dieters who are big Dr. Phil fans will probably be able to sift out useful tips. Unfortunately, McGraw’s delivery doesn’t have the quick, fun patter of his TV show; to the contrary, it’s repetitive and it sometimes sends mixed messages. On the one hand, the good doctor says not to fixate on portions.

But in another section, he calls for precise servings from certain food groups. And all the talk about High-Response Cost/High-Yield foods is a big headache. Why not just say it like it is: whole grains, lean proteins, low-fat dairy, lots of fruits and veggies, and healthful unsaturated fats—in moderate amounts, of course.

Does the diet take and keep weight off?
It’s too soon to tell. But McGraw’s book provides plenty of stories about patients who have lost weight.

Is the diet healthy?
Sure. Moderation is what healthful eating is all about. What do the experts say? “Well, one problem I have with the book is that Dr. Phil makes the assumption that everyone who is overweight has emotional problems or is an emotional eater,” says Chris Rosenbloom, PhD, RD, a professor at Georgia State University. “And I think that’s not always the case.” For some people, she says, excess weight is the result of too little exercise, poor food choices, and other factors that don’t necessarily have to do with emotions. Renowned weight-control expert John Foreyt, PhD, of Baylor College of Medicine, calls the diet sensible. “But there’s nothing unique about it. And there’s nothing magic about the seven keys to weight-loss freedom. They’re sensible, if boring, guidelines.” What about McGraw’s supplement recommendations—green tea extract, soy isoflavones, chromium—for people who have trouble losing weight? “I don’t know of any substantial research that shows supplements can reset your metabolism,” Rosenbloom says. “It’s always a good idea to take a multivitamin when you’re dieting, since restricting intake may cause you to fall short on some nutrients. But there’s not enough research to suggest any other supplements. I think it’s sort of a slippery slope for Dr. Phil to now get into the food-marketing and supplement business,” Rosenbloom says. “He really is not a food-and-nutrition expert. He’s a psychologist.”

Who should consider the diet?
Dieters who eat when they’re stressed, bored, or angry; fans of the talk show. Because McGraw’s persona comes through loud and clear, dieters who like his style may find the support they need to make healthful changes.

Bottom line: There’s a lot of good information here about behavior. But the actual diet is a little vague—and not that exciting.

What does anyone think about Dr. Phil's plan? I own the book but have yet to make it all the way through, primarily because I have a hard time analyzing myself...apparently I don't like looking too deep.

However, I think it's the kind of thing I need to do in order to really make any kind of lifestyle change stick. I'm an emotional eater, so I need to address the emotions that are causing me to eat and learn to deal with them in a better way. Just dieting only works for a short time. When an emotional episode occurs, I'm right back to square one.

I like Dr. Phil a lot and think I may have some success with his book. Has anyone else?

I posted this in another thread:

I've read The Ultimate Weight Solution, the 7 keys to Weight Loss Freedom...

It's an interesting read, if you are an emotional type eater rather it seems to help.. it gives some insight into why perhaps you've gained the weight you have... and I suppose if you know why then you can fix teh problem rather than just wonder.

The keys are (typed from the table of contents):
1. The Right t hinking
Basically what this came down to is a Positive Mental Attitude, if you beleive you will fail, then you will fail, beleive you will succeed and you will. Shutting off the negative voices is one of the hardest things I face...

2 Healing Feelings
This deals with emotional eating and food as comfort - I'm not sure that this chapter was useful to me - I am very much an emotional type eater... but I'm not good with feelings and that crap.

3. No Fail Environment
Basically, don't set yourself up to fail... if you will hoover an entire container of Ben and Jerry's Karamel Sutra Ice Cream - don't buy it... and avoid the lady in the office who's got the big jar of hershey's kisses on her desk..

4. Mastery Over Food and Impulse eating
This was about learning new habits when i comes to food like eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full.. Leslie Sansone's book Eat Smart has a great chapter on this subject -that basically says... Eat only at the dining room table, stop multi tasking while eating and concentrate onthe food. (French Women Don't Get Fat basically works under the same premise.. to use food as a treat - and make it an enjoyable experience... not watch television, or read, or whatever.. enjoy the food and the flavors..)

5. High Response cost/High Response Nutrition
this is a lesson in nutritional balance which is simply -eat the right things

6. Intentional Exercise
Well, ya have to move if you want to lose weight...

7. Circle of Support
Surround yourself with people who will encourage and support you (Kinda like here) rather than people who will push food at you and tell you that that one chunk of choclate fudge cake won't matter...

Hmmm the ideas are common sense and sound... may be I shold read the book again..

It's got an appendix (which I'd be happy to scan in) that has "the right food choices" which are basically what youwould expect regular healthy eating to be... It's a good book - I find him incredibly annoying so as long as I don't have to listento him - it's OK..



However... keep in mind what Dr Phil looks like - he's not slim and trim by any stretch of the imagination.. so is he an example of those that can do.. those that can't teach? He's also not a nutrition expert -- the book deals a lot with emotional eating and that's why you should read it - -if that's an issue for you

This is what Health Magazines Review of the Diet had to say

Dieters who are big Dr. Phil fans will probably be able to sift out useful tips. Unfortunately, McGraw’s delivery doesn’t have the quick, fun patter of his TV show; to the contrary, it’s repetitive and it sometimes sends mixed messages. On the one hand, the good doctor says not to fixate on portions. But in another section, he calls for precise servings from certain food groups. And all the talk about High-Response Cost/High-Yield foods is a big headache. Why not just say it like it is: whole grains, lean proteins, low-fat dairy, lots of fruits and veggies, and healthful unsaturated fats—in moderate amounts, of course.

Does the diet take and keep weight off? It’s too soon to tell. But McGraw’s book provides plenty of stories about patients who have lost weight.

Is the diet healthy? Sure. Moderation is what healthful eating is all about.

What do the experts say? “Well, one problem I have with the book is that Dr. Phil makes the assumption that everyone who is overweight has emotional problems or is an emotional eater,” says Chris Rosenbloom, PhD, RD, a professor at Georgia State University. “And I think that’s not always the case.” For some people, she says, excess weight is the result of too little exercise, poor food choices, and other factors that don’t necessarily have to do with emotions. Renowned weight-control expert John Foreyt, PhD, of Baylor College of Medicine, calls the diet sensible. “But there’s nothing unique about it. And there’s nothing magic about the seven keys to weight-loss freedom. They’re sensible, if boring, guidelines.” What about McGraw’s supplement recommendations—green tea extract, soy isoflavones, chromium—for people who have trouble losing weight? “I don’t know of any substantial research that shows supplements can reset your metabolism,” Rosenbloom says. “It’s always a good idea to take a multivitamin when you’re dieting, since restricting intake may cause you to fall short on some nutrients. But there’s not enough research to suggest any other supplements. I think it’s sort of a slippery slope for Dr. Phil to now get into the food-marketing and supplement business,” Rosenbloom says. “He really is not a food-and-nutrition expert. He’s a psychologist.”

Who should consider the diet? Dieters who eat when they’re stressed, bored, or angry; fans of the talk show. Because McGraw’s persona comes through loud and clear, dieters who like his style may find the support they need to make healthful changes.

Bottom line: There’s a lot of good information here about behavior. But the actual diet is a little vague—and not that exciting.

I agree that almost every overweight person has phychological factors that have helped cause the weight gain.

It is no secret that I think you have to mentally sucessful before you can be phycially sucessful.

I do own Jay's (Dr. Phil's son) verison of the Ultimate Weight Solution, but I just bought it and haven't started.

Thanks Male for the link ..
personally..I cant stand Dr Phil..hes such an arrogant man..anyway..lol..I dotn want to offend anyone that does....although I have the ultimate weight solution food guide...I have not read the other book..it does not interest me..
basically what I was looking for is other people on the forum who have tried the diet..
I tried it once...lost 28 lbs...although I got really sick with the flu and didnt eat for a week or so and blew my diet...I was starving for ANY food lol..
I actually like the food guide..its nice to have a reference about what to eat.....and the exact portions. I am going to start it again.

cheers Loretta

interesting, he writes just for money.