Book Review: Love to Eat, Hate to Eat: Breaking the Bondage of Destructive Eating Habits

Book Description
After years of futile dieting, readers know there's more to weight control than what they eat. Having discovered the power that food has over their lives, counselor Elyse Fitzpatrick, author of Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety, helps them: identify destructive eating habits; surrender the desire for control; break the vicious cycle of emotional eating; develop a flexible plan suited to unique situations. God knows everything about us...where we've been and where we're going. Because He knows us so well, He can deeply transform us, giving us the contentment we long for.

The Skinty Review
When I read a review about this book on another website, I knew it was one that I had to read for myself. Not only for the sake of The Skinty, but for my benefit as a believer who struggles in the area of overeating as well. What I expected from the book after reading a bit about it was biblical counsel on the topic, personal experience as to how the biblical counsel changed the author's life, and solutions that would allow for permanent changes. I've found all of these things and more within Love to Eat Hate to Eat and then some. I'm typically not a big fan of self help/topical books by Christians because they tend to state the obvious, quote all of the scriptures that you've looked into yourself than reprimand you for not getting it. Whereas many of us find ourselves failing not because we don't have a clue of what to do but we don't always know the root issue that causes us to do what we do therefore find ourselves constantly failing in that which we do know.

Author Elyse Fitzpatrick pulls no punches when delving into these topics and I love that. First placing all focus on God, what we've gained via our redeemer Jesus Christ and our need to die to our flesh so that we do not give into it's lusts. Becoming disciplined in order to break free of the bondage of destructive eating habits as the title states. Pointing the finger to sin not disease when it comes to topics such as anorexia and bulimia as well as our need to pinpoint the things in our sin nature that causes us to do what we do so that we may be healed. Elyse provides questions at the back of the book. As well as eating charts and my favorite, an acronym called D.I.S.C.I.P.L.I.N.E.D Eating which breaks down reasons as to why we may eat what we eat. For instance the C in disciplined stands for Covet, do I want this food because I saw someone else with it and therefore now I have to have it (paraphrasing). E for emotional, am I in a situations where I desire to eat due to emotions (again paraphrasing) The breakdown of the acronym is such a blessing because it causes one to focus on the sin that causes us to do what we do rather than the scripture ONLY, that let's us know of it's existence. For instance I can know it's wrong to covet yet not realizing that's my error when I do it with my eating habits because it's not the type of sin I'll be judged easily by someone for doing. Therefore it's a tool for the reader to use that's helpful to seeing exactly what sin causes what. The Food journal is different from other books on the topic as well, providing space not only for food eaten and water intake, but prayer, boxes to note how many times one fail into the sins that day that would prevent them from moving forward, and successes for that day.

Topics in which readers may find offensive is where Fitzpatrick refers to Anorexia and Bulimia as being caused by sin rather than it being a disease. Therefore this book could come off to be a bit on the hard side for someone that is a new believer struggling with an eating disorder of any kind or someone specifically struggling in the area of anorexia or bulimia. However I believe it to be a good hard and not to the degree that I wouldn't recommend certain groups read it. If anything I'd say allow it to grow you in the Lord rather than taking it as a personal attack. Remembering we were freed from sin and we do not have to succumb to it let alone allow it to identify who we are. And in the same vein I personally found Fitzpatrick's ability to speak the Lord's love for His people quite refreshing. We love his grace so much at times that we can forget His rebuke, His chastening and how in that too He is loving merciful and kind.

Love to Eat Hate to Eat is a book that is a permanent part of my collection of books that edify. Highly recommend it for Skinty readers and if you find it hard/harsh stay prayerful and allow it to minister to you. Reviews • Tell a Friend