The Rules of Normal Eating

Karen R. Keonig
Gurze Books (2005)
ISBN 0936077212
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (2/06)

“The Rule of Normal Eating” is written for people that have an unhealthy relationship with eating. People that are unhealthy eaters can range from undereaters to overeaters. The author, Koenig, has impressive credentials as a psychotherapist. What really makes her writing different and refreshing is that while she has these credentials, she is also able to relate to her readers with unhealthy eating habits, because she is a former overeater and chronic dieter. She understands what she is writing about. This means a lot to me as a reader, because I know that she was able to apply the principles of what she presents to her own life and that she succeeded.

Koenig uses Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy techniques as guidelines to assist the reader with developing normal eating behaviors. While she addresses the unhealthy behaviors that are a result of having an unhealthy relationship with eating, she focuses more on the positive aspects of developing a healthy relationship with food. The readers need to develop healthy relationship with themselves while overcoming their unhealthy habits.

Koenig does an excellent job describing the painful experience of feelings of deprivation caused by dieting and then the guilt that ensues when the chronic dieter falls off the wagon and overeats. As I read this book, I realized that I don’t want to be like this anymore. As I read her descriptions of what it is like to be a normal eater, I realized how much easier my life would be if I didn’t put so much emphasis on what I was eating, when I was eating and the guilt that follows when I don’t eat as well as I should.

Koenig discusses new ways to handle eating situations and people’s reactions to the changes that you will be making. She also writes about accepting your body the way that it is. In this section, she really opened my eyes as to the reasons behind why I over-exercise.

“The Rule of Normal Eating” is not a quick fix. It has been my experience that quick fix diet books tend to fail quickly, leaving me to feel like more of a failure than when I started. By reading this book and realizing how my unhealthy behaviors are really caused by unhealthy and incorrect beliefs, I am given tools to make the changes that I need. The new habits will not happen over night, but I feel confident in knowing that every day I will be able to make positive new changes that will make each day better.

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