Support Reading

I have a lifelong love affair with libraries and have a master's in Information Science.  Thus there is very little I do without first poking around to see what information is available.  For my Persistent Elephant endeavors, its a no-brainer that I'm going to do some reading.  As a matter of fact, I have a small stack of books that caught my eye already waiting on my bedside table.

My original plan was to read the books one at a time and then review them for this blog.  But I'm realizing some I already finished deserve a second read.  Others have suggested activities or writing "assignments" that I don't want to rush through.  Maybe it is a better idea to list the books I'm reading so others can enjoy them at the same time.  I'd love to hear what others think of them!

So here is what I'm reading (and in order that I'll be reading them):

1.  The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin -- I loved this book!  I read it last autumn but will be reading parts of it again and commenting on it before too long.  This isn't about weight loss, but Rubin has a lot to say about organization, goal-setting, motivation, and coming peace with all aspects of your life.

2.  Women, Food, and God by Geneen Roth -- This is one of those Oprah-launched best-sellers, but years ago Roth's When Food Is Love truly struck a cord with me and helped me lose the weight after my parents died.  I've read Women, Food, and God already, but there are a lot of ideas packed into just over 200 pages.  I'd like to read it again.

3.  The Self-Compassion Diet by Jean Fain -- I kept coming across references to this book and was intrigued.  My brother would say it is "touchy-feely," which wouldn't be a compliment.  Then again, my brother has never had a weight problem.  Personally, I'm starting to see losing weight is a tremendous mind game and I'm willing to explore that side of it if it might result in new breakthroughs.  I've been reading through old journals and now realize that Jennifer Louden's The Woman's Comfort Book was one of the first catalysts for my successful weight loss in 1997-1998.  Fain's book is somewhat similar, although it directly addresses weight loss.

4.  Mindful Eating by Jan Chozen Bays -- Practicing mindfulness works wonders when you're a new mom.  I think it will help with my Persistent Elephant journey too.

5.  You on a Diet by Michael Roizen, MD and Mehmet Oz, MD -- Like Roth's book, this is another New York Times bestseller.  I picked it up when Eli was small but my brain was too mushy from lack of sleep to really absorb it.  I really love, though, how it explains body processes and chemistry.  From the little I read of it, I was already starting to make healthy changes in what I ate.

Is anybody up for doing an online book club with these books?  And are there other books out there that have helped you a lot?