If most diet books are a guide to what to eat, how much of it to eat, when to eat it, and finally, how to work it off, Julia Cameron's 'The Writing Diet' is a welcome change of pace. There are no quick prescriptions for change here. Rather, the author almost takes a psychologist's- or a writer's- approach to diet. Instead of giving a strict list of dos and don'ts, Cameron urges followers to figure out why they're eating in the first place- out of boredom? anger? loneliness? and then to act accordingly. Instead of just recognizing mentally the reasons for eating, though, Cameron asks us to channel these thoughts creatively, by writing about them.

'Why do I want to eat?'
'How do I feel now?' Etc.

The end result is a fuller awareness of what the body needs physically, as well as emotional and mental problems that may need to be addressed.

Her approach to exercise is similarly laid back- don't worry about running a marathon. Just get outside, if only for five minutes, and get walking.

It's really a total lifestyle approach rather than simply an easy weight loss fix, but the result is a more mindful, aware outlook.

Highly recommended (even though author does seem to have some chocolate issues).

The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size is an inspiration to achieve your creative and weight loss goals. Noticing the relationship between creativity and weight loss was a brilliant communication of active thought and realization of the connection to the people whom you see taking up any creative venture. I find that I am naturally a creative person, but I am usually to busy to give inspiration to those inclinations. The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size has made me take the time to sustain a creative mind for my own pleasure and not just to the stressful demands of my job. The distractions that creativity can render to the constant inclinations of just one more snack can be outstanding. I find that instead of needing to pop an extra chocolate I am longing to reach for a notebook to write or get to an easel to release the images in my mind. This book can help grind out more than your weight and I fully recommend opening your creative talents in any area you can.

After reading the author’s other books, I discovered that Julia Cameron really knows her stuff. That is, her books really helped me get through some of my toughest creative blocks. And then I saw this: a book about writing…as a way to lose weight. It lost me there for a second. The author states that she is no diet expert, but found that in watching artists focus with her 12 week “program“ based on her previous work, they ended up losing weight. What a bonus! Though, I wonder; was the weight loss healthy? Or was it just that the artist couldn’t afford more than cup ‘o’ noodles? Hmm.

So basically, we’re taking the “starving artist” concept here a bit far, I think. What put me off the most is that she is no health expert. I don’t go to English class to get diet tips, sorry! So I really couldn’t take this book seriously. I loved The Artist’s Way, but I don’t think that I will be following the “writing diet” any time soon.