The Quest for Peace, Love and a 24" Waist

by Deborah Low

Book Overview

Stop fighting with your body and lose weight joyfully with this enlightening book about self-esteem and body image.

When it comes to body image and dieting, millions of women want the same thing--to lose weight. Yet somewhere along the path to that goal, women begin to equate happiness with the size of their waistline, and then an innocent plan turns into the Holy Grail . . . The Quest for Peace, Love and a 24" Waist.

Now, Deborah...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786888881
• ISBN13: 9780786888887
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Hachette Books
• Length: 175 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 7.9"
• Age Range: 17 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 12 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Dodging a Donut

Yesterday, I went to the bookstore in search of another dieting book. I looked at some of the low carb, high motivation - just do it books. As I was sitting with them to decide which one I wanted to try this time, I started experiencing my usual anxiety and overwhelming desire for a donut (truth is a box of donuts). I put the books back on the shelf. I had every intention of leaving the bookstore to get some donuts when I spotted Deborah Low's book, Peace, Love, and a 24" Waist. Something said take a look at it. As I read it, I noticed that I started to feel better. I was feeling a lot better. I bought the book and went home without buying donuts. This was a realization of major proportions for me because once I get that feeling of wanting donuts I have never had anything stop me from eating them. I am only one-third of the way into the book so far but I have to stop a moment and tell you how good this feels to me. I thank you, Deborah Low, for doing your work in the world.

A changed mindset

This is really an amazing book. I was initially skeptical of it since I was burnt by too many diet fad books (Body for Life being one of them), I was reluctant to try it out. Still, I did, and it was a major risk since I live in Asia, and it takes great expense to have it shipped to me.Well? No regrets. I've since learnt to relax, ditch the scale, stopped being so punishing to myself and love myself. I now love exercise, sleep better, am happier and no longer think happiness is tied to the number on the scale or how small my hips are. Deborah Low has a message: it's not the diet, it's the mindset that helps you lose weight. The best thing is that unlike many fitness gurus who sound vague when they try to help you achieve that mindset, deborah low guides you to it through a series of simple exercises. The nutrition bit is a little skimpy though. However, you can easily get proper nutrition advice from other books (and mind you, proper nutrition, not fad diets like Atkins, what nots.)However, if you think it's easy work "lovin'" yourself, be warned. It's not as easy as it sounds. Strangely, it is tough work to love yourself. It requires mental discipline to stop negative thoughts about yourself, and it also requires discipline to FORCE yourself to slow down and not steal that extra minute to read an e-mail before bed. I still struggle with this, but rereading Deborah's book helps me refocus. Great book.

Get off the diet rollercoaster and lose weight easily!

Until you adopt the spiritual perspective that Low shares, you will continue to jump from diet to diet, wondering, "What is wrong with me? Why can't I lose weight?" I am happy with who I am, and as a result I have lost 18 pounds. Don't get on another diet until you have worked through this book. It is completely refreshing and challenges the whole mental aspect of how you see yourself. I found her site very helpful too at deborahlow.com. By making peace with myself first, I have lost weight without even dieting. I wish I had this book 16 years ago when I went on my first diet, the grapefruit diet. After years of rollercoaster dieting, thank you Ms. Low. My life is better because of you.

Throw away your diet books . . .

Throw away every diet book you've ever read because there is finally a sensible approach to taking care of your body. When I first browsed through this book one of the phrases that caught my attention was the author stating that she judged her day by what she ate. I realized how often I did this. Then later in the same day a co-worker stated that she had been "bad". We both know that she wasn't referring to some horrible sin she had committed -- but to the fattening food she had eaten.This book will help you focus on your true worth and how to nurture yourself and take care of your body and spirt. You will examine the reasons why you want to lose weight and find the internal motivation to make good choices. The weight-loss will be a natural by-product of the good choices you are making.This is a book that helps you realize the good within yourself and empowers you to treat yourself with the kindness you deserve -- both physically and spiritually.

Inspiring real weight loss

I absolutely loved this book! I just finished it, exercises and all, and I feel so inspired that I want to share it with everyone. I have spent years trying to stay motivated to lose weight only to lose most of my self esteem in the process. I had almost given up when I found this book. Instead of telling me what I should eat, like all other diet books do, this book was so refreshingly different. The author actually got me to really see myself in a completely "undiet", spiritual way, which I now realize was the piece of the puzzle that was missing for the last 11 years of nightmare yo-yo dieting. Anyone who has ever failed at dieting or believes that they will never love their body needs to read this book because it will give them an incredible second wind for living a healthier and happier life!