Breaking Free from Diet Culture: A Review of ‘The Diet-Free Revolution
Channel: Beyon the Pages: Bookworm Summaries
Date: 20/04/2024

The Diet-Free Revolution’ by Alexis Conason is a captivating alternative to typical diet books. It focuses on mindfulness and self-acceptance, rather than on rules and restrictions. The book’s premise seems simple: eat when you’re hungry, choose any food that tastes good, and stop when you’re full.

The book is packed with keen psychological and scientific insights. It examines the historical underpinnings of diet culture and outlines practical exercises to foster awareness and recovery. For example, it suggests writing a break-up letter to dieting, following guided meditations for five or ten minutes a day, using a five-point scale to gauge when you’re hungry or full, and recognizing when you’re craving food for emotional rather than physical reasons.

The book also includes relatable stories of four hypothetical characters, based on composite themes from Conason’s clients and personal experiences1. The aim is to reclaim all that dieting has stolen from you, to capture the pleasure that is rightfully yours.

With its compelling critique of the cultural obsession with weight and dieting, ‘The Diet-Free Revolution’ is an intelligent, compassionate book that describes a way to reconnect with our bodies, and to reflect on what brings meaning.
 Highly recommended for those who are done with diet culture and ready to go deeper in their healing