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 Celebrate Your Independence From Overeating And Win!June 28, 2004, Trumbull, Conn. - What’s the most creative thing you’ve ever done to avoid overeating? Answer this question for a chance to win two half-hour sessions with a fitness coach and an autographed copy of a new book designed to assist overeaters. “Having once weighed 328 pounds, I am all too aware of the great need for suggestions and ideas about how to avoid overeating,” said Debbie Danowski, Ph.D., the contest organizer and author of the first prize book, The Overeater’s Journal Exercises for Heart, Mind, and Soul. “Even though there are many diet programs out there, there is little information about the emotional aspects of overeating available. It’s hard to think about changing your behavior when you want to overeat so we’re trying to help others with this through the contest,” Danowski said. Sponsored by WomenWorks in Progress, a local organization that brings women together to have fun and connect with each other, the contest is designed to assist the more than 1.7 billion people worldwide who are overweight. According to Danowski, the winning entry as well as a selected portion of the others will be posted at her website (http//www.debbiedanowski.com) allowing people to access these tips when they feel like overeating. With over $30 billion spent annually on weight loss efforts, nearly 65% of American adults remain overweight. Despite the latest low-carbohydrate movement sweeping the country, 98% of Americans who begin diets will regain the weight back within 5 years. “I’m hoping that people will reach for the computer rather than the food. Sometimes all it takes is a few seconds to distract a person from overeating. And what better way to spend those few seconds than connecting with other people’s ideas?” Danowski said. “Many people believe that the diet is the key to weight loss and though this is partly true, there’s another aspect that’s missing from current weight loss efforts,” said Health and Personal Coach Carol Tarshis. “Though what you eat is obviously important, it’s the behavioral changes that really contribute to long-term, lasting changes. If you don’t change the way you relate to food then you will go back to the same old unhealthy habits.” An important part of behavioral change according to Tarshis involves gaining support from others. “Many people feel weak or inadequate when they think about using the services of a professional health coach or reaching out to others. That’s just not the case. It takes great strength to ask for help,” said Tarshis who will provide two half-hour coaching sessions to the winner. “Quite the contrary to what many may think, reaching out is a sign of strength while refusing to do so is a sign of weakness.” For Danowski, the lasting changes came in the form of seeking support but also using journal writing. “I never imagined that writing could make such a difference in my weight loss efforts,” said Danowski, the author of two previous books about weight loss Why Can’t I Stop Eating? (Hazelden 2000) and Locked Up For Eating Too Much (Hazelden 2002). “At first, I thought it was a waste of time but once I began writing, I started to realize how helpful it could be then I wanted to share my experience with others.” Danowski has done this with her most recent book, The Overeater’s Journal. Divided into three sections physical, emotional, and spiritual the book offers readers 180 journal entry writing prompts to provide awareness and insight for those struggling with weight loss issues. Drawing both on her personal experience and academic research as an assistant professor of English and Media Studies at Sacred Heart University, Danowski has at one time or another used all of the writing exercises in the book. Written at the request of her publisher to complement her best-selling first book, Why Can’t I Stop Eating?, The Overeater’s Journal is based on Danowski’s own weight loss efforts. “WomenWorks is thrilled to sponsor this contest. Helping women with self discovery is a very important part of our mission,” President and CEO Barbara Scala said. “Sometimes that self-discovery comes in the form of writing but it can also take place while having fun or connecting with other women. That’s why we at WomenWorks regularly offers many opportunities events and programs for women to connect with both experts and other women in social and informational activities. These activities play such an important role in self-discovery and growth.” Those interested in entering the contest should send a postcard with their name, address, and e-mail address, answering the question What’s the most creative thing you’ve ever done to avoid overeating? All entries must be postmarked by July 31, 2004 and sent to Debbie Danowski, 4 Daniels Farm Road, #193, Trumbull, CT 06611. Winning entries will be announced on August 14, 2004. To learn more about Danowski or The Overeater’s Journal, visit your bookstore or the author’s website http//www.debbiedanowski.com. To learn more about Carol Tarshis, go to http://www.integratedwellness.com. For more information and a list of events, visit WomenWorks in Progress at http://www.womenworks.org.
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