Each of these books strikes a cord within me, and yet and yet my urges and addictions still manage to drive what I put in my mouth. Having read excerpts from the Rowland book I know that its not just about will power, until the need is satisfied I will be craving salt and fat and sugar. I have been successful in reducing the number of soft drinks I consume that is the sum total of my victories. Carrot sticks and celery, even smothered in peanut butter or humus do not provide the same satisfaction—I’ll eat that and then keep foraging for other treats. And I’m one of the few people not watching 5 hours of TV/day and all the advertisements for fast food and desserts. Since I stopped working for the federal government and started my own business I have had the time and the inclination to cook. I eat pretty healthily, but I still eat too much and I enjoy my nightly glass of wine or beer.

So what’s a smart, savy consumer suppose to do? I need to figure out my stress pattern (according to Gina) and distract myself with something other than food – like a walk around the block. That sounds very good in theory but I’d rather figure out how to solve my stress problem. Everyone has to deal with a certain amount of stress, I am not advocating retreating to a convent, but if we had better mechanisms for coping and telling ourselves the truth about what is happening – maybe our bodies would handle the food without putting it into storage – because I read once (a long time ago) that fat stores are just the bodies method for creating a buffer, protection if you will from emotional and physical attacks. The theory goes that if we feel safe and secure our body will shed the fat because its not necessary.