(Dr. Denise Lamothes 2nd visit to Power Surge)

Dearest:  Tonight's guest, DR. DENISE LAMOTHE, is a licensed psychologist with 
a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and in holistic health. In her practice, she 
combines traditional and alternative methods to work "holistically" with each 
client's physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.

In her practice, Denise's areas of expertise include eating disorders, life 
transitions, midlife and menopause, alternative lifestyles, anxiety, depression 
and stress management. So, feel free to ask about any of these issues. Denise's 
book, The Taming Of The Chew: A Holistic Guide To Stopping Compulsive Eating 
is NOT A DIET BOOK.

It is a book for those who have tried dieting and discovered that diets lead to 
failure. She helps the reader to make changes physically, emotionally, socially 
and spiritually, to come to a healthy weight and to develop a loving and 
healthy respect for themselves and their bodies... 

Welcome back to Power Surge, Denise. 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  Thanks for having me back, Dearest 


Dearest:  My pleasure, Denise. 

I was wondering what your thoughts are on the growing number of gastric bypass 
surgeries being performed. This is serious surgery and I wonder if people who 
are looking for a way out of their weight problems are aware that many people 
don't survive the surgery. Would you share your thoughts, please? 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  I have worked with a number of clients who have had bypass 
surgery. 

I think that in some cases it is very helpful -- but only in severe cases of 
obesity. I had a client who was very young and considering surgery.  She didn't 
have it and she had a fatal heart attack because her heart couldn't pump enough 
blood to her entire body. 

If anyone is considering this, please talk with someone who really understands 
the many issues that arise when this option is exercised. 


Dearest:  For those who weren't present at your first chat, would you kindly 
explain what the "Chew" is in your book, "The Taming Of The Chew," and how it 
impacts our eating habits? Also, why do you refer to the "chew" in the female 
vernacular? 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  I'll be happy to. 


Dearest:  Thanks 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  The "Chew" is that part of each of us that works against 
our best interest.  It is the part of us that encourages us to take actions 
that we know are harmful to us... such as bingeing on sweets. I put the Chew in 
the feminine gender because originally the book was written exclusively for 
women. Later many men who read the book encouraged me to write for them as 
well. The Chew, however, is really genderless. It can be however one imagines 
it to be. 


Dearest:  So, in the revised edition, maybe you can call it the unisex chew :) 

Thanks for your wonderful answer. 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  My next book will be more focused on helping ourselves as 
a way to help our children and others .... In effect, to heal our planet.... 
ambitious, no? 


Dearest:  Yes, very ambitious. Good luck with it!


HSpec:  Any suggestions about how to deal with the stresses and anxieties of 
the holiday season that then lead to "eating for comfort?" 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  Think things through as much as you can ahead of time.... 
for example, imagine the circumstances you will be in and the people you will 
be with and think about what kinds of choices you would like to make for 
yourself -- in your own best interest. 


HSpec:  Thank you. Good stuff to think about.


Dearest:  Apropos of HSpec's question ... In the portion of your book devoted 
to binge eating, you suggest making a list of things you enjoy doing and, "When 
the urge to binge strikes, tell your 'Chew' you will make a choice to eat or 
not to eat only after you have done one of the activities on your list. Then 
read your list. Choose one activity that you enjoy and do it." Can you 
elaborate on this theory?


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  When you feel the urge to binge, you are at a choice 
point.... You may decide to take care of yourself with food or you may choose a 
more self-loving activity, such as calling a friend. If you can do some other 
activity, often the urge to binge will pass. 

If it doesn't you are at another choice point.  You can then either eat or 
choose to do another activity.... but please remember that it is always your 
choice and there is nothing shameful or wrong about choosing to soothe yourself 
with food at times. 


Dearest:  Thank you, Denise. 


Wordgirl:  My problem is that I want to eat in the evenings, because I watch my 
husband eating a lot. What can I do besides get rid of him? Thanks. 


Dearest:  Hahaha! 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  tee hee.... 

Well, you can first know that you are not alone and that the evening is often 
the most difficult time. This is because you are probably tired and you are 
more vulnerable to the sabotage of your Chew. 

I recommend that you think of other things you might enjoy doing as a way of 
breaking the pattern. Perhaps go for a walk or call a friend or go chat on line 
in a room such as this. You are engaging most likely in robotic eating which is 
something most of us do and don't even realize we are doing. 

It's important to be as conscious as you can about what you're eating, when and 
why and to challenge those old automatic behaviors.


Sturdywoman:  My youngest son is special needs & in fragile health with 
respiratory problems, he misses school much of the time & I am both his nurse & 
his teacher as well as his Mom.. I find myself very stressed, and since I am 
home I gravitate to the fridge, I have lost 40 lbs but am now at a stand still, 
I need to lose about 40 more. I feel like giving up help....sorry so long! 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  I'm not sure what you're asking me, Sturdywoman... 

Your situation sounds so stressful.  Are you wondering how to manage that 
stress in other ways rather that with food? 


Sturdywoman:  Yes 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  It would help to have the most support possible and to 
really use your support group.  Also, it is helpful to have time to yourself -- 
every day to go within yourself and to give yourself attention. Do you do this?


Sturdywoman:  Working on it thanks! 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  You're welcome -- It sounds hard. We all need to learn 
ways to nurture ourselves....most important! 


Dearest:  Everywhere you look, you see people who are no longer 25-35 pounds 
overweight, but fall into the category of morbid obesity. Obesity is at 
epidemic levels today. Most of the clothing designers now seem to make things 
in large sizes. Have we become more accepting of being overweight, and do you 
think this attitude is helping the situation? 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  Yes....and no.... 

It is wonderful to have more acceptance of differences but at the same time,it 
may be more difficult for women. 

We're all so different and have different body types. What is a good thing is 
that there seems to be a bit more acceptance of differences. The whole issue of 
obesity in our culture is alarming and worse since 9/11 because we almost 
always want to eat when we feel anxious or unsafe.


Dearest:  Do you think it's just anxiety, or because of the current situation 
after 9/11 and terrorism and Iraq that people feel a sense of doom and just 
don't care anymore about controlling their eating because they don't know what 
tomorrow will bring? 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  I think that is one of many factors that contributes to 
the prevalence of obesity in our culture. 

We eat for ever so many reasons.  Did you ever hear anyone say they loved their 
body just the way it is??? 


Dearest:  Nope.  Thanks, Denise. Wordgirl, go ahead. 


Wordgirl:  Do you think exercise or diet (not dieting, per se) is the most 
important element in weight loss? Or are they TRULY equally important? 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  My philosophy is that you have to address the whole 
picture...that is, to work on the different levels -- physical, emotional 
social and spiritual.

It is important to eat in a healthy way -- proteins, vegetables, fruits and 
complex carbs and healthy fats and to exercise moderately... 

But it is also imperative that you nurture yourself emotionally and challenge 
the messages to be thin that you are constantly being bombarded with at the 
same time. This is no small task... as you already know. 


MaryO:  I just wanted to thank you for this book. It sounded so helpful in the 
last chat. I ordered it from amazon and it was shipped today, so I should be 
ready for the rest of the winter holiday eating season :) Thanks! 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  Oh.... Thank you so very much! The book has had such an 
amazing response. I appreciate your comment.


MaryO:  It sounds great - just what I need :)  


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  Many women who have read "Chew" tell me they' find 
themselves in the book.... This is absolutely wonderful to me because it shows 
me that although we are each unique, we have so much in common and are not 
alone in our struggles.  


Dearest:  Denise, what is the difference between binge and compulsive eating? 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  Compulsive eating is eating in an out of control way, when 
you're not physically hungry and you may over eat. 

Bingeing is eating until you are stuffed and perhaps even feel ill.... but a 
binge can mean something different to one than it does to another.  Some women 
call a binge an extra cookie while for others of us it may mean a truckload of 
those cookies. 


Dearest:  Do you hear one most common reason from your patients who binge or 
overeat -- such as the "filling a void" explanation?  


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  Well, as I have said, we are all different and when a 
client comes in they may at first think there is one primary cause of their out 
of control eating. 

Usually, there is not one specific reason -- there are many. I truly do believe 
that to make permanent change, you have to look at the whole picture and to 
focus on truly loving yourself and treating yourself in a loving way. That is 
the essence and very hard for most of us.


Dearest:  So many people yo-yo throughout their lives, losing 25 pounds, 
gaining back 40 and so on... isn't yo-yo'ing dangerous and wouldn't you 
recommend that someone having consistent food control problems seek some sort 
of counseling? 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  I would like to introduce you to another book here 
The Schwarzbein Principle by Diana Schwarzbein, MD.  This book is the most 
clear and helpful I have found to read to truly understand the nutrition/health 
part of this issue. It helps you by teaching you a simple way to eat that can 
heal your metabolism and only after you heal your metabolism can you truly lose 

weight, if you want to.  


Dearest:  Thank you, Denise.  


Wordgirl:  I so agree with you about loving yourself. Another problem for me: I 
have lately been thinking, What the heck, everyone else is overweight, so why 
bother trying to be thin. Then I will give into something I would not have 
ordinarily. Any advice for this: "everyone else is doing it"? Thanks. 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  Earlier I mentioned the importance of time every day to be 
quiet and to think about what you truly want for yourself.  Each of us has the 
responsibility to ourselves and with support, encouragement and validation, you 
can learn to think in terms of what you want and the heck with what everyone 
else looks like or is doing! 


Dearest:  Excellent. 


Lynnie:  Why do I eat, just to be eating then? I know I am not hungry, but its 
like going to brush my teeth, its habit. I never feel full, really. 


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  That's a perfect description of Robotic Eating and I 
devote an entire chapter to that in my book. It is sometimes really a matter of 
breaking a pattern, for example if you are automatically eating in the car (a 
favorite place for many of us) you might force yourself to only drink water 
while you are driving.... After about 22 days of this you will have broken that 
habit! 

Some people never experience the sensation of feeling full. That is a sign that 
you have really gotten out of touch with your body's needs.  This is true for 
millions of us who have struggled with food control issues for so long. One 
thing you might consider is to find a naturopath or DR who can supervise a 
cleanse for you to help you get back in touch with the experience of truly 
nourishing yourself. This is often helpful and energizing. 


Dearest:  And, Denise, isn't it important NOT to "beat yourself up" if you've 
enjoyed something fattening or gone off a weight-loss program, but just to get 
back on the right track?  


Dr. Denise Lamothe:  NEVER NEVER NEVER BEAT YOURSELF UP!!!!!!! 
Thank you, Dearest for mentioning that.  

Thank you all for your wonderful questions and for inviting me tonight! 


Dearest:  Denise, thank you for joining us again tonight to discuss holiday 
overeating, compulsive and binge eating and how we might better understand our 
food control problems and ways to manage them. I can't recommend Denise 
Lamothe's book, The Taming Of The Chew enough! 

You can visit Denise's Web site at www.deniselamothe.com.


Read Dr. Denise Lamothe's first transcript.


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Dearest
aka Alice Stamm
Power Surge
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