What’s not to like about that title?  All three have one thing in common, and that’s this:

There has been a lot of discussion about this book in the Weight loss Blogosphere and I was incredibly interested in learning more about.  What do you know, two of my blogger “buddies” are also interested (one is well on her way through the book actually!) so we figured there are probably oodles of you who are interested in it as well.  So we’ve decided to start a book club (aka The Bloggy Beck Book Club), that will start with reading “The Complete Beck Diet for Life” book.  (I should probably preface this by saying that we are doing this on our own, we were in no way contacted by either the Author or the Publisher, or given free copies of the book!)  For those of you who know nothing about the book, here is the description from Amazon.com:

“Product Description

Bestselling author and weight-loss expert Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., has inspired thousands of dieters to lose excess weight and keep it off using the power of Cognitive Therapy to prepare the mind and alter habits before starting any diet. Now, for the first time, Dr. Beck outlines the next step: a specific, balanced diet plan that teaches you how to EAT THIN and keep excess weight off for life.

Based on the eating choices of Dr. Becks most successful dieters and maintainers, The Complete Beck Diet for Life includes comprehensive suggestions for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and bonus foods including 150- or 200-calorie treats such as sweets, alcohol, bread, and fries–and a Think Thin menu formula that allows you to easily adapt to any situation. Everything you need to stay on track is provided, including a sample strength-training plan and interactive elements such as Response Cards, daily eating logs, and charts and graphs to track your progress.

The Complete Beck Diet for Life also features Dr. Becks signature Cognitive Therapy tools, organized in a 5-stage program designed to teach you how to EAT THIN. The program details precisely what to do to stay motivated, overcome emotional eating, eliminate bingeing, and immediately get back on track when youve made a mistake. If youve struggled with dieting in the past, its only because you never acquired these essential skills. Once you learn to master these skills, you will be able to successfully maintain your new weight for life.

About the Author

Dr. Judith Beck is the daughter of the influential founder of Cognitive Therapy, Aaron T. Beck, M.D. She received her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania where she is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry. Director of the Beck Institute of Cognitive Therapy, she is also past president of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.”

Without further ado let me introduce you to Seattle Runner Girl and Bella on the Beach (I do the Rubenesque Ladies Running with Bella each week) who will be co-hosts of the Bloggy Beck Book Club with me!  Go ahead, take a minute and pop up their sites so that you can get to know them more if you don’t already keep up with them.  It’s a bit amazing how much all three of us have in common even though we are on different sides of the country.  Per her blog name, Seattle is a runner, who happens to also be plus size…fluffier…etc, just like Bella and myself, she has had great success losing weight and started off her running journey at approximately the same weights as Bella and I are currently at.  Folks, she’s a real live actual runner and a true inspiration to me.  Reading her blog reminds me that I too can be a runner.  Bella and I seem to live somewhat parallel lives!  We are doing our modified Couch 2 5K together (RLR) from opposite sides of the country and are also food journal buddies, each night we email our food journals to each other to help hold us accountable.  I probably would have quit RLR after the first day if it wasnt for Bella!

The book gives you assignments during each section or chapter, so Bloggy Beck Book Club will be about performing those assignments and keeping up with the book.  The first book club assignment is two fold:

1. Obtain a copy of the book
2. Read pages 1-49 by February 25th and do the assignment included in the book.

Seattle, Bella and myself will take turns hosting a weekly meeting starting February 25th where we will open comments for discussion on that section of the book.  There will be a new part of the book covered each Thursday until we all complete the book.  We’d love for you to join us in reading the book, completing the assignments and weekly discussion!

Now for the part that really got your attention…..THE GIVEAWAY!

Each of us (Seattle, Bella and myself) are giving away a copy of “The Complete Beck Diet for Life.”  How do you win your copy?  You can comment on this post for one entry and link back to this posting for a second entry (make sure you let me know you linked!)  The drawing will occur on Wednesday February 10th, 2010 at 8PM EST and the winner will be announced on Thursday February 11th, 2010. 

I look forward to your thoughts and comments as we work through the book!

Tata for now,

Scale Warfare

PS-I will continue to follow Weight Watchers through this journey, but will work on the assignments from the book and focus on the tools that it teaches!