The book As Thin as You Think by Kristin Volk Funk is the kind of self-help about which research and my experience make me very skeptical. The intention is for the book to offer “The Keys to Unlocking Your Weight Loss Power,” revealing both the path to success and the reasons that caused your weight gain in the first place. The book is meant to be positive, encouraging, and easy, but I am always skeptical about a “quick fix”.
A “quick fix” is offered within the preface of the book- and it’s trance. I have worked under an experienced therapist who practiced trance, a variation of hypnotism, with clients and observed more than one client undergoing a trance session. I do believe it can be a powerful technique, but it is still not a “quick fix” for any type of struggle.
Kristin offers several mantras that readers can adopt. However, it seems that she is forgetting the research that reminds us that such mantras cannot be given to us but must be something that we already believe and must be used simply as a reminder for the self.
I find it uncomfortable that she talks about herself as a specific example. Combined with the promise of a “quick fix”, this characteristic reminds me a bit of Tracy Anderson and the claim that because it worked for me, it will work for you. Kristin talks about her age (she is in her 50’s) and her weight (120 range), but I did not see a mention of her height. I am afraid that such examples can set readers up for unrealistic expectations which can lead to disappointment and frustration.
Overall, As Thin as You Think feels like stereotypical self-help fare. The advise given and promises made do not line up with my years of experience (nearly a decade?!) as a therapist or the research which I review on how best to help clients make changes in their lives. As a result, I could not recommend her methods. However, if anyone has experience with Kristin Volk Funk’s audio recordings, I would be very interested to hear how it worked for you.
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