How is this program different from other dieting programs?
This is the first book that includes a comprehensive program for teaching dieters, step-by-step, how to use Cognitive Therapy techniques to lose weight and maintain their weight loss. The Beck Diet Solution is different because it is a psychological program, not a food plan. It doesn’t tell dieters what to eat; they can choose any nutritious diet they want. The Beck Diet Solution’s comprehensive, step-by-step, six-week program teaches dieters how to avoid cheating, resist tempting food, and cope with hunger, cravings, stress, and strong negative emotions without turning to food for comfort. They’ll also learn how to motivate themselves to exercise, even if they’re not naturally inclined to do so, as well as how to do what they need to diet successfully—by changing the way they think.

What need is TBDS filling?
Most people who lose weight end up gaining it back because they haven’t learned how to change their behavior on a permanent basis. People need to learn what to say to themselves when they’re hungry, craving, and eating for emotional reasons. They need to learn how to continually motivate themselves and recover immediately when they eat something they're not supposed to. They need to learn how to overcome feelings of discouragement, disappointment, and unfairness. And they especially need to learn how to respond to their sabotaging thoughts that say, It’s okay to eat this food I’m not supposed to eat because....

Are there common breakthroughs with individuals that have gone on TBDS?
Yes, dieters...

•	learn that they have to eat sensibly every day, without skipping meals or eating too many empty calories, in order to control their eating at night.
•	recognize that hunger and craving are not emergencies that have to be responded to by eating.
•	learn how to take an eating mistake in stride and get right back on track.
•	find they can effectively respond to sabotaging thoughts that encourage overeating.
•	learn that to be satisfied, they always have to eat slowly and mindfully.
•	recognize that every time they eat something they shouldn’t, it’s not the calories that matter as much as strengthening the tendency to give in the next time they’re tempted.
•	are finally able to put their needs first and resist food pushers.
•	grasp that just because they’re hungry doesn’t necessarily mean they should eat.
•	begin to realize that this time is different; now they’re learning skills they can use for the rest of their lives.

What kind of diet should I choose?
You can choose any nutritious diet that works for you.  The specific diet you choose doesn’t matter, as long as it is healthy and well-balanced. This program works with all reasonable diets because instead of telling you what to eat, it tells you how to get yourself to stick to your diet and eat in the way you need to be eating.

Is alcohol allowed?
The decision to drink or not drink alcohol is up to you.  If you want to fit drinking into your diet, you need to plan your alcohol intake in advance, just as you do your food intake.  You can decide not to drink at all, or you can set some kind of limit. For example, you might decide to have one drink a day, a week, a month, or somewhere in between. Or you might have a drink just on special occasions.

Is this program for weight loss or maintenance?
Both.  The first part of the book will teach you the skills you need to lose weight successfully.  But these are the same skills you will use to keep the weight off for good.  Whether you need to lose 30 pounds or want to learn to keep off the 30 pounds you’ve already lost, this book will teach you the essentials for how to stay at the weight you want for your lifetime.

How do I know when I should stop losing weight?
This book introduces the notions of LAW and LMW – your Lowest Achievable Weight versus your Lowest Maintainable Weight. Your LAW is the weight at which you naturally plateau, but you may not be able to stay there because to do so you would have to keep on eating the same number of calories and exercising to the same degree for the rest of your life. Your LMW is the weight you can sustain permanently, while still following a sensible eating and exercise program for the rest of your life.  This book will teach you how to determine both your LAW and your LMW and how to be content with both.

Will this program work even if I eat out a lot?
Yes, it will teach you what to do when eating at restaurants and how to respond to sabotaging thoughts that give you permission to indulge.  

Will I need to exercise?
Although many people attempt to lose weight through dieting alone, research clearly shows that your long-term success also depends on getting regular exercise.  This book will help you pick a reasonable exercise program and teach you the skills necessary to stay motivated to exercise and stick to your plan.

How often should I weigh myself?
Somewhere between once a day and once a week.  Some people find that weighing themselves daily helps desensitize themselves to the scale. Do not, however, weigh yourself more than once a day. Doing so is a sure sign that you are obsessing too much about dieting and not keeping a healthy perspective about other important parts of your life.

How do I find a diet coach?
Go to the diet coach page of this website to find helpful tips for finding your own diet coach.

Is it bad to eat right before bed?
Studies show that it does not matter when you eat your calories, what matters is the amount you eat per day.  Eating a small snack before bed is fine, as long as you plan to do so.

Is it ok to skip breakfast and use the calories later in the day?
Skipping breakfast is never a good idea.  Research shows that people who habitually skip breakfast tend to seriously overeat at night.

Are there any foods I can’t eat?
It all depends on what diet you decide to follow.  Some diets do outlaw certain foods altogether.  However, a diet that puts your favorite foods completely off limits will likely lead you to crave those foods sooner or later.  It’s a good idea to choose a diet that allows you to eat a reasonable variety of foods. Be wary of those that unduly restrict healthy food choices. You may be able to lose weight on a diet that isn’t nutritious but eventually your body will rebel and you’ll start to gain weight back.

How much weight should I lose per week?
It’s different for each person, but a general rule of thumb is that it’s reasonable to lose between half a pound to two pounds per week.  People who have a lot of weight to lose may find that their weight goes down considerably more in the first two weeks but their rate of weight loss will soon slow down.