Never Binge Again by Glenn Livingston Cover. A Picture of a face with a wide open mouth.

Never Binge Again: The Ultimate Book Review

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Never Binge Again by Dr. Glenn Livingston is a book that teaches its readers to master their eating habits. It offers an effective way to recover from food mistakes and stick to a healthy eating plan for good. This review will tell you everything you need to know before you decide to buy it.

Never Binge Again: Synopsis

Although Never Binge Again was a fairly short book, the purpose was well-described. It’s also full of humor without making the reader feel like their problem is unimportant. Glenn is instead very compassionate and supportive towards the reader. Before I give my review, here’s a quick summary of the book.

Giving up Negative Thinking

Never Binge Again starts by assuring the reader that they can change, whether they believe it or not. Glenn uses his degree in psychology to prove that urges to overeat don’t in any way control anyone. He explains how overcoming binge eating is as simple as changing how you think and respond to the urge.

The method he uses leaves thought out of it altogether. Glenn explains that if you think too much about something you’re trying to achieve, it can lead to self-doubt. Self-doubt takes your mind off your goals and makes reaching them harder. Rather, he encourages readers to be their own support system and teaches them how to make an unbreakable eating plan.

The Causes of Food Binging

Glenn explains the levels of the brain and the part they play with binge eating and survival. He says that letting ourselves overeat is like allowing the evolved part of our brain to give up control to the primitive “lizard brain.” This is all part of our natural survival instincts.

He also describes how these survival drives were likely created and why they’re no longer relevant in the modern world. However, there are many reasons why we continue food binging. For example, there are cultural reasons to binge eat such as holidays. To never binge again, we need to go against societal norms.

The book talks about the messages all around us, clear or unknown, that lead to overeating. It denies the common belief that we cannot give up our vices, so why bother trying. Rather, we are not powerless to our addictions and can control ourselves.

The “Pig”

Throughout the book, Glenn uses a metaphoric alter-ego called “The Pig” to describe the reader’s primitive brain. The “Pig,” which commands you to binge, doesn’t care about you or your health. All it wants is to binge eat. To stop overeating for good, you must cage your “Pig” and keep it locked up forever.

Glenn uses the “Pig” to show readers that they’re up against a small, powerless but wicked creature. The “Pig” will squeal and fight, saying anything it can to be let out so it can binge. Then, once free, it will stop pretending to be nice and wreak havoc on your life.

The book teaches you to recognize when the “Pig” squeals so you know when it’s time to ignore cravings. It identifies the most common binge thoughts to pick up on, including the ones that are harder to recognize. Also, you’ll learn how to combat all these thoughts with better arguments.

Glenn also shows you how to identify less common binge thoughts by reflecting on what led you to a binge. He then teaches you how to plan for next time.

Overcoming Binge Eating

The Never Binge Again eating plan can be whatever way of eating you choose. It doesn’t recommend a specific diet, but it does advise readers to eat nutritious, healthy foods. The plan that the book gives is more focused on keeping you following your goals, whatever they may be.

The most important part of the plan is that the rules you set out are clear and permanent. Glenn explains why this is vital to your success and shows how to go about making any changes or dealing with slip-ups. He also gives you food rule examples, so you have an idea where to start.

The last part of the Never Binge Again plan is giving up self-doubt. Glenn tests you later in the book to prove that you’re capable of making it through a craving. He also provides a list of ways to use self-care to reduce cravings and help get you through them.

Setting You up for Success

The end of the book gives you the tools and motivation to incorporate the Never Binge Again plan into your life. It explains how food makes you miss life, trading joyful experiences and connections for food binging. In a way, when you give the “Pig” freedom, you keep yourself caged.

Glenn is fully aware that other people won’t make following your eating plan easy. He explains how to deal with other people picking at your food choices. He says not to let them invalidate your goals and mentions how you can convince others to make an eating plan, too.

Lastly, the book assures you that the Never Binge Again plan doesn’t require you to have willpower. Having a clear plan takes out all the decision-making, so your “Pig” can’t interfere. Identifying “Pig” squeal thoughts will help you keep the “Pig” caged for good, meaning you’ll never binge again.

About the Writer, Dr. Glenn Livingston

Glenn Livingston, Ph.D., is a psychologist, writer, and entrepreneur. Aside from building a successful therapy practice, he was the CEO of two companies that provided research and consulting services to fortune 500 firms. He also funded his own food preference research project with over 40,000 participants.

Before writing Never Binge Again, Glenn was struggling with binging and obesity. He thought he had a disease making him overeat and didn’t have any power to take control of it. Then, he thought of an unusual way to combat his food obsession. He’s spent decades researching binge eating and overeating with the intent of understanding why we do it.

“Always use the present moment to be healthy…and you’ll be fine.” – Dr. Glenn Livingston, Never Binge Again Click To Tweet

What Was Helpful in the Book?

Never Binge Again gives excellent examples throughout, helping the reader fully understand the point that’s being made. Just as you begin to question the advice Glenn is giving, he tells you a story so you can make a connection.

The book was terrifically inspiring as well, convincing you that you’re in perfect control and capable of reaching your goals. You’re reminded time and time again that following the plan is what you really want, and any doubt is the “Pig” trying to get in your way. You truly feel like Glenn is on your side, like a friend giving you some well-needed tough love.

It also refers people with serious eating disorders to seek professional help rather than use the book to worsen their disorder. Glenn discourages compensatory behaviors, like over-exercising or fasting. He explains that the best thing to do after a mistake is to forgive yourself and carry on with the plan.

Throughout the book, Glenn refers you to many workbooks that you can use to help you follow the plan. These workbooks are valuable resources you can get from the Never Binge Again website. Thanks to these resources, you can take your Never Binge Again plan to the next level and increase your chance of success.

What Was Unhelpful in Never Binge Again?

For someone like myself who’s suffered from several eating disorders, a book like this may not be the best. It suggests keeping strict food rules, with one bite outside of the rules being considered a binge. Someone with a mindset for disordered eating may take these rules too far. In reality, your personal food plan should be made to include pleasure foods, too.

Glenn also recommends weighing yourself every day and focusing on the scale. This is another behavior that can lead to obsession and disordered eating. Readers should keep in mind that their weight can fluctuate from day to day without gaining or losing actual fat.

It can also be a bit silly hearing about the “Pig” and “pig slop” when referring to binge urges and binge food. I found myself laughing whenever I heard Glenn say “pig slop” and “food orgy” and rolling my eyes every time he said “yippee!” Although, it was nice getting a laugh throughout the book. If necessary, readers can make their own version of the “Pig” to take it more seriously.

Piggy Bank Closed In A Cage On White Background. Never Binge Again Cage the Pig

Who Can Benefit from This Book?

  • Someone who needs some tough love to reach their goals.
  • Whoever doesn’t have time for a long, drawn-out book.
  • Since the plan isn’t limited to overeating, it can be helpful for any addiction.
  • You feel the need to have someone to blame, hence your “Pig.”
  • People who feel like they cannot be allowed any gray area in binge recovery. The plan gives specific rules.
  • Someone wanting to find out who they are when they finally give up binging.
  • Anyone wanting to stop binge eating immediately.
  • Someone looking for a more direct and light-hearted approach to recovery.

Would I Recommend Never Binge Again?

When I started listening to this book, I wasn’t sure I liked the message. I’ve struggled with eating disorders in the past and have just given up food restriction for good. But as I got farther into the book, it took on a deeper meaning. I think the point of Never Binge Again varies depending on the reader, and I made my own interpretation of it.

In the end, I praised the book and the ideas it gave to free yourself from binging. I loved that it gives readers a quick, easy, and specific solution to their overeating problem. I also appreciated the support and humor Glenn brought along the way.

Resources

If you’re thinking about reading Never Binge Again, I highly recommend it! Never Binge Again comes with a collection of resources, including starter templates for food plans, a craving defeater cheat card, and a guide for making changes to your plan.

The audiobook is read by Glenn himself, so you get to hear it as it should sound. It also has a second part, which gives examples of coaching sessions between Glenn and some of the people he helps through coaching. He works with them through many problems, including giving up coffee, alcohol consumption, and of course, overcoming binge eating.

If you’ve tried everything to stop overeating, Never Binge Again might be crazy enough to work. Try it out!

Have you ever read Never Binge Again? Did you enjoy it? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section!

That’s it for now everyone. If you’ve found some value in this post, please share it to inspire others too! Thanks!

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16 thoughts on “Never Binge Again: The Ultimate Book Review”

  1. What a fantastic review! Thanks so much for adding the various comment sections in regards to the book. I find your review quite helpful for those who may have be struggling in this area. Myself included.

  2. Great book review! We have a kid in our house struggling with food choices, but sometimes it’s so hard to know how to help address it. You make great points about avoiding plans that may be overly restrictive

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  6. Ang, nice work. If I had to say the one eating tip that helped me lose weight over time, it is portion control. When I must snack to feed a hole in my stomach, I poor a small bowl of something leaving the bag in the pantry. Plus, the plated food reveals some plate, forcing me to go back for a very small spoonful for seconds. You are doing a great service to your readers. Keith

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