When Your Body Gets the Blues: The Clinically Proven Program for Women Who Feel Tired and Stressed and Eat Too Much: Amazon.ca: Sifu Marie-Annette Brown, Jo Robinson: Books

From Amazon

Do you feel drowsy, sluggish, tense, moody, and disinterested in sex? Do you have trouble sleeping, controlling your eating (especially sweets), and concentrating? If you answered yes to several of these questions, you may have the "body blues" (or "vegetative depressive symptoms"). Authors Marie-Annette Brown and Jo Robinson name these blues, which are caused by low or fluctuating hormones, "women's most misdiagnosed, undertreated, and mistreated mood problem." To combat the body blues, Brown, Robinson, and colleagues at the University of Washington developed "LEVITY" therapy based on three activities: increasing exposure to natural light, walking outside five or more times a week, and taking six inexpensive vitamins and minerals.

When Your Body Gets the Blues explains the causes and symptoms of the syndrome, illustrated by numerous case studies; the authors' research study and supporting science behind LEVITY therapy; the LEVITY program; and easy ways to put it into action. For example, you can double the amount of light you receive by looking straight ahead instead of at the ground when walking outside, and a see-through umbrella helps you get the benefits of natural light when walking in the rain. The program makes sense and is easy to implement. When Your Body Gets the Blues is recommended for women who are tired of being dominated by mood swings, fatigue, emotional eating, and stress. --Joan Price

From Publishers Weekly

Based on the results of a study they conducted, Robinson, who writes in the field of consumer health, and Brown, a specialist of women's medical issues, advocate a solution to alleviate what they call the "body blues." Characterized by such symptoms as weight gain, problems sleeping, fatigue and a decreased interest in sex, this condition, according to the authors, is caused by low serotonin activity. Brown and Robinson describe this as an annoying physiological condition that results from hormonal interactions occurring over a female's lifetime and whose chemical complexities are detailed at length here. Their findings from the controlled study and interviews they conducted with 112 women indicated that the "body blues" could be greatly relieved by a treatment they designed and named the "Levity Program." Consisting of bright light, brisk walking and six vitamins and minerals, these recommendations for mood elevation are drug free and virtually harmless. Walking five times weekly and getting more natural light has been suggested elsewhere by medical providers as beneficial to overall health. The suggested "antidepressant cocktail," a combination of vitamins, is available at any drug or health food store; however, the authors do promote their own all-in-one tablet. This will interest readers of alternative health literature and those who are convinced by the "body blues" theory.

Review

"Robinson and Brown have given women with the 'Body Blues'-- and all of us-- a gift. I recommend it highly."--Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., author, Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples

"I know many people who would benefit from the health advice in this program, men and women alike."--Andrew Weil, M.D., author, Spontaneous Healing and 8 Weeks to Optimum Health

"The importance of the information in this book cannot be overestimated."--Larry Dossey, M.D., author, Healing Beyond the Body and Healing Words, and executive editor, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine

Book Description

Millions of women don't feel their best and don't know why. They're not outright depressed, but they aren't really happy either. They eat too much or have gained weight lately. They find it hard to concentrate or have trouble sleeping. They feel tense, anxious, or irritable, or they're highly sensitive to criticism. They're tired and not very interested in sex (or even everyday life).

When Your Body Gets the Blues offers a clinically proven solution. A simple, drug-free treatment known as the LEVITY program-- Light, Exercise, and Vitamin Intervention TherapY-- can help women think clearly, sleep soundly, cope easily with stress, reduce anxiety and depression, and lose unwanted pounds-- in 8 weeks or less!

The author's easy-to-follow program includes self-quizzes, tips for increasing exposure to light and getting mood-elevating exercise even on dark or rainy days, and six recommended vitamins and minerals proven to relieve the Body Blues.

Marie-Annette Brown, Ph.D., R.N., tested the LEVITY program on real women, and they improved significantly-- far more than women who took placebo pills. In fact, many participants cut their feelings of depression in half.

One woman who completed the LEVITY program said, "I know that if I ever feel blue again, I have my own way of feeling better-- I won't have to run to my doctor for a prescription."

Now, for the first time, When Your Body Gets the Blues offers the groundbreaking LEVITY program to women everywhere.

All it takes is a small investment of 20 minutes and a few pennies a day. With this clinically proven program, any woman-- young or old, active or inactive-- can regain control over her mood and her life.

From the Back Cover

Based on the groundbreaking LEVITY study, a program using sunlight, exercise, and vitamins to overcome women's most underdiagnosed mood problem

What the experts say:

"Robinson and Brown have given women with the 'Body Blues'--and all of us--a gift. I recommend it highly." --Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., author, Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples

"I know many people who would benefit from the health advice in this program, men and women alike." --Andrew Weil, M.D., author, Spontaneous Healing and 8 Weeks to Optimum Health

"The importance of the information in this book cannot be overestimated." --Larry Dossey, M.D., author, Healing beyond the Body and Healing Words, and executive editor, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine

"This book should be required reading in Female 101." -Patricia Love, Ed.D., author, Hot Monogamy and The Truth about Love

"I would recommend this book to any woman who wants to better understand how her body can dictate her life--and how she can take back control!" --Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., professor of sociology, University of Washington, and author, Everything You Know about Love and Sex Is Wrong

"This timely and valuable book can be life-transforming for troubled readers struggling to cope." --Herman M. Frankel, M.D., president, Portland Health Institute, Inc., and author, Dealing with Disaster and Loss: A Guidebook for Helping Your Children Cope

Do you have the "Body Blues"?

Do you eat too much? Have you gained weight? Do you have difficulty concentrating? Do you have trouble sleeping? Are you irritable or tense? Do you feel tired all the time? Do you feel drowsy during the day? Is sex no longer enjoyable? Are you anxious or down? Do you fear rejection or criticism?

About the Author

Marie-Annette Brown, Ph.D., R.N., is a professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Washington who is involved in research, teaching, and clinical practice. Dr. Brown has lectured widely and published more than 60 scientific papers. She is nationally certified as a family and psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner and provides primary care at the University of Washington Women's Health Care Clinic.

Jo Robinson is a New York Times best-selling author from Vashon Island, Washington, who specializes in books on mental health and nutrition. She is the coauthor of 11 popular books, including Getting the Love You Want, Hot Monogamy, and The Omega Diet. She collaborated with Dr. Brown in the design of the LEVITY study.