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Product Description A no-holds-barred account of folk legend Judy Collins's harrowing struggle with compulsive overeating and of the journey that led her to a solution. Since childhood Judy Collins has had a tumultuous, fraught relationship with food. Her issues with overeating nearly claimed her career and her life. For decades she thought she simply lacked self-discipline. She tried nearly every diet plan that exists, often turning to alcohol to dull the pain of yet another failed attempt to control her seemingly insatiable cravings. Today, Judy knows she suffers from an addiction to sugar and grains, flour and wheat. She adheres to a strict diet of unprocessed foods consumed in carefully measured portions. This solution has allowed her to maintain a healthy weight for years, to enjoy the glow of good health, and to attain peace of mind. Alternating between chapters on her life and those of the many diet gurus she has encountered along the way (Atkins, Jean Nidetch of Weight Watchers, Andrew Weil, to name a few), Cravings is the culmination of Judy's genuine desire to share what she's learned—so that no one else has navigate her heart-rending path to recovery. Review “Collins's radiant memoir shines a light on her almost deadly struggles while vividly celebrating her new life free from cravings and sharing hope with everyone who suffers from food addiction." —Publishers Weekly, starred review “Judy Collins has looked at life from both sides: as an incredibly successful singer and as a person tormented by addiction—to alcohol, substances, and, worst of all, food. In Cravings her candid recounting of her long and ultimately successful struggle, and of the insights she gained from various diet gurus, will give comfort and guidance to the many people trying to improve their relationships with food.” —Andrew Weil, author of 8 Weeks to Optimum Health and Eating Well for Optimum Health “ Cravings is a detailed history of recovery and the power of the life force. It’s not only the story of addiction and recovery in our culture but also an inspiring autobiography of one passionate individual finding a way of living that radiates health. Judy Collins is a beacon of hope for us all.” —Erica Jong, author of Fear of Flying “Judy Collins has enjoyed many triumphs in her long and glorious career as a singer, but this memoir tells the tale of a deeper and darker—and in many ways more difficult—triumph over the twin demons of alcoholism and food disorders. Brave in its candor and clear-sighted in its solutions, full of heartbreak but also tremendously uplifting, Cravings spotlights a path of spiritual and physical renewal for everyone.” —Ron Chernow, author of Alexander Hamilton "Blessed with an angelic voice and a shining public persona, Judy Collins fought private demons that made her privileged life a living hell. In Cravings, she rips the veil from her darkest secrets, revealing her decades-long struggle with deadly eating disorders. Detailing her personal journey, she points the way to sanity and health." —Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way About the Author JUDY COLLINS has recorded more than fifty albums over her illustrious career. With several top-ten hits, Grammy nominations, and gold- and platinum-selling albums to her credit, she has also written several books and is a New York Times bestselling author. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Chapter 1 MY JOURNEY The First Decade—Running We ourselves are the battleground . . . All the power of transcendence is within us. Tap into it and you tap into the divine itself. —deng ming-dao I was born in Seattle, Washington, on May 1, 1939. That year, Germany invaded Poland. The Daughters of the American Revolution refused to let Marian Anderson sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., so Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR in protest and facilitated Anderson’s concert at the Lincoln Memorial. Marjorie