Susan Powter is an alcoholic. She says so in page 2 of the intro to her book, "Sober…and Staying That Way. The Missing Link in the Cure for Alcoholism," 1997.
Her motivational speaker voice that you'd recognize comes through in every page. Except there's something more mysterious about it...maybe even too honest about it.
Susan Powter comes from a work hard and play hard lifestyle – social drinking was part of her job. That's not something everyone relates to, but some people might. Maybe it’s the club scene – dj's, club personalities, dj groupies; maybe people in advertising or PR – client schmoozing; account management; the art and fashion world - wine and cheese art gallery receptions, champagne filled runway shows. The ARTS are full of them, PRESS is full of them, TV/Film Production is full of them.
How does the STOP THE INSANITY! woman, with all of the above in her job description, and then some, even attempt to be anonymous about her alcoholism?
She doesn't. She gets pissed at groups she targets instead like: the US Government, education system, AMA, insurance companies, AA, hospitals, jouvenile delinquit centers, prisons, and more.
She includes stats on alcohol and child abuse, rape, fatal accidents, suicide, fetal alcohol syndrome - one of today's explanations for autism and more death.
She tells her personal story throughout the book, revealing personal struggles, thoughts, and truths.
But most importantly, she uses her platform on nutrition and physiology – having gone from 260 lbs and lost 133 - to attempt to explode a revolution in sobriety: Nutrition therapy.
Powter calls her book, “updated, current recovery thinking.” Acknowledging, but not getting cheesy about “my liver” jokes, she educates on the physiological affects of alcohol on the liver, the asetaldehyde conversion into acetate, and how that poison acetate travels to your brain. When it reaches your brain, that’s your buzz.
And your body adjusts over time. Soon there is a biochemical-behavioral-physical combo that no one ever explained to me in fun ways to understand like she could.
She covers malnutrition: the calories in alcohol with no nutritional value due to sugars that blocks vitamins and minerals. And Susan proceeds to give us not only vitamin supplement advice, but recipes to try. A rebel like she should go down in history as one of the first to be for real.
If you ever felt manipulated by big business, this is a great book. If you need an alternative to AA because you don't know any better, this can help. If you're just over being a drunk or around one, check it out.
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