Emotional Eating Unwrapped

In this episode, Alana dives into the surprising comfort many of us find in chaos, especially when it comes to healing our relationship with food. She explores why, for so many women, crisis mode can feel safer than calm, and why stability and ease might actually trigger discomfort or even self-sabotage. Alana shares personal experiences, client stories, and powerful insights into the cycle of emo...

In this episode, Alana dives into the viral “girl dinner” trend and explores its deeper implications on women’s relationship with food, body image, and self-care. Alana unpacks how what seems like a quirky, low-effort snack plate can actually be a reflection of burnout, decision fatigue, and emotional exhaustion. She discusses how girl dinner is less about food and more about autonomy, protest, an...

In this episode, Alana unpacks the powerful question: is it nourishment or numbing when you reach for food? Sharing openly from her own experience of a challenging day, Alana explores the subtle but vital difference between eating to soothe and eating to escape uncomfortable feelings. She delves into the nervous system's role in food cravings and compulsive eating, guiding listeners to understand...

In this episode, Alana delves into the often invisible roles and expectations many women inherit long before food becomes an escape. She explores how subconsciously accepted roles—like being the helper, organizer, or peacemaker – shape our relationship with food and lead to secret, emotionally driven eating patterns. Alana explains that true healing from emotional eating is not just about changing...

In this episode, Alana dives into the subtle yet persistent pressures of summer body culture and the insidious ways self-improvement messaging shows up during this time of year. She unpacks how even well-intentioned messages about “glow ups” and empowerment can trigger old cycles of shame, control, and self-abandonment, especially for those healing their relationship with food and their bodies. Al...

In this episode, Alana delves into the often overlooked theme of rebellion as it relates to emotional eating. She invites listeners to explore the subtle, quiet ways we use food to push back against rules, expectations, and feelings of being controlled—especially those ingrained from childhood or societal pressures. Through personal stories and insights, Alana explains how rebellion through eating...

In this episode, Alana dives deep into the often-unspoken experience of anger and rage, and how these powerful emotions can drive emotional eating, especially for women. She explores the difference between anger and rage, highlighting how societal conditioning encourages women to suppress these "hot" emotions—only for them to later erupt in our relationship with food. Through personal insight and...

In this episode, Alana dives into the quiet yet powerful experience of having desire – whether it's for food, affection, rest, or a bigger life – and the shame and self-sabotage that often arise in response. She unpacks how many of us, especially women, were taught to minimize our wants and internalize the idea that our desires are dangerous or unworthy. Through personal reflection and insights fr...

In this episode, Alana delves into the lesser-discussed side of food struggles—the fear of fullness and the fantasy that hunger means safety. She unpacks how the desire for emptiness often masks deeper emotional needs for control and order, especially among women who hold themselves to high standards. Alana explores the nervous system’s connection to restriction, the emotional roots behind fearing...

In this episode, Alana shines a light on the hidden realities faced by high-achieving women who seem to have it all together on the outside, yet secretly struggle with emotional eating and bingeing behind closed doors. Drawing from her own journey and the experiences of the women she mentors, Alana discusses the chasm between outward success and inner struggle, and the silent burden of always bein...

In this episode, Alana explores the subtle yet powerful pressure many of us feel to treat our bodies as billboards—using our appearance as proof of discipline, health, and success. She unpacks how this "body as billboard" mindset can turn eating into a performance, disconnecting us from authentic pleasure and nourishment and fueling cycles of emotional eating and shame. Alana discusses the differe...

In this episode, Alana discusses the complex relationship between weight loss and emotional fulfillment. She emphasizes that while it's okay to desire weight loss, it should not be seen as the key to happiness or self-worth. Alana explores the fantasy of the 'ideal body' and how it can lead to disappointment when the expected emotional rewards do not materialize. She encourages listeners to focus...

Welcome to Emotional Eating Unwrapped — the only podcast that shows you how to connect mindfulness and science so you can fall in love with eating, create healthy attachments with food, and lose weight sustainably.  If you're ready to stop using food as a comfort mechanism, you're in the right place! Your host, Alana Kessler, is a registered dietician who struggled with emotional eating for years...

In this episode, Alana takes a deep dive into the often misunderstood concept of intuitive eating, addressing why it initially may not work for many women. She explores the cultural premise that intuitive eating is a straightforward solution and questions the simplistic notion of just "listening to your body." Through her empathetic insights, Alana illustrates how years of dieting, emoti...

In this episode, Alana Kessler delves into the concept of decision fatigue and how it contributes to emotional eating patterns. She explains that decision fatigue is not a matter of willpower or discipline but rather an energetic challenge stemming from the accumulation of decisions made throughout the day. Alana emphasizes that this fatigue can lead to mindless eating decisions in the evenings wh...

In this episode, Alana explores the deeply rooted mother-daughter food cycle and unpacks how inherited beliefs and behaviors around food can impact our relationship with eating. She invites listeners to recognize that the patterns of guilt, shame, and control they face didn't originate with them, but may have been modeled by female influences in their lives. Alana delves into the generational impa...

In this episode, Alana delves into the concept of good girl conditioning and its connection to emotional eating. She explores how the ingrained pressure to always be agreeable and perfect can trigger emotional overeating, binging, and body image issues. Alana provides an empathetic space for listeners to recognize these patterns and introduces the idea that unexpressed emotions often manifest in o...

In this episode, Alana explores the complex relationship between emotional eating and identity. She discusses the identity crisis that often accompanies healing from emotional eating, emphasizing that healing is not just about changing eating habits but also about understanding who we are without those habits. Alana delves into the comfort of familiar patterns, the deep connection between food and...

In this episode, Alana explores the intricate relationship between emotional eating and long-term partnerships. She discusses how shared habits can create comfort but also mask emotional eating patterns, the role of emotional eating as a coping mechanism during conflicts, and the impact of body image and intimacy on self-perception. Alana emphasizes the importance of open communication and finding...

In this episode, Alana delves into the misguided pursuit of weight loss and how it can detract from genuine healing. She shares her personal journey of overcoming an obsession with the scale and the realization that true success isn't marked by hitting a goal weight. Instead, Alana emphasizes the importance of achieving a peaceful and self-accepting relationship with food and one's body. L...

In this episode, Alana Kessler delves into why emotional eating and binging are more prevalent among women compared to men. She explores the societal narratives and biological factors that predispose women to use food as a coping mechanism. By dissecting the societal pressures and expectations placed on women's appearances, and the mixed messages in media and diet culture, Alana sheds light on...

In this episode, Alana dives into the often overlooked emotional aspect of healing from emotional eating, focusing on the grief tied to letting go of this familiar coping mechanism. She emphasizes that emotional eating is not just about the food itself but what eating symbolizes—a form of self-soothing and comfort in times of stress or boredom. Alana explores why the journey of healing can feel un...

In this episode, Alana dives into the profound topic of the invisible weight carried by emotional eaters and how it shapes our identities. Alana breaks down the episode into four parts: the stories we tell ourselves about emotional eating, the impact on confidence, the connection between food and identity, and the journey from shame to self-acceptance. She discusses the deeply ingrained stories an...

In this episode, Alana dives deep into the topic of food and control, illuminating how many of us use eating as a way to create a sense of stability amid life's chaos. She explains the neurobiological roots of this behavior, tracing it back to early childhood experiences. Alana discusses both sides of the spectrum – from restricting food intake to indulging in it for comfort – and shares her perso...

In this episode, Kassi and Alana dive into an introspective conversation about emotional elasticity and how to begin treating yourself as an emotional athlete. When Alana expresses her admiration for tennis player Novak Djokovic – emphasizing his holistic approach to being an elite athlete and how it mirrors her philosophy on life and wellness – the two explore the importance of embracing past and...