Emotional Eating Unwrapped

In this episode, Alana dives deep into the concept of emotional overeating as an addiction and the importance of detoxing these old patterns to make room for healing. She discusses how emotional eating, much like substance addiction, functions as a compulsive behavior driven by the need for relief or reward, leading to a harmful cycle of guilt and shame. Alana breaks down the stages of identifying...

In this episode, Alana tackles the pervasive issue of the 'scale mentality' and how focusing excessively on numbers can hinder our journey to wellness. Alana shares her personal struggles with the scale dictating her mood and self-worth, emphasizing the importance of breaking free from this mentality. She explores why numbers aren't the whole story and how a hyper-focus on weight can lead to harmf...

In this episode, Alana delves into the intricate relationship between stress, sleep, and emotional eating. She explains how high cortisol levels, driven by lack of sleep and exhaustion, can hinder weight loss, despite improved eating habits. Alana also discusses the crucial role of fat cells in protecting our organs and maintaining hormonal balance, and how excess fat contributes to imbalances. By...

In this episode, Alana delves into how the fear of missing out affects our eating and offers strategies for navigating this common emotional eating trigger. She explains how food FOMO is not just about the fear of missing a specific dish but is deeply rooted in a scarcity mindset and conditioned beliefs around food. Alana shares her personal experiences with this phenomenon and how it exacerbated...

In this episode, Alana dives into the complexities of social eating and the pressures it can bring, particularly for those who struggle with emotional eating. She discusses how to make food choices that align with our true wants and needs, even when we're surrounded by others. Alana shares her own journey of learning to navigate these dynamics and provides practical tips for reclaiming autonomy ar...

In this episode, Alana Kessler delves into the secret power of rituals over resolutions, especially timely as we approach the New Year. She offers a fresh perspective on why traditional New Year's resolutions often fail to bring sustainable change and introduces the concept of rituals as a more intentional and long-lasting alternative. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, Alana di...

In this episode, Alana delves into the complexities of food addiction and emotional eating, focusing on the role of dopamine in creating a cycle of compulsive behavior. She explains how emotional triggers lead to a reliance on food for comfort, and emphasizes the importance of understanding and breaking this dopamine loop. Alana offers insights on reclaiming pleasure outside of food and building e...

In this episode, Alana and Kassi delve into the complicated landscape of emotional eating, particularly during the holiday season. They emphasize the importance of developing inner strength and setting firm boundaries to navigate the season's social and emotional triggers. Alana offers practical advice on self-care practices such as love, compassion, and support, encouraging listeners to prepare f...

In this episode, Alana dives into the impact of celebrity and influencer weight loss transformations on our psyche and their potential to trigger emotional eating behaviors. She shares personal anecdotes reflecting on the toxic mix of admiration and jealousy these images can evoke, and how they often lead to unrealistic comparisons and pressure. Alana also highlights the privilege and intense pres...

In this episode, Alana tackles the online obsession with gut health and clean eating, shedding light on how these trends can inadvertently become triggers for emotional and binge eating. As a functional dietitian, Alana discusses the importance of gut health while emphasizing the pitfalls of micromanaging diets through elimination and detox programs. She shares her own journey and how she learned...

In this episode, Alana delves into the world of AI-powered diet coaches and wellness apps, examining their rising popularity and the promises they make. Alana shares her personal experiences with these apps and critiques their ability to address the deep-rooted issues of emotional eating. She argues that while these tools might offer convenience and data, they lack the human connection and empathy...

In this episode, Alana dives deep into the concept of trust and its crucial role in our relationship with our bodies, especially after years of dieting and the cycles of binging and restricting. She shares her personal journey of overcoming crash diets and emotional eating, shedding light on how these habits can disrupt the body's trust. She dives into the physiological and emotional impacts of re...

In this episode, Kassi puts Alana in the hot-seat with a Q&A session delving into Alana’s unique coaching approach, contrasting it with intuitive eating. Together, they delve into the nuances of emotional eating and the importance of connecting with one's intuition. They discuss the differences between intuitive eating and the work Alana does, emphasizing the need for support systems and the l...

In this episode, Alana tackles the myth of labeling foods as good or bad and the detrimental impact this mindset can have on your self-esteem, mindset, and overall relationship with food. She delves into the black-and-white thinking perpetuated by the media and marketing that makes you feel trapped and creates stress, guilt, and shame. Alana explains how to shift from this rigid mindset to a more...

In this episode, Alana dives into the topic of why resolution won't give you control and explores the illusions we create when seeking a sense of completion through food. Drawing on her personal experiences with emotional eating, binging, and purging, Alana reveals how chasing resolution through these destructive behaviors often leaves us feeling more disconnected and out of control. She discusses...

In this episode, Alana dives deep into two significant triggers that often lead people to emotional eating: people pleasing and perfectionism. Alana shares her own journey, revealing how these habits are intricately connected to our relationship with food. By dissecting the characteristics of people pleasing and perfectionism, she explains how they contribute to emotional eating patterns and negle...

In this episode, Alana delves into the topic of how shame thrives in isolation and its profound impact on harmful eating behaviors. Drawing from her own personal experiences, Alana shares how isolating oneself while battling addictive eating patterns, whether it's binging or restricting, only exacerbates the feelings of shame and low self-worth. She explores the toxic cycle that silence breeds and...

In this episode, Alana welcomesSophie Jaffe – intuitive transformational coach, retreat leader, and the founder of Philosophie Superfoods, to discuss the profound connection between emotional eating and intuition. Sophie shares her journey of recognizing when food is used for emotional numbing and emphasizes making conscious, empowered choices that lead to fewer negative consequences. Together, th...

In this episode, Alana tackles the pervasive issue of negative self-talk and its impact on our journey toward emotional well-being. She delves into the harmful belief that being hard on ourselves is necessary for achieving our goals and dismantles this myth by highlighting the detrimental effects of negative self-talk on both the mind and body. Sharing personal insights, Alana explains how negativ...

In this episode, Alana dives into the hidden roots of our relationship with food, emphasizing how childhood experiences shape our eating habits and body perceptions. Alana candidly shares her own struggles with food, expressing the significant impact early narratives and beliefs have on our adult lives. She discusses how messages of scarcity, guilt, and using appetite as currency for love influenc...

In this episode, Alana and Kassi dive deep into the flip side of binging and emotional eating by addressing the often-obsessive behaviors around strict dieting and exercise. Alana reflects on her own journey with emotional eating and the importance of self-knowledge and personal routines, emphasizing that it’s okay to occasionally indulge in low-nutrient foods. The duo critiques the irresponsible...

In this episode, Alana delves deep into the concept of cravings, unpacking what our minds and bodies are truly trying to communicate when a craving strikes. Alana explores the emotional and psychological underpinnings of cravings, emphasizing that recovery is not about eliminating cravings but learning how to engage with them in a healthier manner. She discusses the distinction between cravings an...

In this episode, Alana dives into the profound impact that connecting to one's purpose can have on transforming eating habits. She opens up about her personal journey of using food as a coping mechanism from a young age and how it anchored her anxious energy. Alana explains the crucial difference between food and the act of eating, emphasizing how disconnection from self can lead to emotional...

In this episode, Alana dives deep into the concept of inflammation, revealing it as the underlying cause of a multitude of symptoms and conditions. She explains how inflammation, while the body’s natural healing response, can become destructive when triggered improperly due to lifestyle, diet, mental health, emotional dysregulation, and relationships. Alana explores how chronic inflammation manife...

In this episode, Alana and Kassi dive into the intricate dynamics of masculine and feminine energy in dating and relationships. They unravel how masculine energy can act as a barrier and lead to protective mechanisms, making individuals feel too guarded to open up to dating. By embracing vulnerability, one can cultivate meaningful relationships and understand the dynamic they're seeking. They...