Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life

One of the biggest emotional decisions before bariatric surgery has nothing to do with food, vitamins, or recovery… It’s deciding who — if anyone — you want to tell. In this episode, we explore the very real pros and cons of sharing your bariatric surgery journey with friends, family, coworkers, and social circles. From fear of judgment to the desire for support, this conversation dives into the e...

Kyla Holley explains why decades of dieting rules often hold people back after bariatric surgery or while on GLP-1s, and why letting go of rigid rules is essential to long-term success. We explore why the dieting mindset was never designed for long-term success, and why carrying it into life after weight loss surgery can keep you feeling trapped, frustrated, and disconnected from your body. You’ll...

If you’ve had bariatric surgery or started a GLP-1 medication, you already know… the physical changes are only part of the journey. In this episode, we dive into the mental and emotional shifts you must make to truly transform your relationship with food—so you can create lasting results without falling back into old patterns. You’ll learn how to: Break free from emotional eating habits Rewire you...

In this episode of Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life we explore “food noise” — the looping, urgent thoughts about eating that many people experience. Kyla Holley explains how food noise is a learned brain response, not a character flaw, and contrasts it with a relaxed relationship to food. She breaks down why evenings are often the hardest time for food thoughts and introduces a practical approach to e...

In this episode of Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life we explore the impact of before-and-after photos on people on bariatric or GLP-1 weight-loss journeys, and how social media comparisons can mislead and harm. Kyla Holley explains why two snapshots don’t tell the full story, offers practical tips—take private before photos, avoid unhealthy comparison, curate your feed—and encourages focusing on person...

In this episode of Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life, Kyla Holley offers practical tips for socialising, dining out and going on holiday after bariatric surgery or while using GLP‑1 medications. Advice includes reviewing menus ahead, prioritising protein, sharing or taking leftovers, choosing accommodating venues (tapas, sushi), setting boundaries, and being cautious with alcohol and body changes. List...

Join our host Kyla Holley and guest Dr. Evan Nadler Childhood obesity is one of the most complex and misunderstood health issues of our time—and the conversation often misses the bigger picture. In this episode of Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life, I sit down with a bariatric surgeon to explore what really happens when obesity begins in childhood. We move beyond the usual narratives of “eat less and mo...

Losing a significant amount of weight can change your body dramatically — but what many people don’t expect is how deeply it can affect their sense of identity. In this episode of Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life, we explore the emotional and psychological experience of becoming someone physically different, while internally still feeling like the same person. For many people who undergo bariatric sur...

This week I focus on pre-op preparation for bariatric surgery, covering what the surgical team looks for and how the pre-op psychological and behavioral sessions work in my practice. Topics include working with dietitians, texture modification after surgery, weight-loss expectations, relationships and identity changes, common immediate post-op feelings and cognitive effects of very low calorie int...

In this episode, Kyla Holley discusses the challenges and strategies for maintaining weight after bariatric surgery or weight loss. She emphasizes the importance of developing skills for weight stability, monitoring, and building trust in oneself to sustain long-term success. Kyla Holley is a Therapist and the Director of The Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour www.acfeb.com Please join our fab...

Welcome to Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life. In this episode Kyla discusses how significant weight loss—whether from surgery or GLP‑1 medication—can change friendships, intimate relationships, and how society treats you. She shares real examples, highlights challenges like jealousy, role shifts, and excess skin, and explains why people may react differently. The episode emphasizes open communication,...

In this episode of Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life we tackle the common fear of weight regain after bariatric surgery, explaining why small regain is often biologically normal and how past dieting history influences expectations. Kyla Holley outlines the main behavioral causes and possible medical contributors. Practical prevention and recovery strategies are provided: prioritize protein, return to s...

In this episode I announce an exciting rebrand: after 103 episodes I'm shifting focus to bariatric/metabolic surgery, and to people using GLP‑1 medications. The show will become "Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life," concentrating on support before, during, and after surgery, while still offering useful content for anyone improving their relationship with food. Thank you for listening over the past two y...

Welcome to Change Your Relationship With Food with Kyla Holley and an episode explaining why protein is essential for protecting muscle, supporting strength and balance as we age, and helping control appetite and blood sugar. Kyla outlines a practical, non-dieting “protein-first” approach: prioritize protein, fill up on vegetables, and choose carbohydrates intentionally. She also warns against ult...

Have you ever noticed how food can feel amazing in the moment… but leave you feeling empty, guilty, or still wanting more? In this episode, we explore a powerful and often overlooked question: Are you mistaking pleasure for happiness—especially when it comes to food? This is a compassionate, eye-opening conversation about emotional eating, dopamine-driven cravings, and why so many of us use food t...

In this episode, Kyla Holley engages in a heartfelt conversation with Hayley, who shares her personal journey with food and weight loss. They explore the complexities of identity, self-perception, and the emotional challenges that accompany weight loss. Hayley discusses her struggles with food from a young age, the impact of societal expectations on her self-image, and the mental adjustments requi...

Kyla reflects on the new year, discusses format changes, and announces the launch of an interactive bariatric community. The new format includes real-life guest interviews and interactive consultations, while the bariatric community offers support and resources for individuals interested in or having undergone bariatric surgery. Kyla Holley Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour Co...

In this holiday episode, Kyla dives into how to enjoy Christmas food without guilt, shame, or the annual pressure to start a restrictive New Year diet. If you're tired of the binge-restrict cycle, the “I’ll fix it in January” mindset, or feeling like every holiday treat needs to be “earned,” this conversation is for you. You’ll learn how to release guilt, trust your body, and break free from the t...

In this conversation, Kyla Holley interviews Kayla MacDonald, a food freedom and embodiment coach, who shares her journey from struggling with body image and emotional eating to developing a unique coaching method that combines creativity, archetypes, and emotional healing. Kayla discusses the dark side of health coaching, the importance of understanding one's origin story, and how our relationshi...

Host Kyla Holley introduces "Achieving Stuff," a new range of tactile star-chart packs designed to help children and adults tackle anxiety, procrastination and small health goals through positive reinforcement and bias modification. The episode explains the psychology behind the tools, highlights the kids' Bravery Chart and the adult "Get Shit Done" chart, and describes how eight weeks of small, a...

In this episode Kyla explores how having guests or staying with others—especially at holiday times—can disrupt routines, trigger mirroring behavior, and create pressure around accepting or finishing food. She shares examples of family food dynamics, food memories, and how alcohol and mealtime schedules can affect eating patterns. Practical tips include planning your boundaries, communicating likes...

In this powerful episode, we dive into what it really means to put yourself first — without guilt, apology, or second-guessing. If you’ve been overgiving, running on empty, or struggling to recognise your own worth, this conversation will remind you why prioritising self-care and valuing yourself is essential, not optional. You’ll learn how to honour your needs, protect your energy, and finally st...

Thinking about stopping your GLP-1 weight loss medication — like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro — but feeling anxious about what comes next? You’re not alone. In this episode, we dive into what’s likely to happen when you stop GLP-1 agonists, backed by current research and real-world experience. You’ll learn: ✨ What to expect physically when your body adjusts after stopping the medication 🧠 The mi...

In this episode Kyla explores how anxiety and overthinking commonly affect our eating—either shutting down appetite or triggering comfort-eating—and why these responses are not a moral failing but a nervous system reaction. She shares practical steps: notice and track your patterns and triggers, calm your body before eating (breathing, a warm drink, a walk), and create space between feeling and re...

Have you ever felt trapped in the exhausting cycle of undereating one week and overeating the next — wondering why your “willpower” keeps slipping? In this episode, we’re unpacking the hidden effects of dieting, undereating, and food obsession — and why your body might be fighting back, not failing you. You’ll learn how diet culture trains us to distrust our hunger, how undernourishment affects yo...