Do you ever feel like you're back in 6th grade when it comes to friendships? Are you surprised (and maybe a little embarrassed) by how much drama, insecurity, or awkwardness still shows up when it comes to friendships as an adult?

If you've ever cringed at how much this still affects you... you're not alone, and you're in the right place.

In this episode, I'm diving deep into adult friendships — the good, the hard, the healing — and how our experiences with friends tie directly into our emotional well-being (yes, even our weight-loss journeys).

You’ll discover:

• Why old friendship wounds might still be affecting you today

• How unresolved trauma can keep you emotionally stuck (and how to begin moving forward)

• What it really means to be your own best friend — and how that shifts every other relationship in your life

• Why friendship dynamics can be tricky (especially when people-pleasing or obligation creeps in)

• The surprising connection between emotional safety and permanent weight loss

This episode is full of reflection questions, real-life stories from clients, and actionable takeaways to help you stop feeling like an insecure kid and start showing up as your most confident, connected self.

🎉 Member Win Highlight: One of our incredible members recently hosted an awareness event for sex trafficking in her community — and over 300 people showed up. She thought no one would come... but she stepped into her power anyway. Just another reminder that age is never a disqualifier, and your courage matters more than your fear.

🧠 Why This Matters for Weight Loss You might be asking: What do friendships have to do with losing weight? A lot more than you think. Weight loss isn't just about what you eat — it's about how you feel, how you cope, and how you treat yourself. Learning to process emotions, heal old wounds, and feel safe in relationships (including the one with yourself) is key.

💭 Reflective Questions to Consider:

• What is your friendship history?

• Do you change yourself to “fit in” or avoid disconnection?

• Do certain interactions trigger emotional responses that feel disproportionate?

• Are there unresolved friendship traumas from your past?

• Are your current friendships energizing or draining?

💌 Listener Challenge: What would it look like to start being a better friend to yourself? Instead of distracting with food, your phone, or errands… what if you slowed down and simply connected with you?

👯‍♀️ Ready for Deeper Connection? Inside the Love Yourself Thin Membership, we’re spending July exploring what it really means to be with ourselvesinstead of just distracting or avoiding. Our Summer Bucket List Challenge is all about creating joy and connection — whether that’s making solo hikes, taking museum trips, or making charity quilts from a place of love and presence.

Want in? Let’s make this summer about being with yourself in ways that feel meaningful, not lonely.

 

🔗 Connect with Dara:

Instagram @dara_tomasson

Website 

Watch this episode on YouTube

If this episode resonated, share it with a friend — or better yet, share it with yourself. You deserve friendships (and a life) that feel light, safe, and full of joy.