If you've ever reached for food when you're stressed and then immediately judged yourself for it, this episode is for you. Stress eating isn't a willpower problem—it's a nervous system response. Your brain is actually doing exactly what it was designed to do: protect you.

In this episode, you'll discover what stress actually does inside your body, why "I'll start fresh Monday" advice completely misses the mark, and the 5-step protocol that will help you close the mental and emotional loops that drain your energy and keep you stuck in overwhelm.

What You'll Learn:

• Why your brain scans for danger 5x more than it looks for safety (and what this has to do with stress eating)

• The role of cortisol in triggering cravings for quick energy—salty, sugary, and fatty foods

• Why modern stress (deadlines, family conflict, financial worry) doesn't go away after you eat

• The "car analogy": You don't need to know how to fix your brain, but you do need to understand how it works

• The 5-step protocol for closing thought loops and creating permanent change:

1. Accept/Acknowledge

2. Ask

3. Action

4. Assess

5. Acclimatize

Resources Mentioned:

Emotional Eating Mini-Class - Learn how to handle emotional eating 24/7, 12 months of the year. This revamped class includes office hours where you can get personalized support. Join the free masterclass and learn more - https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/free-emotional-eating-masterclass

Connect with Dara:

• Website:

  https://daratomasson.com

• Instagram: @dara_tomasson

• Join Dara live for her next training! -

  https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/upcoming-classes-and-events

• Watch this episode and more on YouTube - https://youtu.be/x23lLj3rKIs