Today's episode is all about the food, but not about the food as Molly and Susan dive into Susan's journey and relationship with food. Even as young as four years old, Susan, like many of us, remembers and reflects on defining moments she had with food that dictated her relationship with food, particularly sugar, in adulthood. As the two discuss, Molly and Susan note that when we are faced with food traumas and restrictions, it becomes easier for us to rationalize unhealthy food choices.

Molly and Susan continue the inspirational dialogue by defining Susan's rock bottom moment– COVID. As many of us were faced with challenges when the pandemic first started, Susan reflected that there was nowhere to hide her food habits. This led to what Susan deems a "divine intervention" moment where everything she knew about food was a behavior– meaning it could be changed.

Having played her part in the pervasive diet culture, Susan was wary of another diet cycle. By going "all in," Susan made intentional changes with her behavior and relationship with food using the principles found in Breaking Up With Sugar.

Tune in!

Episode Quotes

• "You never know which attempt is going to work– it's why you never give up." –Molly Carmel

• "After we put down the food, or we find a healthy relationship with food, it's really about learning how to untangle those stories and create new ones." –Molly Carmel

Key Highlights

• Reflecting on habits we developed when we were younger reveals our escapes and coping mechanisms;
• The power of rationalization to get what we want;
• Diet culture is pervasive;
• We are not alone in thinking that there can be no middle ground between a diet and food we enjoy;
• The toxicity of comparative suffering;
• The power of going "all in" and intentionality in our choices;
• We are good enough to be gentle and soft to heal ourselves rather than punitive;
• When your "why" is powerful enough to combat rationalization

About Molly Carmel

Molly is a leading addiction and eating disorder therapist and the founder of the Beacon Program, which offers individual and group solutions to help people break free from their destructive relationships with food and dieting. She is also the author of 'Breaking up with Sugar' and the host of 'What You're Craving' Podcast.

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