Molly is welcoming back to the show, Breaking Up with Sugar Warrior, Laura W. Laura was first on the show earlier this year in January, but is back to talk about her journey in Portugal and Spain. The theme of this episode can be summed up in one phrase, and is something that Molly likes to say to her audience "Live a big, beautiful life."

To set the stage in answer to that mantra, Laura takes us through how she overcame any obstacle that presented itself during her trip. Molly points out that when our brains are faced with an opportunity, decision fatigue can often set in and we shut down. Knowing this would be an issue, Laura embraced this challenge by creating a clear line of things she would shut down automatically– things like wine, sugar, or flour. Being present with herself allowed her to gain clarity and be intentional, which granted her the ability to truly enjoy her trip– empowering her to truly believe she could live a big, beautiful life.

A question that came through her mind often is something that Molly brings up as well, "In this situation, what is the best you can do?" This is a question that can help any of us when we are faced with a situation like Laura's. As Molly says in the episode, we should not let our relationship with food be the thief that steals our joy.

Tune in!

Episode Quotes

• "It's about having a big, beautiful life, not about sticking to the meal plan… Then the meal plan becomes a prison." –Molly Carmel
• "I, in no way, wanted the scale to measure how my trip was." –Laura W.

Key Highlights

• People are seeking rigidity– this is what diet culture does to us. Are we good or are we bad? We are more than this.
• We can't let fear of messing up our meal plan steal our joy away from experiencing the best that life has to offer.
• There is a tension that some of us have, as Laura states, between the rules we have of ourselves and having the freedom to trust ourselves.
• Before any trip or event such as this, it takes planning. Be aware and intentional with what you are going to do, this will yield clarity.
• To overcome the idea of rigidity, we must have flexibility and grace with ourselves– a form of self-care and love.
• Think to yourself, "In this situation, what is the best I can do?"
• Not being disappointed in yourself makes a big difference in your motivation to do things.

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.

Connect with Molly

Want to spend MORE time together? Me too! Here are all the ways: Purchase the Breaking Up with Sugar course here: https://molly-carmel.mykajabi.com/buws-course Join me at Coaching with Molly: https://mollycarmel.com/coaching-with-molly/ Come to the Divorcing Dieting workshop: https://mollycarmel.com/intensati/#schedule Join my mailing list for a free mini masterclass: https://mollycarmel.com/signup/ Become a part of the Breaking Up with Sugar FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buwsbook Molly's IG (I love a DM!): https://www.instagram.com/mollycarmel/ Molly's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG1GiXHci_XlL4xMXL6-Ajg?view_as=subscriber Molly's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mollycarmel.buws