🔑 Episode Summary: This empowering episode is for high-achieving women who feel overwhelmed behind the scenes. Whether you’re a doctor, mom, leader, or professional, if you struggle with emotional eating, perfectionism, and burnout, this is your invitation to find lasting peace without diets or willpower. Leslie explains how food struggles are rooted in nervous system patterns and offers a new, sustainable path to freedom through emotional mastery.

[0:00] Welcome & Who This Is ForLeslie speaks directly to high-achieving women hiding exhaustion and food struggles behind a successful exterior.

[1:55] The Real Reason You Feel StuckTopic: All-or-nothing thinking This mindset keeps high performers trapped in food and life spirals.

[3:24] Control ≠ Peace, Perfection ≠ FreedomInsight: Trying to control everything may feel safe, but it isn’t peaceful. Learn why surrender is the key to true emotional peace.

[4:10] What Actually Creates ChangeClients share their transformation through emotional mastery—not food rules. Letting go of external validation helps the "food noise" fade naturally.

[5:42] No More Plans, Pills, or PerfectionFreedom starts with nervous system regulation, not another plan or injection.

[6:10] About the Fast Track to Freedom Program Join if you're ready for inner peace without giving up your power. (🎯 Link mentioned: hpWL.co)

[7:13] Why You Keep ProcrastinatingTruth bomb: Procrastination is a trauma response, not laziness. Fear of peace, intimacy (like journaling), or change could be holding you back.

[8:48] A New Way Forward Learn how to rewire your mindset, regulate big emotions, and stop using food, alcohol,  or overworking as control tools.

[9:44] Peace Is Possible For You Imagine achieving success and enjoying it. It’s time to feel good inside, not just look good on the outside.

[10:51] Your Invitation Take action now—don’t wait for a rock bottom moment. Register for the Healthy Hypnosis Hour or book a Free Call at hpWL.co.

[12:10] Share & Remember This If you know someone who looks put together but is silently struggling, share this episode. You’re not broken—you’re just ready for real, lasting change.

✨ CTA: Ready for food freedom and emotional peace? → Sign up for the next free Healthy Hypnosis Hour Masterclass → Or book a Free Clarity Call at hpWL.co

Valuable Resources:

• Join my next LIVE masterclass
• Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food 

Connect With Leslie Thornton:

• Book A Clarity Call
• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

This powerful episode challenges the traditional weight loss narrative. It's not about diets, discipline, or exercise, it's about healing. The host shares real stories from women in her Fast Track to Freedom program, exploring how emotional mastery, subconscious work, and self-connection are the true keys to sustainable transformation.

💬 Key Topics Covered:

• Why weight loss is not about food or willpower
• Emotional processing as the foundation of self-mastery
• Rewiring old patterns through tools like hypnosis and belief work
• The truth about diet culture and why it fails 95% of the time
• Identity shifts: Becoming the version of you who feels, trusts, and leads
• Client breakthroughs around peace, joy, boundaries, and connection
• The deeper costs of emotional avoidance and societal programming
• What success really looks like spoiler: it’s not a number on the scale

00:00 – Intro: Why Weight Loss Isn’t the Real Goal Discover why obsessing over weight can sabotage your healing.

04:15 – The Truth About Emotional Eating How your emotions—not hunger—drive binge cycles and cravings.

10:42 – The Power of Subconscious Healing Uncover how reprogramming your mind leads to sustainable change.

17:30 – Real Stories of Food Freedom Hear how women stopped dieting and started thriving—without guilt.

23:12 – The Role of Identity & Self-Mastery Why shifting who you believe you are is the key to permanent results.

29:45 – Action Steps for Healing Simple steps to begin your emotional and subconscious healing journey today.

If you're tired of the endless dieting cycle and want to finally feel at peace in your body, explore the Fast Track to Freedom program and learn how to stop chasing and start healing.

Valuable Resources:

• Join my next LIVE masterclass
• Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food 

Connect With Leslie Thornton:

• Book A Clarity Call
• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Have you ever felt like food controls your thoughts, your mood, or even your self-worth? Are you constantly battling shame after eating something “bad”? What if the real problem isn’t food at all, but how you’ve been taught to think about it?

For many, dieting becomes a cycle of restriction, guilt, and rebellion. You follow the rules during the week, only to spiral into bingeing on the weekend—then beat yourself up for “failing.” The shame builds silently, reinforcing the belief that you just don’t have enough willpower.

Melissa knows that pattern all too well. For years, she woke up thinking about food, struggling with guilt and punishing herself for not doing things “perfectly.” Even after trying other courses and hypnosis programs, nothing seemed to stick—until she found a radically different approach.

Through a blend of coaching, hypnosis, and mindset work, Melissa broke free from the shame-based cycle in just eight weeks. She learned to trust her body, stop labeling food as good or bad, and finally feel peace around eating. Her story shows that healing isn’t about more discipline—it’s about reclaiming your freedom.

"But there's nothing more powerful than the mind. That's right. And whatever you[Leslie] put into your hypnotherapy, it totally works. And again, I've done other courses and they did nothing for me and they were just a waste of money. But the way you[Leslie] structured it, it was exactly what I needed." - Melissa

What you will learn from this episode:

02:37 - How Melissa ultimately recognized hypnosis effectiveness

07:42 - Struggling with late-night bingeing --- driven by compulsion and not by hunger

12:47 - Realizing her medical condition didn’t have to define her eating habits helped her shift beliefs

18:18 - How Leslie's program heal Melissa's unprocessed grief linked to a friend's death 

24:03 - Overcoming her reliance on calorie counting and justifying the program investment as a necessary step to heal her relationship with food 

32:17 - Sharing how committing to the course helped her break free from shame, improve her self-worth, reconnect with her faith, and shift long-standing emotional patterns around food

39:05 - Discussing how a timeline therapy session uncovered a deep, unconscious fear of scarcity rooted in her family's ancestral history of going from wealth to poverty

46:13 - Letting go of comparison, releasing shame-based diet thinking, and redefining integrity with food

48:00 - Learning to trust her body’s signals helps her break free from rigid diet rules 

50:22 - Gone from waking up consumed by food shame to feeling free, neutral about her weight, and finally at peace after just eight weeks of mindset and hypnotherapy work

Valuable Resources:

• Join my next LIVE masterclass
• Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food 

Connect With Leslie Thornton:

• Book A Clarity Call
• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Are you still waiting for the number on the scale to give you permission to feel confident, happy, or worthy? Do you find yourself trapped in a cycle of self-criticism and stress, thinking that losing weight will finally make everything fall into place? What if the key to lasting change isn’t in the number, but in how you treat yourself now?

This constant self-criticism not only keeps you stuck but also ruins your ability to make lasting changes. The more you wait for "the right moment," the more you delay your joy, peace, and dreams. Every day spent in stress or shame robs you of the energy and motivation you need to create a fulfilling life.

The solution lies in shifting your mindset from punishment to self-care. By prioritizing inner peace, self-worth, and emotional safety, you can break free from the cycle and create the transformation you desire. It's time to put your happiness first—right now.

"You are worthy of joy now. You don't have to earn your happiness. You are worthy of joy right now. You don't have to earn your happiness and your freedom is not 10 pounds away or 20 or 30 or 50 or a hundred. It's one decision away. Please say yes to the version of you who puts peace first." - Leslie Thornton

What you will learn from this episode:

01:11 - How positive reinforcement, not shame, is key to lasting weight loss

05:35 - Why self-criticism keeps you stuck and life is too short to wait to be happy

12:06 - Sharing how happiness makes weight loss easier, while stress keeps you stuck

14:19 - Why obsessing over weight loss delays joy, purpose, and truly living your life

15:56 - What loving yourself now—not after weight loss—leads to: Real, lasting freedom and healthier habits

17:45 - Highlighting how true, lasting change comes from building inner peace and self-worth, not from punishing yourself into weight loss

21:24 - An invitation to start your journey to food freedom and self-trust now

Valuable Resources:

• Join my next LIVE masterclass
• Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food 

Connect With Leslie Thornton:

• Book A Clarity Call
• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Episode Title: The Invisible Weight You’re Carrying (and How to Release It) Host: Leslie M. Thornton

Episode Summary: In this transformative episode of the Hypnosis for Permanent Weight Loss Podcast, Leslie M. Thornton dives deep into why traditional dieting fails and how to create lasting change through emotional mastery and hypnosis. Leslie shares valuable insights and powerful tools to help you rewire the beliefs and patterns that keep you stuck in the cycle of dieting, guilt, and inconsistency.

Key Takeaways:

• The Dieting Cycle: Why 95% of people who lose weight gain it back and how diets only work on the conscious mind, not the subconscious, which is where permanent change happens.

• The Power of Emotional Mastery: How to identify and overcome emotional eating triggers and stop the all-or-nothing mindset that sabotages progress.

• The Role of Hypnosis: How hypnosis helps rewire deep-rooted beliefs and behaviors around food, weight, and body image.

• The Importance of Action and Support: To make permanent changes, you must take action, get support, and stay focused on what you truly desire—peace, energy, and confidence—rather than just focusing on what you don’t want.

• The Shame Trap: Understanding how shame impacts your ability to move forward and a simple exercise to start releasing shame.

• A New Approach to Weight Loss: Instead of more dieting and willpower, focus on emotional healing and lasting mental shifts to create a new, sustainable relationship with food and your body.

Episode Highlights:

• [0:00] - Introduction: Reflecting on the dieting struggle

• [1:06] - The difference between conscious and subconscious mind when it comes to weight loss

• [5:10] - Why diets don’t work long-term and the importance of alignment

• [7:05] - The emotional patterns that keep you stuck and how hypnosis can help

• [9:03] - Releasing shame with a fun exercise to separate from your inner critic

• [12:54] - The 3 essential steps for lasting change: unconscious work, taking action, and focusing on what you want

• [18:25] - Why coaching and support are critical for success

Valuable Resources:

• Join my next LIVE masterclass

• Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food 

Connect With Leslie Thornton:

• Book A Clarity Call

• Website

• Facebook

• LinkedIn

• Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Why does it feel like no matter how hard you try, you're still stuck in survival mode? Why do you lash out at the people you love, then feel terrible about it afterward? Why does intimacy feel impossible—even though all you want is a deep connection? If you're asking yourself these questions, you're not alone.

So many high-functioning women are silently battling the effects of trauma, often without even realizing it. From childhood abuse to emotionally neglectful parenting, these wounds leave lasting imprints on the nervous system. You might be smiling on the outside, doing all the things, but inside it feels like you're barely holding it together.

Healing is absolutely possible. In this episode, Leslie explains how true transformation requires more than willpower—it takes action, conscious intention, and deep unconscious work. Through personal breakthrough sessions and NLP tools, she's helped countless women release old survival patterns and finally step into the freedom they crave. If you want to stop just surviving and start living, this conversation is your invitation.

"If you wanna stop just surviving and finally start living, it's time to do something different. I'm talking about permanent change, not a bandaid, not a quick fix. Let me tell you the three things that are required to have that permanent change. Number one is you need to take action. Number two is you need to focus on what you want and know what you want. And number three is you must do unconscious work. This is the piece almost everyone misses. You have to go beneath the surface. You can't create a new life with an old survival blueprint. And this is the work I get to do with my clients every single day." - Leslie Thornton 

What you will learn from this episode:

01:11 - Revealing how unresolved abuse—especially emotional can deeply affect self-worth, body image, and coping behaviors like overeating or overworking

04:30 - Comparing people with traumatic upbringings to rescue dogs, urging us to replace self-judgment with compassion

08:00 - Manifestations of a deeply buried trauma

11:17 - Explaining how unresolved trauma can create hidden survival patterns

14:48 - Showing how unresolved trauma silently damages health and relationships

18:05 -  Emphasizes that deep healing—not willpower or self-coaching—is what truly allows you to move from merely surviving to fully living

20:56 - Outlining the three keys to lasting change

23:04 - A powerful client story showing how deep fear and skepticism can be overcome through willingness, unconscious healing, and the right support to create real, lasting change

27:10 - Sharing heartfelt stories of transformation and encouraging to seek help, that you’re not alone, healing is possible, and thriving is worth the risk

Valuable Resources:

• Join my next LIVE masterclass
• Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food 

Connect With Leslie Thornton:

• Book A Clarity Call
• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Are you tired of feeling stuck—emotionally, physically, or in your relationship with food and your body? Do you sense that procrastination or self-doubt is holding you back from living the life you really want? What if the key to moving forward isn’t just another diet or goal, but a deeper decision about who you’re willing to be—for yourself?

In this episode, we’re joined by Cris Duvall, a dental hygienist, patient-health advocate, and wellness coach who knows firsthand the toll that being stuck can take. She opens up about how procrastination once froze her in place, slowly chipping away at her self-esteem, her health, and her relationships. Like many of us, Cris tried to push through on her own—until she realized that healing starts when we tell ourselves the truth and ask for help. She reflects on the ways we often look outside ourselves for answers, when the real power comes from becoming what she calls an “internal sorter”—someone who trusts their own voice again. Through her story, you'll hear how she moved from survival mode to what she now calls living on the “fun bus,” surrounded by people who support her joy, growth, and truth.

Cris’s journey is a powerful reminder that transformation begins with a single choice: to be fully present for your own life. By putting herself first, not out of selfishness but out of self-respect, she found new energy, purpose, and connection. Whether it's health, relationships, or simply feeling alive again, her story offers a path forward for anyone ready to stop settling and start showing up. If you've been wondering when it's time to change—this might be your moment. Let Chris inspire you to finally invest in yourself, and make decisions that honor who you are and who you’re becoming.

“After that breakthrough session, I am much more calm and at peace with what I get to do over here as opposed to what I was feeling like I'm going to be disappointing God or disappointing somebody if I decide to do something else with my life. And so now it's much easier to combine and enjoy my life and to be free of those inner struggles. So it was very powerful for me.” - Cris Duval

What you will learn from this episode:

04:09 - Breaking free from procrastination and negative self-talk leading to healing, freedom, and overcoming emotional eating

07:57 - A near-death experience and profound personal loss helped shape her lifelong mission to save lives and foster health, values, and meaningful connections.

15:25 - How facing the long-term consequences of poor health choices has deepened her belief in living intentionally and prioritizing well-being now

19:53 - Sharing how breaking free from food-related suffering allows people to rediscover their true purpose, potential, and inner voice

26:11 - What made her seek Leslie's coaching

28:58 - A turning point that freed her from judging others and empowered her to create a more purposeful and positive life

33:49 - How these three dynamics in her life created a desire to have an inner peace

37:02 - The most important highlight in her breakthrough session

40:47 - Talking about the conscious versus the unconscious mind

43:48 - The cost of being stuck

45:30 - Emphasizing the importance of seeking counsel only from those committed to telling the truth, not just what you want to hear

50:00 - Sharing about her 'Fun Bus' philosophy and  a heartwarming story about meeting Mel Robbins

56:19 - Cris' words of encouragement and wisdom

Connect with Cris Duval:

• Website: https://www.thelifeguardapproach.com/cris-duval
• Email: [email protected]

Valuable Resources:

• Join my next LIVE masterclass
• Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food 

Connect With Leslie Thornton:

• Book A Clarity Call
• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you try, you just can't break free from the endless cycle of dieting and self-criticism? The frustration of losing weight only to gain it back can feel like a never-ending battle. Despite your best efforts, the shame and negative self-talk seem impossible to shake.

That constant inner critic can seep into every part of your life, making it difficult to feel confident or even enjoy small victories. Every slip-up feels like proof of failure, and the weight of those thoughts can drag you down. The pressure to get it right, to look a certain way, and to finally achieve the elusive "goal weight" can become overwhelming.

Meet Diana Lobdell, a Founder & Practice Catalyst. She helps growing dental practices that struggle with perfecting their insurance claims and collections. Let her show you what 20 years of dental experience can do for your practice.

For Diana, this struggle was all too familiar. She found herself stuck in a relentless loop of guilt, frustration, and self-doubt. But instead of continuing to fight the same losing battle, she chose a different path. Through the support and guidance she received from Leslie’s HEAL method, Diana uncovered the deeper emotional patterns fueling her weight challenges. She learned to release the shame, embrace her worth, and regain control over her thoughts and actions.

Diana’s story serves as a reminder that true freedom begins from within. By addressing the root of her self-sabotage and finding confidence in herself, she experienced a profound transformation that went far beyond the number on the scale. Her journey is proof that healing is possible, and lasting change starts with self-acceptance.

"I started looking at my food and how I eat and how I eat my feelings. I was able to change that behavior because now I can address the feelings without food. And now I look at food and I address my food feelings differently. My late night snacking has significantly decreased. I look at my meal planning very differently, and by obtaining food and preparing or planning for meals that are going to give me personal satisfaction. I'm going to enjoy this meal rather than have to eat because we have to eat to survive." - Diana Lobdell 

What you will learn from this episode:

04:52 - How she was battling with weight loss, emotional eating, and menopausal issues, and how collaborating with Leslie transformed her mindset and connection with food

15:44 - Sharing how deciding to prioritize herself, showing up despite self-doubt, and reallocating funds for her well-being led to unexpected personal growth, meaningful connections, and a renewed sense of momentum

19:30 - How working from home without external structure sets a negative tone for her day, and how she recognized the need to reassess her routines and mindset

26:05 - What helped her reframe her feelings and use them as motivation

29:04 - Gaining clarity on the true reasons behind her struggles

33:52 - Shifting perspectives, recognizing that her self-worth and success aren't defined by her food choices

37:32 - Gaining awareness of her emotions and habits and how it helped her recognize mindless snacking triggers, leading to healthier choices without feeling restricted

42:41 - What dieting led her to and how it reinforces unhealthy patterns instead of addressing the emotional reasons behind her eating

51:30 - Overcoming self-criticism and body shaming by recognizing her inner critic, embracing self-reflection, and breaking free from negative thought patterns

54:10 - Stop taking client concerns personally, 

58:11 - How building self-confidence helped her stop imagining negative scenarios

01:00:26 - Encouraging words from Diana

01:01:49 - Sharing a message of self-acceptance, encouraging people to embrace their worth and staying open to learning and growth every day

Connect with Diana Lobdell: 

• Website: https://betterpracticesolutionsllc.com/

Valuable Resources:

• Join my next LIVE masterclass
• Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food 

Connect With Leslie Thornton:

• Book A Clarity Call
• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Are you stuck in an endless cycle of dieting, feeling like your happiness lies on the number on the scale? Despite your best efforts, the weight always seems to come back, leaving you frustrated and defeated. Why does it feel impossible to break free and find lasting peace with your body?

The truth is, the problem goes far deeper than calories and exercise. Emotional disconnection often drives the urge to soothe with food, leading to guilt and shame. Without meaningful emotional intimacy — both with yourself and others — the stress and loneliness only amplify, making sustainable weight loss feel like an uphill battle.

The key to lasting change isn’t another restrictive diet, but reconnecting with your emotions. By building emotional resilience and addressing the root causes of emotional eating, you can break free from the cycle for good. Through Leslie’s HEAL method, you’ll gain the tools to cultivate self-trust, regulate emotions, and create a healthier, more empowered relationship with food and your body.

"When you cultivate emotional intimacy, your nervous system shifts from a state of stress to a state of relaxation. And this balanced state supports better digestion, improved metabolism, healthier hormone regulation, all of which support weight loss. Plus the more emotionally supported you feel, the less likely you are to turn to food as a coping mechanism." - Leslie Thornton

What you will learn from this episode:

02:53 - What is emotional intimacy and the different types 

06:12 - The importance of emotional intimacy in achieving permanent weight loss

11:14 - How cultivating emotional intimacy with oneself and others can reduce emotional eating

15:15 - Tools to help you resolve emotional disconnection

19:40 - How temporary highs from weight loss can lead to unsustainable dieting cycles

22:47 - Explaining  how cultivating emotional intimacy fosters self-trust, resilience, and emotional regulation, leading to empowered food choices, reduced emotional eating, and sustainable weight loss

24:25 - An invitation to a lifetime of happiness and freedom

Valuable Resources:

• Join my next LIVE masterclass
• Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food 

Connect With Leslie Thornton:

• Book A Clarity Call
• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!