The Eating Coach

Today we look at the driving force behind eating in secret and how you can start to dismantle its hold on you. 

This is the bafflement episode - why is the world's most disgusting coffee also the most expensive on the planet...and what has that got to do with compulsive eating? PLUS the most bizarre court case I have ever come across in my entire life.

*Stupid Idea of The Week*

Kopi Luwak is the world's priciest coffee, retailing at hundreds of pounds or dollars a kilo - and all because of the process by which it is created. Not some fancy brewing or roasting process - oh no. You won't believe it when you hear what it is.

Why is this the emperor's new clothes?

What is false high value? And where have you seen it in the diet and wellness industries?

*Invisibilia of Secret Eating*

This week's main section is inspired by a fascinating and mind-bending episode of the podcast Invisibilia I heard a while back. It involves a fatal car accident and the strangest, most perplexing lawsuit you will probably ever hear about in your life. As you will see, there is a very powerful lesson for reducing guilt and shame in this story - the shame that powers eating in secret.

Find out:

*The two types of guilt/shame - and which one is healthy

*How the other uses food as a way to sabotage your health goals

*Two practical things you can do today to start challenging your own difficult feelings that do not belong to you.

RESOURCES

The Invisibilia episode on emotions:

http://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia/530718193/emotions

Kopi Luwak article

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013

Sound effects by the ever-splendiferous https://www.zapsplat.com/

3 years on from his death, one of the world's favourite comedians and actors is sorely missed - but there are also many lessons we can draw from this famously troubled funnyman's death. 

The ***mystery magician*** in this episode is Derren Brown. I was reading from his excellent book 'Happy'. Get the audiobook free when you sign up for a 30 day Audible trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/EatingCoach - just search 'Happy' - or any other of the 180,000 titles to choose from for iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player.

In This Episode:

*Stupid Idea of The Week*

This week I tear apart claims like "with added vitamins and iron" you see on children's cereal. All with the help of a chain smoking babysitter and insane PE teacher...

*Robin Williams: A Lesson*

"We would be doing his life and memory a disservice if we did not extract some wisdom from his choice" wrote friend and fellow actor Peter Coyote after Robin Williams' death. But this is not the whole story. Williams' early demise was not actually the result of depression. Find out what actually was (if you don't know already) as well as the unusual teaching from Robin Williams' situation that speaks to eating issues - as well as living a better life.

To think about:

*Is there really always something we can do in the face of our food compulsion, especially when it feels immoveable? Is that not a bit polyanna?

*If so, what would that look like  - as well as the mental shift that accompanies it

Special treat: what your ego sounds like. I have an actual recording of it!

*Q and A*

This week I answer a question about being able to find balance and avoid deprivation when it comes to sweet treats.

RESOURCES

Get your free Hidden Sugars Checklist to print off at

http://www.theshiftinside.com/hidden/

Ask a question at:

http://www.theshiftinside.com/podcast/

Peter Coyote's beautiful Facebook post:

...Unfortunately I did not know how to copy and paste the Facebook post I refer to in the show - probably because Facebook wnats you to sharre everything within their ecosystem. However I did find his words elsewhere along with that wonderful picture:

https://365daysexpectamiracle.wordpress.com/tag/peter-coyote/

Get your free audiobook at:

http://www.audibletrial.com/EatingCoach

There is a really popular & harmful myth about emotional eating - that if we could just banish those pesky rage/shame/grief feelings, all would be well and overeating would be a thing of the past. This is the wrong way to look at this issue. Find out why in today's episode.

This week:

*Episode 6 (Fatbook) update*

In episode 6, I talked about the fact that it is not enough to ration social media - we need to replace the connection-seeking we do via our newsfeeds and status updates with real interactions. Today I add another dimension to this: replacing the relaxation-seeking with something actually relaxing AND stimulating. Here it is: 

https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/07/7-ways-to-be-insufferable-on-facebook.html

*Stupid Idea Of The Week*

This week we have Josef Stalin guest starring. Stalin vs a bag of sugar. What's that all about? You may be surprised. Confession: I myself fell victim to this idea in the title of episode 4...

*A Modern Day Fairy Story*

The Three Little Pigs Meets Emotional Eating. And NOT how you think...

RESOURCES

Hidden Sugars Checklist

http://www.theshiftinside.com/hidden/

Ask a question on the show:

http://www.theshiftinside.com/podcast/

Sound effects by the Zappy Zapsplat

Today I challenge some of the language you use to describe your eating issues, and suggest some alternatives if the phrases you are used to are not actually serving you. Why addiction is a double edged sword. Plus Q and A and of course...

*Stupid Idea of The Week*

How one seemingly obvious and innocuous cliche about why some succeed with their health goals while others fail is actually toxic nonsense.

*ABC of Eating Psychology*

What do these words/phrases have in common:

• addict/addiction
• eating disorder
• recovery

???

The answer is they all need to be treated with care. They may be serving you in your journey to reclaim your life from food - but equally could be entrenching your problems. Listen to work out which  is true for you - and some alternatives.

PLUS: the one phrase NEVER to use and one phrase you should be introducing into every conversation you have about food.

*Q and A*

This week we have a question about dealing with other people's resistance to you saying no to junk at social occasions and at work, plus of course how to deal with Aunty Flo (she is the one who takes mortal offence if you don't eat three slices of cake). Is it ever OK to lie on these occasions?

*RESOURCES*

Record a question or comment for the show here:

http://www.theshiftinside.com/podcast/

Article on how language affects reality:

https://www.translatemedia.com/us/blog-us/how-language-affects-perception/

To find out about one-to-one coaching:

http://www.theshiftinside.com/coaching/

Get your free Hidden Sugars Checklist:

http://www.theshiftinside.com/hidden/

Sound effects by the ever-effective Zapsplat

Can a single five-word question really make a big dent in those stress-fuelled fridge raids? Over time, I do believe that it can. In today's episode I give you a new take on this very common binge and overeating trigger.

In the the show:

*Stupid Idea of The Week*

Could this have been the first celebrity diet, way back before everyone had a TV and technology was not even a twinkle in Bill Gates' eye? When you discover which mega star tried this piece of nutritional lunacy, you won't be even tempted to even consider it. 

Please send any suggestions for SIOTW to info theshiftinside.com

*Q and A*

This week we have a questiin about night time eating. What is going on when you come home from work and can't seem to find what you need, even though you are ravenous?

*How To Stop Stress Eating*

Stress seems to be as immoveable as our cultural addiction to junk food...or does it? 

Find out

*Why your body is wired to shut down digestion when the computer freezes or you argue with someone

*Why the big evening meal is sending a message to your brain that you never intend it to

*The 3 ways to stop stress eating

*What ‘stress innoculation’ is and how to get some

*The 5 word question that puts up a mental barrier (even if only temporarily) between you and any source of stress

*Our brain’s ‘stress recovery system’ that you will almost certainly never have heard of

RESOURCES

Get your free hidden sugars checklist at:

http://www.theshiftinside.com/hidden/

This is Kelly McGonigall's article on stress mentioned in this episode

Watch Kelly McGonigall's Ted Talk on stress

Find out more about T Harv Eker here

Sound effects by the splendiferous Zapsplat

Where do those mystery pounds come (back) from? Today I am going to give you a brand new angle on this problem, using (and mispronouncing) an untranslatable danish word. We also have a listener question on how one man can help his girlfriend feel better about her body image...all this, plus Stupid Idea of The Week.

*Stupid Idea of The Week*

It's the health scaremongering headline. I tell you why you should take these media nastities with a cellar full of salt, and give you some even more ridiculous ones to cheer you up.

*Why do I regain weight so fast?*

Let's start with the concept of Lykke, taken from the beautiful danish language, which I do a cracking job of butchering with my google-pronunciation-tool half-effort.

Discover:

*The one sentence that virtually everyone says about their future weight loss but means nothing

*Exactly how you are outsourcing your happiness to food – and why this is like being caught in an online shopping scam

*How to put food out of the job of making you feel fulfilled in life

*RESOURCES*

*Stupid Headlines:*

https://thoughtcatalog.com/nico-lang/2013/10/25-crazy-news-headlines-that-will-make-you-laugh-yourself-silly/

https://www.elitereaders.com/12-stupid-news-headlines-facepalm/

*21 Untranslatable Emotions article*

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/word-lovers-blog/new/14-untranslatable-emotions-that-english-cant-convey,155,HCB.html

The new Netflix movie ‘To The Bone’ has caused a LOT of controversy since its release a couple of weeks ago. Today I give my take on this film, which follows 20 year old anorexic Ellen as she follows an unusual form of eating disorder therapy. Inspirational or a misguided glamourisation of eating disorders? I give you my take. 

NB: Trigger warning and F Bomb warning. As I explained in the Heads Up minisode a few days ago, this may trigger unhelpful thoughts if you have a history of self-starvation and/or purging (vomiting).

And yes, Keanu Reeves drops the F bomb.

* Stupid Idea of The Week*

…is cliched advice given by people who have no idea of the struggles you have gone through at the dining table. Learn what is wrong with ‘everything in moderation’ for example. 

*To The Bone*

What can this movie teach us about recovering from not only anorexia, but eating problems in general? Anything at all?

This is one hugely divisive film, and I give you my reasons for liking what I liked and disliking what I disliked. I cannot summarise it here, so listen to the episode.

What did you think? Please let me know at http://www.theshiftinside.com/podcast/

No Q and A this week, but more to come, so ask me anything at the link above.

FREEBIES:

Hidden sugars checklist to print out and stick in your kitchen:

http://www.theshiftinside.com/hidden/

Take my eating assessment and get individual feedback at:

http://www.theshiftinside.com/test/

Sound effects by the more-than-magnificent Zapsplat

Just a quick heads up about this coming Wednesday's episode.

Got a burning question? Ask it at http://www.theshiftinside.com/podcast/

We all know we are getting too hooked on Facebook and all the other social media platforms. But has it occured to you that this digital addiction is encouraging eating problems and body hatred? In episode 6 I explore how...and give you a couple of more constructive suggestions than 'ration/get rid of it'. PLUS my first Q and A!

In today's episode:

*Stupid Idea of The Week*

...is the very concept if the diet industry. Inhave a wicked quote from Arabella Weir and the implacable logic of lemons. Enjoy!

*Fatbook: The 4 Reasons You Are Using It As A Weapon Against Your Happiness*

Do you look at your phone before your partner when you wake up?

Do you run to the fridge when others' lives are being advertised to you in your Facebook feed, or to calm down after yet another Twitterstorm?

I check my phone more than I should. This is not an anti-technology argument. It is a keep it your servant, not make it your master argument. Find out how in this episode.

There are four reasons that social media is a playground for your eating and weight issues to run riot. I want to give you some thought-provoking ideas that will make you less of a slave to the false pull of the screen. 

Find out:

*How you can take a japanese public service ad and turn it into motivational fuel to achieve your goals around food and exercise

*A different kind of online virus that won't affect your computer...but it does affect YOU

*What emotional apartheid is

*How we ourselves are manufacturing our loneliness in conjunction with social media

*What cavebrain is

*How social media is creating a false kind of feeling if group belonging that also creates a gap that many fill with food

*What to do about all this (clue: rationing is NOT the most interesting thing I have to say on this subject)

25:30 

*Q & A*

Our very first question is from Nick and I solve some of his confusion about carbs.

Please record or email me your questions - go to http://www.theshiftinside.com/podcast/

Get your free hidden sugars checklist at:

http://www.theshiftinside.com/hidden/

Sound effects by the ever-splendid Zapsplat

The best movies have some liberating truths to tell us about our lives - especially our struggles with food.

Today I take three quotes from three different films and dive deep into how they can help you reclaim your life from food.

In this episode:

*Stupid Idea of The Week*

The most universally hated diet I have ever come across: The cabbage soup diet. Find out why it was a viral hit way back when before the Internet, what Roald Dahl has to do with anything, and the social calamities that befell any of its victims!

*Film quotes special*

And no, I'm not giving anything away here, but you will find links to clips of these extracts at the end of the show notes.

I also include a story about the root cause of my own compulsive eating and the keys to dismantling it.

You have to guess which film each quote is taken from - but I will tell you after I have played it.

Find out more about The Eating Coach:

Coaching Programme

http://www.theshiftinside.com/coaching/

Film Clips included:

https://youtu.be/s9prJba2vkw

https://youtu.be/9pl_3xQBPLk

https://youtu.be/IrOqnZdvI6M

https://youtu.be/okV2XFKeT-0