Weight Loss Forensics: FBI Tactics to Investigate Cravings, Overeating, and Why Diets Suck

Weight Loss Forensics: FBI Tactics to Investigate Cravings, Overeating, and Why Diets Suck

By Holly Bertone, PMP, CNHP, and Emotional Eating and Weight Loss CoachAlternative HealthHealth & FitnessMental HealthEducationSelf-Improvement
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Weight Loss Forensics: FBI Tactics to Investigate Cravings, Overeating, and Why Diets Suck episodes

  • 207: Why You Get Offended (and Why It Leads to Emotional Eating)

    If you find yourself getting offended by what people say… and then spiraling into emotional or binge eating later, you might not realize what’s actually happening under the surface. 

    Because the truth is… you can only be offended when it’s true, and those are the exact patterns that lead to diving face-first into a pint of ice cream.

    In this episode, I’m breaking down the one condition that has to exist for someone to be offended, what your insults about others secretly reveal about you, and how this pattern connects directly to emotional eating.

    Together, we will investigate:

    • The one psychological condition that has to exist before someone can actually offend you.
    • The hidden reason why some insults hurt, while other insults don’t. 
    • The surprising reason high-achieving women get triggered more easily than they realize.
    • What your type of insults reveal about your psychology.
    • The moment when being offended flips into self-soothing with food (and most women miss it).
    • The 3-step response strategy that instantly defuses insults without losing your composure, and helps you to subtly win.

    [TAKE BACK CONTROL] Join the Break Emotional Eating Accelerator

    👉 https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator


    Connect with Holly:


    ▶️ BECOME A SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS MACHINE - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/pl-machine-reg


    ▶️ FREE EMOTIONAL EATING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE - https://pinkfortitude.mykajabi.com/weight-quiz


    ▶️ JOIN THE BREAK EMOTIONAL EATING ACCELERATOR - 

    https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator


    ▶️ APPLY FOR ELITE-LEVEL PRIVATE COACHING WITH HOLLY - https://wkf.ms/3XtDIKV


    ▶️QUIT SUGAR IN 5 DAYS - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSTACK - https://substack.com/@hollybertone


    ▶️ FOLLOW HOLLY BERTONE ON INSTAGRAM - @holly.bertone 


    If this is your vibe, be sure to hit the follow button where you are listening and also tap those 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a great review.

    11 min
  • 206: This Obsession is RUINING Your Weight Loss

    If you’re tracking calories, macros, steps, and your weight... that obsession might be the reason you can’t lose weight. The weight loss industry tells you to track everything, but for a lot of women, it’s a recipe for disaster.

    So how are you supposed to know what to track and what is a waste of time?

    Today, I’m breaking down:
    1. The 3 types of people who should or shouldn’t be tracking.
    2. When tracking is important, based on what phase of weight loss you are in.
    3. The 5 categories of what most people track that may not matter.
    4. The 3 things that most people don’t track, that actually move the needle.

    Together, we will investigate:

    • There are 3 types of people who track their calories, points, macros, and weight… and one of them is sabotaging your weight loss without you realizing it.
    • The hard truth about what happens when you stop tracking your calories and weight.
    • What the scale actually triggers for food-addicted women.
    • Why the 10,000 step rule is setting you up for failure, and what to do instead.
    • The weight loss industry tells you to track everything, but is what you are tracking sabotaging your progress?
    • The 3 things to track that actually move the needle.

    This is the walking pad I use and recommend: https://amzn.to/4bsvqtK

    [TAKE BACK CONTROL] Join the Break Emotional Eating Accelerator
    👉 https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator

    Connect with Holly:


    ▶️ BECOME A SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS MACHINE - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/pl-machine-reg


    ▶️ FREE EMOTIONAL EATING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE - https://pinkfortitude.mykajabi.com/weight-quiz


    ▶️ JOIN THE BREAK EMOTIONAL EATING ACCELERATOR - 

    https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator


    ▶️ APPLY FOR ELITE-LEVEL PRIVATE COACHING WITH HOLLY - https://wkf.ms/3XtDIKV


    ▶️QUIT SUGAR IN 5 DAYS - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSTACK - https://substack.com/@hollybertone


    ▶️ FOLLOW HOLLY BERTONE ON INSTAGRAM - @holly.bertone 


    If this is your vibe, be sure to hit the follow button where you are listening and also tap those 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a great review.

    24 min
  • 205: The Epstein Files are Hijacking Your Brain

    The Epstein Files aren’t just dominating headlines, they’re hijacking your nervous system. In fact, the constant exposure to any of this chaos, outrage, and disturbing content is spiking your stress hormones and rewiring your dopamine response… and it’s showing up in your cravings and binge eating. I spent 13 years at the FBI and saw firsthand what this level of exposure does to the brain. 

    Today, I’m going to break down the psychology behind how this works, and how you can stay informed without getting sucked into the drama or stress-eating an entire sleeve of cookies. 

    Together, we will investigate:

    • Why 5 minutes of doom scrolling can spike your cravings and binge eating harder than skipping a meal.
    • The nervous system effect no one is talking about when disturbing content floods your media feed.
    • The uncomfortable reason chaos is addictive.
    • How “staying informed” quickly turns into being physiologically hijacked.
    • What doom scrolling reveals about your wiring.
    • The simple 7-day experiment that will expose whether chaos is driving your binge eating.

    [QUIT SUGAR] Join the 5-Day Quit Sugar Challenge

    ▶️ https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar

    Connect with Holly:


    ▶️ BECOME A SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS MACHINE - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/pl-machine-reg


    ▶️ FREE EMOTIONAL EATING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE - https://pinkfortitude.mykajabi.com/weight-quiz


    ▶️ JOIN THE BREAK EMOTIONAL EATING ACCELERATOR - 

    https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator


    ▶️ APPLY FOR ELITE-LEVEL PRIVATE COACHING WITH HOLLY - https://wkf.ms/3XtDIKV


    ▶️QUIT SUGAR IN 5 DAYS - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSTACK - https://substack.com/@hollybertone


    ▶️ FOLLOW HOLLY BERTONE ON INSTAGRAM - @holly.bertone 


    If this is your vibe, be sure to hit the follow button where you are listening and also tap those 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a great review.

    18 min
  • 204: They Said Quitting Sugar Would Be Easy. They Lied.

    They told you quitting sugar was easy. They lied. 

    They said you just need to take one bite and put the rest away. They said…just have more willpower or discipline. They told you to do mindful eating or intuitive eating, and that will work. 

    But if that were true…why are so many women struggling with sugar cravings and emotional eating and food binges?

    Today, we're talking about the 5 patterns that sabotage you without you even realizing it.

    Together, we will investigate:

    • The 5 sabotaging patterns that make quitting sugar impossible, even if you’re eating healthy.
    • The real reason “just have one bite” has never worked for you (and it’s not willpower).
    • The blind spot almost every woman misses when she says, “Just tell me what to eat.”
    • Why “everything in moderation” quickly turns into “everything in excess.”

    [QUIT SUGAR] Join the 5-Day Quit Sugar Challenge

    ▶️ https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar

    Connect with Holly:


    ▶️ BECOME A SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS MACHINE - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/pl-machine-reg


    ▶️ FREE EMOTIONAL EATING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE - https://pinkfortitude.mykajabi.com/weight-quiz


    ▶️ JOIN THE BREAK EMOTIONAL EATING ACCELERATOR - 

    https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator


    ▶️ APPLY FOR ELITE-LEVEL PRIVATE COACHING WITH HOLLY - https://wkf.ms/3XtDIKV


    ▶️QUIT SUGAR IN 5 DAYS - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSTACK - https://substack.com/@hollybertone


    ▶️ FOLLOW HOLLY BERTONE ON INSTAGRAM - @holly.bertone 


    If this is your vibe, be sure to hit the follow button where you are listening and also tap those 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a great review.

    19 min
  • 203: The 3 Hard Lessons from Helping 140 Women Quit Sugar in 5 Days

    100% of the women typed yes in the chat to say they wanted an encore. Because they understood this wasn’t about quitting sugar in 5 days. It’s way deeper, and they were here for the psychology-based rewiring that kicks in when life hits hard.

    I recently helped 140 women quit sugar in 5 days, especially because discipline and willpower haven’t worked for them.  

    And today, I’m breaking down the 3 hard lessons I learned from that experience, and what this means for you if you want to finally quit sugar. 

    Together, we will investigate:

    • Holly Bertone breaks down the $27 Quit Sugar in 5 Days, which was built like a $2,700 program, and why that matters if you’ve been burned before.
    • The behind-the-scenes product decision that made Quit Sugar in 5 Days scale.
    • Six weeks. 12-hour days. Zero stress snacking. This is what Holly did instead, and why it worked.
    • The uncomfortable truth Holly learned about women who want a meal plan, and their chances of actually succeeding with weight loss.
    • How to know if you’re doing the actual work, or if you’re just chasing dopamine.
    • When 100% of women typed YES in the comments… what they said yes to will probably surprise you.
    • The playground wound that was secretly driving my business (and how it mirrors your sugar craving pattern).

    [QUIT SUGAR] Join the 5-Day Quit Sugar Challenge

    ▶️ https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar

    Connect with Holly:


    ▶️ BECOME A SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS MACHINE - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/pl-machine-reg


    ▶️ FREE EMOTIONAL EATING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE - https://pinkfortitude.mykajabi.com/weight-quiz


    ▶️ JOIN THE BREAK EMOTIONAL EATING ACCELERATOR - 

    https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator


    ▶️ APPLY FOR ELITE-LEVEL PRIVATE COACHING WITH HOLLY - https://wkf.ms/3XtDIKV


    ▶️QUIT SUGAR IN 5 DAYS - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSTACK - https://substack.com/@hollybertone


    ▶️ FOLLOW HOLLY BERTONE ON INSTAGRAM - @holly.bertone 


    If this is your vibe, be sure to hit the follow button where you are listening and also tap those 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a great review.

    24 min
  • 202: Your Brain Resists Quitting Sugar. It’s By Design.

    Your brain resists quitting sugar, and it’s actually by design.

    If you’ve tried to quit sugar before and failed, this episode will finally explain why, and why starting with changing what you eat never works.

    This episode is taken from part of Day 1 of Quit Sugar in 5 Days. You’re not removing foods, counting calories, or relying on willpower or discipline. You’re learning a specific sequence, and it starts with nervous system regulation. Because if your brain feels unsafe, it will always drive you back to sugar.

    In this episode, you’ll understand how stress, chaos, and emotional overload hijack your brain… why cravings aren’t a food problem… and what we’re building over the next five days so quitting sugar stops feeling like you are fighting against yourself.

    Because there is a small admission fee to join the challenge, I am sharing two-thirds of Day 1… not all of it… so you can get a sneak peek and decide if you want to join. 

    [QUIT SUGAR] Join the 5-Day Quit Sugar Challenge

    ▶️ https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar



    Connect with Holly:


    ▶️ BECOME A SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS MACHINE - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/pl-machine-reg


    ▶️ FREE EMOTIONAL EATING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE - https://pinkfortitude.mykajabi.com/weight-quiz


    ▶️ JOIN THE BREAK EMOTIONAL EATING ACCELERATOR - 

    https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator


    ▶️ APPLY FOR ELITE-LEVEL PRIVATE COACHING WITH HOLLY - https://wkf.ms/3XtDIKV


    ▶️QUIT SUGAR IN 5 DAYS - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSTACK - https://substack.com/@hollybertone


    ▶️ FOLLOW HOLLY BERTONE ON INSTAGRAM - @holly.bertone 


    If this is your vibe, be sure to hit the follow button where you are listening and also tap those 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a great review.

    32 min
  • 201: The Winning Combo to Eliminate Sugar Cravings

    If you’ve tried to cut back on sugar, but those cravings came back 10-fold and you ended up eating more, it’s because you’re doing it backwards. In this video, you are going to get the winning combo to help you eliminate sugar cravings. 

    Together, we will investigate:

    • If quitting sugar has never worked for you, it’s because you were taught a method that keeps you dependent on it.
    • The real reason sugar feels non-negotiable, and why diets make the attachment stronger, not weaker.
    • The reason “just eat less sugar” backfires, and why your brain rebels the moment you try.
    • The one sequence mistake that guarantees sugar will stay in control, no matter how motivated you are.
    • What’s actually happening in your brain before you reach for the cookies, long before willpower even has a chance.
    • The secret behind why some women can take one bite of chocolate and put it down, while others inhale the entire bar and are looking for more.
    • The psychology shift anyone can do that makes sugar feel irrelevant instead of irresistible.

    [QUIT SUGAR] Join the 5-Day Quit Sugar Challenge

    ▶️ https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    Connect with Holly:


    ▶️ BECOME A SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS MACHINE - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/pl-machine-reg


    ▶️ FREE EMOTIONAL EATING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE - https://pinkfortitude.mykajabi.com/weight-quiz


    ▶️ JOIN THE BREAK EMOTIONAL EATING ACCELERATOR - 

    https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator


    ▶️ APPLY FOR ELITE-LEVEL PRIVATE COACHING WITH HOLLY - https://wkf.ms/3XtDIKV


    ▶️QUIT SUGAR IN 5 DAYS - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSTACK - https://substack.com/@hollybertone


    ▶️ FOLLOW HOLLY BERTONE ON INSTAGRAM - @holly.bertone 


    If this is your vibe, be sure to hit the follow button where you are listening and also tap those 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a great review.

    17 min
  • 200: Weight Loss Coaches Hate Me. The Reason Will Surprise You.

    Weight loss coaches hate me, and the reason is probably the same reason you struggle with sugar cravings, binge eating, or are completely out of control with food. 

    Because what I teach doesn’t fit the old school diet framework you’ve been told to trust. That so-called trusted system didn’t just fail you, it failed me, and it’s failed many other women. So I challenged it. 

    In this episode, I’m going to show you why the system is actually working against you, and how a psychology-first approach changes everything. I’ll break down the exact pattern that I uncovered after years of analyzing emotional eating, and how you can get the food obsession to finally stop. 

    Together, we will investigate:

    • Why weight loss coaches hate me, and why their reaction actually explains your sugar cravings. 
    • The reason traditional nutrition advice works for some women, but doesn’t work for you.
    • How 4 health and nutrition certifications failed me… and why that failure changed everything.
    • The hidden emotional pattern that keeps you thinking about food all day, every day (even when you’re eating healthy).
    • What finally stops the sugar cravings.
    • The exact shift I see when women stop blaming themselves and start questioning the strategy instead.
    • How a psychology-first approach has helped hundreds of women break free from sugar, binge eating, and constant food noise.

    [QUIT SUGAR] Join the 5-Day Quit Sugar Challenge

    ▶️ https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar

    Connect with Holly:


    ▶️ BECOME A SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS MACHINE - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/pl-machine-reg


    ▶️ FREE EMOTIONAL EATING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE - https://pinkfortitude.mykajabi.com/weight-quiz


    ▶️ JOIN THE BREAK EMOTIONAL EATING ACCELERATOR - 

    https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator


    ▶️ APPLY FOR ELITE-LEVEL PRIVATE COACHING WITH HOLLY - https://wkf.ms/3XtDIKV


    ▶️QUIT SUGAR IN 5 DAYS - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSTACK - https://substack.com/@hollybertone


    ▶️ FOLLOW HOLLY BERTONE ON INSTAGRAM - @holly.bertone 


    If this is your vibe, be sure to hit the follow button where you are listening and also tap those 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a great review.

    11 min
  • 199: I Quit Sugar for 2 Years - The Relapse Changed My Life

    Hi. I’m Holly Bertone. I’m a recovered sugar addict. Here’s how I quit sugar for 2 years, what happened to my body, and how the relapse changed my life.

    Together, we will investigate:

    • What actually happens to your body when you quit sugar, and why most people quit.
    • Why Holly Bertone shares that quitting sugar felt harder than her divorce (and what no one warned her about).
    • The withdrawal symptoms no one talks about. 
    • The relapse Holly Bertone was terrified of, and what it taught her.
    • The surprising lessons Holly Bertone learned from quitting sugar, and it wasn’t just about the 20 pound weight loss.
    • The exact shift that turned Holly’s sugar addiction.

    [QUIT SUGAR] Join the 5-Day Quit Sugar Challenge

    ▶️ https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    Connect with Holly:


    ▶️ BECOME A SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS MACHINE - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/pl-machine-reg


    ▶️ FREE EMOTIONAL EATING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE - https://pinkfortitude.mykajabi.com/weight-quiz


    ▶️ JOIN THE BREAK EMOTIONAL EATING ACCELERATOR - 

    https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator


    ▶️ APPLY FOR ELITE-LEVEL PRIVATE COACHING WITH HOLLY - https://wkf.ms/3XtDIKV


    ▶️QUIT SUGAR IN 5 DAYS - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSTACK - https://substack.com/@hollybertone


    ▶️ FOLLOW HOLLY BERTONE ON INSTAGRAM - @holly.bertone 


    If this is your vibe, be sure to hit the follow button where you are listening and also tap those 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a great review.

    12 min
  • 198: The 5 Effects of Sugar We Normalize (But Shouldn’t)

    If you consider yourself a sugar-aholic or joke about your insatiable sweet tooth, this episode is for you.

    Because we've gotten really comfortable calling certain effects of sugar everyday life. 

    This episode is not a lecture and we are not getting into the science. This is your chance to stay curious and decide for yourself what’s actually normal and what’s a red flag.

    Together, we will investigate:

    • Why quitting sugar feels impossible, even when you’re motivated.
    • Why 3pm is the most dangerous time of day for your weight.
    • The real reason you need dessert even when you’re full.
    • Is sugar harmless or poison?

    [QUIT SUGAR] Join the 5-Day Quit Sugar Challenge 

    ▶️ https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    Connect with Holly:


    ▶️ BECOME A SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS MACHINE - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/pl-machine-reg


    ▶️ FREE EMOTIONAL EATING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE - https://pinkfortitude.mykajabi.com/weight-quiz


    ▶️ JOIN THE BREAK EMOTIONAL EATING ACCELERATOR - 

    https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/break-emotional-eating-accelerator


    ▶️ APPLY FOR ELITE-LEVEL PRIVATE COACHING WITH HOLLY - https://wkf.ms/3XtDIKV


    ▶️QUIT SUGAR IN 5 DAYS - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/register-for-sugar


    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSTACK - https://substack.com/@hollybertone


    ▶️ FOLLOW HOLLY BERTONE ON INSTAGRAM - @holly.bertone 


    If this is your vibe, be sure to hit the follow button where you are listening and also tap those 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a great review.

    11 min

About Weight Loss Forensics: FBI Tactics to Investigate Cravings, Overeating, and Why Diets Suck

From the publisher's feed

Weight Loss Forensics is the go-to podcast where we use FBI tactics to investigate food cravings, overeating, and why diets suck. 


Hosted by Holly Bertone, PMP, and former FBI…

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