Let’s get real. If you’ve been struggling with weight loss for years, bouncing from one diet to the next, food has probably become a bit of a battle. You might feel guilty after eating certain things, or even skip meals to keep from “ruining” your progress. Maybe you’ve started to avoid social events because they involve food, or spend way too much time calculating calories and debating whether you made “good” choices that day. All of this can turn food from a source of nourishment and pleasure into a source of stress and guilt.

Do you feel confused when eating out? Don’t know what to order? Then, second guess yourself, order something “safe” or healthy, but later regret you didn’t order what you really wanted? Or are you feeling self-conscious about your food choices when eating in front of others?

I was confused because “I want a hamburger,” but “I should be good and just have a salad.” When you order a salad, you wish you’d ordered a hamburger. On the other hand, if you ordered the hamburger, you wished you had ordered something healthier, such as a chicken sandwich.

When we talk about the "ideal weight," it's common to think of a specific number on the scale—one calculated based on height, age, and activity levels. Most women struggling with weight issues often have an “ideal weight” of their own that they believe is where their happiness lies. Unfortunately, most women who successfully reached their “ideal weight” are still not happy, and they create a new “ideal weight” that is even lower. Eventually, they realize that they can’t get to the new lower weight and feel defeated.

The Myth of the Perfect Number

Unfortunately, society has long propagated the notion that the perfect weight can be boiled down to a simple formula. Charts and calculators abound, offering an “ideal” number that many women chase. However, this approach often neglects the nuanced realities of individual health, body composition, and emotional well-being.

Belly fat is a common concern among women, and while many attribute it solely to diet or lack of exercise, stress plays a significant role in its accumulation. Understanding how stress contributes to belly fat and learning effective strategies to reduce it can make a big difference in achieving a flatter abdomen.

From free and paid weight-loss apps to structured programs and one-on-one consultations with dietitians, the choice isn't always clear. Many people consider taking the do-it-yourself (DIY) route using apps or programs, drawn by the convenience and low cost.

Is it really the best for what you pay for?

The Little Known Secret…

Did you know nutrition therapies by a Registered Dietitian are covered by insurance benefits?

Working with an experienced dietitian who understands your unique struggles, especially when insurance can help cover the cost, can offer benefits that far outweigh the appeal of going it alone.

I started out as a pediatric dietitian, seeing some very complicated and rare genetic disorders and kids with feeding disorders, extreme picky eaters, etc, with great success. Then I started seeing adults for weight loss and soon saw the disappointment in that the conventional weight loss advice of eating less and burning more does not work for most women struggling with weight loss.

It's actually causing more harm, leading to nutrient deficiencies, binge eating, food cravings, gut issues, food sensitivities, hormonal imbalance, auto-immune diseases, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and low confidence.

With my unique holistic nutrition therapy approach, I was able to help these women achieve the significant weight loss they'd never seen in years. And yet everyone eventually reverted back to their old eating habits after 2-3 months.

Conventional health advice says “eat less calories than you burn”, “eat low fat”, “eat sugar-free”, “exercise like a maniac”, and when all else fail, “let’s pay a surgeon uber bucks to butcher your gullet until it cannot digest or absorb food.” 

You exercise with your significant other, husband or boyfriend, do CrossFit, run 5 miles a day, and cycle. Your significant other starts losing weight just as expected. But your weight just won’t budge, or you even gain weight. 

For many women on a weight loss journey, stepping on the scale can trigger a surge of anxiety, disappointment and self-criticism. The daily ritual of weighing oneself, hoping to see even a slight decrease, often turns into a cycle of frustration.

When the number doesn’t budge, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of negative self-talk. Thoughts like, “I’m weak,” “I’m not good enough,” or “I’ll never get this right,” can quickly take hold, leading to feelings of failure and, all too often, giving up entirely. These overwhelming emotions can spiral into binge eating, undoing previous progress and trapping women in a cycle of discouragement.

Emotional eating is often rooted in the desire to suppress or avoid uncomfortable feelings. Food becomes a way to cope with stress, sadness, anxiety, or even boredom. Understanding why this happens is the first step in breaking free from the cycle of eating to manage emotions.

In this article, we’ll explore how people use food to suppress uncomfortable emotions, how food meets emotional needs, and how to take practical steps to stop emotional eating.