Women’s Health Unwrapped
Episode 158:
How emotional eating steals your energy and identity
Would you like to break free from the yo-yo cycle of emotional eating and dieting?
“So many women I work with have no idea why they keep going back to the food. But once they understand the why, the whole conversation changes—it becomes about identity, not discipline.”
— Nicola Farndell
“Overeating is never just about the food. It’s how we numb, reward, escape and punish ourselves when we’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or feeling not enough. We think we should be able to control food with willpower — but we wouldn’t expect to master tennis without a coach. Emotional eating is no different. We need support, not shame.”
— Tricia Nelson
In this episode of Women’s Health Unwrapped:
You’ve tried the diets.
You’ve followed the plans.
You know what to eat — but still find yourself reaching for food when life gets too much.
In this powerful and compassionate episode I’m joined by emotional eating expert and author Tricia Nelson, who shares her story of losing 50 pounds — not through restriction, but by healing what was underneath.
Together, we explore why so many midlife women feel stuck in cycles of snacking, bingeing or guilt around food — not because they lack willpower, but because food has become their comfort, their pause, their reward.
This conversation focuses on helping you to shift away from restriction, and towards reconnection — with your needs, your identity, and your body.
In this episode we’re unwrapping:
Why emotional eating isn’t about food but about how you feel.
The PEP Formula (Painkiller, Escape, Punishment) to spot emotional triggers.
How people pleasing and overcommitment fuel the binge cycle.
Why most diets fail (and what to do instead).
The role of stress, culture and the food industry in shaping our habits.
How meditation became Tricia’s most powerful healing tool.
The importance of support, structure and self-awareness to shift habits.
The difference between emotional eating and food addiction.
The 3 simple steps Tricia recommends to begin healing your relationship with food.
About Tricia Nelson:
Tricia Nelson lost fifty pounds by identifying and healing the underlying causes of her emotional eating. Tricia is an Emotional Eating Expert and TEDx speaker, whose talk has garnered over 2 million views on YouTube. She's the author of the #1 bestselling book, Heal Your Hunger, 7 Simple Steps to End Emotional Eating Now.
Tricia is the host of the popular podcast, The Heal Your Hunger Show, and has spent over thirty years researching the hidden causes of the addictive personality. Tricia has been featured on NBC, CBS, KTLA, FOX and Discovery Health.
Connect with Tricia:
Take Tricia’s free Emotional Eating Quiz and get your personalised score: Determine if you’re an emotional eater or a food addict (or somewhere in between)
Are you constantly reaching for food to cope, but not sure why?
Midlife has a way of catching up with you. The constant overthinking. The need to hold it all together. The snacks that feel like the only thing getting you through the day.
But what if the real issue isn’t the food?
The Midlife Reset Quiz helps you:
💛 Spot what’s quietly draining you right now (it’s probably not what you think)
💛 Choose one small ritual to start reconnecting with yourself
💛 Begin shifting how you feel without another diet, plan or pressure
It only takes 2 minutes — because simple is what you need.
✨ Take the Midlife Reset Quiz today and uncover your next right step to feel more like you again.
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