logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
49m 43s

Why Self-Discipline Can’t Fix All Our We...

MARC DAVID
About this episode

Raelene, 46, would love to lose about 40 kilos. And she’s had great success in the past: all she has to do is eliminate sugar, cut down on the carbs, watch her calories and portion sizing, and the weight will eventually come off.

 But the problem is, she just can’t seem to stick to a diet plan for more than a few months. 

 A cooking teacher and mother of two, Raelene says she simply doesn’t have the discipline to stick with it. And after 15 years of off-and-on-again dieting, Raelene still hasn’t reached the promised land – and like so many of us, is pretty frustrated and confused about what to do.

 This is clearly a conundrum.

 She knows what she needs to do, but she just doesn’t have the discipline to do it.

 In this episode, Marc David helps Raelene realize something important:

 Diagnosing the cause of her weight challenges as a lack of self-discipline is misplaced. And we know that to be true, in part, because her many years of trying to simply muster more discipline hasn’t been working. Discipline by itself will never solve her weight loss problem.

 The reality is, Raelene hasn’t been in the right conversation with herself, all because of an incorrect assessment she made about herself many years ago.

 As you’ll hear in this episode, Marc helps Raelene refocus on the true heart of the matter:

 ⇒ Understanding what’s truly driving her relationship with food (her eating psychology), and changing her core beliefs about food, weight, self-worth, and lovability. 

 So many of us focus on our weight from a place of judgment. But we deserve so much more than that. When we can bravely learn to step away from our harsh inner critic, and instead evoke compassion towards ourselves, we can discover what’s really behind our patterns with weight. 

 For Raelene, part of that is understanding the impact of what she learned in childhood about weight loss: she was a “good” girl only if she was slender. Fat girls would never be loved and accepted. 

 It’s no wonder that food became a source of anxiety, and the simple act of eating took on so much stress and pressure. If being overweight means being unlovable, then everything she eats must be just right, and her appetite must be in absolute control so she can finally receive love.

 But the reality is, Raelene knows deep down inside that this is a battle she can never truly win. So a part of her rebels against dieting because her dieting is being driven from a place of low self worth. Eating to prove one’s self worth is unnatural, and it goes against our humanity and our dignity.

 Marc helps Raelene see the beautiful truth that she is unconditionally loved by her kids, her husband, and the people who care about her the most. There is no one in her life who needs her to lose weight so she can be more lovable. Except for herself. 

 And it’s time to give herself some love when it comes to her body and her weight.

 Episode highlights:

  •  Eating psychology tools to help change unhelpful beliefs about food and body
  • How to take the pressure off of weight loss, while also setting ourselves up for weight loss success

  • How to shift out of dieting mentality

  • Discovering who you are as an eater, and why that matters when it comes to weight

  • How to quiet the unwanted inner conversation around food

  • And more…

 ---------------

 Learn more about us at The Institute for the Psychology of Eating: https://psychologyofeating.com/ 

 Ready to call a ceasefire in your battle with eating, and find peace and freedom with food? Learn more about our newest program, The Emotional Eating Breakthrough! https://learn.psychologyofeating.com/

 Interested in becoming a certified coach in eating psychology? Then tune in to hear Marc talk about our Mind Body Eating Coach Certification Training, and download a copy of our School Catalog: https://psychologyofeating.com/info-kit/ Learn our powerful, cutting-edge approach, and discover how you can create a unique career helping others find peace and freedom with food.

 Follow us on social: 

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Psychologyofeating

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IPEfanpage

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatingpsychology/

- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/eatingpsych

 #weight #bodyimage #sellove #weightlossjourney #sustainableweightloss #foodandbody #eatingchallenges #emotionaleating #chronicdieting #yoyodieting #antidet

Up next
Sep 2024
Letting Go of the Need for Approval from Others – In Session with Marc David
If you’re of a certain age, you’ve probably noticed that young people – teenagers, especially – have a strong need for approval from others. Young adults want to fit in and feel accepted, a natural desire that is part of our normal developmental process at this stage of life. Fee ... Show More
38m 56s
Sep 2024
Trusting Ourselves with Food & Pleasure – In Session with Marc David
Jill, 44, wants a new relationship with food – one where she can enjoy a more easygoing, intuitive way of eating. She’d like eating to be fun and lighthearted, and feel satiated after a great meal. But her dreamy new relationship with food seems so very far away. Jill has an inte ... Show More
58m 9s
Aug 2024
Does Food Hold Power Over You? – In Session with Marc David
Food is intended to be our source of nourishment, but all too often it can feel like a losing battle. Perhaps you’ve been struggling with your weight, and why it’s so hard to lose it – or keep it off. Or maybe you binge or emotionally eat, and are frustrated that you can’t stop t ... Show More
48m 6s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2019
TMHS 328: The Intersection Of Health, Fitness, And Faith - With Guest Isabel Price
If weight loss and the process of reaching optimal health can be reduced to a simple science, why are so many people sick, unhealthy, and overweight? Don’t get me wrong, principles like hormone function and metabolism are very real, and building blocks like movement and diet do m ... Show More
1h 14m
Apr 2024
2529: Overcoming an Unhealthy Relationship With Food by Crystal Karges on Diet Culture & Holistic Wellbeing
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2529:Crystal Karges delves into the often-misunderstood realm of diet culture, shining a light on how striving for health ca ... Show More
11m 2s
Nov 2024
213. Why Health Trends May Be Hurting Your Wellness Journey with Mona Sharma
With so many health trends popping up every day, it’s hard to tell what’s actually beneficial and what’s just a fad. Have you ever jumped on a trend only to find out it did more harm than good? In this powerful episode, join me as I sit down with celebrity nutritionist and wellne ... Show More
40m 54s
Jul 9
#1050 Weight Loss Has Nothing to Do with Willpower – The Shocking Root Cause Revealed with Dr. Matthew Lederman
In this powerful episode, Ben Azadi sits down with Dr. Matthew Lederman — a physician and pioneer in nonviolent communication — for a conversation that goes far beyond diet and exercise. Together, they unpack how emotional health, purpose, and stress are intimately tied to your a ... Show More
59 m
Oct 2023
2182: From Adversity to Model Health With Shawn Stevenson
In this episode Sal, Adam & Justin speak with Shawn Stevenson, author of Sleep Smarter, Eat Smarter, and the new Eat Smarter Family Cookbook.  Learning along the way as a parent. (2:29) “Life doesn’t call the qualified. Life qualifies the called.” (5:50) We are a product of our e ... Show More
1h 57m
Nov 2024
NLP621 - Finding Freedom: Chelsey's Transformation from Disordered Eating to Empowerment
This week's guest, and Next Level Nutrition coach Chelsey, opens up about overcoming disordered eating without formal treatment and the challenges of societal pressures, especially before her wedding. We explore her journey through functional health, gut issues, and a break from ... Show More
46m 42s
Feb 2025
How To Protect & Enhance Your Brain Health: The Simple Daily Habits That Can Transform Your Mental Performance with Louisa Nicola #522
Do you think that it’s inevitable that the function of your brain will decline as you get older? Or, do you believe that there are simple things you can do each day to preserve, protect and enhance it? Today’s guest is neurophysiologist and brain health researcher, Louisa Nicola. ... Show More
2h 10m
Jan 2024
#335 Rewiring Nutrition Beliefs with Jenna DeKok, MS, RD
Send us a textThis week on The Less Stressed Life Podcast, I have Jenna DeKok, my incredible co-pilot and fellow registered dietician in my practice, back. In this episode, Jenna tells us her story of how following popular diet culture beliefs didn't best serve her and how s ... Show More
31m 4s
Mar 2025
Ep 291 Client Success Story: How Diana Achieved Control and Confidence with Permanent Weight Loss
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-ta ... Show More
1h 6m
Oct 2024
2730: [Part 2] Body Image and Exercise: Healing a Troubled Relationship by Rachel Trotta on Self Acceptance
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2730:Rachel Trotta emphasizes the importance of consistency in exercise, independent of fluctuating motivation or body image ... Show More
11m 43s