Emotional Eats Podcast: What Women Over 40 Really Need to Know About Food, Hormones, and Their Bodies Without the Diet Culture Spin

Join the Cool Girl Collective We created the Cool Girl Collective for women over 40 who are ready to feel supported, seen, and understood. Inside, you'll find real conversations about menopause, hormones, emotional eating, chronic illness, relationships, and everything midlife brings along with humor, heart, and community. This is your safe space to ask questions, share your story, and find practical tools for your health and happiness. 👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/ If you are a woman in perimenopause or post-menopause and you've noticed more anxiety, restlessness, looping thoughts, or feeling constantly on edge, this episode is for you. In this episode, Kim shares why anxiety in midlife often feels different than it did earlier in life and why it may be connected to hormonal and physiological changes, not just stress or mindset. She shares what she is seeing in her own journey, in her clients, and in the conversations women are finally starting to have out loud. This episode connects the dots between changing estrogen levels, brain chemistry, real-life stressors, and the subtle ways anxiety shows up in midlife, including overstimulation, social discomfort, and the need to control or over-prepare. Kim also discusses why anxiety can persist even for women on hormone therapy, why hormone absorption and gut health matter, and why hormone therapy is a personal choice that should be made with a qualified healthcare provider. You'll hear practical insights around calming the nervous system, sleep, food, movement, and small daily habits that can help women feel safer and more grounded in their bodies during this season of life. This episode is for education and awareness only. If anxiety feels overwhelming or unmanageable, listeners are encouraged to speak with a medical provider or mental health professional. Hormone therapy is a personal decision and should always be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional. Episode Highlights Why midlife anxiety often feels louder, stickier, and harder to manage The connection between estrogen, the brain, and the stress response How real-life transitions in midlife can amplify anxiety Subtle anxiety symptoms women rarely talk about Why control and over-preparation can be coping mechanisms Gentle, supportive ways to calm the nervous system and feel safer in the moment Connect with Kim: Emotional Eats Podcast: Emotional Eats Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotional-eats-podcast-end-emotional-eating-weight/id1686639038 Website:  https://wellspringcounselingandhealth.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kimhynesmidlife/ TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@kimhynesmidlife YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Kimhynesmidlife Want to improve your midlife focus or sleep?  Check out Brain.fm.  This app has help me be more productive, get the best afternoon powernaps and bring down my nervous system….fast.  Get 30 days for free here.  https://www.brain.fm/kimhyneshealth   Get my favorite healthy Hot Chocolate (Organifi Chocolate Gold) here: https://www.organifishop.com/ Use code:  KIMH for 20 % off This dark chocolate tumeric tea helps promote relaxation and calm.  It's the perfect substitute for dessert and a great way to help promote sleep.   Other links Kim receives commission on some of these products which are used to continue providing free content and produce the Emotional Eats Podcast. LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes Disclaimer:  This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only.  Always consult with your medical practitioner before changing habits.  This podcast is not to take the place of medical or mental health professionals. If you enjoyed the episode, share and follow.  I would be so grateful.

Join the Cool Girl Collective We created the Cool Girl Collective for women over 40 who are ready to feel supported, seen, and understood. Inside, you'll find real conversations about menopause, hormones, emotional eating, chronic illness, relationships, and everything midlife brings along with with humor, heart, and community. This is your safe space to ask questions, share your story, and find practical tools for your health and happiness. 👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/ This special Best of 2025 episode brings together the most listened to, most shared, and most talked about moments from the Emotional Eats Podcast this year. Out of dozens of powerful conversations, these seven clips stood out for the way they resonated with listeners and sparked meaningful reflection around midlife health. The episodes highlighted in this compilation cover a wide range of topics that matter deeply to women navigating midlife, including emotional eating, gut health, hormones, stress, nervous system regulation, and symptoms that often go unexplained or overlooked. Some of the most downloaded conversations weren't necessarily the ones you might expect, which speaks to how curious and open this community has become to exploring root causes and new perspectives. This episode also reflects the depth and variety of the podcast in 2025, blending expert interviews with real, honest conversations that challenged assumptions and helped listeners better understand what may be influencing their health and behaviors. Whether you listened to every episode this year or missed a few along the way, this Best of 2025 is a chance to revisit the conversations that had the greatest impact and discover why these moments stood out among listeners. Episodes Featured in the Best of 2025 Celebration: Holly Bertone-FBI Tactics to Stop Emotional Eating: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/116-rewire-your-brain-to-stop-emotional-eating-using/id1686639038?i=1000718298992 Tricia Nelson- Stop Emotional Eating and Sugar Addiction: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/118-break-free-from-emotional-eating-and-sugar/id1686639038?i=1000720584048 Dr. Betsy Greenleaf: Vaginal Health 101 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/127-vaginal-health-101-with-dr-betsy-greenleaf/id1686639038?i=1000730400243 Kim Rogers:  The Worm Queen Protects You From Parasites https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/103-the-shocking-truth-about-your-midlife-weight-gain/id1686639038?i=1000704293475 Amber Romaniuk:  Stop Emotional Eating by Understanding Your Hormones https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/115-trauma-dopamine-and-the-drive-to-numb-how-to/id1686639038?i=1000717168025 Dr. Nathalie Beauchamp:  Aging Well and Biohacking for Women's Health https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/123-why-aging-doesnt-have-to-be-hard-biohacks-that/id1686639038?i=1000725511972 Jennifer Navara:  Helping Your Body Feel Safe to Heal https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/130-why-midlife-women-need-a-safe-space-to-reset/id1686639038?i=1000736093284 Connect with Kim: Emotional Eats Podcast: Emotional Eats Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotional-eats-podcast-end-emotional-eating-weight/id1686639038 Website:  https://wellspringcounselingandhealth.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kimhynesmidlife/ TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@kimhynesmidlife YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Kimhynesmidlife Want to improve your midlife focus or sleep?  Check out Brain.fm.  This app has help me be more productive, get the best afternoon powernaps and bring down my nervous system….fast.  Get 30 days for free here.  https://www.brain.fm/kimhyneshealth   Get my favorite healthy Hot Chocolate (Organifi Chocolate Gold) here: https://www.organifishop.com/ Use code:  KIMH for 20 % off This dark chocolate tumeric tea helps promote relaxation and calm.  It's the perfect substitute for dessert and a great way to help promote sleep.   Other links Kim receives commission on some of these products which are used to continue providing free content and produce the Emotional Eats Podcast. LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes Disclaimer:  This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only.  Always consult with your medical practitioner before changing habits.  This podcast is not to take the place of medical or mental health professionals. If you enjoyed the episode, share and follow.  I would be so grateful.

Join the Cool Girl Collective We created the Cool Girl Collective for women over 40 who are ready to feel supported, seen, and understood. Inside, you'll find real conversations about menopause, hormones, emotional eating, chronic illness, relationships, and everything midlife brings along with with humor, heart, and community. This is your safe space to ask questions, share your story, and find practical tools for your health and happiness. 👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/ This episode is a reminder that you are not "too sensitive" for needing boundaries and that healing does not require approval from the people who hurt you. Peace, safety, and a healthier relationship with food are possible. The holidays have a way of pulling us right back into old roles, old triggers, and deeply ingrained family patterns. In this powerful and honest conversation, Kim sits down with Dr. Dawnmarie Risley to unpack dysfunctional family dynamics, the mother wound, and why so many midlife women still feel emotionally activated around their parents, even decades later. Together, they explore how chronic boundary violations, guilt, and unresolved trauma can quietly drive emotional eating, nervous system dysregulation, and a lifelong sense of self-doubt. This episode offers clarity, validation, and hope for women who are ready to break generational patterns and reclaim their peace. In this episode, you'll hear about: Why family dynamics can instantly trigger old roles and emotional patterns How dysfunctional parent relationships affect boundaries, identity, and self-trust The connection between chronic stress, shame, and emotional eating Why mother-daughter relationships can feel especially complicated Letting go of guilt around boundaries, aging parents, and caregiving What forgiveness really means when it comes to healing yourself Simple nervous system tools to calm your body when you feel activated Practical takeaways: Boundaries are information. Repeated boundary violations are data, not misunderstandings. Protecting your peace does not make you selfish, even if others react strongly. Emotional eating is often a coping strategy, not a lack of willpower. Regulating your nervous system is a critical step toward healing your relationship with food and yourself.. About Dr. Dawnmarie Risley Dr. Dawnmarie Risley is a board-certified psychiatrist, keynote speaker, and author of The Offering: A Physician's Journey Through Abuse, Psychedelics, and the Freedom of Forgiveness. With over two decades of experience in psychiatry and forensic work, she brings both clinical expertise and lived wisdom to her work. Her message centers on breaking cycles of abuse, understanding malignant family dynamics, and reclaiming personal freedom without minimizing harm or bypassing truth. Through her writing and speaking, Dawnmarie helps women release shame, find their voice, and step into healing that is grounded, compassionate, and empowering. Outside of her professional work, she is a devoted mother who finds grounding in nature, home renovation, and creative pursuits. A licensed pilot and experienced skydiver, she believes that courage, curiosity, and adventure can be powerful pathways to healing and self-trust. Where to find Dr. Dawnmarie Risley Website: https://www.drrisleychilds.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/drrisleychilds/ Connect with Kim: Emotional Eats Podcast: Emotional Eats Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotional-eats-podcast-end-emotional-eating-weight/id1686639038 Website:  https://wellspringcounselingandhealth.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kimhynesmidlife/ TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@kimhynesmidlife YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Kimhynesmidlife Want to improve your midlife focus or sleep?  Check out Brain.fm.  This app has help me be more productive, get the best afternoon powernaps and bring down my nervous system….fast.  Get 30 days for free here.  https://www.brain.fm/kimhyneshealth   Get my favorite healthy Hot Chocolate (Organifi Chocolate Gold) here: https://www.organifishop.com/ Use code:  KIMH for 20 % off This dark chocolate tumeric tea helps promote relaxation and calm.  It's the perfect substitute for dessert and a great way to help promote sleep.   Other links Kim receives commission on some of these products which are used to continue providing free content and produce the Emotional Eats Podcast. LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes Disclaimer:  This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only.  Always consult with your medical practitioner before changing habits.  This podcast is not to take the place of medical or mental health professionals. If you enjoyed the episode, share and follow.  I would be so grateful.

Join the Cool Girl Collective We created the Cool Girl Collective for women over 40 who are ready to feel supported, seen, and understood. Inside, you'll find real conversations about menopause, hormones, emotional eating, chronic illness, relationships, and everything midlife brings along with with humor, heart, and community. This is your safe space to ask questions, share your story, and find practical tools for your health and happiness. 👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/ If you've ever felt frustrated, stuck, or conflicted about that last bit of weight, this episode offers reassurance, perspective, and permission to choose health, peace, and sustainability over constant striving. In this episode, Kim tackles a question she hears constantly from midlife women and clients: What about the last five to eight pounds? Should we keep pushing, or is there a point where the body is actually asking for safety, stability, and compassion instead of more effort? Kim shares why this topic is complicated, emotional, and deeply tied to decades of diet culture, especially for women over 40 navigating perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. She reframes weight loss for midlife women to look consider body trust, metabolism, hormones, nervous system safety, and long-term health rather than scale obsession. You'll hear why holding onto weight, especially in the midsection, is often a protective response rather than a failure, and why doing "all the right things" does not always mean the body is ready to let go of more. Kim explains the difference between fat, inflammation, water retention, and body composition, and why the scale alone is not the best tool. Topics covered include: ·       Why the last five pounds are often the hardest in midlife ·       How diet culture keeps us blaming ourselves instead of listening to our bodies ·       The role of safety, stress, and the nervous system in fat loss ·       Why under-eating can stall progress even when habits feel "clean" ·       How protein, fiber, and food volume support metabolism ·       The impact of skipping meals, especially breakfast ·       Strength training, progressive overload, and why muscle matters more than scale weight ·       Non-exercise activity and why daily movement counts more than you think ·       Inflammation, alcohol, sugar, gluten, and individual food sensitivities ·       Why midlife bodies respond better to gentleness than pressure ·       Tiny shifts versus overhauls and why patience matters ·       Choosing between feeling leaner versus weighing less ·       Letting go of perfection and redefining success at this stage of life Connect with Kim: Emotional Eats Podcast: Emotional Eats Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotional-eats-podcast-end-emotional-eating-weight/id1686639038 Website:  https://wellspringcounselingandhealth.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kimhynesmidlife/ TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@kimhynesmidlife YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Kimhynesmidlife Want to improve your midlife focus or sleep?  Check out Brain.fm.  This app has help me be more productive, get the best afternoon powernaps and bring down my nervous system….fast.  Get 30 days for free here.  https://www.brain.fm/kimhyneshealth   Get my favorite healthy Hot Chocolate (Organifi Chocolate Gold) here: https://www.organifishop.com/ Use code:  KIMH for 20 % off This dark chocolate tumeric tea helps promote relaxation and calm.  It's the perfect substitute for dessert and a great way to help promote sleep.   Other links Kim receives commission on some of these products which are used to continue providing free content and produce the Emotional Eats Podcast. LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes Disclaimer:  This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only.  Always consult with your medical practitioner before changing habits.  This podcast is not to take the place of medical or mental health professionals. If you enjoyed the episode, share and follow.  I would be so grateful.

Join the Cool Girl Collective We created the Cool Girl Collective for women over 40 who are ready to feel supported, seen, and understood. Inside, you'll find real conversations about menopause, hormones, emotional eating, chronic illness, relationships, and everything midlife brings along with with humor, heart, and community. This is your safe space to ask questions, share your story, and find practical tools for your health and happiness. 👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/ If you are a woman in your 40s, 50s, or 60s who keeps promising yourself you will "start fresh" on Monday, the 1st of the month, or January 1, this episode is for you! That all or nothing pattern is not only exhausting, it is really hard on your hormones, your nervous system, and your midlife body. In this conversation, Kim shares how to ditch the giant overhaul and instead build a handful of tiny daily habits that your body can actually handle. These small shifts support your blood sugar, nervous system, and hormones so that your energy, mood, and midsection can finally start to feel better without another extreme diet or punishing plan. You will hear why starting now matters more than starting perfectly, and how waiting until "after the holidays" or "when life calms down" is keeping you stuck. Kim explains how these simple habits help calm cortisol, support insulin, protect your precious midlife muscle, and create the consistency your body is desperately craving. Instead of giving you a rigid checklist, Kim walks you through a menu of ten tiny habits that you could add into your day. You are not meant to do all of them at once. You will learn how to choose just two or three that feel realistic for your life right now and let those become your new normal. From how you start your morning, to how you eat, move, unwind, and prepare for tomorrow, each small choice is designed to be doable, repeatable, and kind to your midlife body. If you are tired of starting over, this episode will help you start smaller, start gentler, and actually stick with it. In this episode, you will learn: ·       Why starting now beats waiting for Monday, the first, or January ·       How all or nothing plans spike cortisol and make midlife weight loss harder ·       The connection between tiny daily habits, insulin resistance, and belly fat ·       Simple ways to build a calmer morning, more satisfied meals, and better sleep ·       How to pick just 2 or 3 tiny habits so you can feel successful instead of overwhelmed ·       Why your midlife body responds better to consistency, safety, and structure than perfection Connect with Kim: Emotional Eats Podcast: Emotional Eats Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotional-eats-podcast-end-emotional-eating-weight/id1686639038 Website:  https://wellspringcounselingandhealth.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kimhynesmidlife/ TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@kimhynesmidlife YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Kimhynesmidlife Want to improve your midlife focus or sleep?  Check out Brain.fm.  This app has help me be more productive, get the best afternoon powernaps and bring down my nervous system….fast.  Get 30 days for free here.  https://www.brain.fm/kimhyneshealth   Get my favorite healthy Hot Chocolate (Organifi Chocolate Gold) here: https://www.organifishop.com/ Use code:  KIMH for 20 % off This dark chocolate tumeric tea helps promote relaxation and calm.  It's the perfect substitute for dessert and a great way to help promote sleep.   Other links Kim receives commission on some of these products which are used to continue providing free content and produce the Emotional Eats Podcast. LMNT http://elementallabs.refr.cc/kimhynes Disclaimer:  This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only.  Always consult with your medical practitioner before changing habits.  This podcast is not to take the place of medical or mental health professionals. If you enjoyed the episode, share and follow.  I would be so grateful.