Emotional Eats Podcast: Real conversations about menopause, hormones, emotional eating, and weight loss for women over 40

Welcome to the Emotional Eats Podcast!
What if your body isn't fighting you...what if it's protecting you?
If you've been dieting for years, wondering why you can't stay out of the food, this conversation may completely change the way you think about weight loss and your eating.
In this episode, I sit down with naturopathic doctor, Dr. Andrea Maxim, to explore the deeper emotional patterns that can keep women stuck in cycles of dieting, emotional eating, and weight regain. We discuss the concept of "protective weight," how your nervous system and unconscious beliefs influence your relationship with food, and why lasting change requires more than another meal plan or diet.  It's so much deeper and if you're ready, you can feel in control and empowered.
Episode Highlights
What "protective weight" is and why your body may be holding onto weight for reasons that have nothing to do with willpower.
The connection between childhood experiences, limiting beliefs, and emotional eating.
Why so many women feel like they're self-sabotaging and what's really happening beneath the surface.
A simple way to understand emotional eating and why food often becomes our go-to coping strategy.
What "food noise" really means and why it's so mentally exhausting.
How perfectionism, people-pleasing, and poor boundaries contribute to overeating.
Why slowing down and creating a pause before eating can help break automatic food habits.
The difference between dieting for punishment and making choices from a place of self-respect.
How shifting your identity not just your eating habits can create lasting freedom with food.
The journey to lasting weight loss and food freedom isn't just about changing what you eat or dieting. It's about understanding why you turn to food in the first place, healing the beliefs that no longer serve you, and creating a sense of safety in your mind and body.
About Dr. Andrea
Dr. Andrea Maxim is a naturopathic doctor and mindset coach who helps women stop emotional eating and nighttime snacking without another diet. She blends her naturopathic practice with mental-emotional healing, she helps women change the patterns behind the behavior and rebuild a healthier relationship with food. Andrea is big into women's hormones, digestion and releasing protective weight. She's the creator of the 5min Binge Breaker and host of the Vault coaching community. She is the Author of MAXIMized Health, available on Kindle.
Connect With Dr. Andrea
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/themaximmovement/
 
All social media @themaximmovement
 
Website:  https://www.andreamaxim.com/
If This Episode Resonated With You
Please follow the Emotional Eats Podcast, download this episode, and share it with a woman in your life who struggles silently with food, body image, binge eating, or emotional eating. These conversations matter.
And if you're looking for ongoing support and connection, make sure to check out the Cool Girl Collective, Kim's community for women over 40 navigating emotional eating, menopause, hormones, cravings, and learning how to nourish their whole lives.
 
Join the Cool Girl Collective
👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/
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.

Welcome to the Emotional Eats Podcast!
You can't understand why you keep getting into the snacks at night so you turn to another diet.  You tun to restriction, food rules, chasing the scale, and quitting when life gets hard. If you've ever wondered why you keep ending up in that cycle, this episode is for you.
In this episode, I'm welcoming back Holly Bertone for a conversation that builds on our first interview about emotional eating. This time, we're exploring what comes next. Once you begin healing your relationship with food, how do you create lasting, sustainable weight loss without falling back into the diet cycle?  The one you have been stuck in for years.
Holly shares her remarkable journey from working for the FBI to becoming an emotional eating and weight loss coach, and explains how her background in pattern analysis helped her develop a completely different way of looking at lasting change.
Together, we talk about why so many women stay stuck, how diet culture has shaped the way we think about our bodies, the role of identity and nervous system regulation, and why real transformation goes far beyond the number on the scale.
Listen to the end because Holly shares that there is a way to quit that won't perpetuate the cycle. 
Check out Holly's first amazing episode on the show:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/116-how-to-rewire-your-brain-to-stop-emotional-eating/id1686639038?i=1000718298992
About Holly Bertone
Holly Bertone is a former FBI Chief of Staff for Counterintelligence, now known as the Emotional Eating Profiler and Coach.
She helps smart, successful women break the patterns of emotional eating, ditch diet culture, and prioritize their health so their high-achievement lifestyle NO LONGER CLASHES with unwanted weight gain.
Holly is the host of the Weight Loss Forensics Podcast. She's spoken on stages at MIT, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Connect With Holly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly.bertone/
 
Substack: https://hollybertone.substack.com/
 
YouTube: https://urlgeni.us/youtube/channel/YTWLFMain 
 
If This Episode Resonated With You
Please follow the Emotional Eats Podcast, download this episode, and share it with a woman in your life who struggles silently with food, body image, binge eating, or emotional eating. These conversations matter.
And if you're looking for ongoing support and connection, make sure to check out the Cool Girl Collective, Kim's community for women over 40 navigating emotional eating, menopause, hormones, cravings, and learning how to nourish their whole lives.
 
Join the Cool Girl Collective
👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/
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.

Welcome to the Emotional Eats Podcast!
Have you ever planned to eat just one piece of chocolate, only to find yourself reaching for more? And then finishing the whole chocolate bar?
In this episode, Kim shares a personal story about enjoying one of her favorite treats without guilt, shame, or spiraling into eating 10. 
She explains why sugar cravings are often about not really about the food.  The sugar does light up a part of the brain that makes us happy, but what is happening before is really the key to eating less sugar.  Stress, loneliness, overwhelm, and the brain's reward system can make it feel impossible to stop at just one or two.  Those extra pieces or cookies are just helping you numb out.
In episode 164, you'll learn practical, realistic strategies to enjoy sugar intentionally while supporting your blood sugar, metabolic health, and weight loss goals.  The best part is eating a treat once in a while without feeling like you have to swear off your favorite foods forever.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why sugar cravings are often driven by emotions, not hunger
How dopamine and the brain's reward system influence cravings
A simple step-by-step approach to enjoying a treat without losing control
Why protein and fiber can help stabilize blood sugar before dessert
How slowing down, savoring your food, and giving yourself permission to eat can change your relationship with sugar
Practical tips to stop one treat from turning into a week of overeating
If you've ever felt like sugar has too much control over your life, this episode will help you build a healthier, more peaceful relationship with one intentional choice at a time. 
 
If This Episode Resonated With You
Please follow the Emotional Eats Podcast, download this episode, and share it with a woman in your life who struggles silently with food, body image, binge eating, or emotional eating. These conversations matter.
And if you're looking for ongoing support and connection, make sure to check out the Cool Girl Collective, Kim's community for women over 40 navigating emotional eating, menopause, hormones, cravings, and learning how to nourish their whole lives.
Join the Cool Girl Collective
👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/
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.

Welcome to the Emotional Eats Podcast!
If you've ever found yourself standing in the pantry at night wondering, "Why am I doing this again?" this episode is for you.
You know exactly what to eat. You've read the books, followed the meal plans, counted the calories, and started over more times than you can count. Yet you still feel out of control around food and blame yourself for not having enough willpower.
What if the problem isn't discipline at all?
In this compassionate conversation, Kim sits down with licensed spiritual practitioner, yoga instructor, and coach Stacey Paige to explore the emotional roots of weight struggles in midlife. Together, they unpack how limiting beliefs, nervous system overwhelm, unprocessed emotions, and lifelong patterns can quietly drive emotional eating, even when you know all the "right" things to do.
Rather than offering another list of food rules, this episode focuses on helping you better understand yourself while giving you practical tools you can begin using today.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How subconscious beliefs formed in childhood can shape your relationship with food and your body.
The surprising connection between self-worth and self-sabotage.
Why emotional eating is often an attempt to soothe stress, grief, loneliness, or overwhelm rather than satisfy hunger.
How chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation make emotional eating more likely.
The difference between reacting to life and responding to it.
Why creating a simple daily mindfulness practice can completely change your relationship with food.
How walking, nature, breathwork, and quiet reflection can help process emotions instead of suppressing them.
Why true intuitive eating requires more than simply "listening to your body."
Practical ways to begin breaking free from lifelong dieting patterns without relying on more willpower.
Stacey explains that lasting change happens when we stop trying to fight the behavior and instead become curious about what's driving it.
Your emotional eating may be pointing toward something that needs compassion, healing, and attention rather than more restriction.
When you begin addressing the root causes instead of only the behavior, everything starts to change.
About Stacey Paige
Stacey Paige is a licensed spiritual practitioner, yoga instructor, and coach who believes lasting change begins with the relationship we have with ourselves. Rather than pushing harder or relying on willpower, she helps people understand the patterns, beliefs, and protective habits that shape how they move through life.
Through mindfulness, nervous system support, and compassionate self-awareness, Stacey guides people toward sustainable inner change so they can feel more grounded, connected, and free to create meaningful lives of their own design.
Connect with Stacey
Find Stacey on all social media @staceypaigeinspired
 
Website:  https://www.staceypaige.com/
 
If This Episode Resonated With You
Please follow the Emotional Eats Podcast, download this episode, and share it with a woman in your life who struggles silently with food, body image, binge eating, or emotional eating. These conversations matter.
And if you're looking for ongoing support and connection, make sure to check out the Cool Girl Collective, Kim's community for women over 40 navigating emotional eating, menopause, hormones, cravings, and learning how to nourish their whole lives.
Join the Cool Girl Collective
👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/
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.

Welcome to the Emotional Eats Podcast!
Are you thinking about food all day long? Grabbing something sweet with your coffee? Finding yourself in the pantry at night wondering why you can't stop?
You may assume you're to addicted to sugar, lack willpower, or just need more self-control. But what if the real problem isn't the food?
What if your body is simply exhausted?
In this episode, Kim explores one of the most overlooked causes of emotional eating, cravings, food noise, and weight struggles: sleep.
You'll learn how poor sleep affects your hunger hormones, blood sugar, stress response, emotional regulation, and even the reward centers of your brain. If sugar feels impossible to resist after a bad night of sleep, there may be a biological reason why.
This conversation is especially important for women in perimenopause and menopause, when hormone changes, nighttime wake-ups, anxiety, and blood sugar swings can make cravings feel overwhelming.
In This Episode:
• Why sleep deprivation increases hunger and cravings
• The roles of ghrelin, leptin, and GLP-1 in appetite and fullness
• Why sugar and processed foods become harder to resist when you're tired
• The connection between sleep, stress, emotional eating, and food noise
• How menopause impacts sleep and cravings
• Practical tools to improve sleep and feel more in control around food
• Why blood sugar may be one of the biggest keys to better sleep and fewer cravings
If food has been taking up too much space in your brain lately, don't skip this episode. It may help you understand what's really driving your cravings and what your body has been asking for all along.
 
If This Episode Resonated With You
Please follow the Emotional Eats Podcast, download this episode, and share it with a woman in your life who struggles silently with food, body image, binge eating, or emotional eating. These conversations matter.
And if you're looking for ongoing support and connection, make sure to check out the Cool Girl Collective, Kim's community for women over 40 navigating emotional eating, menopause, hormones, cravings, and learning how to nourish their whole lives.
Join the Cool Girl Collective
👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/
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, download and follow.  I would be so grateful.