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

You hold everything together. You get it all done. You show up for  everyone. You are the one people rely on.
And then the day winds down… and you find yourself in the pantry, the freezer, the snack drawer, wondering why you can't stop.
If that's you, this episode is for you.
But first, please make sure you follow the show to help us reach more women, but also so you keep getting the new epsiodes.
This is not about discipline. It's not about willpower. And it's not because you're "bad" with food.
In this episode, I'm walking you through what is actually going on beneath the surface for high-functioning women who feel in control all day and completely out of control with food later on. We talk about the real reasons this keeps happening, from stress and pressure to over-control, people-pleasing, and the mental load you carry every single day.
You'll also hear why your body is not working against you. It's trying to help you feel better in the fastest way it knows how.
I'm sharing more than the "why".  I'm giving you some simple ways to start changing this food behavior, without restriction, without shame, and without trying to be perfect with food all the time.
This is about understanding yourself in a deeper way so you can finally feel more in control around food even though it's not really about the food.
Inside this episode:
Why high-functioning women struggle more with nighttime eating than they expect
How stress and pressure build quietly all day and show up as cravings at night
What "over-control" looks like and how it backfires with food
The connection between people-pleasing, unspoken needs, and eating
Why midlife hormones make everything more challenging
A simple pause practice to interrupt autopilot eating
What your body might actually need instead of food
 
Connect with Kim:
Join the Cool Girl Collective
👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/
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, download and follow.  I would be so grateful.

If you're over 40 and suddenly feel anxious, exhausted, gaining weight, and not like yourself… this is not in your head and it's not just aging.
In this conversation, I sit down with Kimberly Pacetti, a functional health practitioner who blends traditional medicine with a root-cause approach to help women actually feel better, not just manage symptoms.
We talk about what's really going on in midlife when you feel off, anxious, exhausted, or disconnected from yourself. This is not just about hot flashes. This is about your hormones, your gut, your stress, and the way your body is trying to communicate with you.
Kimberly also shares her personal health journey, including how grief and autoimmune illness changed the way she now supports her patients.
This episode will help you understand your body in a deeper way and remind you that you deserve a healthcare provider who listens and works with you.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
Why women need a partnership with their healthcare provider, not a one-sided relationship
How grief, stress, and unprocessed emotions can show up physically in the body
What's actually happening hormonally in your 40s and 50s
Why anxiety, irritability, and feeling "not like yourself" are often hormone-related
The truth about midlife weight gain and insulin resistance
How your gut health impacts your hormones, mood, and energy
Why "feeling fine" doesn't always mean your gut is healthy
The role of protein, vitamin D, magnesium, and B12 in midlife health
What to rethink about smoothies, drinks, and hidden sugar
A real, honest take on intermittent fasting and when it may not be right for you
How stress and lack of boundaries are affecting your hormones and nervous system
About Kimberly Pacetti:
Kimberly, a dedicated healthcare professional and lifelong resident of St Augustine, Florida, is passionate about empowering others to achieve optimal health through holistic care. With a background in Health Science Education and Nursing, Kimberly has spent years focusing on the power of lifestyle choices, functional health, and the importance of addressing the root causes of disease. Her commitment to patient education, personalized care, and community service is at the heart of her mission to inspire and support individuals on their journey to better health and wellness.
Connect with Kimberly Pacetti:
Website: www.getwellstaywell.live
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpacettiarnp/?hl=en
 
Connect with Kim Hynes:
Join the Cool Girl Collective
👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/
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, download and follow.  I would be so grateful.

If you've ever looked in the mirror and immediately focused on what you don't like…
If you always criticize that one part your body…
If part of you is still waiting to lose weight before you fully live your life…
This episode is for you.
Make sure to grab Anne's Body Confidence Unlocked E-Guide below.
In this conversation with body image expert Anne Poirier, we explore a completely different way of thinking about your body… one that doesn't require forcing yourself to love it or constantly trying to fix it.
Anne shares how body image isn't actually about your body, but it's about your perception, your past, and the patterns that have been running in the background for years.
We talk about:
– Why the inner critic feels so loud and hard to escape
– How dieting and "being good" with food can disconnect you from your body
– The idea of body neutrality and why it may feel more realistic than body love
– How comparison, perfectionism, and overdoing can all tie back to body image
You'll also hear a different take on intuitive eating… especially if you've ever thought, "That won't work for me."
And maybe most importantly…
We touch on the ways women quietly hold themselves back
waiting to feel better in their bodies before they show up fully in their lives.
This episode is not about doing more or trying harder.
It's about starting to see yourself differently…
with a little more awareness, a little more compassion,
and a lot more possibility.
About Anne Poirier
Anne Poirier is a nationally recognized body image expert, certified intuitive eating counselor, and author of The Body Joyful: My Journey from Self-Loathing to Self-Acceptance, winner of a Gold Medal at the 2025 Global Book Awards. After overcoming years of body shame and disordered eating, Anne has become a leading voice in the body neutrality movement, helping people find peace with food, movement, and themselves. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Women's Health, Shape, and NPR.
Connect With Anne
Grab your Body Confidence Unlocked E-guide here!
https://shapingperspectives.com/confidence/
 
Book links: 
The Body Joyful
The Body Neutrality Playbook-Activities and daily practices to unlock body confidence, self-acceptance, and inner peace 
Not a Fat Annie
 
Connect with Kim:
Join the Cool Girl Collective
👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/
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, download and follow.  I would be so grateful.

If you've been struggling with emotional eating, anxiety, overwhelm, or feeling like your brain just isn't working the way it used,  this episode is going to change how you see all of it. 
This episode is a great way to celebrate the Emotional Eats Podcast's Episode 150.
In this conversation with neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Rondeau, we go deeper than labels like ADHD, anxiety, or even emotional eating. We unpack how your brain patterns, combined with your environment and life transitions, are driving your behaviors. And why what you've been told to do hasn't worked.
Dr. Rondeau uses EEG brain mapping, a tool that measures electrical activity in the brain, to identify patterns that influence how you think, feel, and respond to stress. What he shares will help you understand why your habits are showing up, what your brain is actually trying to do for you, and how to start working with it instead of against it.
In this episode, we cover:
Why diagnoses like anxiety or ADHD don't tell the full story
How brain patterns influence behavior, cravings, and emotional reactions
The connection between perfectionism, people pleasing, and negative self-talk
Why midlife transitions can intensify symptoms
How your environment shapes the way your brain functions
Key takeaways:
What looks like lack of control is often your brain trying to meet a need
The same solution will not work for everyone because brain patterns are different
Midlife changes can expose patterns that were always there, not create new ones
Understanding your patterns can reduce shame and open the door to change
This episode will help you see yourself differently.
With more understanding, more compassion, and a clearer path forward. Stay until the end to get some simple shifts to improve your brain.
About Dr. Stephen Rondeau
Dr. Rondeau began his work in developmental pediatrics, looking for objective ways to understand the brain. A pivotal moment came when he scanned a patient labeled as having severe anxiety, only to discover her brain patterns aligned with ADHD. Once treated appropriately, her symptoms resolved.
After seeing this repeatedly, he recognized a bigger issue. Mental health care often relies on labels without truly understanding what is happening underneath. His work now focuses on using brain data to reframe symptoms as signals, helping people find environments where they function best.
He describes this as the Husky Phenomenon. Many people are not broken. They are simply in environments that do not match how their brain works.
Connect With Dr. Steve
Find THINK LIKE A BRAIN, Dr. Steve Rondeau's book here:
https://www.thinklikeabrain.com/
Website: https://axoneegsolutions.com/
Website: https://wholeness.com/doctors/dr-steven-rondeau/
IG:   https://www.instagram.com/dr_rondeau_qeeg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-steven-rondeau-148aa421/
Connect with Kim:
Join the Cool Girl Collective
👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/
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, download and follow.  I would be so grateful.

Midlife isn't a crisis… it's a transition. In this conversation, John Michael O'Shea shares how to shift your perspective so your next chapter feels intentional, grounded, and even exciting. From identity changes to empty nesting, relationships, and purpose, this episode will help you see that your best years may actually be ahead of you.
 
What This Episode Covers
Why midlife transitions can feel unsettling… and how to reframe them
The shift from taking care of everyone else to finally asking, what do I want?
How to live more intentionally instead of just going through the motions
The difference between setting goals and creating daily standards
Navigating marriage, friendships, and connection in this stage of life
Letting go as a parent and supporting your kids as young adults
Using faith, gratitude, and slowing down to create more peace
 
Highlights
"Your best years are in front of you, not behind you."
Midlife is an opportunity to redefine your values, not just your schedule
Standards create a way of living… goals just give you a destination
Connection, purpose, and intentional living are key pillars of this stage
About John Michael:
John Michael O'Shea is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach with a Master of Science in Lifestyle Health and Coaching from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. With over two decades of leadership and talent development experience in national corporate environments, he brings both professional expertise and real-life perspective to his work. He is a husband, father of two college-aged sons, and a mentor to high school seniors through a local nonprofit. His coaching focuses on helping people build a growth mindset, create sustainable systems, and develop daily habits that support long-term success.
Connect With John Michael:
Website: https://www.instagram.com/onepurposewellness/?hl=en
IG:   https://www.instagram.com/onepurposewellness/?hl=en
 
Connect with Kim:
Join the Cool Girl Collective
👉 Click Here to Join:  https://www.skool.com/coolgirlcollective/
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.