THE CONFIDENT BODY PODCAST - Brain-based strategies and self-compassion practices to unlock your full potential

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When Do I Start To Feel Better? Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

If you've ever stepped on the scale, seen it start to move, but then thought "Wait, this is it? Why don't I feel different yet?" then this episode is for you.

The short answer: losing weight can change your body, but it can't make you feel like enough. That's because enough was never at the end of the road. It's been inside you the whole time.

You worked so hard to get there. You waited for the relief, the moment you could finally relax. Maybe it lasted a day. Then the voice came back: "Maybe five more pounds would be safer." The finish line moved again.

In this episode, I share the story of a client of mine who spent decades looking for a corner in a round room. First at work, as a woman in an industry run by men. Then with food and the scale. I tell you about the family trip that changed everything for her, and the morning she looked in the mirror and saw something she'd been missing her whole life.

I also share my own story of hunting for enough. Spoiler: it includes getting fired.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why hitting your goal weight often doesn't feel like arriving
Why you can feel like you're 14 again around your family
What a round room has to do with diets and weight loss
How a mirror in a cardboard box helped a man's brain let go of pain he'd felt for ten years
Why feeling enough is something you find, not something you earn

Key Takeaway

Diets promise that once you get there, you'll be done. You'll feel happy, worthy, and free. But there is no finish line where enough is waiting. Sustainable weight loss and real peace with food start when you stop hustling for your worth and start seeing what's already true. You don't have to earn enough. You already are.

Listen If You've Ever Thought...

"When will I finally feel good enough?"
"Why do I still feel the same after losing weight?"
"My family still treats me like the old me."
"I thought maintenance would feel easier than this."
"Why can't I ever just relax around food?"

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't I feel happy after reaching my goal weight? Many women believe a certain number will finally make them feel worthy. When they get there, that feeling doesn't show up, because it was never tied to the scale. Feeling enough comes from the inside.

Does maintenance ever end? No, and that's not bad news. Maintenance is less like a place you arrive and more like a relationship you live in, like riding a bike. You keep pedaling, and the ride itself is the point.

Why do I fall back into old habits around my family? The people who've known you longest often hold an old picture of you. Without meaning to, they invite you back into that old role. You don't have to blame them or fight them. You also don't have to play that role anymore.

Want More?

If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to subscribe to The Confident Body Podcast. Every week we talk about the mental and emotional side of weight loss, the part that diets never cover.

We cover things like sustainable weight loss, emotional eating, self-trust around food, and how to break free from diet rules that have never worked long term. Because the goal isn't just to lose the weight. It's to become someone who knows how to keep it off and feel good while doing it.

Leave a review if this episode helped you. It only takes thirty seconds and it helps other women find the show.

Get the book my new book LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss

Check out my new Substack page! You’ll get bonus articles, inspiration, and wisdom. Plus some extra goodies I’ve got rolled up my sleeve.

Check it out at: https://substack.com/@coachlizziemerritt

PS: Ever had that moment when you just WANT it?

Your brain doesn’t care if you’re hungry. It just tastes SO good and you just want it.

If that’s you, then download the guide I JUST WANT IT. IT TASTES SO GOOD at:

confidentbody.coach/wantit

Also, check out my first book:
You Are A Miracle

Why You Always Blow It (and What to Do About It) Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

If you've ever thought "Don't get excited, I'm just going to blow it again," then this episode is for you.

You have a good week. The scale finally moves. And instead of feeling happy, you feel scared. Part of you is already waiting for the fall.

I get it. When you've tried so many times, "I always blow it" can feel like a fact. But what if it's not? What if it's a belief you decided on a long time ago, and you get to decide again?

In this episode, I share two coaching stories. One client was heading into a family trip, sure she would never lose weight on vacation. Another had just lost three pounds and was already afraid she'd mess it up. I walk you through the simple tool that helped them both, and why it works with your brain instead of against it.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why "I always blow it" is a thought, not a fact
How your body tells you when a thought isn't true
Why affirmations can backfire, and what to use instead
How one small question on a note card can change a whole weekend
Why the women who keep going are the ones who don't hide

Key Takeaway

You don't have to force yourself to believe something new. Your brain loves to argue with statements, but it loves a puzzle even more. When you ask a better question, your brain goes looking for proof. And the proof that you can do this has been there all along.

Listen If You've Ever Thought...

"I'm never going to lose weight on vacation."
"Why can't I get this right?"
"Here we go again."
"I wish these thoughts would just go away."
"I'm a failure at weight loss."

Want More?

Leave a review if this episode helped you. It only takes thirty seconds and it helps other women find the show.

Get the book my new book LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss

Check out my new Substack page! You’ll get bonus articles, inspiration, and wisdom. Plus some extra goodies I’ve got rolled up my sleeve.

Check it out at: https://substack.com/@coachlizziemerritt

PS: Ever had that moment when you just WANT it?

Your brain doesn’t care if you’re hungry. It just tastes SO good and you just want it.

If that’s you, then download the guide I JUST WANT IT. IT TASTES SO GOOD at:

confidentbody.coach/wantit

Also, check out my first book:
You Are A Miracle

Why Do I Eat Against My Will? Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

If you've ever thought "How do I stop binging an what do I do after a binge?" then this episode is for you.

The short answer is that your eating makes sense, even when it feels out of control. Overeating and binge eating are signals, like a light on your car's dashboard. They point to something going on underneath, such as shame, restriction, stress, or feelings you don't have another way to handle yet.

Maybe you eat half a box of cereal standing in the kitchen. Maybe you eat in the car so nobody sees. Then you buy a new box, hide the wrappers, and promise yourself that tomorrow will be different.

My guest today, Jane Pilger, knows that feeling well. Jane is a Master Certified Coach and the host of the Binge Eating Breakthrough Podcast. She binged in secret for decades, starting in her first semester of college. Today she talks about binge eating with zero shame, and she helps women see their eating through a whole new lens.

Jane shares the eight reasons we eat when we don't want to. Even if you don't call yourself a binge eater, this applies to any time you've eaten in a way you wish you could do over.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why shame and judgment make it harder to stop overeating
How the way you talk to yourself can be a form of restriction, even when you eat everything
Why food is often how we get away from ourselves
The one question that works better than "What's wrong with me?"
Why new habits don't stick until the deeper reasons get attention
Why on-again, off-again dieting is a sign you're focused on the outside
Why Jane says there's no finish line, and why that's good news

Key Takeaway

Your eating is a light on the dashboard. It's telling you something is going on underneath. Shame keeps the hood closed. Curiosity and compassion open it. When you ask "How does this make sense?" instead of "What's wrong with me?" you start finding real answers, and emotional eating starts to lose its grip.

Listen If You've Ever Thought...

"Why do I binge eat when I'm not even hungry?"
"Nobody can know how much I eat."
"I know what to do. I just can't do it."
"Why do I keep going on and off my diet?"
"Will I ever stop thinking about food?"

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I eat when I don't want to?
Unwanted eating usually has a reason underneath it. Jane names eight, including shame, restriction, a stressed nervous system, and using food to cope with emotions. Your eating makes sense, even when it feels out of control.

Does shame make binge eating worse?
Yes. Shame tells you something is wrong with you. When we're hard on ourselves, we want to get away from ourselves, and food is often how we learned to do that.

Will I ever stop binge eating for good?
Jane says there's no finish line, and that's okay. She still binges on rare occasions. What changed is how she treats herself afterward, and that makes it much easier to move on.

Connect with Jane Pilger

janepilger.com
Cultivate: janepilger.com/cultivate
The Binge Eating Breakthrough Podcast
The Food Freedom Mini Series:
Jane’s book The Binge Eating Breakthrough

Want More?

Leave a review if this episode helped you. It only takes thirty seconds and it helps other women find the show.

Get the book my new book LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss

Check out my new Substack page! You’ll get bonus articles, inspiration, and wisdom. Plus some extra goodies I’ve got rolled up my sleeve.

Check it out at: https://substack.com/@coachlizziemerritt

PS: Ever had that moment when you just WANT it?

Your brain doesn’t care if you’re hungry. It just tastes SO good and you just want it.

If that’s you, then download the guide I JUST WANT IT. IT TASTES SO GOOD at:

confidentbody.coach/wantit

Also, check out my first book:
You Are A Miracle

I was doing so good, until… Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

If you’ve ever wondered “Is this ever gonna get easier?” then this episode is for you.

You had a really good couple of weeks. The food noise got quiet. You were sleeping well, stopping when you'd had enough, and thinking, "Maybe I finally have this."

Then one night it all came creeping back. Maybe it was a bag of chocolate on the couch after dinner. And the next morning, the big question showed up: "What happened? I was doing so well. Is it ever going to get better?"

In this episode, I share a coaching call with a client who was in that exact spot. We use one simple picture, riding a bike, to see what's really going on. Because weight loss has flat stretches and it has hills. A hill doesn't mean you did something wrong. It just means you hit a hill.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why a hard night after a good stretch can feel like failure, even when it isn't
The "second arrow" we shoot at ourselves, and why it makes eating harder
Why a good week can feel almost scarier than a hard one
Simple ways to make a hill feel smaller
What the "I might as well wait until January" voice is really doing
A study showing that a hill looks less steep when a friend is with you

Key Takeaway

Easy weeks and hard weeks are just part of the road. They say nothing about who you are or whether this is working. You don't need a perfect, flat road to lose weight. You just keep making your everyday choices, like drinking your water, stopping at enough, and going to bed. That's what keeps you moving, and it's normal life, not a punishment.

Listen If You've Ever Thought…

"I was doing so good. Why did I do that?"
"Two good weeks, and now it's all for nothing."
"Is the food noise ever going to go away?"
"This feels too easy. What am I missing?"
"The holidays are coming. I might as well start over in January."
"Why does my husband lose weight so fast?"

Want More?

Leave a review if this episode helped you. It only takes thirty seconds and it helps other women find the show.

Get the book my new book LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss

Check out my new Substack page! You’ll get bonus articles, inspiration, and wisdom. Plus some extra goodies I’ve got rolled up my sleeve.

Check it out at: https://substack.com/@coachlizziemerritt

PS: Ever had that moment when you just WANT it?

Your brain doesn’t care if you’re hungry. It just tastes SO good and you just want it.

If that’s you, then download the guide I JUST WANT IT. IT TASTES SO GOOD at:

confidentbody.coach/wantit

Also, check out my first book:
You Are A Miracle

Why rest makes you feel guilty Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Do you feel like your worth depends on how much you get done in a day? Meals, errands, work projects, other people's problems. Every morning the score resets to zero, and you have to earn your place all over again.

Then you finally sit down to rest, and guilt comes crashing in. Shouldn't I be doing something?

In this episode, I share a coaching conversation with a client of mine who was always on the go. She kept eating at night, tired and resentful as she watched her husband relax on the couch. What we found underneath that resentment surprised us both. It has a lot to do with emotional eating, worth, and the deep need to be needed.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why rest can bring up so much guilt
How resentment often points to what you secretly want for yourself
What the Karpman Drama Triangle is, and how it shows up in weight loss
Why being a good listener can matter more than being a good fixer
How to find your worth beyond being needed

Key Takeaway

Your worth was never on your to-do list. It was there before you checked off a single thing. Like the sun on a cloudy day, it keeps shining whether anyone notices or not. When you let yourself rest without earning it first, food no longer has to be your only break at the end of a long day.

Listen If You've Ever Thought:

"I can't sit down until everything is done."
"Why does he get to relax and I don't?"
"If they don't need me anymore, what am I for?"
"I'll rest after I finish this one last thing."
"Why do I always end up eating at night?"

Want More?

Leave a review if this episode helped you. It only takes thirty seconds and it helps other women find the show.

Get the book my new book LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss

Check out my new Substack page! You’ll get bonus articles, inspiration, and wisdom. Plus some extra goodies I’ve got rolled up my sleeve.

Check it out at: https://substack.com/@coachlizziemerritt

PS: Ever had that moment when you just WANT it?

Your brain doesn’t care if you’re hungry. It just tastes SO good and you just want it.

If that’s you, then download the guide I JUST WANT IT. IT TASTES SO GOOD at:

confidentbody.coach/wantit

Also, check out my first book:
You Are A Miracle

What If I Can't Keep the Weight Off? (Listen Again) Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

If you keep asking who am I to think I can do this and want to finally believe you're allowed to try anyway, then this episode is for you.

Have you ever felt like you're the only one struggling with weight loss while everyone else has it figured out? Maybe you've watched a friend or coworker have success with weight loss medication and thought, maybe I should try that too. Or maybe that sneaky little thought creeps in, if I really wanted this, I would be doing better by now.

That voice has a name. It is called imposter syndrome, and it does not just show up in your career or your goals. It shows up in weight loss too.

In this episode, I dig into why self-doubt and comparison show up so much on this path, why waiting to feel ready is a trap, and how to stop comparison from stealing your progress. Because self-doubt does not mean you are failing. It means you are human.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why imposter syndrome shows up in weight loss, not just your career or goals
The difference between feeling doubt and letting doubt run the show
Why comparison quietly fuels self-doubt, and how to catch yourself doing it
How your brain uses food for safety when it feels threatened
A simple way to notice a doubtful thought and take action anyway

Key Takeaway

Self-doubt is not proof that you are failing. It is proof that you are human. You do not have to feel confident to take action. You just have to take the next small step, doubt and all.

Listen If You've Ever Thought…

"If I really wanted this, I would be doing better by now."
"Why is this so easy for everyone else?"
"I should already have this figured out."
"What if I can't keep the weight off?"

Want More?

Leave a review if this episode helped you. It only takes thirty seconds and it helps other women find the show.

Get the book my new book LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss

Check out my new Substack page! You’ll get bonus articles, inspiration, and wisdom. Plus some extra goodies I’ve got rolled up my sleeve.

Check it out at: https://substack.com/@coachlizziemerritt

PS: Ever had that moment when you just WANT it?

Your brain doesn’t care if you’re hungry. It just tastes SO good and you just want it.

If that’s you, then download the guide I JUST WANT IT. IT TASTES SO GOOD at:

confidentbody.coach/wantit

Also, check out my first book:
You Are A Miracle

The 3 Step Framework To Lose All the Weight You Want (Listen Again) Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

The Secret to Never Dieting Again

Do you ever feel like the second you stop dieting, all bets are off? Maybe it's a vacation. Maybe you got sick. Maybe it's just a weekend. And suddenly you're back to old habits, wondering why you can't just eat like a normal person.

If that sounds familiar, I want you to know you are not alone. This episode came from a real conversation I had with a client, one where I mapped out a simple three-step process on the spot. And I knew right away it needed to be an episode.

Here's the thing. The secret to weight loss that actually lasts is not another diet. It is not a quick fix. It is slowly changing what normal eating looks like for you, one small step at a time.

In this episode, I walk you through why diets keep failing you, and I give you the exact three-step framework I use with clients to build a new normal that sticks, without feeling deprived.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why diets are built to fail you, even the ones that work at first
The three-step process you can use to change any habit, for good
Why tiny changes work better than big, drastic ones
How to stop telling yourself you need to "get back on track"
Real examples you can use today, from fast food to late night snacking

Key Takeaway

Lasting change does not come from a diet. It comes from slowly building a new normal, one small level up at a time. When you stop trying to overhaul everything overnight, your brain stops fighting you, and the change actually sticks.

Listen If You've Ever Thought…

"Why does healthy eating always feel like punishment?"
"I did so good, then I went on vacation and lost it all."
"I need to get back on track."
"Will I ever just feel like a normal eater?"

Want More?

Leave a review if this episode helped you. It only takes thirty seconds and it helps other women find the show.

Get the book my new book LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss

Check out my new Substack page! You’ll get bonus articles, inspiration, and wisdom. Plus some extra goodies I’ve got rolled up my sleeve.

Check it out at: https://substack.com/@coachlizziemerritt

PS: Ever had that moment when you just WANT it?

Your brain doesn’t care if you’re hungry. It just tastes SO good and you just want it.

If that’s you, then download the guide I JUST WANT IT. IT TASTES SO GOOD at:

confidentbody.coach/wantit

Also, check out my first book:
You Are A Miracle

I Just Want To Be DONE Thinking About Weight Loss (Listen Again) Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

If you're exhausted from being all in for two weeks and then all out for two more and want to find some steady middle ground, then this episode is for you.

Why You Keep Starting Over

Do you ever feel like you're always restarting your weight loss? One week you're all in, doing everything right, and a few weeks later you're worn out and back to old habits. The weight creeps back and it feels like you're right back at zero.

If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. We're talking about why weight loss brings out all-or-nothing thinking, even in women who are flexible and easygoing in every other part of their life. The second a cookie shows up, it can feel like it's broccoli or bust.

We're also talking about something a lot of my clients say. "I just want to be done thinking about this." I get why you'd want that. But that mindset can actually keep you stuck. There's a better way to think about it, one that feels a lot more freeing.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why all-or-nothing thinking shows up so much around food and weight loss
The real reason you feel like you have to start over after one off day
Why wanting to be "done" with weight loss can work against you
A mindset shift that helps you stay steady through busy or hard seasons
Simple ways to track your wins that actually stick

Key Takeaway

One off day does not erase your progress. You are not starting over, you are picking up where you left off. Real change happens in the messy weeks, not just the perfect ones.

Listen If You've Ever Thought…

"I blew it, might as well start over Monday."
"I just want to be done thinking about food."
"Why is this the one area where I can't just relax?"
"I feel like I'm back at zero again."

Want More?

Leave a review if this episode helped you. It only takes thirty seconds and it helps other women find the show.

Get the book my new book LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss

Check out my new Substack page! You’ll get bonus articles, inspiration, and wisdom. Plus some extra goodies I’ve got rolled up my sleeve.

Check it out at: https://substack.com/@coachlizziemerritt

PS: Ever had that moment when you just WANT it?

Your brain doesn’t care if you’re hungry. It just tastes SO good and you just want it.

If that’s you, then download the guide I JUST WANT IT. IT TASTES SO GOOD at:

confidentbody.coach/wantit

Also, check out my first book:
You Are A Miracle

Why You Keep Sabotaging Yourself Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

"I want to go for my goal and lose weight but...

"This isn't the right season." "I should focus on my health first." "Once things calm down at work."

In this episode, I'm talking about the four sneaky ways fear shows up and tries to pass itself off as good judgment. I share the story of a thermostat quietly running in the background of your brain, keeping you exactly as small as it thinks is safe. And I walk through the same four step process my own coach used with me when I got nervous before speaking to a crowd of five hundred people.

This one goes deep on why staying stuck can feel so much safer than growing, even when growing is what you actually want.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why your brain hands you a "reasonable" excuse instead of just admitting you're scared
The four fear patterns behind almost every stuck moment (thank you, Gay Hendricks)
A simple four step process for moving through fear instead of around it
Why trying to force your feelings to settle usually makes things worse
What it means to stop handing fear the pen on your own story

Key Takeaway

Fear rarely shows up announcing itself. It shows up sounding like common sense. But underneath almost every "not right now," there's an old, understandable reason your brain thinks staying small keeps you safe. You don't have to argue with that voice or wait for it to disappear. You just have to stop handing it the pen every time it asks for it.

Listen If You've Ever Thought...

"I'll start when things settle down."
"Maybe this just isn't the right time for me."
"Why do I always talk myself out of things I actually want?"
"I know what to do, so why can't I just do it?"

Quote credits:

Quote from A Return to Love — Marianne Williamson (1992)

Want More?

Leave a review if this episode helped you. It only takes thirty seconds and it helps other women find the show.

Get the book my new book LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss

Check out my new Substack page! You’ll get bonus articles, inspiration, and wisdom. Plus some extra goodies I’ve got rolled up my sleeve.

Check it out at: https://substack.com/@coachlizziemerritt

PS: Ever had that moment when you just WANT it?

Your brain doesn’t care if you’re hungry. It just tastes SO good and you just want it.

If that’s you, then download the guide I JUST WANT IT. IT TASTES SO GOOD at:

confidentbody.coach/wantit

Also, check out my first book:
You Are A Miracle

Don't Die With Your Music Still In You Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

If you’ve ever thought "I'll do that when I've lost the weight." or "Who am I to think my voice matters?" then this episode is for YOU.

This is episode #200!
Happy birthday Confident Body podcast!

When I started this podcast, I almost didn't. I wanted a co-host because I didn't think I could carry a whole show by myself. I was scared I'd run out of things to say. (Guess that wasn’t an issue.) Even though I was scared, I started messy, and I kept going.

Two hundred episodes later, I want to talk about something that goes way beyond the scale. Because somewhere in all the tracking and the trying and the starting over, a lot of us forget to ask the bigger question. What is all this weight loss actually FOR?

This episode is about the parts of your life you've put on hold while you wait to feel ready. The trip. The class. The creative thing. The relationship. The version of you that's been waiting in the wings for "someday."

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why weight loss was always meant to be a doorway, not a waiting room
How to spot the ways you might be putting your real life on hold without even noticing
Why your gifts are not yours to sit on
What it means to let your "music" out, even when you don't feel ready
Who you might impact when show up imperfectly

Key Takeaway

You don't have to finish losing weight before you start living. Your gifts, your voice, your particular way of showing up in the world, are needed right now, not on the other side of some number on a scale. Ready isn't a feeling that shows up. It's a decision you get to make today.

Listen If You've Ever Thought…