The Pulse Project

Episode 9: Eating Disorders and Athletes

Eating disorders in athletes don’t usually start with food — they start quietly in the mind, in identity, and in the pressure-cooker of performance, comparison, and control. In this episode, Stephanie Matre speaks directly to parents, coaches, clinicians, faith leaders, and athletes about the often-missed warning signs, why “high performing” doesn’t mean “healthy,” and how to start hard conversations that actually keep the door open. You’ll also hear a Catholic lens on the body as gift (not a project), a sober look at social media and recruiting pressure, and how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can complement Western care by reading patterns in the “body story.” In this episode, we cover: * Why eating disorders in athletes often develop slowly and silently—long before physical signs show up * How sports can build virtue and resilience, but also create vulnerability when identity shifts from “I live in my body” to “my body is a project” * Why performance is a misleading indicator: eating disorders can look like “discipline,” “focus,” or “mental toughness” at first * Early red flags parents often miss because they’re subtle—and sometimes socially rewarded * The food and meal-time warning signs: * Increasing rigidity around food * Cutting out major food groups without medical need * “Clean/earned/burned” moral language around food * Anxiety at meals, pushing food around, tiny bites, avoiding family meals, “I already ate” * Training/movement red flags: * Panic when workouts are missed * Exercising to “deserve” food * Secret extra workouts * Training through injury/illness * Inability to rest without guilt * Psychological shifts that can signal deeper trouble: * Perfectionism and black-and-white thinking * Anxiety or emotional numbness * Irritability * Obsession with numbers (macros, calories, steps, rankings, watches, metrics) * Physical signs that get dismissed in athletes: * Frequent injuries, stress fractures * Sleep disruption * Digestive complaints * Cold intolerance * Hormonal disruption or missed periods (and why this should not be normalized) * How eating disorders can overlap with OCD traits: when control becomes the “soothing” drug * Social media + recruiting pressure: the “constant mirror,” comparison culture, and digitized performance metrics * How to talk to teens without shutting them down: * Avoid body comments (even “positive” ones) * Lead with curiosity and specific observations * Stay regulated, consistent, and present * Remember: denial is often fear, not defiance * TCM perspective: treating patterns (not labels) and how restriction/binge-purge/overtraining can show up in different body systems * Faith and recovery: why “just pray more” can become spiritual bypassing—and what true encounter looks like * A powerful reminder: early support saves lives and no performance is worth a soul Important Note (from the episode) This podcast is not medical advice and does not diagnose or replace professional care. If you suspect an eating disorder, seek qualified medical and mental health support immediately. Resources & Next Steps If this episode stirred something in you, don’t ignore it. Presence heals more than pressure — and early action matters. Go deeper with Stephanie inside: * The Pulse Project Food Addiction Recovery Course * The supportive Catholic recovery community: The Ember Loft Visit www.shinerising.com/membership [http://www.shinerising.com] to learn more and find support.

Episode 8: What is Food Addiction and What it is Not

In today’s episode of The Pulse Project Podcast, Stephanie shares a deeply personal, faith-rooted exploration of food addiction as a real, brain-based illness—not a failure of willpower or morality. Drawing from neuroscience, the food industry’s role, traditional Chinese medicine, and Catholic theology, this episode gently but clearly names what keeps so many women stuck in shame and silence. You’ll learn how highly processed foods hijack the brain, how food addiction differs from emotional eating and other eating disorders, why quick fixes like GLP-1 drugs fall short, and why lasting recovery requires both scientific understanding and spiritual surrender. Above all, this episode is an invitation to hope—reminding you that you are not broken, you are beloved, and healing is possible through grace, truth, and community. If you’re listening and thinking, “This is me,” you don’t have to figure this out alone. The Pulse Project Food Addiction Recovery Course was created to help you understand what’s happening in your brain, break free from the cycle of shame and relapse, and build a steady, faith-filled path forward—one day at a time. And inside The Ember Loft, you’ll find a supportive Catholic recovery community to walk with you through real life, real temptation, and real healing—rooted in grace, truth, and practical tools. If you’re ready to take your next step, you’re warmly invited to join us and begin reclaiming your freedom.  Click the link below to learn more. https://www.shinerising.com/membership [https://www.shinerising.com/membership] Below is the link to the conversation with Dr. Marty Lerner as he speaks to the impact GLP-1's can have on early food addiction recovery, their benefits, and their risks. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Nfke21FjqyKOIt4lZGjPb?si=Ov25H7tCSbOcWCGYyiH8gQ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Nfke21FjqyKOIt4lZGjPb?si=Ov25H7tCSbOcWCGYyiH8gQ]

Episode 7: And the word became flesh, and dwelt among us

Join Stephanie as she dissects the body and soul in this unique episode about how Catholics view the creation of human beings, why that creation matters in our relationships, and why understanding this is so important for recovery.  Stephanie references the Catechism of the Catholic Church and its stance that we are called to view and treat our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit.  She also explores why this idea is challenging to those with body image issues, dysmorphia, dysphoria, and eating disorders and where we can find the solution to our suffering in the power of Jesus Christ.  In this episode, you'll ponder the deep questions surrounding embodiment, and the unique healing the Eucharist provides for our bodily afflictions.  A truly purposeful paradox, you'll learn exactly how and why our bodies are healed by HIS body.  Buckle up.  This one is wild. If you are interested in healing from the bones out, now is a great time to join the Ember Loft, a Catholic community of women healing from disordered eating.  Inside The Ember Loft, you will have access to The Pulse Project online program that will help you blend faith and science in new unique ways so you can journey safely and effectively toward recovery.  Click the link to find out more and enroll. https://www.shinerising.com/membership

Episode 6 - The role of Dopamine in the Food Addict Brain

In today’s episode, we discuss what’s actually happening in your brain when you crave, binge, restrict, or feel out of control with food — and why this is not a moral failure. Drawing from cutting-edge neuroscience, Dr. Anna Lembke’s work in Dopamine Nation, peer-reviewed research, Scripture, and Catholic moral theology, we’ll explore how dopamine shapes desire, how modern foods hijack the brain, and how grace and neuroplasticity work together to bring healing. You’ll learn why cues feel so powerful, why willpower breaks down under stress, why you can be “good all day” and lose control at night, and—most importantly—how your brain can be rewired through abstinence, virtue, community, and sacramental life. This episode is both scientifically rich and spiritually grounding…and it will give you hope. Your brain is not broken. You are not weak. You are being rewired and sanctified.   Join Stephanie in the Ember Loft where real women seeking real recovery find real and lasting change.   https://www.shinerising.com/membership [https://www.shinerising.com/membership]   Key peer-reviewed studies referenced in this episode Berridge, K. C., & Robinson, T. E. (2016). Liking, wanting, and the incentive-sensitization theory of addiction. American Psychologist, 71(8), 670–679. Schultz, W., Dayan, P., & Montague, P. R. (1997). A neural substrate of prediction and reward. Science, 275(5306), 1593–1599. Koob, G. F., & Le Moal, M. (2008). Addiction and the brain antireward system. Annual Review of Psychology, 59, 29–53. Volkow, N. D., Wise, R. A., & Baler, R. (2017). The dopamine motive system: Implications for drug and food addiction. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 18(12), 741–752. Volkow, N. D., Wang, G.-J., et al. (2016). Obesity and addiction: Neurobiological overlaps. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(8), 661–679. Graybiel, A. M. (2008). Habits, rituals, and the evaluative brain. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 31, 359–387. Arnsten, A. F. T. (2009). Stress signaling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(6), 410–422. Spiegel, K., Tasali, E., Penev, P., & Van Cauter, E. (2004). Sleep curtailment lowers leptin and increases ghrelin. Annals of Internal Medicine, 141(11), 846–850. Eisenberger, N. I. (2012). The pain of social disconnection. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 13(6), 421–434. Smith, J. L., Mattick, R., & Carter, A. (2016). Plasticity of habits and dopamine: Implications for addiction. Neuron, 90(6), 1219–1235. Kang, Y., Williams, L. E., et al. (2018). Purpose in life predicts neural responses to reward. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 13(4), 368–375.   Disclaimer: The Pulse Project Podcast is for educational and spiritual formation purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as medical, psychological, or nutritional advice, nor does it create a patient-provider relationship. Always seek the guidance of a qualified physician, licensed mental health professional, or emergency medical services for any concerns about your physical or mental health. If you are experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately. The views shared in this podcast reflect personal experience, research, and Catholic teaching, and are not meant to replace individualized care.

Native Birth

Take a deep dive with Stephanie in this Lectio Divina of Luke 2:1-7, the Nativity of our Lord.  Travel back in time to walk beside the holiest of families on their journey to Bethlehem, in the piercing cold, on the eve of this native birth.  Welcome the Christ child with your own eyes and capture the wonder you've always had but never knew.  This episode will paint a new picture of the nativity that likely has never been painted and will catapult you into a new wonder and appreciation for this incredible gift.  Enjoy this beautiful story and keep it close during this holiday season.  May you always remember who you are and who's you are and may the sun shine on your face.   www.shinerising.com/membership