EPISODE 117: Beyond the Scale: How to Measure Progress That Predicts Permanent Weight Loss

EPISODE 117: Beyond the Scale: How to Measure Progress That Predicts Permanent Weight Loss

You're doing everything "right"... so why does it still feel so hard? A woman posted on Reddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/comments/1tc0dqw/weightloss_rant/?share_id=XagRFQPAAl8kZPV2sXwzn&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=10] about losing 15 pounds in five months using a sustainable approach. She's not restricting like crazy, she's playing the long game... and she's still miserable. In this episode, Coach Steph and I dig into why doing it the healthy way can feel so frustrating and what to actually do about it. Here's what we cover: * Why slow progress isn't a problem. It's actually the fastest route to results that last * The identity shift nobody talks about. You're not just losing weight, you're becoming a different person * How to measure a healthy relationship with food (hint: it's not the scale) * Why your brain is fighting you and how to work with it instead of against it * The mindset reframe that makes the hard days easier to push through If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right and still can't figure out why it feels like a grind, this episode is going to hit close to home. Give it a listen. You'll walk away with a completely different perspective and a few things you can start doing today. You can also connect with Leslie [https://www.instagram.com/lesliemhooper] & Steph [https://www.instagram.com/stephmiramontes/] on Instagram. Be the first to know when we're opening the doors to our signature psychology-based weight loss program, Outsmart Overeating (and get exclusive access to early bird discounts and fast action bonuses), join the Interest List [https://lesliehooper.com/outsmart-overeating-waitlist/]. If you want to learn how to not-only lose weight, but also lose the struggle along side it, you can get started by taking the Weight Loss Psychology Quiz: Discover Your Diet Personality Type [https://lesliehooper.com/weight-loss-psychology-quiz/]

EPISODE 116: BBQs, Buffets, and Open Bars: Why You Can't Stop Grazing (Even Though You're Not Hungry)

We're SUPER-DUPER EXCITED to announce our brand-spankin' new mini-course, Your Summer Grill & Chill Playbook [https://lesliehooper.com/grill-chill/]! If you can eat "normally" during the week but completely lose control around food at summer BBQs, vacations, weddings, beach days, boating trips, or parties... this episode is for you. Because the problem isn't a lack of discipline. In this conversation, Steph and I unpack why summer social events feel so hard for chronic dieters and why it's so easy to go from feeling in control to grazing, overeating, and spiraling into guilt by the end of the weekend. We break down the hidden psychology behind social eating, including food noise, people-pleasing, mindless grazing, and all-or-nothing thinking that keeps you stuck in the "start over Monday" cycle. Most importantly, we're giving you practical tools you can start using immediately so you can enjoy summer without obsessing over food. In this episode, we cover: * Why summer events trigger overeating so easily * The surprising reason grazing keeps you stuck * Why dieting increases food obsession at parties and vacations * The mindset shift that helps you stop eating without feeling deprived * Simple strategies to feel calm and in control around food all summer long ... and so much more! Tune in now. You can also connect with Leslie [https://www.instagram.com/lesliemhooper] & Steph [https://www.instagram.com/stephmiramontes/] on Instagram. Be the first to know when we're opening the doors to our signature psychology-based weight loss program, Outsmart Overeating (and get exclusive access to early bird discounts and fast action bonuses), join the Interest List [https://lesliehooper.com/outsmart-overeating-waitlist/]. If you want to learn how to not-only lose weight, but also lose the struggle along side it, you can get started by taking the Weight Loss Psychology Quiz: Discover Your Diet Personality Type [https://lesliehooper.com/weight-loss-psychology-quiz/]

EPISODE 115: "Every Summer I Promise Myself I Won't Need to Hide In A Coverup. Every Summer I Do."

You've tried every diet. You know exactly what to eat. And you're still wearing a cardigan in 95-degree heat because you don't want anyone to see your arms. Coach Steph and I are calling it out—the hiding, the sideline-sitting, the vacations you didn't book, the sandcastles you didn't build—and we're giving you a real way out. What we cover: * Why your brain is literally wired to keep torturing you about your body (and the one thing that actually interrupts it) * The "neutral language" trick that dials down self-criticism without making you feel like a liar * Why losing the weight won't fix the voice in your head and what will * How to show up at the wedding, reunion, or beach trip without waiting to be a smaller size first * The photo rule that makes it easier to stop hiding from the camera You don't have to love your body to enjoy your life. That's actually the whole point of this episode. Your kids want you in the sandcastle. Your friends want you on the trip. Go listen. You can also connect with Leslie [https://www.instagram.com/lesliemhooper] & Steph [https://www.instagram.com/stephmiramontes/] on Instagram. Be the first to know when we're opening the doors to our signature psychology-based weight loss program, Outsmart Overeating (and get exclusive access to early bird discounts and fast action bonuses), join the Interest List [https://lesliehooper.com/outsmart-overeating-waitlist/]. If you want to learn how to not-only lose weight, but also lose the struggle along side it, you can get started by taking the Weight Loss Psychology Quiz: Discover Your Diet Personality Type [https://lesliehooper.com/weight-loss-psychology-quiz/]

EPISODE 114: The 'It's a Special Occasion' Trap That Happens Every Weekend in Summer

Summer is almost here, and with it comes all the things we love — barbecues, weddings, vacations, pool parties, and brunches. But if you've ever shown up to a summer event with the best intentions and somehow ended up overeating or over-drinking anyway, this episode is for you. Steph and I are breaking down exactly why that happens and it's probably not what you think. It's not about the food, and it's not about willpower. It's about the specific thoughts running in the background of your mind that quietly give you permission to go off the rails before you even realize what's happening. In this episode you'll learn: * Why changing your environment changes your thinking and what that actually costs you at summer social events * The real reason your "plan" falls apart the moment you walk through the door * How to spot the subtle mental justifications that are driving your overeating without you even knowing it * Why strategies like skipping meals, setting vague limits, or promising to "start fresh Monday" are actually making things worse * How to stay connected to your values in social situations without feeling like the odd one out * What to do in the moment when you feel the pull to throw it all out the window Once you can see the pattern, you can change it and that's exactly what Steph and I walk you through in this episode. Don't miss it! You can also connect with Leslie [https://www.instagram.com/lesliemhooper] & Steph [https://www.instagram.com/stephmiramontes/] on Instagram. Be the first to know when we're opening the doors to our signature psychology-based weight loss program, Outsmart Overeating (and get exclusive access to early bird discounts and fast action bonuses), join the Interest List [https://lesliehooper.com/outsmart-overeating-waitlist/]. If you want to learn how to not-only lose weight, but also lose the struggle along side it, you can get started by taking the Weight Loss Psychology Quiz: Discover Your Diet Personality Type [https://lesliehooper.com/weight-loss-psychology-quiz/]

EPISODE 113: The End of Dinner Dates? How GLP-1s Are Rewriting Human Connection

Coach Steph and I start with a Reddit post [https://www.reddit.com/r/datingoverfifty/comments/1srvagu/is_everyone_on_glps_for_weight_loss/?share_id=mNHReudV3B4A-JCGaP_fJ&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1] from a 54-year-old woman re-entering the dating world. She went out with three different men… all on GLP-1s. They ordered food, took a few bites, boxed the rest, and left her feeling disconnected, starving, and wondering if this is the new normal. We unpack the bigger cultural shift happening right now and exactly how it's affecting women like you whose love language is sharing meals. Here's exactly what you'll walk away with and use immediately: * Why mismatched appetites can feel so uncomfortable (and what it's actually triggering) * The difference between physical hunger vs. mental hunger (this changes everything) * How GLP-1s are quietly reshaping social norms and what that means for you * The hidden fears and insecurities showing up around food (on both sides) * Simple, actionable ways to feel confident in social eating situations... starting today This isn't about eating less or "being good." It's about understanding your brain, your habits, and how to stay grounded no matter what's on your plate... or someone else's. If food has ever felt like the thing that makes or breaks your connection with others, don't skip this one. You can also connect with Leslie [https://www.instagram.com/lesliemhooper] & Steph [https://www.instagram.com/stephmiramontes/] on Instagram. Be the first to know when we're opening the doors to our signature psychology-based weight loss program, Outsmart Overeating (and get exclusive access to early bird discounts and fast action bonuses), join the Interest List [https://lesliehooper.com/outsmart-overeating-waitlist/]. If you want to learn how to not-only lose weight, but also lose the struggle along side it, you can get started by taking the Weight Loss Psychology Quiz: Discover Your Diet Personality Type [https://lesliehooper.com/weight-loss-psychology-quiz/]