In this episode, I’m talking about something we rarely address in recovery from toxic diet culture and chronic dieting… our relationship with free time.
You would think unstructured time would feel like relief. No deadlines. No one to perform for. No self-improvement project. And yet for so many of us, free time feels uncomfortable. Sometimes even anxiety-provoking.
I share my own experience with stillness and why unplanned time can bring up old emotions, unmet needs, and that deep belief that worth must be earned.
🥬 WHAT I EXPLORE IN THIS EPISODE
• Why free time feels uncomfortable and why relaxing can trigger anxiety
• The connection between emotional eating at night and nervous system dysregulation
• Why you might eat when you are not hungry, especially during unstructured downtime
• How toxic diet culture and chronic dieting train us to tie productivity to self-worth
• Why rest guilt happens and how achievement-based self-worth keeps us stuck
• How unrealistic beauty standards and constant self-improvement pressure make stillness feel unsafe
• Gentle ways to regulate your nervous system without using food to cope
💚 A GENTLE INVITATION
Instead of asking, “Why do I keep emotionally eating?” I invite you to ask, “What happens when I slow down?”
🥬 ABOUT THE HOST KATHY
Kathy Salata is a certified intuitive eating coach. She helps people heal from chronic dieting, step away from food shaming, and rebuild trust with their bodies after years of unrealistic beauty standards.
🥬 STAY CONNECTED w/ KATHY:
› Newsletter + resources at Vitality for support with disordered eating and body image.
› Join the Freedom to Nourish support and accountability group for conversations on intuitive eating and body trust.
› LinkedIn | @kathyelainesalata
› Instagram | @vitalitysupport
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*This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical, psychological, or spiritual advice. Always consult your licensed provider before making changes to your health, treatment, or lifestyle, and seek immediate help in case of a medical or mental health emergency.*
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