The Binge Eating Dietitian Podcast Elena Kunicki

“I’ve gained more weight in the first trimester than my doctor says I should…😬”
 
“This body doesn’t feel like mine anymore”
 
“I can barely even go for a walk without EXTREME fatigue, I feel so weak and lazy 😒”
 
“I’m insanely hungry and I know you’re not supposed to ‘eat for two’, this can’t be okay”
 
“I’m scared to be pregnant and gain weight even though I want a family 🙁”
 
My pregnant or soon-to-be-pregnant ladies out there with a complicated relationship with food, your body and fitness…sound familiar??
 
This podcast episode is for you!!
 
I am NOT in the market to become a mom anytime soon…so I thought I’d bring my friend and colleague Sara Vander Zwaag on to chat with you.
 
Sara is a Holistic Health Coach who specializes in helping women be free from disordered eating and improve their physical and mental health without all the restriction and guilt.
 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Sara’s navigating nausea, body changes and fitness in pregnancy as a Holistic Health and Eating Disorders Coach
Her top tips for coping with body image, hunger and craving changes and communicating with your doctor about weight during pregnancy
 
If you’re interested in learning more from Sara, email her at sarasunflowerhealth@gmail.com or checkout her website, sunflowerhealthcoaching.com
 
Follow her on Instagram @sara_sunflowerhealth
 
Apply for her group coaching program: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-aOXT_qSPmM9Xy7LEfgv36bwjcfoJp-E_3eHK0K1gjM/viewform?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0BMQABptcBJ60KQoLboB3wdHtyPpXN7Ma9DWkUTMD5sgijMlccNoPZvBrdIaMehQ_aem_Ac2tPX9uTakPyud4Nq3IeVnHXhDNZ5SBA2L1hQZUDIsyeAMGVmNHCISzUyBy0K8M4w8&edit_requested=true
 
PS: to download my (Elena here 😁) FREE Binge & Period Recovery Meal Plan…click here: bit.ly/bprmealplan
 

I’m getting annoyed with these posts talking about how weight loss medications like Ozempic are the solution to “food noise”...
 
…with no mention of the fact that SO MANY WOMEN struggle with constant food thoughts and extreme cravings because of chronic dieting, a restrictive mindset around food, and under eating.
 
I WAS ONE OF THEM.
 
And have worked with hundreds of clients who’ve eliminated these nagging, obsessive thoughts about food through learning how to eat enough for THEIR unique needs and healing deeply held limiting beliefs around food and body image.
 
So I decided to do a podcast episode on it.
 
This episode is here to help you make an INFORMED CHOICE about whether or not to take these medications. No pressure or judgment either way. 
 
I try my best to put my biases at the door while helping you identify:
How to know if your “food noise” is coming from under eating or a restrictive mindset around food
How and why chronic dieting and fat loss phases cause constant food thoughts
Health considerations when taking GLP-1 medications to reduce “food noise” or binge urges
An alternate approach to addressing the ROOT cause of your “food noise” instead of taking GLP-1s
 
Enjoy and feel free to DM me on Instagram @elenakunickird with any questions!
 
Or send me an email at elena@elenakunicki.com
 
FREE Binge & Period Recovery Meal Plan: bit.ly/bprmealplan
1:1 Coaching: bit.ly/coachingwithelena
 
Citations:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4119845/#:~:text=Hence%20GLP%2D1%20therapy%20in,result%20of%20promoting%20weight%20loss.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12325-021-01710-0
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17928588/#:~:text=The%20current%20knowledge%20regarding%20regulation,molecular%20mechanisms%20involved%20are%20discussed.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11972291/#:~:text=The%20mean%20fasted%20GLP%2D1,%3C%200.05%20in%20both%20cases).

🔊“We live in an environment that promotes obesity”
 
🥸“The food industry intentionally creates these foods so that you can’t stop eating them”
 
🍩“These foods are addicting…I just don’t have enough willpower to stop binging on them!”
 
Anyone with a pulse in our society has heard these things over and over again.
 
The solutions we’ve been offered up are to cut out these high-sugar, high-fat foods, be VERY careful around them and only allow ourselves on special occasions.
 
But this doesn’t seem to be working very well.
 
And for my clients who are Type-A, perfectionistic women who have achieved high levels of “health and fitness”...
 
…but are behind the scenes feeling obsessed and/or out of control around food…
 
…this messaging around processed foods like chips, sweets, and ice cream is only making their issues worse.
 
In this episode I break down:
➡️How hyperpalatable foods impact our hunger cues and weight
➡️How our culture influences our relationship with these foods
➡️How to build a healthy relationship with these foods so you don’t overeat them but also don’t restrict them to the point of making yourself want them more
 
Enjoy and feel free to DM me on Instagram @elenakunickird with any questions!
 
Or send me an email at elena@elenakunicki.com
 
FREE Binge & Period Recovery Meal Plan: bit.ly/bprmealplan
1:1 Coaching: bit.ly/coachingwithelena
 
Set point theory study:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK592402/#:~:text=The%20theory%20describes%20the%20compensatory,unless%20altered%20by%20specific%20conditions.
 
This is not the study I was initially referencing but I wasn’t able to find it - this one is talking about similar things though!
 

I’ve gotten a few questions in my Instagram DMs lately about constant food thoughts and the mismatch when you feel PHYSICALLY satisfied but can’t stop thinking about and wanting chips, chocolate, cereal, peanut butter, etc. 😵‍💫
 
So this episode dives into MENTAL HUNGER and how to regulate it so you can become a NORMAL EATER.
 
Ya know…someone who can just eat when they’re hungry, stop when full and move on with the damn day 👏.
 
Listen in to learn:
The difference between physical hunger and fullness and mental hunger and fullness (🤓nerding out on how this *actually* works in your body + how each of them feel)
WHY mental hunger increases when you have a history of dieting, under eating, and overexercise
How to decrease mental hunger and become a ✨normal eater✨ (aka your physical and mental hunger match up)
 
We also talk about the 3 characteristics of normal, healthy eaters…
 
…so you can see what to aspire to on your path to being FREE from binge eating, getting your period back without the pill and being healthy and fit without obsession 🎊.
 
If you love the podcast - please leave a rating and review!! It helps me so much and I would really appreciate it.
 
➡️Click here to learn more + apply for 1:1 coaching: bit.ly/coachingwithelena
 
➡️Click here to get my FREE guide ✨How to Stop Binge Eating and Get Your Period Back✨: bit.ly/ekfreeguide
 
➡️Click here to submit a question for the next podcast: https://forms.gle/zyyc2MMksyeMHwjVA
 
Follow me on Instagram @elenakunickird    
Email me: elena@elenakunicki.com

This is a super special episode because the dietitian who’s practice I WORKED WITH back in 2018 to heal MY binge eating, missing period and f*cked up relationship with food is interviewing ME on her podcast.
 
Full circle moment.
 
I share my story and what I learned from years of body image issues, losing weight and getting fit, living the “bodybuilder lifestyle” and spending 4 years feeling absolutely consumed and out of control with food.
 
If you can relate to my story - this episode is going to educate and inspire you to move forward to a HEALTHY and FREE relationship with food, exercise and your body.
 
We discuss:
“How come all these other fit women can cut and bulk without binge eating or losing their periods?? What’s wrong with me??”
Confusion when you lose your period but you’re not underweight and you think you eat enough and aren’t overexercising
Reverse dieting and if it’s a valuable process to go through to help your binge eating and get your period back
Weed use 🌱when you struggle with binge eating, anxiety around food, and a missing period
 
…and SO MUCH more!!
 
Learn more about Victoria and her practice here:
@victoria_myers
@nourishingmindsnutrition   
Nourishing Women Podcast
nourishingmindsnutrition.com
 
Get my FREE guide: How to Stop Binge Eating + Get Your Period Back, here: bit.ly/ekfreeguide
 
Apply to work with me 1:1 - bit.ly/coachingwithelena 
 
Follow me on Instagram: @elenakunickird    
 
Submit a question to be answered on the podcast! https://forms.gle/tWMSohjBSkgYCtKU8

If you lost your period after losing weight, exercising more, or eating “cleaner” and you want to get your period back so you can be TRULY healthy…this one is gonna interest you.
 
It’s always super exciting when my clients start seeing these signs because it’s an affirmation that they’re doing the RIGHT thing for their body’s by giving themselves more food, more rest and more permission to eat the foods they love and crave. 🥰
 
I hope learning these 7 signs helps you better understand your menstrual cycle and gives you progress measures to look for as you embark on your period recovery journey!
 
I also answer this listener question on this episode:
 
👉“what if someone has a special diet like keto or low carb and does not mind not eating carbs and does not crave them so much. you say about eating carbs in recovery time (allowing myself everything) do i need to force myself to eat pasta or bread if i dont miss it?”
 
If you loved this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review! It helps more people find the podcast 😻.
 
PS: My group program NORMAL EATER is now open for enrollment.
 
This is a 6 week experience where I’ll be guiding you + a group of maximum 9 other women through the process of FINALLY being free from binge eating, getting your period back without the pill, and finding peace and balance with food and exercise.
 
❗Enrollment closes on March 26th.
 
Click here to learn more + fill out an application! *before March 26th, 2024
 
bit.ly/normaleater
 
Click here to submit your questions to be answered on a future podcast episode!
 
https://forms.gle/uQoFjEbEWBhv9F677
 
Episodes referenced in this podcast:
Menstrual Cycle 101
#14 The Cause of your missing/irregular period & how to get it back