Ep 305 Why you're overwhelmed with food (and how to finally feel free)

Leslie Thornton

Why does it feel like no matter how hard you try, you just can’t stick with it? You know what to eat, you’ve tried all the diets, and you’re no stranger to discipline—but somehow, the old patterns keep pulling you back in. You end up feeling like a failure, stuck in a loop of shame and frustration. The truth? It’s not about willpower. It’s not even about the food. Those habits you beat yourself up over—like stress eating, emotional eating, or late-night snacking—aren’t bad behavior. They’re survival responses from a nervous system that’s been trying to protect you for years, often shaped by old trauma and unconscious identity loops you didn’t even realize were running the show. But there’s a way out—and it’s not another plan or set of rules. It’s an entirely new paradigm that rewires your nervous system, heals the root of the issue, and gives you real peace with food. That’s what Leslie walks her clients through—three powerful phases that create lasting transformation without diets, shame, or control. If you’re ready to feel at home in your body and finally stop the cycle for good, this episode is your invitation. “You cannot heal survival with another plan. I want to make sure you hear me when I say that. You cannot heal survival with another plan. You actually need an entirely new paradigm, an entirely new paradigm in order to actually experience freedom in this area of your life.” - Leslie Thornton What you will learn from this episode: 02:31 -  What clients say about Leslie’s program even way back when she started it 05:38 -  Explaining why you are not failing —— that you’re just stuck in survival mode 12:28 - Looking into a new paradigm of healing trauma masking as food addiction: First transformative phase 15:40 - What transformative phase two looks like 16:14 - How to work on the third transformative phase 19:22 - Client testimonials about Leslie’s program 21:12 - Inviting you to take the next bold step toward real food freedom Valuable Resources: Join my next LIVE masterclass Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food  Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Have you ever thought the only thing standing between you and your ideal weight is more discipline, more motivation, or a love for the gym you just don't have? Do you catch yourself thinking, “If I could just stick to the plan…” but never actually do? Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that willpower is the missing piece. But what if the real problem isn't your lack of discipline—but the beliefs running the show behind the scenes? Because here's the truth: smart, capable people still struggle with food. You know what to eat, you’ve read the books, maybe even tried the food addict label on for size—and still feel stuck. You want to feel in control, but old habits, emotional triggers, and inner chaos keep pulling you back into the same cycle. And the worst part? You’re doing everything “right” and still not getting the peace you crave. That’s where Leslie comes in and her proven method. In this episode, she breaks down why your brain’s wiring — not your willpower – is the real reason you haven’t found food freedom yet. You’ll hear how letting go of restriction and building emotional safety can transform your relationship with food — and with yourself. No more obsessing, no more spirals—just real change that starts from the inside out. "Most of us were taught weight loss equals restriction. But real freedom isn't about following food rules. It is emotional mastery. It's having a nervous system that doesn't panic when you're tired, sad, overwhelmed, a nervous system that also doesn't panic when you experience your next level of joy or excitement. When you close a deal at work or you have some kind of personal breakthrough in your life or you get married or something incredible happens, your nervous system needs to be able to calibrate for that and know how to react and respond. Is also being able to hear your body and respond to it with love instead of punishment." - Leslie Thornton What you will learn from this episode: 04:24 - Why your ideal weight isn’t hiding at the gym — it’s buried under snack panic and food rules 05:41 - Your ideal-weight self isn’t more disciplined – she’s just less obsessed 08:38 - Food freedom as all about compassion and not about control 11:12 - Drawing from her own experience and how she broke free from food addiction labels and restriction panic 15:48 - Not a willpower issue but an unconscious wiring 18:09 - Leslie helping you spot the real problem hiding under the surface so you can finally let it go 21:54 - Chasing shiny fixes won’t set you free, choose  the real glow-up instead Valuable Resources: Join my next LIVE masterclass Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food  Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

For countless smart, high-achieving women and men, the battle with food and body image has felt endless. Diets work for a while—until they don’t. And the shame of “failing” yet again makes it all feel like a personal flaw. But what if the real problem isn’t food, willpower, or discipline? What if your nervous system is stuck in a pattern of survival, and dieting only reinforces the struggle? The truth is, the rules, restrictions, and guilt are keeping you trapped—and stealing your freedom, joy, and peace. In this episode, Leslie shares about her upcoming masterclass, and reveals why diets have failed you—and what actually works instead. She’ll guide you through the emotional and subconscious layers that drive compulsive eating, and teach you how to finally trust yourself around food. This isn't about willpower; it’s about lasting transformation, and stepping into the life—and the freedom—you were always meant to have. "If you're done with food obsession, if you're done with the guilt and you don't want to dread summer anymore, if you want to let go of your fear of the scale and going to the doctors and seeing lab results, if you're ready to feel free and safe and powerful and really in charge of your life, again without the fear of overrating and all of that stuff, then come to this masterclass. I want you to join us in the program if it speaks to you. But even if you don't, I want this masterclass to change the way that you think forever." - Leslie Thornton What you will learn from this episode: 01:14 - Break free from dieting rules and step into a life of true food freedom, confidence, and inner peace with this masterclass 07:30 - What you will get from this masterclass and what it is not about 11:21 - Ditch that fear: What her approach to this masterclass is not about and what you can expect 14:51 - What Leslie covers in her upcoming masterclass and highlighting that true transformation happens through unconscious work and not control 20:29 - Another segment of the masterclass you can look forward to 23:49 - Sharing powerful client success stories to illustrate how this work leads to lasting identity shifts and emotional freedom—not just weight loss Valuable Resources: Join my next LIVE masterclass Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food  Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!  

For many, battling overeating and food obsession feels like a never-ending struggle, especially when relying on quick fixes like GLP-1 medications. The constant cycle of cravings, guilt, and dieting can leave you feeling trapped in your own body and mind. It’s exhausting to live with food drama dominating your thoughts and daily choices. That struggle can steal your joy, confidence, and freedom, making every meal a source of anxiety instead of nourishment. When food controls you, it’s hard to fully enjoy life or even simple pleasures like traveling or socializing. The mental and emotional weight piles up, creating a sense of helplessness and frustration. But there’s a way to break free from that cycle and find lasting peace with food and your body, just like Líza did. Through a powerful journey of mindset shifts, neuroscience, and self-trust, she transformed from food battles and overeating to living food drama-free.  In this episode, Lisa shares her inspiring story and practical insights on reclaiming your freedom. "This sounds cliche, but just like the view from the other side of this is just spectacular. It really is. It really is freeing. It really is freedom. It's freedom from everything that kept you a prisoner before." - Liza What you will learn from this episode: 01:31 - How Liza's life looked like before enrolling into Leslie's program 05:10 - What rigid systems and control cost her 11:32 - Opening up the shame and isolation of binge eating and how it's deeply self-critical 16:02 - Celebrating feeling like a “normal person” around food with trust, balance, and freedom, replacing fear and control 19:25 - A turning point that leads her to confront her relationship with food and begin a deeper journey of self-love and body trust 24:11 - How accepting her love for food novelty without judgment helped break the shame cycle and brought peace to her eating habits 26:31 - Shifting from fighting her body to teaming up with it and discovering the power of hypnosis and subconscious reprogramming — a major turning point in her transformation. 31:45 -  The Accelerator program as a means to a deeper support and a strong foundation to build lasting self-trust and confidently navigate real-life challenges 36:50 - Understanding her cravings and responding with awareness and choice instead of reacting impulsively 39:23 - Highlighting how joining the program brings a liberating freedom from the constant obsession with food, weight, and self-judgment Valuable Resources: Join my next LIVE masterclass Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food  Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!  

You’ve checked every box—career, family, responsibilities—and yet, food still has power over you. Why is it that even the most successful, driven women feel stuck in cycles of emotional eating, body frustration, and self-doubt? If success were the answer, wouldn’t you feel free by now? Instead, you’re spinning on the diet hamster wheel, trying everything “right” but still feeling wrong in your body. The mental noise around food, weight, and willpower never stops. You may even be wondering if something is broken inside you—but it’s not. In this episode, Leslie explores the deeper roots of food struggles—and why permanent transformation starts with self-awareness, emotional mastery, and living in alignment with your truth. She offers a proven path to lasting food freedom that doesn’t rely on restriction, but on safety, self-trust, and support. If you have always wanted peace that lasts beyond the scale, this conversation is your first step. "You're not addicted to food; you're addicted to escaping emotions. So we teach you how to feel free and how to actually feel your emotions. And the way you feel free is to actually learn how to feel your emotions and not just crying and blabbering and being like a victim to actually go all the way to the source of what is underneath that emotion. Once you see it, once you get the tools to transform it, quick five minutes or so, boom, back to wholeness. Not binge eating anymore. Move on with your day." - Leslie Thornton What you will learn from this episode: 04:00 - Emotional avoidance as the real issue and not food addiction 10:19 - Leslie's unique approach that helps high-achieving, emotionally repressed individuals break free from food struggles 14:33 - What makes Leslie's program a high ticket one 18:11 - Leslie sharing her conviction: true health naturally follows when you live an authentic, joy-filled, aligned life—free from restrictive rules and driven by what genuinely feels good to you 23:17 - One more important key to permanent weight loss: self-mastery 24:54 - What investing deeply in yourself amount to 28:48 - Addicted to food versus escaping emotions 29:25 - Three crucial things for sustainable and permanent weight loss 33:12 - Consequences when you're out of alignment with yourself 37:30 -  A supportive space to uncover the root of your food struggles and begin a personalized path to lasting freedom 40:41 - An invitation to book a free, supportive call to uncover the root of your struggles Valuable Resources: Join my next LIVE masterclass Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food  Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Episode Description: In this powerful episode, Leslie discusses the transformative power of radical honesty and the importance of embracing vulnerability. She shares her personal journey with anger, grief, and the societal pressures to keep quiet and “keep the peace.” Leslie reveals how suppressing your true feelings can disconnect you from yourself and those around you. By practicing radical honesty, you can break free from emotional patterns, deepen your relationships, and begin true healing. Leslie discusses how authentic expression, especially within family and romantic relationships, is a key step toward lasting change. This episode is filled with spiritual wisdom, raw storytelling, and practical advice to inspire you to listen to your body’s signals and speak your truth courageously. Quote from the episode: "Radical honesty isn't about being harsh—it's about giving your truth a voice before your body turns it into pain." Episode Highlights & Timestamps: [00:00 – 02:50] Introduction and why radical honesty matters [02:51 – 07:30] The cost of suppressing anger and avoiding conflict [07:31 – 12:10] Childhood roots of emotional patterns [12:11 – 17:05] Self-gaslighting for the sake of peace [17:06 – 22:45] Vulnerability as a bridge to connection [22:46 – 27:30] Applying radical honesty in relationships [27:31 – 33:00] Listening to your body’s emotional cues [33:01 – End] Final reflections and call to action Valuable Resources: Join my next LIVE masterclass Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food  Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!  

🔑 Episode Summary: This empowering episode is for high-achieving women who feel overwhelmed behind the scenes. Whether you’re a doctor, mom, leader, or professional, if you struggle with emotional eating, perfectionism, and burnout, this is your invitation to find lasting peace without diets or willpower. Leslie explains how food struggles are rooted in nervous system patterns and offers a new, sustainable path to freedom through emotional mastery. 🕰️ Episode Breakdown: [0:00] Welcome & Who This Is ForLeslie speaks directly to high-achieving women hiding exhaustion and food struggles behind a successful exterior. [1:55] The Real Reason You Feel StuckTopic: All-or-nothing thinking This mindset keeps high performers trapped in food and life spirals. [3:24] Control ≠ Peace, Perfection ≠ FreedomInsight: Trying to control everything may feel safe, but it isn’t peaceful. Learn why surrender is the key to true emotional peace. [4:10] What Actually Creates ChangeClients share their transformation through emotional mastery—not food rules. Letting go of external validation helps the "food noise" fade naturally. [5:42] No More Plans, Pills, or PerfectionFreedom starts with nervous system regulation, not another plan or injection. [6:10] About the Fast Track to Freedom Program Join if you're ready for inner peace without giving up your power. (🎯 Link mentioned: hpWL.co) [7:13] Why You Keep ProcrastinatingTruth bomb: Procrastination is a trauma response, not laziness. Fear of peace, intimacy (like journaling), or change could be holding you back. [8:48] A New Way Forward Learn how to rewire your mindset, regulate big emotions, and stop using food, alcohol,  or overworking as control tools. [9:44] Peace Is Possible For You Imagine achieving success and enjoying it. It’s time to feel good inside, not just look good on the outside. [10:51] Your Invitation Take action now—don’t wait for a rock bottom moment. Register for the Healthy Hypnosis Hour or book a Free Call at hpWL.co. [12:10] Share & Remember This If you know someone who looks put together but is silently struggling, share this episode. You’re not broken—you’re just ready for real, lasting change. ✨ CTA: Ready for food freedom and emotional peace? → Sign up for the next free Healthy Hypnosis Hour Masterclass → Or book a Free Clarity Call at hpWL.co Valuable Resources: Join my next LIVE masterclass Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food  Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!  

This powerful episode challenges the traditional weight loss narrative. It's not about diets, discipline, or exercise, it's about healing. The host shares real stories from women in her Fast Track to Freedom program, exploring how emotional mastery, subconscious work, and self-connection are the true keys to sustainable transformation. 💬 Key Topics Covered: Why weight loss is not about food or willpower Emotional processing as the foundation of self-mastery Rewiring old patterns through tools like hypnosis and belief work The truth about diet culture and why it fails 95% of the time Identity shifts: Becoming the version of you who feels, trusts, and leads Client breakthroughs around peace, joy, boundaries, and connection The deeper costs of emotional avoidance and societal programming What success really looks like spoiler: it’s not a number on the scale 🕒 Episode Breakdown: 00:00 – Intro: Why Weight Loss Isn’t the Real Goal Discover why obsessing over weight can sabotage your healing. 04:15 – The Truth About Emotional Eating How your emotions—not hunger—drive binge cycles and cravings. 10:42 – The Power of Subconscious Healing Uncover how reprogramming your mind leads to sustainable change. 17:30 – Real Stories of Food Freedom Hear how women stopped dieting and started thriving—without guilt. 23:12 – The Role of Identity & Self-Mastery Why shifting who you believe you are is the key to permanent results. 29:45 – Action Steps for Healing Simple steps to begin your emotional and subconscious healing journey today. 📣 Call to Action: If you're tired of the endless dieting cycle and want to finally feel at peace in your body, explore the Fast Track to Freedom program and learn how to stop chasing and start healing. Valuable Resources: Join my next LIVE masterclass Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food  Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!

Have you ever felt like food controls your thoughts, your mood, or even your self-worth? Are you constantly battling shame after eating something “bad”? What if the real problem isn’t food at all, but how you’ve been taught to think about it? For many, dieting becomes a cycle of restriction, guilt, and rebellion. You follow the rules during the week, only to spiral into bingeing on the weekend—then beat yourself up for “failing.” The shame builds silently, reinforcing the belief that you just don’t have enough willpower. Melissa knows that pattern all too well. For years, she woke up thinking about food, struggling with guilt and punishing herself for not doing things “perfectly.” Even after trying other courses and hypnosis programs, nothing seemed to stick—until she found a radically different approach. Through a blend of coaching, hypnosis, and mindset work, Melissa broke free from the shame-based cycle in just eight weeks. She learned to trust her body, stop labeling food as good or bad, and finally feel peace around eating. Her story shows that healing isn’t about more discipline—it’s about reclaiming your freedom. "But there's nothing more powerful than the mind. That's right. And whatever you[Leslie] put into your hypnotherapy, it totally works. And again, I've done other courses and they did nothing for me and they were just a waste of money. But the way you[Leslie] structured it, it was exactly what I needed." - Melissa What you will learn from this episode: 02:37 - How Melissa ultimately recognized hypnosis effectiveness 07:42 - Struggling with late-night bingeing --- driven by compulsion and not by hunger 12:47 - Realizing her medical condition didn’t have to define her eating habits helped her shift beliefs 18:18 - How Leslie's program heal Melissa's unprocessed grief linked to a friend's death  24:03 - Overcoming her reliance on calorie counting and justifying the program investment as a necessary step to heal her relationship with food  32:17 - Sharing how committing to the course helped her break free from shame, improve her self-worth, reconnect with her faith, and shift long-standing emotional patterns around food 39:05 - Discussing how a timeline therapy session uncovered a deep, unconscious fear of scarcity rooted in her family's ancestral history of going from wealth to poverty 46:13 - Letting go of comparison, releasing shame-based diet thinking, and redefining integrity with food 48:00 - Learning to trust her body’s signals helps her break free from rigid diet rules  50:22 - Gone from waking up consumed by food shame to feeling free, neutral about her weight, and finally at peace after just eight weeks of mindset and hypnotherapy work Valuable Resources: Join my next LIVE masterclass Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom from food  Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!