The Self-Care Paradox: Why Physicians Skip What They Know Would Help

This is Part 1 of my live Q&A session where I tackled the real food struggles women physicians face every day. No BS, just honest answers to honest questions. In this episode, I answer: How to manage emotional eating when you're dealing with ongoing chronic stress (like caring for a teen with chronic health issues while working as a physician) What to do about those 2 AM call room binges when you're exhausted and surrounded by treats Why starting feels so hard even when you "know what to do" and want to lose weight so badly This isn't generic diet advice. This is physician-specific support for the unique crap we deal with - from anticipatory stress before call shifts to feeling like you need to give up everything you love just to lose weight. Perfect for any woman physician who's tired of the cycle: knowing what's healthy but struggling to actually do it in the chaos of medical practice. Make sure to listen to Part 2 next week where we dive into food addiction vs emotional eating, sweet cravings on low carb, and identity shifts when your health finally improves.

Ever make a perfect eating plan and then rebel against it by Thursday? You're not broken. You're not self-sabotaging. You're rebelling against diet culture telling you to do shitty stuff to yourself - and that rebellious streak is actually powerful. In this episode, I explain why rebellion shows up in our eating and how to harness it so it works FOR you instead of against you. Because that same rebellious part that got you through medical school? It's trying to protect you from unfair diet rules. I'll share my empowered eating approach plus the abundance strategy that may sound backwards but eliminates the need to rebel. If you feel like you're constantly fighting yourself around food or think something's wrong with you because you can't "stick to" plans, this episode is exactly what you need. Perfect for female physicians ready to stop battling themselves around food.  

Ever notice how you know exactly what would make you feel better, but somehow never actually do it? This episode tackles the self-care paradox that's messing with every physician I know. We're wired to respond to urgency, but self-care isn't urgent - so it gets pushed to "later" and later never comes. I'll tell you why your medical training is working against you here, how to think about outcomes instead of tasks, and share my simple morning routine that creates spaciousness even on tough days. Perfect for any physician who's tired of running on empty and ready to stop treating herself worse than her patients. Listen today and share with someone who may need this.  

Ugh, another Monday morning promising yourself "this week will be different"?   Yeah, I've been there too. That whole song and dance where you beat yourself up about all the stuff you ate this weekend and swear you'll be "good" this week.   Here's the thing - that approach is keeping you stuck. And it's not because you suck at willpower. It's because the whole process is messed up.   In this episode, I'm breaking down why that Monday morning shame spiral doesn't work and what to do instead. Spoiler alert: it has nothing to do with meal prep or trying harder.   I'll show you how to stop being mean to yourself, why eating more (not less) actually works better, and simple tricks that fit into your real life (no matter how hectic it is). No extra time needed.   Perfect for any woman physician who's tired of feeling like she's always starting over and ready to quit the Monday morning guilt party.  

Forget everything you think you know about reaching your goals. Willpower? Please. Perfect eating? Yeah, right. I'm sharing the three things that actually make the difference between spinning your wheels forever and getting where you want to go - and staying there. After years of working with physicians and my own messy journey, I've figured out what really works. It's not what diet culture sells you. It's not about trying harder or being more perfect. These three skills will make willpower completely obsolete. Finally! If you're exhausted from fighting yourself every single day, this episode is for you. I'll walk you through each skill with real examples from my practice (and some entertaining bear encounters from my trail runs thrown in for good measure 😀). Perfect for any woman physician who's ready to stop battling food and start trusting herself.  

Think losing weight will fix your binge eating? Think again. In this myth-busting episode, I explain why trying to diet your way out of binge eating actually makes the problem worse, not better. I break down the binge-restrict cycle that keeps so many physicians trapped, and why traditional weight loss approaches intensify this cycle rather than stopping it. You'll learn why you need to stabilize your eating FIRST (for 3-6 months) before addressing weight, and how restriction comes from your thoughts about food, not the food itself. Most importantly, I outline a clear path forward that honors both your health goals AND your relationship with food. You'll discover how to make small, consistent changes that don't trigger binges, and why destabilized eating is important information, not failure. Perfect for any physician who's tired of bouncing between rigid diets and out-of-control binges. There IS a way forward - just not in the order you might think.  

Ever thrown away fast food wrappers before getting home so no one would see them? You're not alone. In this episode, I dive into why so many physicians eat in secret and what it REALLY means (spoiler: it's not about willpower or the food itself). I share my own journey with drive-thru French fries and the shame that made me hide the evidence, plus the breakthrough realization that changed everything. This isn't about "a food problem" - it's about unmet needs your brain is trying to fulfill. Perfect for any physician who's ever felt out of control with food, hidden wrappers, or eaten in their car to avoid judgment. You'll walk away with practical steps to break free from secret eating and the shame that drives it. Listen today!  

Ever feel like you're obsessing over what to eat? In this episode, I tackle the age-old question that plagues so many physicians: "What should I eat to lose weight?" As doctors, we think we should have this figured out. Yet many of us bounce between diets, chase every Netflix documentary promise, and still feel stuck. I share my personal experience with this frustrating cycle and offer a refreshing approach to food choices that actually works long-term. You'll learn why consistency trumps perfection, why you deserve food you actually enjoy, and how to trust yourself as the expert on your own body. This episode is perfect for any physician who's tired of diet rules and ready for sustainable, enjoyable eating that fits your real life.  

If you're a physician who can't remember the last time you felt genuinely happy at work, this episode is for you. In this intimate conversation with Dr. Greg Hammer, Stanford professor, author and fellow physician, we explore a simple path back to joy that doesn't require changing jobs or adding more to your already impossible schedule. Dr. Hammer shares his GAIN method - a 3-minute morning practice specifically designed for the physician mind. It's not about toxic positivity or pretending medicine isn't hard. It's about finding small pockets of peace in the storm of your day - between difficult patients, endless documentation, and the weight of clinical decisions. Whether you find yourself reaching for comfort food after tough encounters, lying awake rehashing the day, or simply feeling disconnected from the passion that led you to medicine, this conversation offers a realistic lifeline. Because feeling better shouldn't have to wait until you retire.   Learn more about Dr. Hammer Website: https://greghammermd.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/greghammermd Facebook: https://facebook.com/greghammermd

Feeling like each news alert sends you straight to the pantry? You're not alone. In this episode, I offer a heartfelt pep talk for physicians struggling with stress eating during challenging times. I share why your brain turns to chocolate when doom-scrolling about threatened rights and freedoms (and why that 10pm cookie binge makes perfect neurological sense). More importantly, I explain why adding self-criticism about your eating only makes things worse. You'll learn practical ways to be kinder to yourself, focus on what you can control, and find better ways to process those big feelings without shame or guilt. If you've noticed your eating habits changing as the world feels increasingly chaotic, this episode is your permission slip to treat yourself with the same compassion you show your patients.