Cycles and Seasons

Episode 28: Emotional Eating and Your Fertility

• Jennifer Redmond

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For many of us, food becomes more than nourishment, it becomes about comfort and control. And when you're under pressure to “do everything right” when you're trying to conceive, it's easy to slip into guilt or frustration around how you’re eating. 

Emotional eating is information; it's your body's way of asking for support. So I'm excited to have Dr. Stephanie Fine on the podcast to talk about what's really going on around emotional eating and your fertility.

Stephanie Fein, MD, is an internist turned weight loss expert helping fertility patients lose weight for higher success rates. With 25 years of experience helping people lose weight and 16 years keeping 50 pounds off herself, Stephanie walks the talk of sustainable weight loss.

As a mom of a 24 week micro-preemie, she knows the emotional rollercoaster of a rough start to motherhood.

Her restriction-free, deprivation-free approach to weight loss is safe and effective for all, during fertility treatments, pregnancy, lactation and beyond. Stephanie works one-on-one with clients all over the country and her Weight Loss for Fertility podcast is in its third year. 

Key topics discussed:

  • This episode is a judgement free conversation. We’re talking about a subject that our clients and patients deal with frequently and sharing ideas to help and empower you.
  • Emotional eating is eating for any reason other than hunger – it can include every emotion. When we’re eating for hunger our body will tell us we’re hungry.
  • Many of us learned at a young age that food is a coping mechanism. We’re often taught to manage our emotions with food. It’s not a weakness.
  • Emotional eating has many triggers, including stress, disappointment, emotions and boredom. We often don’t realize it’s happening.
  • During infertility or fertility treatment, you may be able to anticipate emotional eating triggers. How to notice patterns and gather information regarding hunger and eating to allow you to plan better.
  • Learning to trust yourself around food will help you strengthen overall trust in yourself.
  • Why you should create a “comfort list”: go-to things that bring your comfort. 
  • Learning to process and deal with emotions and release self blame is the ultimate way to break the cycle of emotional eating.
  • Eating when you’re hungry and stopping when you’re satisfied can support your fertility.

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Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.