![304. Rethinking Weight Loss, Willpower, and Emotional Eating with Ali Shapiro [Well-Fed Woman Podcast]](https://storage.buzzsprout.com/yunyxmeplg7x39yiyxvgwfq1ipl1?.jpg)
September 18, 2025
304. Rethinking Weight Loss, Willpower, and Emotional Eating with Ali Shapiro [Well-Fed Woman Podcast]
Insatiable with Ali Shapiro, MSOD, CHHCAbout this episode
If you’ve ever thought “Why can’t I just stick with it?” , this episode is for you. Today I’m resharing a conversation I had with Noelle Tarr of Coconuts & Kettlebells for her podcast, Well-Fed Women . We discuss why willpower isn’t the problem, how shame hijacks true behavior change, and what it really takes to heal your relationship with food and your body. We also dive into emotional eating, weight loss without diet culture, and the mindset shifts that actually work—no guilt trips included. Questions we explore: How can people start to rethink the idea of willpower so it’s not the enemy? Why is it that I feel like a lot of us know what to do but we can’t follow through consistently? In your work, what is the biggest mindset shift for women struggling with food and fitness? How do we distinguish between emotional hunger and physical hunger, especially if it’s been disconnected for years? I’ve noticed a week before my period I have intense carb and sugar cravings. Is there a reason? Why do I still lie to myself even when I know the thing will hurt me? How do we approach weight loss without feeling shame or guilt? How can we change mindset and behavior and see results in our bodies and help our children with it without shame? How do you start a regular exercise routine when you don’t have the time? I was a weight watchers girl and have tracked points and calories on and off. I haven’t tracked my food the past few years, but I’m at the point where I think tracking macros would be helpful. Any tips on how to ease back into tracking? I was diagnosed with cancer and have been down for the count with treatment and recovery has been slow. How do I come back from this? How do I position my mindset going in to the end of treatment? With all the advertisements for GLP-1s, it definitely feels like the new savior. I am classified as obese by the medical system and have high blood pressure. How do we make sure we’re making decisions on medical treatment that are grounded in health and not vanity? Mentioned in this episode: Coconuts & Kettlebells Well-Fed Women Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls Send me (Ali) a text message. Make sure to check out Ali’s new website trucewithfood.com , and take the new Find Your Food Stage assessment !