#118 Rewiring Binge Eating with Brain Tools (ft. Amber Abila) 🍓🧠✨

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Everything’s Messy Podcast  I’m joined by  Amber Abila, a binge-eating coach who helps women stop bingeing and overeating by rewiring the brain—not by more willpower, more shame, or another “perfect” diet. We get into why your brain isn’t broken, how ultra-flavored foods confuse your natural hunger cues, and what it really takes to feel “normal” (whatever that means 😉) and in control around food again.In this conversation, we unpack my favorite kind of messy: the kind that becomes clarity. Amber shares her own story—from calorie tracking to holiday-cookie spirals to purging—and how understanding habits, urges, and flavor vs. nutrition changed everything. We talk gentle self-talk, the “inner toddler,” and why urges are harmless, powerless, and meaningless when you learn to sit with them. There’s no moralizing here—just real talk, science, and actionable tools you can use today. 🧡What we cover 💬How dieting triggers survival-mode cravings and why that’s actually your brain doing its job ✅ Why “natural flavors” + isolated sugar can trick taste buds and hijack nutrition signals 🍭 The two-part approach to stop bingeing: stop true restriction and rewire the habit loop 🔁 How to ride out urges (without white-knuckling) and tell yourself the whole story 🧘‍♀️ Self-compassion that actually boosts consistency—treat yourself like your BFF, not a bully 💌My messy takeaways 📝I loved Amber’s reframe that bingeing isn’t “pleasure”—it’s a habit that only creates pain, and our brains can learn safety again. The “toddler” analogy hit home for me: when that inner voice is screaming for Ben & Jerry’s at 4 a.m., I can still choose to pause, breathe, and parent myself gently. Also… urges do pass. Every time I sit with one, I’m voting for the version of me who’s calm, nourished, and in charge. That’s the messy magic. 🌈Try this today 🔧Notice an urge → name it → sit with it for a few minutes. Remind yourself: harmless, powerless, meaningless. Then feed yourself something real and simple if you’re actually hungry—think fruit + protein or a satisfying meal. Little votes, big results. 💪Free resource + work with Amber 🎁Amber mentioned her guided “stop a binge” audio (linked in show notes) and her Confident Eater 1:1 program for deeper support. You can find her podcast “Become a Confident Eater” and socials via her site: theconfineater.org. And below the direct link to the audio: https://www.theconfidenteater.org/urgeFollow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconfidenteater_Connect with Everything’s Messy:Website: https://www.everythingsmessywellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingsmessywellness/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@everythingsmessyEmail: :[email protected]: https://www.youtube.com/@everythingsmessyThanks for listening to Everything’s Messy! If this episode helped, share it with a friend and tag me—let’s make brain-wise, shame-free eating the new normal. 💖🎧