311: Changing My Mindset with Food

Today’s topic is a really vulnerable and honest one and I've been sort of hesitant to cover it. But while putting yourself out there like this is a little scary, it's been impacting my life so much that I wanted to share in hopes it might help and encourage someone else. In this episode, Jesse and I sit down and talk about my journey of changing my mindset around food and the major shifts that I have experienced in the last few weeks. I talk about why I signed up with a dietitian (it's fully covered by insurance for me and most people!) and what I thought I would get out of it and how it's completely not panned out like I thought! During my first session, I had some pretty big "a-ha" moments as the dietitian challenged some of my long-held beliefs. She asked me a lot of questions and then explained to me that in eating too few calories for years, especially while under immense physical and emotional stress, I have actually been hurting my body. I discuss how, over the following weeks, I really struggled to increase my calorie intake, as it felt like "too much food" after restricting for so long and I was scared. I went through a period of intense anxiety and stress as the weight didn't immediately come off, and I ultimately realized that I needed to break free from this unhealthy mindset and get rid of the scale altogether. I am now focusing on nourishing my body and listening to my hunger cues rather than obsessing over macros or calories. I have experienced a new freedom and energy, I'm working through and processing so much, and I hope to break this cycle for my kids and set an example of true health and wholeness! This is just the beginning of my journey, but I am so excited to continue to heal and share the process transparently! In This Episode [0:36] - I am discussing my as of yet unhealed struggles with food. [2:24] - Hear how I discovered a dietitian service covered through insurance, prompting some clarity around my health goals. [9:08] - Despite years of dieting, I couldn’t lose the last five pounds after my fourth pregnancy. [11:18] - Repeated dieting and surprise pregnancies left my body stressed and resistant to weight loss. [14:07] - Parenting, fostering, writing books, and business pressures overwhelmed me physically and emotionally. [17:46] - Realizing that my chronic stress and calorie deficit was damaging me, I began increasing my calorie intake. [20:00] - Although I was encouraged to eat more, I initially struggled emotionally when weight loss didn’t immediately follow. [21:27] - Hear how I realized that my unhealthy fixation on weight was an addictive, joyless pursuit of external validation. [24:17] - I reflect on how I clung to the scale for validation, not realizing how deeply it controlled my self-worth. [25:14] - Jesse and I discuss how I came to realize that true health isn’t about weight loss but about feeling nourished, energized, and balanced. [28:58] - I realized that my obsession with the scale was mentally and physically harming me. [31:37] - Not knowing my weight daily gave me relief and began to break toxic thought patterns. [33:30] - Hear how I replaced obsessive food tracking with photo-based check-ins, allowing space for more intuitive eating. [35:09] - Listening to my hunger cues and eating more gave me energy and modeled balance for my kids. [38:12] - I express gratitude for my dietitian helping me launch a healing journey. [40:13] - I now practice gratitude for my body’s function, rewiring thought patterns toward healing and self-love. Links & Resources Crystal Paine My Completely Honest Experience With Nourish Nourish - Hire a Registered Dietitian for $0 Out of Pocket! Social Media Crystal Paine on Instagram (@moneysavingmom) Crystal Paine on Instagram (@crystaliscleaning) Crystal Paine on LinkedIn Crystal Paine on Twitter Crystal Paine on Goodreads Money Saving Mom Money Saving Mom on Facebook Money Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook group [email protected]