Reconnect: Building a Healthy Mindset for Weight Loss

Sarah Stombaugh, MD, explains how mindset, identity, and self-awareness shape long-term weight loss success—and why knowing what to do isn’t enough.Dr. Sarah Stombaugh explores why mindset is often the missing link in weight loss success. She explains how diet culture, perfectionism, and disconnection from the body lead people to abandon their goals—even when they know what to do. This conversation highlights mindful eating, intuitive awareness, realistic planning, and how to build resilience after setbacks so weight loss becomes sustainable and aligned with personal values.Dr. Sarah Stombaugh is a family medicine physician and diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Graduating from Creighton University Medical School and completing her family medicine residency at the University of Chicago, Dr. Stombaugh practiced outpatient primary care in Evanston, Illinois, before moving to Charlottesville, Virginia, with her family.Upon moving to Charlottesville, Dr. Stombaugh opened a private practice weight loss clinic, in which she sees patients in-person at her downtown Charlottesville office and by telemedicine throughout the states of Virginia and Illinois.In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Stombaugh is the host of the “Conquer Your Weight” podcast. Through this platform, she shares valuable insights, expert opinions, and practical advice on weight management, contributing to the well-being of a broader audience.Dr. Stombaugh believes in empowering both individuals and the medical community to promote an evidence-based approach to the treatment of obesity.