Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life

Welcome to Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life.

In this episode Kyla discusses how significant weight loss—whether from surgery or GLP‑1 medication—can change friendships, intimate relationships, and how society treats you. She shares real examples, highlights challenges like jealousy, role shifts, and excess skin, and explains why people may react differently.

The episode emphasizes open communication, identifying who truly supports you,...

In this episode of Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life we tackle the common fear of weight regain after bariatric surgery, explaining why small regain is often biologically normal and how past dieting history influences expectations. Kyla Holley outlines the main behavioral causes and possible medical contributors.

Practical prevention and recovery strategies are provided: prioritize protein, return to structured meals, limit liquid calor...

In this episode I announce an exciting rebrand: after 103 episodes I'm shifting focus to bariatric/metabolic surgery, and to people using GLP‑1 medications. The show will become "Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life," concentrating on support before, during, and after surgery, while still offering useful content for anyone improving their relationship with food.

Thank you for listening over the past two years — I hope you'll keep following...

Welcome to Change Your Relationship With Food with Kyla Holley and an episode explaining why protein is essential for protecting muscle, supporting strength and balance as we age, and helping control appetite and blood sugar.

Kyla outlines a practical, non-dieting “protein-first” approach: prioritize protein, fill up on vegetables, and choose carbohydrates intentionally. She also warns against ultra-processed “high-protein” product...

Have you ever noticed how food can feel amazing in the moment… but leave you feeling empty, guilty, or still wanting more?

In this episode, we explore a powerful and often overlooked question: Are you mistaking pleasure for happiness—especially when it comes to food?

This is a compassionate, eye-opening conversation about emotional eating, dopamine-driven cravings, and why so many of us use food to cope with stress, exhaustion, and...

In this episode, Kyla Holley engages in a heartfelt conversation with Hayley, who shares her personal journey with food and weight loss. They explore the complexities of identity, self-perception, and the emotional challenges that accompany weight loss. Hayley discusses her struggles with food from a young age, the impact of societal expectations on her self-image, and the mental adjustments required after significant weight loss. ...

Kyla reflects on the new year, discusses format changes, and announces the launch of an interactive bariatric community.

The new format includes real-life guest interviews and interactive consultations, while the bariatric community offers support and resources for individuals interested in or having undergone bariatric surgery.

Kyla Holley

Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

Contact Kyla at info@acfeb.com

Join...

In this holiday episode, Kyla dives into how to enjoy Christmas food without guilt, shame, or the annual pressure to start a restrictive New Year diet.

If you're tired of the binge-restrict cycle, the “I’ll fix it in January” mindset, or feeling like every holiday treat needs to be “earned,” this conversation is for you.

You’ll learn how to release guilt, trust your body, and break free from the trap of diet culture — all while s...

In this conversation, Kyla Holley interviews Kayla MacDonald, a food freedom and embodiment coach, who shares her journey from struggling with body image and emotional eating to developing a unique coaching method that combines creativity, archetypes, and emotional healing.

Kayla discusses the dark side of health coaching, the importance of understanding one's origin story, and how our relationship with food mirrors our desires in ...

Host Kyla Holley introduces "Achieving Stuff," a new range of tactile star-chart packs designed to help children and adults tackle anxiety, procrastination and small health goals through positive reinforcement and bias modification.

The episode explains the psychology behind the tools, highlights the kids' Bravery Chart and the adult "Get Shit Done" chart, and describes how eight weeks of small, achievable tasks and stickers build ...

In this episode Kyla explores how having guests or staying with others—especially at holiday times—can disrupt routines, trigger mirroring behavior, and create pressure around accepting or finishing food. She shares examples of family food dynamics, food memories, and how alcohol and mealtime schedules can affect eating patterns.

Practical tips include planning your boundaries, communicating likes, dislikes and allergies with hosts...

In this powerful episode, we dive into what it really means to put yourself first — without guilt, apology, or second-guessing.

If you’ve been overgiving, running on empty, or struggling to recognise your own worth, this conversation will remind you why prioritising self-care and valuing yourself is essential, not optional.

You’ll learn how to honour your needs, protect your energy, and finally step into the bold, empowered version...

Thinking about stopping your GLP-1 weight loss medication — like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro — but feeling anxious about what comes next? You’re not alone.

In this episode, we dive into what’s likely to happen when you stop GLP-1 agonists, backed by current research and real-world experience. You’ll learn:

✨ What to expect physically when your body adjusts after stopping the medication 🧠 The mindset shifts that help you move from...

In this episode Kyla explores how anxiety and overthinking commonly affect our eating—either shutting down appetite or triggering comfort-eating—and why these responses are not a moral failing but a nervous system reaction.

She shares practical steps: notice and track your patterns and triggers, calm your body before eating (breathing, a warm drink, a walk), and create space between feeling and reacting. Kyla teaches a simple, but ...

Have you ever felt trapped in the exhausting cycle of undereating one week and overeating the next — wondering why your “willpower” keeps slipping?

In this episode, we’re unpacking the hidden effects of dieting, undereating, and food obsession — and why your body might be fighting back, not failing you.

You’ll learn how diet culture trains us to distrust our hunger, how undernourishment affects your hormones and emotions, and most ...

Ever had one small slip spiral into an “I’ve blown it” moment?

In this episode, I share the real story behind last week’s missed episode—thanks to a cancelled flight—and how that unexpected disruption led me to reflect on the abstinence violation response in healthy eating.

You’ll discover how to break free from the all-or-nothing mindset, release guilt and shame, and approach your wellness journey with more compassion.

Learn how t...

In this episode of Change Your Relationship with Food, we’re diving into the truth about emotional eating—why it happens, why it’s not a sign of weakness, and how you can soothe your emotions without relying on food.

Here’s what you’ll discover: ✨ The difference between physical hunger and emotional hunger ✨ The most common emotional triggers for overeating (and how to spot them) ✨ Why food feels so comforting in the moment—and why...

Have you ever wondered why you crave chocolate late at night, salty chips after a stressful day, or sweets when you’re feeling low?

In this episode of Change Your Relationship with Food, we dive into the psychology of cravings—and reveal the surprising truths about what your body and mind are really asking for.

Instead of seeing cravings as “bad” or a lack of willpower, you’ll learn how to decode them as messages of wisdom. Togethe...

Tired of starting diets, only to feel deprived and frustrated?

In this episode, Kyla Holley introduces a refreshingly simple 4-step framework—the A.R.S.E Method—that can completely change the way you approach food.

Instead of cutting foods or chasing rigid rules, you’ll learn how to:

• Use honest food diaries to uncover the real patterns driving your habits.

• Restructure your routine with small, realistic swaps .

• Start makin...