Why You’re Stuck in the Emotional and Binge Eating Loop: Your First Step to Calm the Cravings!

"Your first step to calming the craving is to stop restricting” - Sherry Shaban

In today’s episode, I reveal the powerful connection between our eating habits and the nervous system. If you've ever struggled with binge eating or felt trapped in a cycle of unwanted food behaviors, you're not alone—I’ve been there too. My own journey of overcoming binge eating, backed by years of experience in fitness and therapeutic practices, led me to a breakthrough approach that goes beyond dieting and willpower.

I’ll walk you through the first step to calm cravings by regulating your nervous system—because traditional calorie-restriction diets often do more harm than good, triggering biological alarms that reinforce binge behavior. Instead of fighting against your body, it’s time to work with it.

If you're ready to take back control and make peace with food, this episode is for you! Also, download my free ebook now. It’s packed with actionable strategies to help you regulate your nervous system and break free from obsessive food patterns!

Topics Covered:

0:03 Understanding Nervous System's Role in Controlling Food Cravings

4:38 Redefining Binge Eating and Finding Control Around Food

6:26 Understanding the Nervous System's Role in Eating Habits

8:55 Stop Restricting to Calm Cravings and End Food Obsession

16:16 Understanding the Nervous System's Role in Emotional Dieting

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the link between the nervous system and eating habits is critical for overcoming binge eating.

• Traditional restrictive diets can trigger protection mode in the nervous system, leading to counterproductive eating behavior.

• Emotions such as fear and shame can reinforce protective responses, causing cycles of restriction and binge eating.

• The first step to calming cravings is to stop restricting food intake and focus on nourishment without fear.

• Sherry offers a seven-step method along with an ebook to guide individuals in changing their relationship with food.

If you’ve been listening to this podcast, and you’re ready to take a timeout and focus on just you for a whole week, then I want to invite you to join me for the Transformation in Paradise Empyrean Retreat in Costa Rica May 24-31, 2025.  This will be the most transformative week of your life at the breathtaking Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. 

This will be a small group experience with exclusive access at the Blue Osa resort. 

Imagine waking to the sound of the Costa Rican rainforest musical every morning.  Start your day with a yoga practice overlooking the Pacific Ocean, joined in with howler monkeys. Daily walks on a private beach that goes on for miles. Macaws flying overhead. Spa treatment at a 5-star resort, and the best farm-to-table food - right from the Blue Osa farm.  

This retreat is designed to reset your nervous system, so you stop the patterns of self-sabotage and overwhelm. Reignite your motivation, release any addictive habits, and open yourself to the health, relationships, and financial abundance you deserve. 

Intrigued? Curious? Let’s book a call to find out if this retreat is the right for you. Just head on over to ⁠sherryshaban.com/retreats⁠ and you can book a time with me there. Plus if you rate and review this podcast, giving me a 5-star rating on iTunes, and then send the screenshot to ⁠[e-mail]⁠, so I know who you are, you’ll receive the voucher to join!  Remember, the group is small so spots are limited!

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