Breaking Up With Sugar with Molly Carmel

Meet Molly Carmel

Molly Carmel, LCSW-R is a leading addictions and eating disorder therapist and Founder of The Beacon Program (Beacon by MC), which offers individual and group solutions to help people break free from their destructive relationships with food and dieting. Known for her irreverent, "straight talk, no chaser" attitude, she's also the author of the innovative book, Breaking Up with Sugar: A Plan to Divorce the Diets, Drop the Pounds, and Live Your Best Life and is the host of the podcast, What You're Craving.

Molly has made it her life's mission to help people find a sustainable solution to the battle against obesity and related eating disorders. After battling an eating disorder for over 20 years and finding no solution in available treatment, she began her professional path and has never looked back. In addition to her extensive training in Substance Use and Eating Disorders, Molly is intensively trained in and has an undying love for Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She is also a trained shaman, Reiki healer, and certified Tibetan bowl singing practitioner.

Molly Carmel's work has been featured on The Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show, Dateline NBC, Anderson Cooper 360, and Extreme Makeover, as well as in People Magazine and the Los Angeles Times. To learn more about Molly, go to: mollycarmel.com.

You know when you're out to eat, and you overhear friends chatting about their biggest breakup or something juicy? Well, my friend, you're gonna feel like you were hanging with us over lunch and were eavesdropping. This was that kind of conversation that went deep but was funny, intense, and got real-deal about food and sugar addiction and how to take care of yourself in a society that eats up toxic diet culture. So, sit back, relax and definitely get your fave snack and tea as you sit in on our talk.

Food Is a Relationship Game

Contrary to what the diet culture will have you believe, there is nothing wrong with you if you struggle with overeating and food. So many of us are taught at an early age that food equals love. I shared my story of my Dad taking me to Dunkin' Donuts before my first day of nursery school to get three double chocolate donuts. I still remember them like it was yesterday. Molly shared about her massive struggles with bingeing, hiding food, and being the youngest one at Weight Watchers. Here's what's important to note, though, food is a relationship game and about nourishment on a mind, body, and soul level. This can be such a tough one to digest when food has acted like your BFF. This is why Molly wrote 'Breaking Up With Sugar', because it felt like such a breakup experience, not to mention detox. If you find yourself struggling with eating out of control or being unable to stop eating sugar, we get you! It was helpful hearing that most cravings last about 20 minutes or so. A good practice when you're tempted by the pan of brownies or box of cookies in your kitchen; leave the room. Call a friend who will support you. Don't let this obsession continue to steal your energy, time, and joy. The purpose is to be free and love yourself and others.

Addiction Is Really About Control

Addiction is about needing control, and recovery is about trust. To have recovery, you must shift what you believe. This means not just addressing the physical component but also the emotional and spiritual. I loved what Molly said, 'We row, the Universe steers.' This game of recovery from addiction, especially sugar and food addiction, requires a three-pronged approach of shifting your beliefs and relationship with your mind, body, and spiritual connection. Genuine connection, especially with others on the road to recovery, is the opposite of addiction and can make an enormous difference in your own healing. Molly Carmel suggests you look at cravings as sirens (trust me, I know all about cravings for chocolate anything) and that they're calling you to get introspective and see what you need.

The Greatest Act of Self Love

Forgiveness, by far, is the greatest act of self-love. You start by looking at those you need to forgive, including yourself, and make a commitment to work on adding forgiveness to your daily practice. A simple way to start is to wish the person you want to forgive well and ask that they be free from suffering and at peace. This comes from the meta meditation and is an excellent place to begin.

To learn more about Molly, her Beacon program for sugar addiction, or any of her work, go to mollycarmel.com

Hungry For More

If you're hungry for more in life and want to stop the incessant cycle of food addiction, you might want to check out my online course, Hungry For More: Overcoming Food Addiction (juliereisler.com/shop) or my Hungry For More audio course on Insight Timer (insighttimer.com/juliereisler). Both will guide you through the 6 H's of the Hunger model for greater self-awareness, compassion, and deep change.

Final Thoughts

Molly Carmel's book Breaking Up with Sugar helps us understand that food addiction, especially addiction to sweets and sugar, doesn't have to result in self-degradation. There's a road to self-awareness, forgiveness, and a deeper sense of self-love as long as you're willing to travel it.

Breakthrough Your Biggest Blocks with Julie Reisler

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Connect with Molly Carmel

• Website: mollycarmel.com
• Facebook page: Molly Carmel
• Instagram: @mollycarmel
• LinkedIn: Molly Carmel
• Twitter: @mollycarmel

Looking To Help Others Know Who They Are and Design Their Best Life?

If you are feeling a strong urge to help other big-hearted empaths get unstuck and design their best life, you've got to check out my Life Designer Coach Academy. It is a world-class four-month virtual live coach certification program that will give you proven tools, techniques, practices, and methodology to be a powerful coach. This coaching program is for aspiring and current coaches looking to fill in the missing pieces and gain confidence and mastery both in the coaching core competencies and the integrative health modalities from a mind-body science, positive psychology, and healing arts perspective. To learn more, go to juliereisler.com/certification.

Sacred Connection

As always, this community is a sacred, safe place built on love and acceptance. It was created to help you evolve and expand into your highest self. Please share your wisdom, comments, and thoughts. I love hearing from you and learning how you are being your truest, you-est you. Please join us in our Facebook group The You-est You® Community for Soul Seekers

Join host Julie Reisler, author and multi-time TEDx speaker, each week to learn how you can tap into your best self and become your You-est You® to achieve inner peace, happiness, and success at a deeper level! Tune in to hear powerful, inspirational stories and expert insights from entrepreneurs, industry thought leaders, and extraordinary human beings that will help to transform your life. Julie also shares a-ha moments that have shaped her life and career and discusses key concepts from her book Get a PhD in YOU

Here's to your being your you-est you!

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