

Emotional Eating with Marilyn
Marilyn Rafih, Pharm, PhD
I am a pharmacist and PhD in genetics. My purpose is to help you overcome emotional eating one day at a time, one step at a time.
Follow the podcast for weekly content.
For more information go https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih
Disclaimer: The aim of this podcast is to share my knowledge and learnings and is not to be taken as professional advice.
Opinions are mine and do not reflect any opinion of companies I have / currently work for.
Follow the podcast for weekly content.
For more information go https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih
Disclaimer: The aim of this podcast is to share my knowledge and learnings and is not to be taken as professional advice.
Opinions are mine and do not reflect any opinion of companies I have / currently work for.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 8, 2025 • 18min
What Emotional Eaters Have in Common & How to Change
Summary:In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the host explores the common characteristics of emotional eaters, emphasizing that emotional eating is a behaviour rather than an identity. Marilyn discusses traits such as hyper-empathy, the tendency to wear one's heart on their sleeve, the importance of listening to body limits, and the disconnection between mind and body. She provides insights and tools for listeners to better understand themselves and work on their emotional eating habits, encouraging a balanced approach to self-care and emotional well-being.Chapters00:00 Understanding Emotional Eating03:01 Common Traits of Emotional Eaters05:48 Hyper-Empathy and Its Impact08:30 Listening to Your Body Limits11:34 Connecting Mind and Body14:33 Tools for Grounding and Self-Care 17:19 Recap and Moving ForwardFind me herehttps://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Oct 1, 2025 • 16min
The Winter Arc Challenge to Feel Great on January 1st
My take on the Viral Tiktok Challenge called the Winter Arc Challenge+ crucial things to think of in the context of emotional eating!!
In this episode, Marilyn Rafih discusses the viral Winter Arc Challenge from TikTok, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and caution when approaching self-improvement goals. She provides insights on how to tailor the challenge to individual needs, the significance of emotional well-being, and the long-term vision for personal growth beyond the immediate New Year resolutions.
Takeaways
The Winter Arc Challenge is about self-improvement during the colder months.
Caution is advised for those with a complicated relationship with food.
It's important to approach challenges from a place of self-love, not self-hate.
Tailor your goals to your own physical and mental state.
Consider the long-term impact of your actions beyond January.
Emotional eating can be triggered by stress and challenges in life.
Bravery is required to start new challenges, even if you might fail at first.
Focus on feelings rather than just quantifiable results.
Social connections can help combat seasonal affective disorder.
Think about your future self and what you want to achieve in the long run.
Self-Improvement in the Cold Months
Long-Term Growth Beyond New Year Resolutions
"I really like the concept of winter arc."
"Be cautious with the winter arc challenge."
"Are you brave enough to start something new?"
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Emotional Eating and Winter Arc Challenge
05:18 Cautions for the Winter Arc Challenge
07:47 Embracing the Challenge: When to Go Full Speed
08:44 Tailoring Your Approach to the Challenge
14:16 Long-Term Vision: Beyond January 2025
Follow me on social media and get my journal here:
https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Sep 15, 2025 • 18min
Why Perfectionism is Making You Gain Weight
Summary:In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the host discusses the intricate relationship between perfectionism and emotional eating. She explores how perfectionism manifests in black-and-white thinking, leading to unhealthy eating patterns influenced by diet culture. Marilyn emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and offers practical strategies to manage emotional eating, including addressing anxiety, procrastination, and the need for balance in task completion.Chapters00:00 Understanding Perfectionism and Emotional Eating02:55 The Impact of Diet Culture on Eating Habits07:59 Perfectionism in Task Completion and Its Consequences11:25 Anxiety and Black-and-White Thinking14:43 Procrastination: The Link to Emotional EatingFind me herehttps://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Sep 1, 2025 • 21min
I Need Help, I've Been Bad During Summer
In today's episode we talk about the "back to school/back to work" phase, the need to go back to routine, understand what happened in summer.
You can find me here:
https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

May 22, 2025 • 5min
Looking back at seasons 1,2,3 and what’s next for season 4
Hello guys, this is a personal message to let you know that I am taking a well deserved break and will be back very soon.In the meantime, you can find me on Instagram, get the Positive journal on emotional eating or book one-to-one sessions with me.All links below: https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Apr 30, 2025 • 20min
Self-Awareness: How and Where to Start
Summary:In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the focus is on self-awareness and its critical role in understanding and managing emotional eating. Marilyn discusses the definition of self-awareness, its connection to emotional eating, and various techniques to enhance self-awareness, including journaling, mindfulness, and understanding emotions through the Wheel of Emotions. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's feelings and stress levels to reduce reliance on food for emotional comfort. Marilyn also highlights the significance of self-reflection and how our perceptions of others can reveal insights about ourselves.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Self-Awareness03:03 Understanding Self-Awareness and Emotional Eating16:01 Tools for Enhancing Self-AwarenessFind me herehttps://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Apr 16, 2025 • 23min
Self-Talk: How and Where to Start?
SummaryIn this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the focus is on the concept of self-talk and its significant link to emotional eating. Marilyn discusses how self-talk influences our emotional well-being and the quality of our lives. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing negative self-talk patterns and offers practical exercises, including journaling, to foster self-compassion and understanding. The episode aims to guide listeners on their journey to improve their relationship with food and themselves by cultivating a healthier inner dialogue.TakeawaysSelf-talk is a crucial factor in emotional eating.Recognizing negative self-talk is the first step to change.Improving well-being can reduce the urge to eat emotionally.Journaling can help identify and shift negative self-talk.Compassion towards oneself is essential for healing.Healing is a non-linear journey with ups and downs.Self-talk often reflects the voices of caregivers from childhood.Practicing self-compassion can lead to better emotional health.Awareness of self-talk can improve overall quality of life.The journey of self-improvement requires patience and understandingChapters00:00 Introduction to Self-Talk and Emotional Eating03:48 Understanding Self-Talk and Its Impact07:07 The Role of Childhood in Self-Talk11:46 Journaling Exercise for Self-Reflection15:49 Compassion and Self-UnderstandingFind me herehttps://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Apr 2, 2025 • 23min
Self-Confidence: How and Where to Start?
SummaryIn this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the host explores the intricate relationship between self-confidence and emotional eating. She discusses how low self-confidence can lead to feelings of guilt and shame, which often trigger emotional eating. Marilyn emphasizes that self-confidence is not a binary trait but rather a spectrum that can be developed through recognizing and building on personal skills. The episode also highlights the importance of self-love and acceptance in overcoming emotional eating habits.Chapters00:00 Understanding Self-Confidence and Emotional Eating04:20 Building Self-Confidence: Skills and Growth 09:27 Overcoming Emotional Triggers and Self-Doubt 14:56 The Journey to Self-Love and AcceptanceFind me herehttps://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Mar 21, 2025 • 19min
Self-Care: How and Where to Start?
Summary:In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the host discusses the significance of self-care in the context of emotional eating. Marilyn emphasizes the importance of taking care of oneself beyond food, exploring the concept of the inner child, and identifying barriers that prevent individuals from engaging in self-care. She provides practical strategies for incorporating self-care into daily life and highlights the long-term benefits of developing a diverse toolbox of coping strategies to enhance overall well-being.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Self-Care and Emotional Eating04:10 Understanding the Inner Child and Self-Care08:47 Identifying Barriers to Self-Care14:40 Implementing Self-Care into Daily Life16:04 The Long-Term Benefits of Self-CareFind me here:https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Mar 5, 2025 • 20min
My Whole Routine Gets Disrupted When I Travel
Summary:In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the host discusses the challenges of maintaining healthy eating habits while traveling. She emphasizes that it's normal to feel a loss of routine and offers insights into the emotional triggers that can lead to overeating during travel. Marilyn provides practical tools for listeners to create healthier travel routines and encourages self-acceptance and mindfulness. The episode concludes with a reflection on the positive aspects of travel and how to incorporate those into daily life.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Emotional Eating and Travel12:00 Exploring the Reasons Behind Emotional Eating22:09 Reflecting on Positive Travel ExperiencesFind me here:https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih