
Emotional Eating with Marilyn
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.
Latest episodes

Dec 18, 2024 • 5min
I Eat when I am Stressed 😬
In this episode I describe what lies beneath stress eating and how to reduce it

Dec 11, 2024 • 46min
Your Brain is Lying to You with Clinical Psychologist Albert Moukheiber
Summary:
In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, clinical psychologist Albert Moukayeber discusses the complexities of emotional eating, exploring it as a coping mechanism influenced by cultural factors. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the primary and secondary causes of emotional eating, the societal pressures of perfectionism, and the need for community support. Albert also delves into the concept of rewiring the brain, the significance of body awareness through the nine senses, and the acceptance of anxious thoughts. The conversation concludes with insights on navigating toxic relationships and the importance of being available for others.
Chapters
00:00 Guest Introduction
01:24 Guest's Opinion on Emotional Eating as a Coping Mechanism
05:21 Cultural Influences on Eating Habits
10:14 The Pressure of Perfection and Anxiety
12:01 Updating Beliefs and Managing Anxiety
17:15 The Science of Learning vs. Rewiring the Brain
23:28 Accepting Reality and Community Support
26:35 The Diet Dilemma: Chasing Solutions
27:14 Understanding Emotional Eating and the Body Connection
28:50 The Nine Senses: A New Perspective
30:22 Compulsions and Autopilot: The Emotional Eating Cycle
31:16 Accepting Uncertainty: Navigating Anxious Thoughts
36:30 The Importance of Community and Support
42:51 Navigating Toxic Relationships: Boundaries and Acceptance
You can find my details here:
https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih
Including where to buy The Positive Journal on Emotional Eating, how to get coaching sessions with me and my social media accounts

Dec 4, 2024 • 21min
Why Do I Eat So Much At Christmas?
You can find my details here: https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih Including where to buy The Positive Journal on Emotional Eating, how to get coaching sessions with me and my social media accounts

Nov 27, 2024 • 22min
The Art of Setting Boundaries During Holidays
In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the focus is on practicing self-respect during family gatherings, especially around the holidays. Marilyn discusses the importance of understanding self-respect in relation to self-love, self-esteem, and self-confidence. She emphasizes the need to identify personal needs and boundaries to avoid emotional eating triggered by family dynamics. The conversation also covers the significance of non-negotiables and how to assert them without feeling guilty. Marilyn concludes by highlighting that eating out of obligation is not a sign of love, but rather a lack of self-respect, and encourages listeners to practice self-respect with food and in their interactions with others.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Self-Respect During Festive Gatherings
01:16 Understanding Self-Respect and Its Components
03:31 The Importance of Self-Respect in Family Gatherings
05:03 Identifying Personal Needs for Better Self-Respect
08:50 Establishing Boundaries: The Key to Self-Respect
12:58 The Importance of Repeating Boundaries
17:49 Self-Respect and Food: Understanding Emotional Eating
21:07 Summary and Key Takeaways
Otherwise, you can follow me on social media and get my journal here
https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Nov 20, 2024 • 48min
Mastering Difficult Conversations During Holiday Dinners with Mediator John Ford
In this episode of Emotional Eating, Marilyn Rafih and John Ford delve into the complexities of managing difficult conversations, particularly in family settings. They explore how unresolved emotional issues can trigger emotional eating and provide practical tools for navigating challenging interactions. The discussion emphasizes the importance of communication skills, understanding emotional triggers, and the impact of cultural and gender dynamics on interpersonal communication. Listeners are encouraged to prepare for difficult conversations and to approach them with empathy and understanding.
Chapters
00:00 Navigating Difficult Conversations
06:09 Understanding Emotional Triggers in Family Settings
12:43 Tools for Managing Challenging Interactions
20:20 Healing Through Communication and Self-Reflection 24:34 Navigating Personal Growth and Communication Skills 29:52 Responding to Unkind Comments with Grace
32:09 Understanding Difficult Conversations35:50Cultural and Gender Influences on Emotional Expression
40:04 Preparing for Difficult Family Conversations46:16The Importance of Acknowledging Needs in Communication
For John Ford's empathy set, it's here
https://www.empathyset.com/
Otherwise, you can follow me on social media and get my journal here
https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Nov 13, 2024 • 12min
Emotional Eating During Darker Days: 7 Tips to Navigates the Winter Blues
In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the host discusses the connection between emotional eating and mood changes during darker days, particularly in winter. Marilyn emphasizes the importance of acceptance and understanding that it's normal to feel low sometimes. She provides practical tips for managing mood, such as embracing the winter season, nurturing social connections, and spending time outdoors. The episode aims to empower listeners to cope with emotional eating and improve their emotional well-being during challenging times.
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Emotional Eating and Lower Mood
03:09 Practical Strategies for Managing Mood
06:21 Social Connections and Their Impact on Mood
11:06 Seasonal Adjustments and Self-Care Practices
Where to Find me
Follow me on social media and get my journal here:
https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Nov 6, 2024 • 14min
I Eat in *secret*, when no one watches
In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the host discusses the common behavior of eating in secret and the underlying emotions that drive this behavior, particularly shame. Marilyn emphasizes that many people engage in secret eating as a coping mechanism and that it is important to break the taboo surrounding this topic. She provides insights into why individuals may feel uncomfortable eating in front of others and offers tips for overcoming these feelings, ultimately encouraging listeners to embrace their authentic selves and find healthier coping mechanisms.Keywordsemotional eating, secret eating, shame, coping mechanisms, binge eating, self-discovery, food guilt, eating habits, mental health, personal growthChapters00:00 Understanding & accepting Secret Eating08:35 The Role of Shame in Eating Habits13:11Breaking the Cycle of Emotional EatingWhere to Find meFollow me on social media and get my journal here:https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Oct 30, 2024 • 13min
Physical vs Emotional Hunger: How do I know if I am stress eating or if I am *actually* hungry?
In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the host delves into the critical distinction between physical hunger and emotional hunger. Marilyn explains how societal influences and personal experiences can lead to a disconnection from our natural hunger cues. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and respecting physical hunger as a biological need, while also addressing the emotional aspects that drive us to eat when we are not truly hungry. The episode provides practical tips for listeners to reconnect with their bodies, understand their emotional needs, and develop healthier eating habits.
Keywords:
emotional eating, physical hunger, emotional hunger, self-awareness, coping mechanisms, mindfulness, hunger cues, emotional needs, eating habits, psychological factors.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Emotional Eating
01:04 Understanding Physical Hunger
03:51 The Impact of Emotional Factors on Hunger
06:27 Distinguishing Between Physical and Emotional Hunger
09:10 Addressing Emotional Needs
12:02 Conclusion and Reflection
Follow me on social media and get my journal here:
https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Oct 23, 2024 • 19min
Why am I not Losing Weight Although I try so Hard? Self-sabotage and Emotional Eating.
In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the host delves into the unconscious reasons behind emotional eating and the challenges of weight loss. Marilyn discusses the concept of self-sabotage, exploring how individuals may unconsciously resist weight loss due to fears, beliefs, and protective mechanisms.
She emphasizes the importance of understanding these underlying factors and encourages listeners to approach their emotional eating with compassion and curiosity, ultimately guiding them towards healthier relationships with food and their bodies.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Understanding Emotional Eating and Weight Loss Challenges
02:45 The Concept of Self-Sabotage in Weight Loss
05:09 Unconscious Reasons for Holding onto Weight
08:09 Exploring Identity and Emotional Connections to Food
11:00 Engaging with Your Unconscious Mind
13:52 Transforming Negative Parts into Positive Change
17:02 Building Compassion and New Tools for Change
Follow me on social media and get my journal here:
https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih

Oct 16, 2024 • 17min
Understanding Your Attachment Style to Stop Emotional Eating
In this episode of Emotional Eating with Marilyn, the host discusses the impact of attachment styles on emotional eating. She explains the four main attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized, and how they influence our relationships and emotional responses. Marilyn emphasizes the importance of understanding one's attachment style to improve relationships and reduce emotional eating. She provides insights into the dynamics between anxious and avoidant individuals and offers strategies for managing emotional eating by recognizing and addressing underlying feelings.
Takeaways
Understanding attachment styles can help improve relationships.
Emotional eating is often a response to unmet emotional needs.
Anxious individuals seek constant reassurance from others.
Avoidant individuals prefer solitude and may fear closeness.
The anxious-avoidant dynamic can create a cycle of conflict.
Childhood experiences shape our attachment styles in adulthood.
Recognizing patterns in relationships can lead to healthier choices.
It takes time and practice to change emotional eating habits.
Feeling emotions without resorting to food is a key strategy.
Self-awareness is essential for personal growth and healing.
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Attachment Styles and Emotional Eating
04:48 Exploring Anxious Attachment Style
09:51 The Avoidant Attachment Style
13:17 The Anxious-Avoidant Dynamic
15:22 Healing Through Awareness and Practice
Follow me on social media and get my journal here:
https://linktr.ee/marilynrafih