Podcast
Love Yourself Thin Podcast
Hosted by Dara Tomasson · EN
Love Yourself Thin Podcast is where quilters come to create the life they truly want—on and off the sewing machine. Hosted by life coach Dara Thomason, this show helps you ditch the overwhelm, understand your habits, and build a healthier relationship with yourself and with food.
Whether you want more confidence, more energy, or more joy in your quilting and everyday life, you'll learn practical tools, mindset shifts, and empowering strategies that help you feel better in your body and in your mind.
It's the same heart and mission you loved from The Quilter's Coach Podcast—now with a name that reflects Dara's lifetime program and her belief that transformation begins with loving yourself first.
If you're a quilter ready to live intentionally, feel lighter emotionally and physically, and design a life you love, this podcast is for you.
For more visit daratomasson.com
40episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
263. Goals Set vs. Goals Achieved: Why You Don't Trust Yourself (and How to Change It)
1w ago00:32:25Tap to summarizeHave you stopped setting goals because you're afraid you'll disappoint yourself again? In this episode of Love Yourself Thin, Dara shares why so many women over 50 struggle to follow through on their goals—not because they're lazy or lacking willpower, but because they're unknowingly carrying emotional patterns that lead to burnout, perfectionism, and self-doubt. Using the story of training for her first half marathon, Dara explains why sustainable success comes from curiosity and self-compassion instead of pressure and punishment. She also vulnerably shares how unresolved grief affected her body for years and how learning to process emotions transformed both her health and her relationship with herself. If you've ever abandoned a goal, questioned your discipline, or believed you simply can't trust yourself, this episode will help you understand what's really happening beneath the surface. In this episode, you'll learn: Why burnout isn't caused by doing too much—but by why you're doing it. The difference between setting goals from fear versus love. How perfectionism and people-pleasing sabotage follow-through. Why self-trust is built through compassion, not criticism. The connection between unresolved emotions and physical health. Dara's surprising half marathon experience and what it taught her about lasting change. How to create goals that actually strengthen your confidence instead of destroying it. You don't need more discipline. You need a healthier relationship with yourself. If you're ready to stop starting over and finally build lasting confidence, this episode is for you. Book a call with Dara to find out how she can help you build confidence and achieve your goals. Follow Dara on social media @dara_tomasson Subscribe for weekly episodes!
Transcribe →262. The Most Toxic Relationship You Have Is With Yourself
2w ago00:24:52Tap to summarizeWhat if the most damaging relationship in your life isn't with someone else—but with yourself? In this episode, Dara explores how your inner dialogue shapes your confidence, your emotional health, and even your ability to lose weight. If you've spent years criticizing yourself, walking on eggshells around your own mistakes, or believing you need to "do better" before you deserve kindness, this conversation will help you see things in a completely new way. You'll learn how negative self-talk quietly undermines your mental and physical well-being, why emotional adulthood is one of the most powerful tools for lasting change, and how becoming your own safe place can transform your relationship with food, your body, and yourself. This episode is an invitation to stop bullying yourself and start becoming the person who offers yourself the same compassion you so freely give everyone else. In this episode, you'll learn: What a toxic relationship with yourself actually looks like Why your inner dialogue predicts your future results The difference between emotional childhood and emotional adulthood How to stop letting other people's opinions define your worth Why building confidence starts by filling your own bucket Practical ways to become your own safe place How healing your relationship with yourself naturally changes your relationship with food If you've been waiting until you lose the weight to feel confident or happy, this episode will show you a better way. Want to join the Summer Bucket List Challenge? Join HERE. Follod Dara on Instagram for more on how to build confidence first and then lose weight without diets, counting calories or willpower @dara_tomasson.
Transcribe →261. Self-Care vs. Self-Love: Why One Changes Everything
3w ago00:18:20Tap to summarizeEveryone talks about self-care. Take a bath. Get your nails done. Treat yourself. But what if that's not what you actually need? In this episode, Dara explores the powerful difference between self-care and self-love—and why confusing the two can keep you stuck in cycles of emotional eating, perfectionism, and never feeling "good enough." You'll learn why lasting transformation doesn't come from escaping your life for a few hours. It comes from intentionally becoming the person you want to be. In this episode you'll discover: Why self-care and self-love are not the same thing The childhood "report cards" that may still be running your life How perfectionism quietly keeps you trapped in food and weight struggles Why your brain fixates on weight when the real issue is emotional How to stop living from scarcity and start making decisions from abundance What intentional self-love actually looks like in everyday life Why weight loss becomes a side effect when you heal the relationship with yourself If you've been trying to motivate yourself with criticism, guilt, or willpower, this episode will show you a completely different path—one that creates lasting peace, confidence, and freedom. Remember: The goal isn't to become someone worthy of love. It's to love yourself enough to become the person you were created to be. If this resonates with you, book a call with Dara to learn more about her program and how she can help you love yourself! Book your call HERE. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with a friend!
Transcribe →260. How to Create a Healthy Relationship With Yourself
Jul 900:21:13Tap to summarizeOn a scale of 1–10, how would you rate your relationship with yourself? It's not a question most of us have ever been asked, but the answer may explain why losing weight has felt so hard. In this episode of Love Yourself Thin, Dara explores how the way you speak to yourself shapes your confidence, your habits, and ultimately your success. If your inner voice is constantly criticizing, shaming, or demanding perfection, it's no wonder you keep turning to food for comfort. You'll discover why lasting weight loss begins with building self-trust and self-compassion—not more willpower. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your relationship with yourself determines your long-term success How your childhood beliefs may still be influencing the way you think today The three steps to creating a healthier inner dialogue Why compassion creates lasting change better than criticism ever can A simple exercise to identify the thoughts that are holding you back Practical strategies to build confidence and learn to truly care for yourself Remember: You take care of the things you love. The more you learn to love yourself today, the easier it becomes to create the healthy life you've always wanted. Join the FREE Love Yourself This Summer Bucket List Challenge! This summer isn't about waiting until you've lost the weight to enjoy your life. Join Dara's free Love Yourself This Summer Bucket List Challenge and create meaningful goals, build self-trust, and fill your summer with experiences you'll actually remember—not just another season spent thinking about food. Download your free Bucket List and join the challenge today! If you're ready to dive deeper into loving yourself and everything that can open for your life, book a call with Dara to discover next steps! Like, share and subscribe for more on breaking free from emotional eating, building self-trust and living a life you love.
Transcribe →259. What Goals Should You Set This Summer?
Jul 200:09:37Tap to summarizeDo goals motivate you… or make you want to run the other way? For many women, setting a goal feels risky. Because if you set a goal, you might fail. And if you fail, what does that say about you? In this episode, Dara challenges the perfectionist approach to goals and offers a completely different perspective. Instead of using goals as a way to measure your worth, what if you used them as a way to direct your time, energy, and attention toward a life you actually want? You'll learn why overwhelm often keeps us stuck, how to stop using fear as motivation, and a simple neuroscience-based visualization technique that can help you create momentum before you've even taken the first step. If you've been wondering what you want this summer to look like—but feel overwhelmed by the question—this episode will help you break it down into something simple, enjoyable, and achievable. In This Episode: • Why perfectionists often avoid setting goals altogether • A healthier definition of what a goal actually is • How goals function like a GPS for your life • The hidden cost of all-or-nothing thinking • A neuroscience hack that helps your brain create motivation naturally • Why emotions—not willpower—drive lasting action • How to create goals that feel joyful instead of punishing • The power of imagining success before it happens Key Takeaway: The purpose of a goal is not to prove your worth. The purpose of a goal is to give direction to your time, focus, and energy so you can create a life you genuinely enjoy. Join the Free Challenge: Join the free Love Yourself This Summer Bucket List Challenge and set goals for yourself that will make this summer full of fantastic experiences. Create your own personalized summer bucket list, receive weekly encouragement, learn practical tools for handling summer eating challenges, and discover how enjoying your life can naturally quiet food obsession. Connect with Dara: If you're ready to stop struggling with emotional eating, perfectionism, and self-sabotage, book a clarity call with Dara to uncover the one thing that may be keeping you stuck. Be sure to subscribe for more on living a life you love!
Transcribe →258. How Loving Yourself Makes Weight Loss Inevitable
Jun 2500:19:06Tap to summarizeSummer is supposed to feel light, fun, and freeing. So why does it bring up so much anxiety about swimsuits, shorts, vacations, photos, and how your body looks? In this episode, Dara challenges the belief that you need to lose weight before you can enjoy your life. Instead, she explores a radical idea: what if the missing piece isn't more discipline, more dieting, or more willpower—but more self-love? You'll learn why so many women spend decades criticizing themselves, how negative self-talk fuels emotional eating, and why treating yourself with compassion creates more lasting change than shame ever could. Dara also introduces her How to Love Yourself This Summer Experience, a practical and powerful approach to creating a life you actually enjoy through a personalized Summer Bucket List. When your life becomes richer, more meaningful, and more connected, food naturally loses some of its power. In This Episode You'll Learn: Why self-criticism keeps you stuck in the cycle of emotional eating The surprising connection between self-love and sustainable weight loss How to identify the "inner boss" voice that drives your decisions Why food often becomes a distraction from uncomfortable emotions The hidden fears that summer can bring up around body image How creating meaningful experiences reduces food obsession The power of a Summer Bucket List for building confidence and joy Why weight loss becomes easier when you're genuinely enjoying your life Key Takeaway We take care of the things we love. If you've spent years trying to hate yourself into a smaller body, this episode offers a different path: learning to care for yourself first and letting weight loss become a byproduct rather than the goal. Resources Mentioned Summer Bucket List Challenge Webinars as part of the summer bucket list challenge The "Sheep Detective" Film (maybe add this to your summer bucket list!) Connect with Dara Dara Tomasson is an emotional weight loss coach who helps women over 50 stop battling food, overcome perfectionism, and finally close the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. After losing 50 pounds through emotional and mindset work—not dieting—she now helps women create lasting freedom around food and their bodies. Connect with her to find out if her program is a good fit for you. Book a call HERE. Subscribe for more on permanent weight loss and follow Dara on social media @dara_tomasson.
Transcribe →257. Stop The Failure Patterns That Are Sabotaging You
Jun 1800:20:10Tap to summarizeWhat if your struggles with weight loss, confidence, or follow-through have less to do with discipline and more to do with the invisible rules you've been living by since childhood? In this episode, Dara explores how the beliefs and expectations you learned growing up can quietly become your "default settings" as an adult. From perfectionism and people-pleasing to fear of failure and self-sabotage, these unconscious patterns may be keeping you stuck without you even realizing it. You'll learn why failure isn't actually the problem, how your brain works to keep you in familiar territory, and why lasting change requires creating your own definition of success instead of chasing someone else's. If you've ever felt frustrated because you know what to do but struggle to follow through, this episode will help you understand what's really happening beneath the surface. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How childhood "rule books" continue to influence your decisions today Why 95% of your thoughts are automatic and subconscious The connection between failure, self-sabotage, and your comfort zone How your brain creates a "homeostasis" that can keep you stuck Why success must be defined by your values—not someone else's standards The hidden cost of staying in familiar patterns Three practical steps to break free from self-sabotage Questions to Reflect On: What were the unspoken rules in your childhood? How do you define success for yourself? What patterns do you repeat when you're afraid of failing? What is self-sabotage costing you in your life right now? Ready to Go Deeper? Join Dara's 4 day masterclass - Stop Sabotaging Your Weight Loss, running June 23-36, 2026. Find out what patterns are sabotaging your weight loss and how to overcome them! Register today. Subscribe for more on overcoming perfectionism!
Transcribe →256. How Self-Sabotaging Patterns Are Preventing You From Losing Weight
Jun 1100:23:04Tap to summarizeYou know what to eat. You know diets don't work long term. You know weight loss isn't really about food. So why do you keep eating when you're not hungry? Why do you celebrate losing five pounds with chocolate? Why do you find yourself back in the same cycle, even when you're motivated to change? In this episode, Dara explores the deeper reasons women find themselves sabotaging their weight loss efforts. Rather than focusing on meal plans, calories, or willpower, she examines the emotional and psychological patterns that drive overeating and make lasting weight loss feel so difficult. You'll learn: Why self-sabotage is usually an unconscious attempt at self-protection How childhood experiences can shape your relationship with food The connection between dopamine, comfort eating, and emotional regulation Why overeating is often a coping strategy rather than a food problem How fear, insecurity, and past experiences can influence weight loss efforts The surprising ways your brain may be trying to keep you "safe" by holding onto weight Why addressing the root cause matters more than finding another diet Dara also shares her own personal story and explains why understanding your patterns is often the missing piece for women who have spent decades trying to lose weight. If you've ever wondered why you keep repeating behaviors that seem to work against your goals, this episode will help you understand what's really happening beneath the surface. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Judy Ho's Self-Sabotage Quiz Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke Ready to go deeper? Join Dara's live workshop experience: Stop Sabotaging Your Weight Loss June 23-26 This four-day masterclass will help you uncover the hidden patterns driving your eating habits and teach you how to create lasting change from the inside out. Learn more and register: https://www.daratomasson.com/masterclass-self-sabotage Want to learn more about how Dara can help you stop sabotaging your weight loss? Book a call with her to explore options - https://www.daratomasson.com/contact
Transcribe →255. 3 Ways You Are Self-Sabotaging and How to Overcome Them
Jun 400:21:01Tap to summarizeWhy do things seem to fall apart right when they were finally going well? In this episode of the Love Yourself Thin Podcast, Dara Thomason dives deep into the real roots of self-sabotage — not as laziness or lack of discipline, but as old survival patterns that once helped you feel safe, accepted, and connected. Dara explores how many women unknowingly carry childhood coping mechanisms into adulthood, especially around food, productivity, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. What once protected you may now be quietly exhausting you. In this episode, Dara discusses: The surprising origin of the word self-sabotage Why perfectionism, people-pleasing, and procrastination are actually protective strategies How childhood conditioning shapes adult behaviors The "triple P" framework that reveals hidden coping patterns Why your nervous system resists change, even when you want it How your internal "thermostat" keeps pulling you back to familiar patterns Why self-awareness is the first step toward real freedom Dara also walks listeners through a powerful self-sabotage assessment inspired by Dr. Judy Ho's work and explains how fear, control, and shaky self-worth quietly influence daily decisions. This episode is not about trying harder. It's about finally understanding yourself with compassion. Masterclass: Stop Sabotaging Your Weight Loss 📅 June 23–26 This live 4-day masterclass will help women uncover the emotional and psychological patterns underneath self-sabotage so they can stop fighting themselves and finally create lasting change. You'll learn: Why you keep repeating the same cycles How to stop using food as emotional relief The nervous system's role in sabotage patterns How to build self-trust instead of self-punishment Register here: https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/masterclass-self-sabotage Take the quiz mentioned in this episode - https://drjudyho.com/wp-content/uploads/stop-self-sabotage_Self-Sabotage_Assessment_Online_Quiz.pdf Connect with Dara: Instagram: @dara_tomasson If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and share it with another woman who needs this message.
Transcribe →254. Self Governance Makes Permanent Weight Loss Possible
May 2800:21:23Tap to summarizeFor the last three episodes, we looked at the wreckage. We uncovered how shame became embedded into our beliefs about food and body image. We exposed the control trap that taught us to distrust ourselves. We examined the comparison trap that convinced us we were never enough. But awareness is not freedom. Today, we stop studying the map of the trap… and start walking the pathway out. In this episode of Love Yourself Thin, Dara introduces the concept of self-governance — learning to trust yourself again instead of outsourcing your worth, your food choices, and your body to rules, trends, and external authority. You'll learn: • The difference between control and self-governance • Why control feels loud, rigid, and fear-based • How self-governance creates confidence, peace, and freedom • Why permanent weight loss is simpler than you've been taught • How emotional buffering keeps women stuck (food, scrolling, shopping, overworking) • The question that changes everything: What feeling am I avoiding? • Why responsibility creates freedom (not blame) • The 5 steps Dara teaches for permanent weight loss: Weight loss science is simple Learn how to create and trust your own eating plan Feel your feelings instead of eating them Take full responsibility for your life Build self-confidence through action and practice • Why your body is not a project to fix—but a home to live inside Dara also shares personal stories about overcoming diet culture, learning self-trust, raising five children, building confidence, and discovering that freedom was never found in another plan—it was found in becoming her own authority. This episode is your invitation to stop asking: "What should I do?" …and start asking: "What do I already know about myself?" You are not broken. You are not behind. You are capable of learning to trust yourself again. Ready to uncover what's really keeping you stuck? Book a free 30-minute coaching call with Dara where you'll explore: • Your relationship with food • Your relationship with your body • The patterns keeping you stuck • Whether coaching support is the right next step for you You are no longer a project. You are a person. For next steps, book a call with Dara! To learn more about permanent weight loss, check out Dara's program Love Yourself Thin.
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