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
242. How Guilt and Regret Hold You Back from Weight Loss
Mar 500:16:22Tap to summarizeIf you regret certain choices you've made around food and you're not sure what to do about it, this episode is for you. In this powerful conversation, Dara Tomasson explores the connection between regret and weight loss, and how unprocessed emotions can quietly shape your patterns with food for years. So many women believe weight struggles are a private failure — something shameful that should be handled alone. But when we begin talking openly about our experiences, something shifts. We relax. We feel hopeful. And real change becomes possible. The Hidden Role of Perfectionism Dara also explores how perfectionism acts as a protective shield. If we look perfect, perform perfectly, or take care of everyone else, maybe we won't be judged or rejected. But perfectionism, procrastination, and people-pleasing are survival strategies — especially for women who learned early that acceptance meant safety. When perfectionism runs the show, weight loss becomes another arena to "prove" worthiness. And when perfectionism inevitably cracks, regret rushes in. Instead of seeing weight regain as data, we interpret it as failure. Emotional Regulation Is the Missing Skill At the heart of this episode is a powerful truth: many of us were never taught emotional regulation. We weren't shown how to feel disappointment. How to process bitterness. How to sit with regret without turning it into self-punishment. So we buffered. Food became an acceptable coping strategy — one that dampened noise, distracted from discomfort, and helped us survive. But if we don't learn how to feel our feelings directly, no diet strategy will create lasting weight loss. The old coping mechanisms will return. Until we slow down and identify the survival patterns underneath — perfectionism, procrastination, people-pleasing — the system remains broken. This episode is a compassionate reminder: You are not bad. You are not weak. You are not incapable of change. You simply didn't get the full picture. When you begin to see how regret, perfectionism, and emotional avoidance have shaped your behaviors, you gain power. You move from shame to awareness. From autopilot to intentional growth. When you learn to process regret instead of reliving it, and practice emotional regulation instead of buffering, everything changes. Listen in and start turning regret into growth. Watch the YouTube video with Dr Benjamin Bikman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyFSkGMWP5Q Connect with Dara: Book a consult call to find out if her program is right for you - https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/contact Follow Dara on Instagram - @dara_tomasson Check out Dara's upcoming live trainings - https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/upcoming-classes-and-events
Transcribe →241. Eating When You Aren't Hungry and What to Do About It
Feb 2600:15:14Tap to summarizeHave you ever caught yourself eating when not hungry and wondered, Why did I just do that? In this episode, Dara Tomasson breaks down what's really happening during emotional eating, especially when it feels automatic or out of your control. If you've ever found yourself eating when full, reaching for food on autopilot, or stuck in patterns of compulsive eating, this conversation will help you understand why. Your brain is wired for survival through something called the motivational triad: stay safe, seek pleasure, avoid pain. When stress, boredom, loneliness, or fear show up, your nervous system may turn to food before you're even consciously aware of it. That doesn't mean something is wrong with you — it means your brain is doing its job. In this episode, you'll learn: ✔️Why eating on autopilot is a safety response ✔️How fear of failure, visibility, abandonment, or rejection can drive emotional eating ✔️The connection between tribal belonging and food ✔️How to separate your actions from your identity ✔️Dara's 5-step "I don't know why I'm eating" protocol This is not about shame. It's about awareness. When you pause, name the feeling, and consciously choose your next step, you move from autopilot into leadership over your own life. If you're ready to go deeper, Dara is hosting a live Emotional Eating Masterclass where you'll practice these tools together and build the emotional intelligence needed to create lasting change. Sign up here - https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/emotional-eating-class You are not broken. You are wired for survival. And you can learn how to work with your brain instead of against it. Connect with Dara: Website: https://daratomasson.com Instagram: @dara_tomasson Book a Free Consult: https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/contact Join Love Yourself Thin: https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/love-yourself-thin
Transcribe →240. What Boredom Eating Really Means
Feb 1900:12:56Tap to summarizeBoredom and restlessness are some of the most misunderstood reasons we overeat. We tell ourselves we're bored, but often what's really happening is that we're avoiding something—desire, growth, pride, even happiness. In this episode, Dara unpacks what boredom is actually protecting you from, why food becomes the default solution, and how to create a simple boredom protocol that doesn't rely on self-control or shame. This one might make you uncomfortable—but that's exactly why you need to hear it. What You'll Learn: The definitions of bored vs. restless (and why the distinction matters) The real question: Why do you let yourself believe you're bored? What boredom is really protecting you from: happiness, success, feeling proud, confidence, connection The core issue underneath boredom eating: WORTHINESS The Bored Eating Protocol (5 simple steps) Where "bored" sits on the Emotional Wheel (under "bad" → bored → indifferent/apathetic) Alternative words for "I'm bored": unsatisfied, unhappy, confused, directionless, uncertain The Bored Eating Protocol: Name it - "Oh, I'm telling myself I'm bored." Question it - "Am I actually bored, or am I avoiding something?" (Go back to the definition: feeling weary because something is uninteresting or repetitive, a lack of stimulation) Identify what you're avoiding - "What would I do right now if I believed I was worthy? If I didn't have to prove myself to anyone?" Take one small action toward that thing - Not the whole project. Just one stitch. One phone call. One sentence. Notice - How does it feel to move toward what you actually want instead of away from it? Powerful Story from This Episode: Dara shares the memory of walking into her grandma's kitchen at age six during Christmas. There was a mountain of dishes—and her grandma was laughing and having a ball. No paper plates, just joy in the work. That moment changed Dara's life: "You can take any job, any task, and decide if it's going to be awesome or not. I've never been bored in my life because I made that decision." But her grandma didn't have the tools to deal with stress. She turned to Coke (calling it her "medicine"), food, and baking. She had a heart attack at 64. This is why Dara does this work—so women don't have to keep beating themselves up and feeling trapped in their own bodies. What Boredom Is Really Keeping You Away From: Happiness - What if you pursued what you really wanted? Success - What if you actually finished that quilt and entered the show? Feeling proud - What if you achieved something and had to own it? Confidence - What if you believed in yourself? Connection - What if you put yourself out there? Resources Mentioned: Three Ways to Work with Dara: Join Love Yourself Thin Membership - The full program with ongoing support and community Emotional Eating Mini-Class - Free Masterclass Free 20-Minute Consult - Book a call to identify what's blocking you (Dara shares that one woman got so much clarity in just 20 minutes from YouTube) Watch this episode on YouTube! Coming Up Next Week: Episode 241: Emotional Eating When You Don't Even Know Why You Ate - The most mysterious type of emotional eating, where we pull everything together.
Transcribe →239. Strategies for Emotional Eating When You're Lonely
Feb 1200:17:38Tap to summarizeLoneliness doesn't always look like being alone. Sometimes it shows up as feeling disconnected, unseen, or like you're carrying everything by yourself. If food has been your go-to in those moments, hear this clearly: It makes sense. Food was there for you. It gave comfort and relief when connection felt out of reach. In this episode, you'll learn why eating when you feel lonely isn't a lack of self-control—it's a learned regulation tool. And more importantly, you'll discover how to create real connection without turning food into the only solution. What You'll Learn: The Emotional Wheel: How loneliness sits on the spectrum between sadness and feeling abandoned Why turning to food when you're lonely makes perfect biological sense (dopamine, vulnerability, and survival) The difference between true connection and false connection (and why social media feels like sugar) How to create true connection through physical, creative, and spiritual practices The 4-step process for building your relationship with yourself: Recognize that 95% of your thoughts are on autoplay Do a thought capture throughout the day Question one belief you've been carrying Curate that belief in your favor Ways to Create True Connection (Mentioned in Episode): Physical Connection: Hugs (even self-hugs—hand on heart, shoulders squeeze) Real conversations on the phone or in person Physical exercise (walking, dancing, stretching) Warmth practices (hot tub, heated car seat, fire, warm blankets) Creative Connection: Sewing, quilting, knitting Playing music or singing Clay or Play-Doh Sand, gardening Other Forms: Listening to music that moves you Making food mindfully for yourself or others Journaling Reaching out to one person (even just a text) Religious practice, prayer, meditation Resources Mentioned: Emotional Eating Mini-Class - The all-year-round version of Dara's hit holiday class, now with office hours where you can get expert coaching on concepts like "Pause Before Pantry." This isn't just another online class you hope to watch—the office hours make all the difference. Join the 3 day masterclass here - https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/free-emotional-eating-masterclass Connect with Dara: Website: https://daratomasson.com Instagram: @dara_tomasson YouTube: Ask questions in the comments—Dara loves interacting with you! Leave a Podcast Review: It makes such a difference!
Transcribe →238. Eating When You're Stressed or Overwhelmed
Feb 500:09:53Tap to summarizeIf you've ever reached for food when you're stressed and then immediately judged yourself for it, this episode is for you. Stress eating isn't a willpower problem—it's a nervous system response. Your brain is actually doing exactly what it was designed to do: protect you. In this episode, you'll discover what stress actually does inside your body, why "I'll start fresh Monday" advice completely misses the mark, and the 5-step protocol that will help you close the mental and emotional loops that drain your energy and keep you stuck in overwhelm. What You'll Learn: Why your brain scans for danger 5x more than it looks for safety (and what this has to do with stress eating) The role of cortisol in triggering cravings for quick energy—salty, sugary, and fatty foods Why modern stress (deadlines, family conflict, financial worry) doesn't go away after you eat The "car analogy": You don't need to know how to fix your brain, but you do need to understand how it works The 5-step protocol for closing thought loops and creating permanent change: Accept/Acknowledge Ask Action Assess Acclimatize Resources Mentioned: Emotional Eating Mini-Class - Learn how to handle emotional eating 24/7, 12 months of the year. This revamped class includes office hours where you can get personalized support. Join the free masterclass and learn more - https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/free-emotional-eating-masterclass Connect with Dara: Website: https://daratomasson.com Instagram: @dara_tomasson Join Dara live for her next training! - https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/upcoming-classes-and-events Watch this episode and more on YouTube - https://youtu.be/x23lLj3rKIs
Transcribe →237. 4 Words for Weight Loss Success
Jan 2900:10:44Tap to summarizeWe're ending January with the four words that can change your relationship with food, your body, and yourself forever. In this episode, you're going to learn: Why "This will not stand" and "I will not give up" keep you locked in battle The clinic lobby story and why "calm down" never works — on anyone The real difference between addressing actions vs. needs The moment a therapist flipped the switch with one question How acknowledging emotions creates instant empathy and relief Why force creates resistance — and how it turns you into your own enemy The four most powerful words: "What do I need?" How to use this question to meet fundamental needs directly Why Connie Rice's work proves you cannot legislate behavior change How compassion turns enemies (even inner ones) into allies Key Takeaway: The next time you're face-to-face with cravings, resistance, or old patterns, don't attack yourself. Instead ask: "What do I need?" Those four words are where permanent weight loss truly begins. Inside Love Yourself Thin, you'll learn to meet your needs, calm your brain, and build a life you love. This is where your repair, renewal, and long-term freedom begins — no matter your age, your history, or how long you've struggled. I've done this myself, and I've helped hundreds of women do the same. You deserve that freedom too. Learn more: https://daratomasson.com Catch more of Dara's free trainings, sign up here: https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/upcoming-classes-and-events Watch this episode (and more!) on YouTube - https://youtu.be/2ptWyMgnyq4
Transcribe →236. Weight Loss Isn't What You Think It Is
Jan 2200:16:49Tap to summarizeThree weeks into January — this is the perfect moment to ask: Why do you want to lose weight? Your answer determines everything. In this episode, you'll discover: ✔️Why your past "failures" don't diminish your worthiness ✔️The life-changing difference between "needing" to lose weight vs. "wanting" to ✔️Self-esteem vs. self-compassion — and why one abandons you when you fail ✔️How self-esteem traps you in conditional worth ✔️How self-compassion creates solid, stable self-worth that shows up when you need it most ✔️Why compassion is collaboration, not domination or punishment ✔️How new solutions appear when you stop trying to earn your value ✨The truth: you never had to earn the right to care for yourself Key Takeaway: Your worth was decided long before your weight ever changed. You matter now. And from that place, you're allowed to want more for yourself. Inside Love Yourself Thin, you'll learn how permanent weight loss comes from caring for yourself — not proving yourself. Learn more: https://daratomasson.com Get the free Perfectionist Recovery Program Course Here - https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/opt-in-perfectionist-recovery-mini-course Follow Dara on Instagram @dara_tomasson
Transcribe →235. Become Your Own Weight Loss Ally
Jan 1500:15:41Tap to summarizeMid-January is when most women feel the inner critic ramp up. If you're feeling the pressure, the comparison, the self-judgment — this episode will set you free. You're about to learn: My personal story of losing 50 pounds by becoming my own ally Why fighting with yourself guarantees that everyone loses Kristin Neff's research on the brutal things we say to ourselves The Connie Rice story: 20 years of lawsuits vs. one compassionate question Why you cannot legislate behavior change — in yourself or anyone else How compassion led to a 70% drop in homicides in Watts The critical mindset shift from "What's wrong with me?" to "What do I need?" How collaboration with yourself unlocks solutions you couldn't see before Key Takeaway: Compassion isn't weakness — compassion is power. When you stop being your own enemy, everything gets easier. Ready to stop the internal war? Inside Love Yourself Thin, you get lifetime access to tools that transform you from critic to collaborator so change finally sticks. Learn more: https://daratomasson.com Take my self-assessment quiz to find out what subconscious food thoughts are holding you back from your weight loss goals - https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/self-assessment-uncovering-subconscious-food-beliefs Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dara_tomasson Watch this episode (and more!) on my YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/7lbAPfmnWJg
Transcribe →234. Weight Loss is a Symptom - What You're Really Solving
Jan 800:20:17Tap to summarizeOne week into the new year and you've probably been bombarded with diet ads. But here's the truth no one says out loud: The food isn't the problem. In this episode, you'll discover: Why weight loss is a symptom — not the root problem The client story that exposes what's actually driving overeating The "gunman story" that explains why unmet needs escalate everything The four fundamental human needs your overeating may be trying to meet Why diets fail: you accidentally become your own enemy The bullseye model: separating actions from needs How to skip behavior battles and go straight to the underlying need The magical, life-changing question: "What do I need right now?" Key Takeaway: When your real needs are met — safety, comfort, connection, control — the urge to overeat dissolves. Watch Stephen Trzeciak's TED Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elW69hyPUuI Stop treating symptoms. Start solving the real problem. Inside Love Yourself Thin, you'll learn how your brain, emotions, and body actually work together so permanent transformation feels possible… and peaceful. Learn more: https://daratomasson.com Watch this episode, and more, on Dara's YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/7lbAPfmnWJg Follow Dara on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dara_tomasson
Transcribe →220. How Hating Math Will Guarantee Your Next Breakthrough (Yes, Really)
Oct 900:24:52Tap to summarizeIn this deeply personal episode, Dara reveals how her childhood struggle with mathematics became the foundation for her revolutionary approach to weight loss coaching. Key Topics Covered: ✔️The French immersion math disaster: How ambitious goals without proper fundamentals led to years of struggle and self-doubt ✔️The memorization trap: Why trying to follow steps without understanding concepts creates frustration in both math and weight loss ✔️Emotional self-preservation modes: How trauma responses (fight, flight, freeze, people-please) keep us stuck in cycles of avoidance ✔️The teaching breakthrough: How becoming a math teacher finally revealed the missing fundamentals and transformed Dara's relationship with the subject The Weight Loss Connection: Dara draws powerful parallels between struggling with math and struggling with weight loss: ✨Both involve missing fundamental skills (emotional regulation vs. mathematical concepts) ✨Both trigger shame and "I'm broken" narratives ✨Both can be solved by going back to build proper foundations ✨Both require self-compassion during the learning process Main Takeaways: 🗝️You're not broken - you're missing fundamentals. Weight loss isn't about willpower; it's about building emotional regulation skills. 🗝️Avoidance keeps you stuck. Just like avoiding math homework, avoiding difficult feelings maintains the problem. 🗝️Curiosity beats perfectionism. The member who keeps asking for help with bread is making more progress than someone who gives up. 🗝️Small traumas create big patterns. Childhood experiences of feeling "not smart enough" can drive decades of self-sabotage. Perfect for: Anyone who feels "broken" around food, women who've tried every diet without lasting success, and those ready to address the emotional fundamentals of weight loss rather than just the surface behaviors. Action Step: Identify one area where you feel defeated and ask yourself: "What fundamentals might I be missing?" instead of "What's wrong with me?" Ready to take it the next step further? Book a call with Dara or jump into her program and discover your next breakthrough! Check out all the support options HERE Also, don't forget to sign up for the Quilter's Life Summit - a free virtual summit that runs from October 21-23, 2025. Sign up HERE Watch this episode on YouTubeHow Hating Math Will Guarantee Your Next Breakthrough (Yes, Really)
Transcribe →