311: Changing My Mindset with Food

Today’s topic is a really vulnerable and honest one and I've been sort of hesitant to cover it. But while putting yourself out there like this is a little scary, it's been impacting my life so much that I wanted to share in hopes it might help and encourage someone else.

In this episode, Jesse and I sit down and talk about my journey of changing my mindset around food and the major shifts that I have experienced in the last few weeks. I talk about why I signed up with a dietitian (it's fully covered by insurance for me and most people!) and what I thought I would get out of it and how it's completely not panned out like I thought!

During my first session, I had some pretty big "a-ha" moments as the dietitian challenged some of my long-held beliefs. She asked me a lot of questions and then explained to me that in eating too few calories for years, especially while under immense physical and emotional stress, I have actually been hurting my body.

I discuss how, over the following weeks, I really struggled to increase my calorie intake, as it felt like "too much food" after restricting for so long and I was scared. I went through a period of intense anxiety and stress as the weight didn't immediately come off, and I ultimately realized that I needed to break free from this unhealthy mindset and get rid of the scale altogether.

I am now focusing on nourishing my body and listening to my hunger cues rather than obsessing over macros or calories. I have experienced a new freedom and energy, I'm working through and processing so much, and I hope to break this cycle for my kids and set an example of true health and wholeness!

This is just the beginning of my journey, but I am so excited to continue to heal and share the process transparently!

In This Episode

[0:36] - I am discussing my as of yet unhealed struggles with food.

[2:24] - Hear how I discovered a dietitian service covered through insurance, prompting some clarity around my health goals.

[9:08] - Despite years of dieting, I couldn’t lose the last five pounds after my fourth pregnancy.

[11:18] - Repeated dieting and surprise pregnancies left my body stressed and resistant to weight loss.

[14:07] - Parenting, fostering, writing books, and business pressures overwhelmed me physically and emotionally.

[17:46] - Realizing that my chronic stress and calorie deficit was damaging me, I began increasing my calorie intake.

[20:00] - Although I was encouraged to eat more, I initially struggled emotionally when weight loss didn’t immediately follow.

[21:27] - Hear how I realized that my unhealthy fixation on weight was an addictive, joyless pursuit of external validation.

[24:17] - I reflect on how I clung to the scale for validation, not realizing how deeply it controlled my self-worth.

[25:14] - Jesse and I discuss how I came to realize that true health isn’t about weight loss but about feeling nourished, energized, and balanced.

[28:58] - I realized that my obsession with the scale was mentally and physically harming me.

[31:37] - Not knowing my weight daily gave me relief and began to break toxic thought patterns.

[33:30] - Hear how I replaced obsessive food tracking with photo-based check-ins, allowing space for more intuitive eating.

[35:09] - Listening to my hunger cues and eating more gave me energy and modeled balance for my kids.

[38:12] - I express gratitude for my dietitian helping me launch a healing journey.

[40:13] - I now practice gratitude for my body’s function, rewiring thought patterns toward healing and self-love.

Links & Resources

Crystal Paine

My Completely Honest Experience With Nourish

Nourish - Hire a Registered Dietitian for $0 Out of Pocket!

Social Media

Crystal Paine on Instagram (@moneysavingmom)

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