Every week I answer a question from a listener with the wish that it will help others too.

Here’s a question I got from Laura who lives Down Under!

She writes…

“Hey there, I’m Laura from Australia. I’ve tried every kind of diet you can think of—keto, fasting, juice cleanses, you name it. And sure, I’ve lost weight fast, but it always comes back just as fast (if not faster). I’m finally ready to do this the right way. I want to lose weight for good, not just for summer. So my question is: What is a sustainable amount of weight loss? Like, what pace is realistic and healthy so I can keep it off long-term?”

Show Notes

Episode summary:

In this episode of The Weight Loss Mindset with Rick Taylar, we dig into what's really driving emotional eating—and why white-knuckling through it never works.

You'll discover how to tell the difference between emotional hunger and the real thing, find ways to calm yourself down that don't involve food, and start changing the story in your head that keeps you trapped in the same frustrating cycle.

This isn't just about what you eat. It's about taking back control.

Important points covered:

• Emotional eating usually happens because something else is missing—it's not about lacking willpower
• When emotions run high, your brain's alarm system takes over and rational thinking goes out the window
• Quick body tricks like moving around, changing your breathing, or simple grounding exercises can stop emotional cravings before they spiral
• Having your own "emotional first-aid kit" ready means you're prepared when triggers hit
• Changing how you see yourself changes how you act and feel over time
• You're not born resilient—you build it by practicing better responses in small moments

Here's the thing about beating emotional eating: you don't need to avoid uncomfortable feelings—you can actually get better at handling them. Pick one tool from this episode and try it today.

Start building that emotional muscle that makes all the difference.

Show Notes

Episode summary:

Discomfort is the most misinterpreted part of change.

Whether it's the physical withdrawal from sugar, the emotional lows that come when dopamine dips, or the mental chaos that shows up when your self-image starts shifting—most people mistake it for failure.

In this episode, we reveal why discomfort isn’t a sign to stop—it’s a sign to lean in.

Important points covered:

• Discomfort during habit change is expected, not a red flag for failure
• Sugar and caffeine withdrawal mimic emotional slumps—but they’re temporary recalibrations
• The “emotional curve” often hits hardest when you’re about to make a breakthrough
• Mental discomfort reflects identity shifts—it's not sabotage, it’s transformation
• You can build a “discomfort muscle” through small reps, frictionless habits, and anchoring wins
• Tracking discomfort wins builds evidence that you’re changing—even when it doesn’t feel like it

Discomfort is the cost of growth, not a punishment. Use it. Build with it. And trust that every moment you move through it, you’re proving to yourself who you’re becoming.

Ready for more tools like this? Be sure to subscribe and share this episode with someone who’s in the thick of their own transformation.