From Sugar Cravings to Food Freedom: How One Client Transformed Her Relationship with Food
Lisa never thought she’d bake brownies without feeling out of control. But a few weeks ago, she told me something that shocked even her: “I didn’t even want to lick the bowl.”
“Sugar has complete control over me.” That’s the first thing Lisa told me when we met—and it’s something I hear from so many women. Feeling tired, frustrated, and constantly battling cravings are symptoms that many women experience, especially women like Lisa in the thick of perimenopause. Every time Lisa tried to cut out sugar, she'd end up binging on it days later, drowning in guilt and shame as a result. She felt like a total failure.
“I just don’t have any willpower,” she told me in our first session, a statement I hear all too often from clients.
But what I saw wasn’t a lack of willpower. It was a cycle of restriction, deprivation, and self-blame that she had been practicing for years.
A couple of weeks ago, Lisa shared an experience she had had the week prior. She said, “I was baking a tray of brownies this morning, something I never would have done a few months ago, and it hit me—I didn’t even want to lick the bowl. Not one part of me craved it. I couldn’t believe it. I never would have thought that would have been possible. The old me would have had a panic attack if I even tried to make brownies. I’d feel totally overwhelmed. I’d argue with myself about whether I ‘should’ have a taste, going back and forth in my mind. Then I’d give in, binge, and feel completely ashamed afterward. It was terrible.”
Lisa’s story was so much more than just brownies. It was about how far she’d come from the day we met.
During the past few months, I helped her:
Challenge old food rules that were keeping her stuck
Reconnect with her body’s natural hunger and fullness cues
Stop assigning morality to food (no more “good” or “bad” foods)
Trust that she could enjoy sweets without spiraling into a binge
She learned that the more she tried to control or restrict sugar, the more power it had over her. So instead of avoiding sweets, we intentionally built them into her eating plan. Not as a reward. Not on “cheat days.” Just as part of a balanced, flexible approach to eating.
Her biggest takeaway?
“When I stopped restricting sugar, it stopped controlling me. Now I feel like I can take it or leave it. Intentionally building sweets into my plan makes me see that there are many days I don’t’ even want them. And on top of that, I’m maintaining a weight that’s ten pounds less—without even really focusing on weight loss. It just feels easy now.”
So many women, especially those in perimenopause, feel like their bodies are working against them…hormones shift, cravings intensify, the scale won’t budge. And understandably, many women turn to more restriction in an attempt to gain control.
But restriction leads to rebellion.
The solution isn’t more discipline—it’s more freedom, more trust, and more compassion.
If you’re struggling with sugar cravings and feeling like you’re eating is out of control, you’re not broken. You’re not addicted. And you don’t need another diet. What you need is a new story. One where you’re not fighting your body—but partnering with it.
Lisa didn’t change overnight. She knew it would take time—but after trying every “diet” out there, unable to achieve the success she was looking for, she was ready for something different…something sustainable…something that was not another “diet”. Through mindset coaching, cultivating an intentional eating practice, and a whole lot of grace, she broke the restrict-binge cycle and found the peace of mind and weight loss she had been seeking for so long. “Today, I made brownies and didn’t even want to lick the bowl—not because I couldn’t, but because I didn’t want to.” That’s food freedom. And it’s absolutely possible for you too.
If you’re tired of feeling out of control around food, stuck in a cycle of cravings and guilt, know this: you’re not alone—and there is a way out. I can help you find peace with food, honor your body, and finally feel good in your skin again. One step at a time. Schedule your free call today and let’s discuss how you too can find food freedom.
