Binge Free Bestie
Diet culture is bullsh*t. Willpower is a lie. If you've ever secretly binged after a "good" eating day, woken up swearing tomorrow's the day, or wondered why every other area of your life is sorted except food ... this is your podcast. Binge Free Bestie is the no-BS poddy helping women break up with binge eating, emotional eating, and the diet mentality for good. No shame. No restriction. No more Monday restarts. Nic Gaviria is a registered counsellor (Master of Counselling) based in New Zealand, who's walked the binge eating recovery path herself.
Episodes
80: Introducing...Diet Culture Doris. Your inner biatch.
That voice that says "you shouldn't eat that"? It's not you. It never was.In this episode I'm introducing you to Diet Culture Doris, the name I give the diet voice behind your food noise. If you've ever finished a meal and immediately started planning how to "make up for it," or called yourself disgusting for eating a biscuit, that's her talking. I break dow
79: The Real Reason High Achievers Get Hooked on Quick Fixes (Ozempic, Cleanses, Cutting Carbs)
Why Smart Women Keep Falling for Quick Fixes That Don't WorkIf you're a high-achieving woman who has tried every food fix going: cleanses, cutting carbs, GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, and you're still stuck, this episode is for you.Because the fix isn't failing because you're doing it wrong. It's failing because it's solving the wrong problem.In this episode I break d
78- Why a joyless day creates a biological drive to binge.
You eat well all day, hold it together, and then lose the plot at night. This episode explains why, and it's not a willpower problem.I'm talking about the joy deficit. When your daily life has very little genuine pleasure, your brain goes looking for dopamine the fastest way it knows how. Food. In secret. Frantic. Followed by shame.I break down the neuroscience of why a joyless day creates
Day 4 BREAKING UP WITH DIET CULTURE, MINI SERIES: If You've Tried Everything and Are Still Stuck, This Is Why
Ready to say goodbye to the binge-restrict cycle for good? The Break Up is open for enrolment now for the August 2026 round, and doors close Monday August 3rd.👉 Join here: https://stan.store/bingefreebestieUse code FOUNDINGBESTIE for $500 AUD off as a founding member of this newly elevated round.Come find me on Instagram @bingefreebestie, or flick me a DM if you've got questions before you div
Day 3 BREAKING UP WITH DIET CULTURE, MINI SERIES: The Number One Reason You Keep Overeating (and How to Fix It, For Good)
Ready to say goodbye to the binge-restrict cycle for good? The Break Up is open for enrolment now for the August 2026 round, and doors close Monday August 3rd.👉 Join here: https://checkout.bingefreebestie.com/the-break-upUse code FOUNDINGBESTIE for $500 AUD off as a founding member of this newly elevated round.Come find me on Instagram @bingefreebestie, or flick me a DM if you've got questions
Day 2 BREAKING UP WITH DIET CULTURE, MINI SERIES: The High Price of Chasing A Fix, How Much It's REALLY Costing You
Ready to say goodbye to the binge-restrict cycle for good? The Break Up is open for enrolment now for the August 2026 round, and doors close Monday August 3rd.👉 Join here: https://checkout.bingefreebestie.com/the-break-upUse code FOUNDINGBESTIE for $500 AUD off as a founding member of this newly elevated round.Come find me on Instagram @bingefreebestie, or flick me a DM if you've got questions
Day 1: BREAKING UP WITH DIET CULTURE, MINI SERIES: The Last Time You'll Ever Be Gaslit by the BS
Ready to say goodbye to the binge-restrict cycle for good? The Break Up is open for enrolment now for the August 2026 round, and doors close Monday August 3rd.👉 Join here: https://checkout.bingefreebestie.com/the-break-upUse code FOUNDINGBESTIE for $500 AUD off as a founding member of this newly elevated round.Come find me on Instagram @bingefreebestie, or flick me a DM if you've got questions bef
Ep 77: Your Mum's on a Diet Again. Your Partner Made a Comment. Here's What to Do.
You can do all the inner work and still fall apart at the dinner table because someone commented on your plate, your body, or even their own.This episode is about the relational side of binge and emotional eating. Your mum who's always on a diet. Your partner who makes comments. The friend who pushes food. The friend who won't eat anything. The people who love you and still make eating so
Ep 76: Why Your ADHD Brain Eats for Stimulation (Not Hunger)
Ever found yourself standing at the pantry with an empty packet and zero memory of opening it? You weren't hungry. You weren't even really thinking. This is part two of the ADHD and binge eating series, and today we're going deep on stim eating, one of the most misunderstood eating patterns for neurospicy and neurodivergent women.I'm Nic Gaviria, registered counsellor, recovered bi
75- ADHD & Binge Eating 101: Why Your Brain Was Never the Problem
This one is personal. I just turned 33 and I recently received a late ADHD diagnosis, and it cracked open a whole new layer of understanding around my own binge eating history. In this episode I'm sharing my story, the research behind the ADHD and binge eating connection, six specific ADHD behaviours that drive disordered eating (with real-life examples), and one practical tool you can start
74: Why You Binge More When You're Broke
Financial Stress Eating: How Money Anxiety Hijacks Your BodyYou're not eating because you're hungry. You're eating because your nervous system thinks you're about to starve.This episode is about financial stress eating. Specifically, why money anxiety sends your body straight into survival mode and makes food feel completely out of control.If you've ever noticed that a bad bank
73: Why You Binge After a Good Streak
You had a streak going. You felt good. Then you binged. And your brain immediately called it self-sabotage.That word is doing you real harm. This episode is about why.A question came in from Deborah inside the Bestie Squad asking why she feels great during a streak of no bingeing, and then it all falls apart. I'd bet most of you know exactly what that feels like. So I'm answering it proper
72: Poor Body Image Cost Me Intimacy. Food Freedom Brought It Back.. Food Freedom Brought It Back.
Nobody warned me that hating my body and struggling with food, would also blow up my relationship.That’s not what the diet books sell us. Certainly not what the wellness content I was consuming by the bucketload sold either. Nobody connected those dots for me, so I’m to have some real gal to gal chat with you today.This episode is about what body shame and binge eating actually do to your sex life
71: Before You Buy Reta, Listen to This
You've seen the reels. The before-and-afters. The influencer who says DM me to find out more, and then sends you a link to buy a peptide stack.This episode is about Retatrutide, known as Reta, and what's actually going on behind the content you're seeing. I'm not here to lecture you or tell you what to do with your body. But I do want to make sure you have the full picture before y
70: Strong Is the New Skinny?
Hilary Duff. Times Square. "Stronger, not smaller." I saw it and felt genuinely warm. Then I sat with it longer.This episode is about why that campaign is a better message, and why it's still not the whole picture. We talk about the 2000s body image era millennials grew up in, thin privilege and who gets to front campaigns about body change, and why swapping "I want to be smalle
69: Raising Kids Who Don't Inherit Our Food Stuff
The women in your life weren't trying to mess you up. They genuinely thought they were helping. But some of what they said, about food, about bodies, about their own thighs , stuck. And now you're carrying it.This episode is about breaking that chain.I've got Dr Chelsea Arnold back on the pod. She's a clinical psych who specialises in eating and body image, and she's also a mum
68: Dopamine Made You Do It
Dopamine Did It. Not You.Short episode. Big shift.If you've spent years thinking you have no willpower around food, this episode is going to reframe everything. I break down what dopamine actually does in the brain, why certain foods and situations create automatic urges you didn't choose, and why every diet you've tried has been working against your neurology, not with it.You'll w
67: Can You Actually Lose Weight Without Dieting? The Honest Answer.
Nobody told me that healing would feel like loss.That one day you'd be doing all the right things, no bingeing, eating well, feeling calmer around food than you ever had, and still feeling this quiet grief about the body you've been chasing for years.That's what this episode is about.Body grief is real. It's the part of recovery that nobody puts on the sales page because it's n
66: The Clean Plate Club: How One Childhood Rule Quietly Fuels Binge Eating
You're not "bad at stopping", you're just following a rule you learned as a kid that's keeping you stuck in the binge cycle. Ever finish your plate even when you're full? That's the Clean Plate Club at work. And it's one of the sneakiest drivers of binge eating and overeating.In this episode:- Why you keep eating past fullness (hint: it's not about willpower)-
65: Why We Eat One Way in Public and Binge in Secret
Raise your hand if you've ever ordered the salad when you actually wanted the burger. In this episode, we're diving into something nobody talks about: the double life so many of us live with food.We perform "good eating" in front of others: ordering salads, making comments about being "healthy," projecting an image of control. Then we binge in private, when no one's
Ep 64: The Binge Hangover: How to Survive the Morning After Without Spiraling
What to Do the Morning After a Binge (The Anti-Diet Recovery Protocol)You wake up and it hits you before you're even fully conscious, the dread, the memories, the wrappers, the promises to "start fresh Monday." If you've ever lived through a binge hangover, this episode is for you.In this deeply honest conversation, Nic walks you through exactly what to do the morning after a bin
Ep 63: 5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Spent a Decade Fighting Food
Can I be really honest with you today?This episode is personal. Like, properly personal. I'm taking you through the actual chapters of my life — the eleven-year-old me at the kitchen table, the bullied teenager with the (truly catastrophic) bowl cut, the uni student eating chips alone in her room, and the woman who had bariatric surgery and was still binge eating within months.But here's w
Ep 62: Your Mum's Relationship With Food Became Yours. It Doesn't Have to Become Your Kid's.
Is your mum's diet culture still living in your head? Here's how to make sure it doesn't reach your kids. Most of us grew up in homes where dieting was just... normal. Mum was always on something. The body comments were constant. Food was either good or bad, clean or naughty, and we absorbed every single bit of it. Now we're beginning to raise kids of our own or have young people i
Ep 61: Before You Book An Ozempic Appointment, Listen to This
The food noise goes quiet on GLP-1s and peptides, and that relief is real. But what happens when the injection stops? In this episode, Nic shares her own experience with bariatric surgery and why the binge came back anyway, breaks down what the research actually says about GLP-1s , peptides and eating behaviour, and uses the story of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Layla Taylor as a cultural mir
Ep 60: The Real Reason You Can't Stop Eating That One Food (It Has Nothing to Do With Hunger)
Do you have a food that lives on a weird pedestal in your brain? One you either avoid completely… or eat the entire thing in one sitting?In today's episode, Nic shares the psychology behind why certain foods, especially childhood favourites, can end up carrying a disproportionate emotional charge. Spoiler: it's not about the food.In this episode, Nic covers:Why your brain links specific fo
Ep 59: High Achievers Have Secret Food Rituals
If you're driven, capable, and holding everything together, and you're also quietly struggling with food, this episode is for you.Today we're talking about the link between high performance stress and secret food rituals. Not just for corporate women climbing ladders, but for the mum managing the household like a project manager, the partner carrying the invisible mental load, the woma
Ep 58: Diet Culture is Having a Rebrand
The Diet Culture Survival Guide: How to Handle Diet Culture ChatDiet culture hasn't disappeared.It has rebranded.In 2026 it sounds like wellness, optimisation, hormone balance, metabolic health, fasting windows, protein targets and “discipline challenges.”And while you might be doing real work healing your relationship with food, navigating these conversations in everyday life can still feel…
Ep 57: From “Too Fat” to “Too Thin”: The Trap Women Can’t Escape
Kelly Osbourne, Diet Culture & Why “Concern” Is Still Body SurveillanceThe internet has a lot to say about women’s bodies right now.In this episode, I'm diving into the public discourse around Kelly Osbourne and the intense speculation about women’s changing bodies- from Ozempic rumors to “concern” about health.Kelly Osbourne was relentlessly fat-shamed as a teenager. Now, years later, she
Ep 56: Is Body Positivity Dead?
Body image conversations are LOUD right now.Between the ANTM documentary resurfacing millennial trauma… and the viral New York Times interview where former body positivity influencer Gabriella Lascano stepped away from the movement…People are feeling hurt. Confused. Betrayed. Defensive.And if that’s you- this episode will steady you.As a therapist who specialises in binge eating, emotional eating
Ep 55: Americas Next Top Model, Tyra Banks & The Cultural Training Of Millennial Body Shame
Bestie! This week we’re unpacking the new America’s Next Top Model documentary- and the impact shows like this had on millennial women’s relationships with their bodies.ANTM didn’t just entertain us.It normalised:public body critiquecomparison between womenshrinking yourself to be chosenand managing food to manage your appearanceContestants were weighed on camera, told to lose weight publicly, pre
Ep 54: The Lie We Inherited: Millennial Diet Culture Trauma + The Roots of Binge Eating
In this episode, I'm going to delve into the complex relationship between millennial women and their bodies, exploring how societal standards and cultural conditioning have shaped their experiences with food and body image. I share more of my personal journey through binge eating and the impact of diet culture, emphasizing the importance of community and self-compassion in the recovery process
Ep 53: The Truth About Weight Loss , Body Image and Binge Eating Recovery: Insights from My Personal Experience
This episode explores the nuanced journey of weight loss and self-acceptance, emphasizing the importance of balance and well-being in binge and eating disorder recovery. I share my personal experiences and insights, and invite you to reflect on your own. Let's go!Take Aways:Weight loss is not a one-size-fits-all solution.Self-worth is not determined by body size.Reflective journaling can aid p
Ep 52: I Didn’t Win $100,000 by Hustling- I Won by Healing My Relationship with Food and Body
I didn’t win because I hustled harder.I won because I healed first.In this episode, I’m sharing the real story behind my recent trip to LA- winning a business challenge, meeting Steven Bartlett, and being given $100,000 to invest into my future- and why none of it would have been possible without healing my relationship with food.For years, binge eating, restriction, and body obsession consumed my
Ep 51: New Year Food Freedom Reset: Integration, Readiness & Calling In Your Food-Freedom Year
This episode is part of a special 7-day series designed to support you through the holiday season and beyond — with practical tools, nervous-system regulation, and compassionate psychoeducation around food, eating, and body image.The Resource Bundle has expired, check out link below for other free resources.Lets work together bestie, check out how here: https://stan.store/bingefreebestie
Ep 50: New Year Food Freedom Reset, Day 6, Body Image & Comparison: How to Stop the Spiral When Your Mind Turns on You
This episode is part of a special 7-day series designed to support you through the holiday season and beyond — with practical tools, nervous-system regulation, and compassionate psychoeducation around food, eating, and body image.The Resource Bundle has expired, check out link below for other free resources.Lets work together bestie, check out how here: https://stan.store/bingefreebestie
Ep 49: New Year Food Freedom Reset, Day 5, Emotional Eating: What It’s Really About (And What Helps)
This episode is part of a special 7-day series designed to support you through the holiday season and beyond — with practical tools, nervous-system regulation, and compassionate psychoeducation around food, eating, and body image.The Resource Bundle has expired, check out link below for other free resources.Lets work together bestie, check out how here: https://stan.store/bingefreebestie
Ep 48: New Year Food Freedom Reset: Day 4: Food Rules- Where They Came From (And Why They Keep You Stuck)
This episode is part of a special 7-day series designed to support you through the holiday season and beyond — with practical tools, nervous-system regulation, and compassionate psychoeducation around food, eating, and body image.The Resource Bundle has expired, check out link below for other free resources.Lets work together bestie, check out how here: https://stan.store/bingefreebestie
Ep 47: New Year Food Freedom Reset: Self-Worth, Creating Safety in Your Nervous System
This episode is part of a special 7-day series designed to support you through the holiday season and beyond — with practical tools, nervous-system regulation, and compassionate psychoeducation around food, eating, and body image.The Resource Bundle has expired, check out link below for other free resources.Lets work together bestie, check out how here: https://stan.store/bingefreebestie
Ep 46: New Year Food Freedom Reset, Day 2 – Why Food Feels Loud (Using the HALT Tool)
This episode is part of a special 7-day series designed to support you through the holiday season and beyond — with practical tools, nervous-system regulation, and compassionate psychoeducation around food, eating, and body image.The Resource Bundle has expired, check out link below for other free resources.Lets work together bestie, check out how here: https://stan.store/bingefreebestie
Ep 45: New Year Food Freedom Reset: Day 1, A Different Way to Start 2026
This episode is part of a special 7-day series designed to support you through the holiday season and beyond — with practical tools, nervous-system regulation, and compassionate psychoeducation around food, eating, and body image.The Resource Bundle has expired, check out link below for other free resources.Lets work together bestie, check out how here: https://stan.store/bingefreebestie
Ep 44: 2025 Wrapped: Building Binge Free Bestie, Backing Myself, and What’s Coming in 2026
From behind-the-scenes business growth to personal food freedom reflections — this episode is a real, honest 2025 wrap and a look at what’s coming in 2026.Lets work together bestie, check out how here: https://stan.store/bingefreebestie
Ep 43: Surviving The Holidays Without the Food Guilt, Chaos, or “I’ll Start Again in January” Spiral
Christmas and the holiday season is meant to be joyful—but if food guilt, binge urges, and family comments hijack the season for you, this episode is your permission slip to do things differently.In this episode, Nic breaks down why this time of year feels so hard around food (hint: it’s not a lack of willpower), and shares therapist-approved tools to help you stay calm, grounded, and confident—wi
42: Feeling Triggered by Celebrities Getting Thinner?
There’s a LOT of body talk in the world right now - weight-loss injections, shrinking celebrities, changing bodies everywhere - and if it’s making you feel wobbly, this episode is your soft landing.Nic breaks down why feeling triggered is totally normal (and not a setback), how you can respect other people’s choices and still have an emotional reaction, and simple tools to help you stay grounded i
41: Mirror Anxiety, Scale Obsession & Photo Checking
In this episode, we’re diving into the sneaky world of body checking — the mirror glancing, photo zooming, scale obsessing, pinching and pulling that quietly fuels body anxiety and keeps you stuck in the binge–restrict cycle. You’ll learn why these tiny habits make your body feel like the enemy, how they dysregulate your nervous system, and the gentle, realistic steps to break free (without going
40: Purging and Self-Vomitting, Recovery Story with Rachel Evans
In this episode, I invite in Rachel Evans, a UK-based psychologist, to share her personal journey with purging and binge eating, discuss the impact of diet culture, relationships, and social media on her mental health. Rachel provides us with insights into the psychological aspects of eating disorders and offers practical steps for those struggling with similar issues. Our conversation highlights
39: Mindful Eating Tips- How to Actually Enjoy Your Food
Do you ever sit down to eat, blink, and realize the food’s already gone? Or find yourself snacking while scrolling and not even tasting what you just ate? In this week’s episode I'm unpacking the truth about mindful eating- what it really means (and what it definitely doesn’t). Spoiler: it’s not about chewing an almond for 3 hours or trying to eat like a monk.Mindful eating is about connection
38: Still Hungry After Eating? How to Feel More Satisfied
Have you ever eaten a full meal and still felt hungry? Or finished dinner only to find yourself back in the kitchen 10 minutes later “just picking”?In this episode I explore:Why you might still feel hungry after eating (it’s not lack of willpower!)The difference between physical and emotional hungerHow to build balanced, satisfying meals that actually keep you fullThe emotional side of “never feel
37: Make Food Fun Again: Zero Guilt, Real Satisfaction, with Toni Rudd
Full but still standing at the fridge? You’re not “bad”- you’re under-satisfied. In this weeks poddy episode I have the amazing dietician Toni Rudd with us and she has shared simple strategies to enhance satisfaction and add more fun to your meals!Plus empowered meal planning ideas that you’ll actually follow. Yay.Toni Rudd: https://www.thebingedietitian.comLets work together bestie, check out how
36: Why We Want a Sweet Treat After Dinner (And Why That’s Okay!)
💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode✨ Why we crave sweets after dinner — the real (and normal) biological, habitual, and emotional reasons behind it.✨ Why it’s okay to honour those cravings — how unconditional permission reduces the power struggle with food.✨ Practical tools to find balance — from eating enough dinner to building your comfort toolbox (without using food as your only strategy).Lets
35: Eating When Bored- When 1 Snack Turns Into 100
💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode✨ Why we eat when we’re bored — and why it’s not about willpower or self-control.✨ How boredom, restriction, and guilt fuel overeating — and how to stop the spiral.✨ 3 practical mindset and behaviour shifts to bring awareness, compassion, and choice back to the table.Lets work together bestie, check out how here: https://stan.store/bingefreebestie
34: When One Addiction Ends… and Another Begins (Transfer Addiction in Recovery)
Have you ever stopped one habit… only to find yourself leaning on another? 🙋🏻♀️Maybe you ditched dieting, but now wine o’clock is calling every night. Or you stopped drinking, but suddenly food feels out of control again. This, bestie, is called transfer addiction — and it’s way more common (and normal!) in recovery than you think.In this episode, we’re breaking down:✨ Why transfer addiction happ
33: How to Support Your Partner Through Binge + Emotional Eating
If you love someone who struggles with binge or emotional eating, it can feel confusing (and sometimes really frustrating) to know what to do or say. Do you encourage them? Step back? Hide the snacks? (Spoiler: please don’t do that 🙅♀️).In this episode, I’m breaking down how to show up as the supportive, safe, and loving partner they need — without adding guilt or pressure. Whether you’re the one
32: The Guilt Spiral: How to Stop the Shame After Eating
Today, we’re talking about something I know so many of you struggle with: the guilt spiral after eating. You know the drill… you eat something, maybe it’s a binge, maybe it’s just food you’ve labelled as ‘bad,’ and suddenly you’re drowning in shame. That heavy, suffocating voice saying, ‘Why did I do that? I have no control. I’ll never fix this.’We’re going to break that down today — why it happen
31: The Millennial Body Image Hangover
In this episode, we’re unpacking what I call the Millennial Body Image Hangover - the toxic messages we absorbed from shows like The Biggest Loser, the Special K diet, and low-rise jean culture, and how they’re still messing with us today. More importantly, we’ll talk about how to finally heal from it.Here’s what you’ll hear inside this episode:✨ Why thinness was sold to us as worthiness — and how
30: The Biggest Loser- A Body Image Reckoning
If you grew up in the 2000s, chances are you remember The Biggest Loser: dramatic weigh-ins, trainers screaming, contestants collapsing on treadmills, and the promise that extreme weight loss meant health and redemption.Now, Netflix’s new documentary Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser pulls back the curtain — and it’s even more harmful than we realised.Here’s what we unpack today:✨ The s
29: If You’ve Tried Everything and Still Struggle- This Is Why
Many of the tools you’ve tried may have sounded like the solution. They may have even worked for a little while. But here’s the truth:Diets only work until you can’t follow them anymore.Therapy is powerful — but most general therapists don’t specialise in disordered eating.Tracking gives you data, not peace.Intuitive eating is amazing — but it’s really hard to implement if your nervous system is s
28: The #1 Reason You Eat More (and How to Fix It — For Good)
If you’ve ever wondered “Why do I keep eating like this?” even after swearing off diets, this episode is for you.Today, I’m unpacking the number one reason binge and emotional eating continues — and why restriction (not lack of willpower) is at the root of it all.Here’s what you’ll hear inside this episode:✨ The sneaky ways restriction shows up (even when you don’t think you’re restricting)✨ Why b
27: The Real Cost of Staying Stuck in Diet Culture
Today we’re diving into the real cost of your toxic relationship with food, your body, and the weight loss world- and spoiler alert: it’s costing you WAY more than calories or cash.From diets and gym memberships you never use, to “wellness” programs, tracking apps, injectables, and the binge cycle itself- this obsession is robbing you blind.And that’s just the beginning. Because what it’s really s
26: You're Being Gaslit By the Diet Industry, Bestie.
Welcome to The Recovery Rebellion- a limited 4-part series by Binge Free Bestie. In this first episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on diet culture and exposing why 95% of diets fail — and what’s actually keeping you stuck in the binge-restrict cycle.Lets work together bestie, check out how here: https://stan.store/bingefreebestie
25: Binge Eating Recovery Is About to Hit the Mainstage
Besties… I still can’t believe I’m saying this: I just won the global Stan Store Challenge — out of over 16,000 creators— and now I’m being mentored by Stephen Bartlett (yes, that Stephen Bartlett from Diary of a CEO 😭).In today’s episode, I’m sharing the full story — from the moment I found out, to what this means for me, for Binge Free Bestie, and most importantly… for you.I’ll also be revealing
24: I’m Gaining Weight and It’s Freaking Me Out- Why This Fear Fuels Binge Eating (And What to Do Instead)
In this episode of the Binge Free Bestie podcast, Nic Gaviria discusses the complex relationship between food freedom, body image, and the fear of weight gain. She addresses the emotional turmoil that can arise when individuals notice changes in their weight, especially after a weight loss journey. Nic emphasizes the importance of understanding that weight gain can be a natural part of the healing
23: Why Tracking Calories Might Be Fueling Your Binge Eating (And What to Do Instead)
In this episode of the Binge Free Bestie Podcast, Nic Gaviria and guest Dr. Chelsea Arnold discuss the complexities of binge eating, the impact of tracking behaviours, and the importance of self-monitoring in recovery. Chelsea also introduces us to the Bertie app, designed to support individuals in their journey towards healthier relationships with food. This weeks chat emphasizes the societal pre
22: Two Ex-Binge Eaters Chat the Truth About Bariatric Surgery
In this special episode, Nic and one of the Binge Free Bestie gals Chanel discuss their shared experiences with body image, bariatric surgery, and the emotional challenges that come with weight loss. They emphasize the importance of community support, self-compassion, and the need for open conversations about the realities of post-surgery life. This chat emphasises journey of healing, the role of
21: My Body Changed- and So Did My Worth (But Not How You’d Think)
In this episode of the Binge Free Bestie Podcast, Nic reflects on her birthday and the changes in her body over the years. She discusses the societal pressures surrounding aging and body image, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and compassion. Nic shares her personal journey with binge eating and body image, highlighting the need to overcome comparison and embrace the natural evolution
20: Busting the Myth that Intuitive Eating Means Eating Whatever You Want
In today’s episode of the Binge Free Bestie Podcast, we’re tackling one of the most persistent myths out there: that intuitive eating is just an excuse to throw all nutrition out the window and eat whatever you want, whenever you want. Let me be super clear- that’s just diet culture talking. So, if you’ve ever worried that giving yourself unconditional permission to eat means you’re doomed to eat
19: Why Willpower Won’t Heal Binge Eating (And What Actually Does!)
You’ve been told it’s all about willpower—that if you just tried harder, you’d finally stop the binge eating cycles. But… let’s be real: how’s that been working out for you?In this powerful episode of the Binge Free Bestie Podcast, I’m flipping the script on everything you thought you knew about binge eating recovery. Spoiler alert: it’s not about being “strong enough” to say no to chips or ice cr
18: Thin is in? Heck NO.Why We’re Not Buying It.
There’s a worrying wave of “thin is in” content making its way back into our feeds — SkinnyTok, “clean eating aesthetics,” “that girl” routines, and even throwbacks to the heroin chic era (yep… that again). But let’s be clear: this is not wellness. This is repackaged diet culture — and it’s dangerous.In this fiery and deeply compassionate episode, we unpack:Why the return of thin-obsessed trends i
17: The 3 Sneaky Lies Diet Culture Still Has You Believing (Even in Recovery)
Let’s talk about the subtle ways diet culture still manipulates you—even after you’ve ditched the scale and sworn off meal plans. This episode is for the recovery girlies who know better but still feel guilty after a cookie… or who wonder if maybe they “just need more discipline.” If that’s you, grab your coffee and listen in—we’re rewriting the script today.This episode covers:Why bingeing isn’t
16: Healing Your Relationship with Food and Losing Weight
In this episode of Binge Free Bestie, Nic discusses the complex relationship between food freedom and weight loss goals. She addresses common fears about intuitive eating leading to weight gain and explains why traditional diets often fail. Nicole emphasizes the importance of healing one's relationship with food and how it can coexist with health and weight loss aspirations. She introduces her
15: Finding Peace with Food: Nic and Barb
In this special bonus episode in collaboration with the Studio Chat Podcast, I am sitting down with my friend and follow therapist Barb to talk about healing your relationship with food and breaking free from binge eating.I share my personal journey from restrictive dieting and binge eating to achieving true food freedom-without guilt, shame, or diet culture. And Barb shares her experiences in the
14: GLP-1 Injections, Peptides, Weight Loss Surgery & Food Noise
Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz about GLP-1 or peptide medications like Ozempic, Saxenda, Reta & Wegovy, and how they help quiet food noise. But what happens when you stop taking them? Will the food chatter come back? What about weight loss surgery, does it fix binge eating for good?In this episode, I’m diving deep into the truth about food noise, binge eating, and why quick fixes won’t hea
13: Too Fat to Be Loved? Navigating Body Image & Relationships
Have you ever felt like your body size makes you unworthy of love? Do you fear that your partner will leave if your body changes? You’re not alone.In this deeply personal episode, I unpack where these fears come from, how diet culture conditions us to believe love is conditional on our weight, and how to challenge these thoughts with self-compassion. I also share my own experiences—both in past re
12: Breaking Free from 'Trigger' Foods
Why Can’t I Stop Eating Chips / Peanut Butter / Chocolate!? Have you ever caught yourself Googling, Why can’t I stop eating chips? Why do I always overeat cereal? Why do I lose control around bread?If so, you’re not alone—and this episode is for you.In today’s episode of Binge-Free Bestie, we’re diving into:✔️ Why certain foods feel impossible to control yourself around✔️ The surprising reason why
11: How to Not Hate Exercise: Finding Joy in Movement
Exercise shouldn’t feel like a punishment. In today’s episode, I’m diving into my journey of breaking free from diet culture’s grip on movement and how I finally found ways to move my body with joy—not guilt. If you’ve ever struggled with an all-or-nothing mindset around exercise, hated working out, or felt stuck in toxic fitness culture, this episode is for you!In this episode, I cover:✨ How diet
10: I Had Weight Loss Surgery… But It Didn’t Fix My Relationship With Food
I thought surgery would be the answer. I thought losing weight would fix everything. But no one told me that weight loss surgery doesn’t heal binge eating- for me, it actually made it worse.If you’ve ever believed that weight loss was the key to happiness, or if you’ve considered (or already had) weight loss surgery and still feel stuck in the cycle of binge eating, this episode is for you.In this
9: Why You Keep Eating When You’re Full (And How to Stop)
Ever found yourself eating past fullness—even when you know you’re stuffed? You’re not alone, and it’s NOT just about willpower. There are deeper reasons why this happens, and in today’s episode, I’m breaking it all down.💡 In this episode, we’ll cover:✅ Why dieting and restriction actually make you overeat✅ How physical and mental restriction keep you stuck✅ The role of emotional eating—and what t
8: Help! I Can’t Stop Thinking About Food
Ever feel like food is taking over your brain? 🍕🍩🍔 Whether it’s obsessing over what you should eat, feeling guilty about what you did eat, or constantly craving the foods you’ve told yourself you can’t have—it’s exhausting.But here’s the truth: food noise isn’t about willpower. It’s a direct response to restriction, diet culture, and the binge-restrict cycle. In this episode, we’re breaking down:✅
7: Struggling with Guilt After a Binge? Here’s How to Break the Cycle Without Punishment
Struggling with Guilt After a Binge? Here’s How to Break the Cycle Without PunishmentDo you ever feel overwhelmed with guilt after binge eating? You’re not alone.In this episode of Binge Free Bestie, I’m breaking down exactly why guilt happens, why it keeps you stuck, and how to shift into self-compassion and healing.Here’s what we’ll cover in today’s episode:The truth about why guilt shows up aft
6: Why Diets Keep You Stuck-and How to Finally Break Free
Why Diets Keep You Stuck-and How to Finally Break FreeAre you tired of the diet-binge-guilt cycle? Wondering why that next diet never seems to be "the one"? In this episode of Binge Free Bestie, we’re unpacking the truth about diets, why they keep you stuck, and what it really takes to break free for good.Here’s what you’ll learn:How diets fuel the binge-restrict cycle (Hint: It’s not yo
5: 5 Tips for Body Acceptance Pt 2.
Welcome back to the Binge Free Bestie poddy! I’m Nicole Gaviria, your registered therapist and host, and I’m thrilled to continue our journey into body acceptance. In this episode, we’re diving into five more transformative tips to help you nurture love and respect for your body. Key Learnings: Speak Kindly to Yourself: Replace negative self-talk with affirmations that celebrate your worth and bea
