Are you eating out of habit or because your body actually needs something?

In this episode of Full But Not Finished, I'm breaking down one of the most common recovery questions I get: how to know when it's a true habit versus a leftover pattern from restriction or stress eating.

This isn't another "habit stacking" podcast. We're talking about how nervous system coding, allostatic load, and emotional regulation influence what we call "food habits"—and why as straightforward as "discipline" seems.

You'll learn:

0:00 – Why food habits are different from other habits 2:15 – The Dunkin' Donuts story and what it reveals about emotional regulation 7:42 – How willpower really works (and why it's about energy, not strength) 11:05 – The difference between habit, restriction, and nervous system need 15:00 – How to approach food habits without falling back into diet mentality

If you've ever said "I don't want to restrict, but I also want to stop doing this thing with food," this episode is for you.

About this podcast: I'm Stefanie Michele — a coach who helps people recover from binge eating, food obsession, and body image struggles using a mix of psychology, nervous system science, and real-life context. New episodes every week.

Work with Stefanie: https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele Read my essays on Substack: https://iamstefaniemichele.substack.com