In this insightful episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini sits down with Holly Toscanini, a former weight loss expert turned intuitive living coach, to dismantle the "someday" myth. Holly shares her powerful pivot from running medical weight loss programs to realizing that chasing a number on the scale was actually shrinking her life, not expanding it. Together, they pull back the curtain on the toxic business model of the diet industry, discuss why waiting to be "thin enough" is actually a form of self-abandonment, and how women can reclaim their confidence through self-trust and intuitive eating—especially while navigating the changes of midlife and menopause. Holly Toscanini is an intuitive living coach and host of the How to Lose the ‘Wait’ podcast. She empowers women to stop waiting to feel ready, worthy, or ‘thin enough’ and start creating the lives they actually want—right now. Through her signature framework, The Reinvention Code™, she guides women to rebuild self-trust, awaken their intuition, and reclaim confidence from the inside out. And when she’s not coaching, writing, or calling BS on perfectionism, you can find her elbows-deep in clay in her ceramics studio—doing what she loves, unapologetically.        

KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • Why the diet industry relies on your failure and repeat business to make a profit.
  • The three forces keeping women stuck: Perfectionism, People Pleasing, and Patriarchy.
  • How to distinguish between the loud, urgent voice of fear and the quiet, steady voice of intuition.
  • Why "someday" is a moving target and a socially acceptable form of self-abandonment.
  • The reality of Intuitive Eating: Dealing with the fear of weight gain and silencing the internal "food police."

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • The Business of Dieting: Holly explains how the weight loss industry is designed for recidivism, noting that she often saw the same clients return year after year, paying to be put on restrictive programs that set them up for failure.
  • Sanity vs. Vanity: The concept of finding the "Venn diagram" sweet spot where you can live peacefully in your body without letting the desire for a specific aesthetic control your mental health.
  • The "Someday" Syndrome: A deep dive into how society conditions women to put their lives on hold until they reach an arbitrary standard of beauty or success, and why this waiting is actually self-abandonment.
  • Intuitive Eating Misconceptions: Holly clarifies that Intuitive Eating is not a diet and warns that while weight may change or go up initially, the goal is reaching a place of peace and stability, not control.

IMPORTANT TIMECODES FROM THIS EPISODE:

  • 00:00 The Dieting Cycle: A Never-Ending Business
  • 00:36 Introduction to Behind the Bite
  • 01:32 Today's Guest: Holly Tuscanini
  • 01:51 Holly's Journey: From Diet Industry to Intuitive Eating
  • 02:44 The Reality of Diet Culture
  • 04:16 Holly's Personal Transformation
  • 07:47 The Flaws of the Diet Industry
  • 09:47 The Emotional Toll of Dieting
  • 13:01 The Unsustainable Nature of Diets
  • 17:29 The Social Conditioning of Body Image
  • 18:38 Embracing Intuitive Eating
  • 19:17 Realizing the Need for Change
  • 21:03 The Journey to Self-Trust
  • 25:04 Challenges and Misconceptions of Intuitive Eating
  • 25:44 The Importance of Community
  • 26:57 Practical Steps to Start Intuitive Eating
  • 29:00 Reconnecting with Your Body
  • 34:32 Introducing the Reinvention Code
  • 36:01 How to Connect and Learn More
  • 37:20 Conclusion and Resources

CONNECT WITH HOLLY TOSCANINI:

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Until next time, remember, we're here to break down barriers, challenge stigma, and support each other on the path to a better life.

Part of the Los Angeles Tribune Podcast Network, produced by the Tweaky Tales.

**Disclaimer:**

The content of this podcast episode is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views and experiences shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or affiliated organizations. If you have any medical or mental health concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Listener discretion is advised, especially for those sensitive to topics related to body image, weight stigma, and eating disorders.