In this episode of the ANEW Insight Podcast, Dr. Supatra Tovar speaks with Molly Zemek, a certified life coach, culinary expert, and host of the Weight Loss for Food Lovers podcast. Together, they explore how emotional eating develops, why dieting doesn’t work, and how real transformation begins with awareness not restriction.
Molly’s journey started in a household where food was synonymous with love. Her Italian heritage shaped an early and deep appreciation for high-quality meals, and her passion eventually led her to culinary school. She spent a decade as a professional chef and sommelier, fully immersed in what she calls her “love affair with food.”
But in her thirties and early forties, Molly began to experience the physical and emotional costs of chronic overeating and overdrinking. Despite having a fulfilling life on paper, she felt depleted, anxious, and disconnected from her body. Traditional dieting had stopped working, and she knew she couldn’t keep cycling between restriction and indulgence. That’s when she found life coaching and began asking deeper questions.
What she discovered was a pattern familiar to many: using food to cope with fatigue, overwhelm, boredom, and self-criticism. Like many high achievers, Molly often held herself to unrealistic standards, leading to an inner narrative of not being good enough especially as a mother. Food became a reliable source of comfort and escape.
Molly learned to differentiate physical hunger from emotional hunger. She began to eat only when she was truly hungry, and to get curious when cravings arose without a physical need. Instead of judgment, she practiced reflection. What was she feeling? Why was she disappointed? Could she change the narrative? Over time, this process helped her build a more compassionate relationship with herself and her body.
Rather than moralizing food as good or bad, Molly embraced food neutrality. She encourages clients to find the “sweet spot” where pleasure and satiety meet. For her, a few bites of something rich and meaningful like a dense chocolate cake or homemade ice cream are more satisfying than a binge on low-reward foods. Through mindfulness, intention, and preparation, she helps others develop the ability to savor without guilt or excess.
Dr. Tovar and Molly agree that sustainable health is never about strict rules or calorie counts. It’s about attunement. Hunger isn’t the enemy, it’s a biological message that we need nourishment. When we respond with care instead of control, our bodies begin to feel safe. And when the body feels safe, it stops clinging to fat and begins to metabolize effectively.
For many of Molly’s clients, emotional eating isn’t about food at all. It’s about unmet needs, ignored feelings, and a lack of emotional tools. In a culture that promotes numbing with food and punishing with diets, Molly’s work offers a humane and effective alternative. Her story is a powerful reminder that change is possible not through willpower, but through awareness and self-respect.
Listen to the full episode to learn how to:
- Identify your emotional triggers around food
- Stop eating past fullness without dieting
- Rebuild your trust in hunger cues
- Release the “not good enough” narrative
- Enjoy food without guilt or shame
Watch the Full Episode: Available now on YouTube: @my.anew.insight Or stream on our website: anew-insight.com
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