Episode 028
The Chronic Stress Loop That’s Sabotaging Your Health (and How to Break It) with Claire Ketchum
She finally cracked the code on mindful eating – then life flipped the table. A terrifying diagnosis. A stress spiral. A breakthrough she never saw coming.
Claire Ketchum had finally found food freedom after 20 years of yo-yo dieting. Mindful eating wasn’t just working – it felt like magic. Until her 9-year-old daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and suddenly food became math, medicine, and anxiety. The mindful bliss was gone, replaced by panic and guilt.
In this powerful, illuminating conversation, Claire breaks down how she escaped the chronic stress loop – that sneaky cycle where stress hijacks your willpower – and how she now helps teens (and the parents who love them) develop real-deal, sustainable healthy habits.
Spoiler: it's not about food. It’s about trust, stress resilience, and giving up the myth that willpower is the answer.
“You can’t eat mindfully when your brain is in fight-or-flight mode.”
Connect with CLAIRE:
- Website: claireketchum.com
- Free Balanced Body Blueprint: The Balanced Body Blueprint
- Instagram: @claireketchum.ck
Timestamps:
00:00 – How Claire found mindful eating – and why it felt like magic
03:22 – The basics of mindful eating (it’s not what you think)
06:11 – The truth about food freedom: why it can feel uncomfortable at first
09:21 – Her daughter’s diagnosis – and the fear that took over
11:33 – Stress homeostasis: the science that blew Heather’s mind
14:35 – Why willpower stops working when you’re stressed
17:00 – The real reason we reach for snacks, drinks, or Netflix
21:25 – Teaching teens (and moms) how to break the stress–eating cycle
23:07 – The first essential habit: building stress resilience
24:46 – Balanced nutrition without food rules or guilt
27:40 – Joy and peace: the secret ingredients to staying out of stress
29:36 – What self-trust actually looks like (hint: it’s not about broccoli)
31:41 – Rewiring your inner critic – one thought at a time
33:29 – How parents can model healthier habits without triggering shame
35:44 – Where to find Claire and grab her free Balanced Body Blueprint
37:15 – 80s diet culture, thigh gaps, and what we wish we’d known at 20