Mind Hunger Versus Real Hunger (EP 97)
I brought back Sherry Shaban to talk about cravings, comfort food, and why fear‑based health advice is slowly breaking our brains. We unpack the mixed messages from the fitness world, how to tell if you’re actually hungry or just avoiding your feelings, and why your environment and friendships matter just as much as what’s on your plate. If you’ve ever eaten wings and fries you didn’t even want just because everyone else kept ordering, this one’s for you.
Chapters
- 00:17 Welcome to the Unhealthy Podcast
- 02:03 Embracing Change in Diet Culture
- 09:29 The Influence of Social Media
- 17:14 Understanding Hunger Types
- 20:42 Balancing Social Eating and Personal Goals
- 26:00 The Importance of Supportive Friends
- 28:45 Coaching vs. Podcast Learning
- 33:11 Finding Joy in Daily Life
- 37:12 Shifting Identity and Pain Management
This conversation goes deep into how diet culture, social pressure, and our own nervous systems team up to make eating way more complicated than it needs to be. Sherry starts by taking apart the fear‑based messaging we hear everywhere: carbs are evil, meat is evil, sugar is evil, and apparently every food group will destroy you depending on who you listen to that day. She explains that it’s not the occasional chocolate chip cookie that hurts you – it’s the fear, shame, and guilt you attach to eating it.
We talk about how humans evolved eating what was available – sometimes mostly plants, sometimes mostly meat – and how there has never been one perfect diet that fits everybody forever. Instead of demonizing whole food groups, Sherry encourages stepping back, using basic logic, and noticing when a message is using fear to get your attention. That’s usually your cue to question it.
We close by talking about identity: how she stopped seeing herself as “the woman with the bad back” and started seeing herself as an athlete, someone who eats, sleeps, and trains in a way that supports the life she wants. She connects this to anyone who constantly labels themselves as “the person who struggles with food,” and how deciding on a new identity can come first, with your environment, habits, and choices slowly catching up.
Guest: Sherry Shaban
- Website: https://sherryshaban.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherryshaban/
Companies / Vendors / Products Mentioned
- Make Peace With Food podcast: https://sherryshaban.com/podcast
- Calm the Craving (book / guide): https://amzn.to/3PnDcwQ
- Blue Zones (documentary / concept): https://www.bluezones.com
=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item
- Item Title: Healthy Eating
- Item URL: https://elements.envato.com/healthy-eating-VNN4M4P
- Author Username: CrazyTunes
- Licensee: Marvin Bee
- Registered Project Name: Unhealthy Podcast
- License Date: January 3rd, 2026
- Item License Code: XPFS6HD54W
=== About the Unhealthy Podcast
Hosted by Marvin Bee (Uncle Marv), the Unhealthy Podcast dives into real conversations about health, wellness, and everyday habits that impact how we live, work, and age. From nutrition myths to stress management and tech-life balance, Uncle Marv brings humor, insight, and honesty to every episode.
- Visit our website: https://www.unhealthypodcast.com/
- Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamunclemarv
- Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvinbee/
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