“I stopped fighting food”: A 6-month food freedom transformation
Client: Susan W.
Program: 6-Month 1:1 Food Freedom
Starting point: Overeating and emotional eating, strong cravings, low trust in hunger cues, skepticism about whether change was possible
What we worked on: Craving response tools, hunger and fullness awareness, habit change strategies, emotional regulation skills, self-relationship work
Key shifts: Recognized “just enough,” reduced urgency around cravings, built non-food coping strategies for grief/loneliness/stress, increased self-trust and self-respect
Outcome: Food Freedom felt possible and sustainable, with ripple effects across relationships and overall life navigation
“Edie did not dismiss my skepticism. She gave me tools that actually worked.”
Why Susan reached out
Susan came in wanting support with overeating and emotional eating. She was clear about one thing early: she was not looking for another diet. She wanted to change her relationship with food, even though the path forward felt uncertain.
The real goal
Very quickly, Susan realized this work was not just about food rules. The deeper aim became building trust in her body and in herself, so she could respond to cravings and strong emotions with skill instead of reaction.
What we did together
A consistent theme in our work was: “Become curious. Collect the data. Look for patterns.”
Susan describes Edie’s support as “Science-backed habit change strategies and practical tools, including:
A hunger journal (tracking time, food, hunger before/after, and eating speed)
Body-based awareness to differentiate true hunger from thirst, fatigue, stress, or “the clock”
Craving tools that helped me pause, observe, and choose a non-food response
Flexible coaching: multiple approaches, humor, optimism, and revisiting methods when I was ready”
Early win: learning what “just enough” feels like
Susan’s skepticism was met with structure, not dismissal. After just a few days of tracking and paying attention, she began to recognize what “just enough” actually feels like, which shifted eating from guesswork into self-trust.
“After just two and a half days and seven or eight meals, I began to recognize what ‘just enough’ really feels like.”
Cravings: from battle to curiosity
Cravings were a major challenge, especially habitual ones. Susan noticed patterns, such as craving a snack every time she got home. Instead of trying to overpower the craving, she learned to greet it with curiosity:
“There it is again.”
That shift reduced urgency and opened up choice. Some cravings she mastered quickly, others became longer-term practice, but the change was durable because it was based on awareness, not restriction.
The unexpected transformation: tools for life, not just food
One of the biggest outcomes was transferability. The non-food strategies Susan developed for cravings became tools she could use with grief, loneliness, and stress. The work expanded from food freedom into emotional resilience and life navigation.
Identity-level change: relationship with self and others
As Susan strengthened her self-trust, self-respect, and self-love, she experienced positive changes in her relationships and in how she saw herself in the world. The transformation was not only behavioral, it was personal.
“Our work focused on improving the relationship I have with myself, and it positively impacted my relationships with others.”
What made it work
Susan describes Edie’s coaching style as:
"Empathy and humor”
“Multiple approaches (no one-size-fits-all)”
“Patience with resistance”
“Relentless belief in my ability to grow”
“And a steady return to the truth: the only way forward was through the work.”
Susan’s results
Susan experienced meaningful shifts in:
Overeating and emotional eating patterns
Craving response and non-food coping
Hunger/fullness awareness and confidence
Self-trust and self-respect
Emotional resilience during stress and hard feelings
She describes the change as: “Radical, with a bright future ahead as I continue the journey.”
“Who knew this was possible? Edie did.”
Susan’s recommendation
If you are considering working with Edie, Susan’s advice is direct: “If you are ready to do the work, take the leap. Food Freedom is possible and you will be supported through every step.”
