Glenn Livingston is a clinical psychologist, marketing consultant to Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneur, author, and all-around good guy. Also, a dear friend, colleague, and mentor.
For many of the years of his illustrious career, Glenn guarded a shameful secret: he couldn't stop thinking about food. And his thoughts would lead to actions: overeating almost without limit.
Even when he was in good health and his weight was nothing anyone would notice or comment on, Glenn couldn't stop obsessing about pizza, cookies, donuts, and other, shall we say, non-health-promoting foods. He'd be sitting across from a patient describing his untameable obsessions, and Glenn would be fantasizing about the whole pizza he'd score as soon as the session was through.
Eventually, Glenn had had enough. He was a top-notch psychologist, and if psychology was good enough for his patients and clients, then by golly it should be good enough for him as well.
Glenn scoured the literature on binge eating, obsessive eating, and emotional eating. He explored the 12-Step model as well as other approaches, and began putting together an evidence-based program for himself. After much experimentation and tweaking, Glenn found what worked for him.
He's been coaching friends and clients (including me) on his methodology, and I in turn have been using it in working with some of my own health coaching clients. It's remarkable. It's counter-intuitive. It's powerful. And it's actually fun.
And in this conversation, we explore Glenn's Never Binge Again program, and how it can help people let go of their obsessive and counter-productive thoughts and behaviors around food. We cover:
- Glenn's experience as an “exercise bulemic”
- the high cost of believing that “there's something wrong with me”
- the value of feeling a little bit guilty
- Glenn's very precise definition of binge eating
- the psychology and physiology of binge eating
- the value of defining “the Pig” and giving it a voice
- the four types of rules we can create for ourselves
- the concept of “100% responsibility” for our rules
- the importance – and unimportance – of environment
- the link between cravings and pornography
- the two types of deprivation – and why focusing only on the obvious one can doom our change efforts
- how to balance “never binge again” and “how to recover when you do binge again”
- why you shouldn't keep track of how long you've gone since your last binge (vs the AA model)
- the surprising lack of efficacy of 12-Step programs, and what works much better
- and much more…
Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.
Links
Never Binge Again – website and link to free amazon ebook
Rational Recovery – Jack Trimpey's work on Addictive Voice Recognition Technique
Music
The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.
You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.
Looking for Transformational Change?
You know how when you discovered plant-based eating, you basically went, “Holy shit, how come the entire healthcare system isn't totally embracing this as one of the most powerful keys to disease prevention and reversal!”?
That's how I feel now about a psychological approach to transformational change called “Memory Reconsolidation.” Few psychologists have heard about it, and when they do hear the radical transformations it can bring about in a very short time, they're often skeptical to the point of disbelief.
But I've added Memory Reconsolidation work to my own coaching, and can attest to its amazing efficacy. So much so, that I'm devoting the next year to mastering it, studying with the best clinicians and teachers in the world, and then introducing it into health coaching through my trainings.
Right now, I want to triple my coaching practice to get more and more opportunities to do this work. And I'm lowering my fees – a lot – to make it easier for people to work with me.
If you're interested in working with me (and willing to commit to a minimum of 2 months), click the link below to open the form in a new browser tab and I'll get back to you within 3 business days.
Yes, I'm interested in Memory Reconsolidation Coaching.
You CAN Change Other People!
Well, that's what Peter Bregman and I claim in our provocative book of that title.
What we really mean is, you can help the people around you make behavioral changes in their own best interests. If you think you're powerless to help people change, it's because you've been going about it the wrong way.
Discover our straightforward, replicable process here: You Can Change Other People.
Audiobook: Use the Weight to Lose the Weight
Listen to Josh LaJaunie and me narrate our latest audiobook, about how to start moving when you're obese.
It's $10, and Josh and I split it evenly 🙂
Tip Jar
This podcast is not underwritten by advertising, so I can experience complete editorial autonomy without worrying about pissing off the person paying the bills. Instead, I pay the bills, with your help. It's free for those who can't afford to pay, and supported by those who can. You can contribute to the growth and improvement of the podcast by clicking the “Support on Patreon” or “Donate” buttons on the right to help out.
Music
The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.
You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.
Gratitudes
Thanks to Plant Yourself podcast patrons – Kim Harrison – Lynn McLellan – Brittany Porter – Dominic Marro – Barbara Whitney – Tammy Black – Amy Good – Amanda Hatherly – Mary Jane Wheeler – Ellen Kennelly – Melissa Cobb – Rachel Behrens – Tina Scharf – Tina Ahern – Jen Vilkinofsky – David Byczek – Michele X – Elspeth Feldman – Leah Stolar – Allan Kristensen – Colleen Peck – Michele Landry – Jozina – Sara Durkacs – Kelly Cameron – Janet Selby – Claire Adams – Tom Fronczak – Jeannette Benham – Gila Lacerte – David Donohue – Blair Seibert – Doron Avizov – Gio and Carolyn Argentati – Jodi Friesner – Mischa Rosen – Michael Worobiec – AvIvA Lael – Alicia Lemus – Val Linnemann – Nick Harper – Bandana Chawla – Molly Levine – The Inscrutable Harry R – Susan Laverty the Panda Vegan – Craig Covic – Adam Scharf – Karen Bury – Heather Morgan – Nigel Davies – Marian Blum – Teresa Kopel – Julian Watkins – Brid O'Connell – Shannon Herschman – Linda Ayotte – Holm Hedegaard – Isa Tousignant – Connie Haneline – Erin Greer – Alicia Davis – Heather O'Connor – Carollynne Jensen – Sheri Orlekoski of Plant Powered for Health – Karen Smith – Scott Mirani – Karen and Joe Crabtree – Kirby Burton – Theresa Carrell – Kevin Macaulay – Elizabeth Rothschild – Ann Jesse – Sheryl Dwyer – Jenny Hazelton – Peter W Evans – Dennis Bird – Darby Kelly – Lori Fanney – Linnea Lundquist – Emily Iaconelli – Levi Wallach – Rosamonde McAtee – Dan Pokorney – Stephen Leinin – Patty DeMartino – Mike and Donna Kartz – Deanne Bishop – Bilberry Elf – Marjorie Lewis – Tricia Adams – Nancy Sheldon – Lindsey Bashore – Gunn Marit Hagen – Tracey Gulledge – Lara Hedin – Meg from Mamasezz – Stacey Stokes – Ben Savage – Michael K – David Hughes -Coni Rodgers – Claire England – Sally Robertson – Parham Ganchi – Amy Dailey – Brian Tourville – Mark Jeffrey Johnson – Josie Dempsey – Caryn Schmitt – Pamela Hayden – Emily Perryman – Allison Corbett – Richard Stone – Lauren Vaught of Edible Musings – Erin Hastey – Sean Owens – Sagar Naik – Erika Piedra – Danielle Roberts – Michael Leuchten – Sarah Johnson – Katharine Floyd – Meryl Fury – for your generous support of the podcast.
Disclosure
This post may contain amazon affiliate links. I may receive compensation from your actions on such links. It don't cost you a dime, tho.
Howard,
Thank You, for this great conversation on this topic. All that Glenn said made a lot of sense. I came to a similar conclusion on my own, over time and with meditation. As long as one can define what is appropriate for them and not identify with the rest. Simply just identify with good habits and do not identify with the rest.
For example, one can identify with eating nourishing and healthy foods. Then when junk food comes along, just say to yourself; this is not what my body needs to be healthy, or simply I do not eat this kind of food. So one can be around junk food and it is not a problem; since one no longer identifies with that kind of food.
Thank You and keep the podcasts coming 🙂