In this episode of Food Shrinks, Molly Carmel, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab unpack the obsession with “Day One” in recovery. Why do so many of us cling to Mondays, fresh starts, and counting days—only to feel devastated when we “slip”? The shrinks share their personal stories, professional perspectives, and hard-won insights on why chasing Day One can become its own addictive cycle.

They explore:
• Why we get stuck in “starting over” mode
• The hidden comfort (and dopamine hit) of planning a restart
• How perfectionism and diet culture feed the Day One trap
• Finding motivation beyond counting days
• Shifting from dogma to data: measuring recovery in more meaningful ways

Through humor, honesty, and real talk, this conversation reframes relapse, accountability, and motivation in a way that frees you from shame and helps you keep moving forward.

Key Takeaways
• Counting days isn’t the only measure of recovery. Progress can also be found in mood, clarity, relationships, and consistency.
• Day One can become addictive. Starting over offers a false sense of safety and dopamine, but it doesn’t build lasting self-esteem.
• Recovery is messy. Perfection isn’t the goal—showing up and continuing forward is.
• Dogma vs. data. Instead of rigid rules, ask: What’s working for me? What does my lived experience show?

Call to Action
Do you have a question you’d like the Shrinks to tackle? Email us at asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com.

If you loved today’s episode, help us grow: subscribe, leave a review, and share this conversation with a friend.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this episode of Food Shrinks, Molly Carmel, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab tackle two heartfelt listener emails about food, weight, and grandchildren. The questions: How do I navigate my fear that my grandkids will inherit my struggles with food addiction? And how do I talk to my grandkids about food without shaming or harming them?

💬 Topics we cover:
• Why “hands off the body” is one of the most powerful family rules
• The difference between offering food with love versus testing or shaming kids
• How weight stigma—not weight itself—can harm children’s confidence and eating patterns
• Bliss point, ultra-processed foods, and what early exposure really means
• Why codependency, fear, and our own unresolved wounds often shape how we parent and grandparent
• Practical tools: keeping the focus on yourself, checking your nervous system, and modeling healthy boundaries

✨ Takeaways:
• Love is complicated, and fear often shows up as overprotection or control.
• Children need to be loved and accepted—not monitored or managed around every bite.
• Your relationship with your own body and food is the most powerful influence you bring to the table.
• Noticing when your concern is really about your own history can help you heal and protect the next generation.
If you’ve ever worried about your children or grandchildren’s relationship with food—or struggled to know when to step in and when to let go—this episode offers compassionate, honest insight from three therapists who have been there.

📩 Got a question for us? Email asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com.

⭐ Love the show? Subscribe, leave us a five-star rating, and share this episode with a friend who cares about breaking cycles in their family.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this episode of Food Shrinks, Molly Carmel, Clarissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab open up about the everyday struggles of saying no, setting boundaries, and navigating the fawn response. With humor, honesty, and lived experience, the trio explores how people-pleasing, guilt, and self-abandonment show up in both personal and professional spaces—and how these patterns often connect to food, stress, and recovery.

💬 Topics we cover:
• Why setting boundaries feels so uncomfortable (and why “no” rarely feels like enough)
• The fawn response and how it fuels overwhelm, resentment, and food use
• Codependency, trauma responses, and the Karpman drama triangle (rescuer, persecutor, victim)
• The link between guilt, self-abandonment, and eating as regulation
• Real stories of how boundaries get tested between friends, family, and colleagues
• Why practicing boundaries is messy but essential for recovery and well-being

✨ Takeaways:
• Boundaries are a daily practice, not a one-time skill.
• Guilt doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong—it often means you’re breaking old patterns of self-abandonment.
• Observing your reactions and slowing down can create space for wise mind choices.
• Progress matters more than perfection—each “no” is a step toward self-respect and self-care.
If you’ve ever found yourself saying yes when you meant no, or using food to soothe the stress of people-pleasing, this conversation is for you.

📩 Got a question you’d like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com.

⭐ Love the show? Subscribe, give us a five-star rating, and share this episode with a friend who needs it!

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.