Tired of the pressure to “fix” your body before you can enjoy summer? You’re not alone. In this powerful episode, Dara tackles the harmful myth of the “summer bod” and why shame is keeping so many women stuck — mentally, emotionally, and physically. She shares how to shift from body hate to body connection, how to use neuroscience-backed visualization tools like Mind Movies, and how members of her program are losing weight and gaining confidence without relying on guilt.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between guilt and shame (and why one’s helpful, the other isn’t)

• How shame keeps you stuck in sabotage

• Why pursuing weight loss from a place of fear backfires

• What to do instead — using curiosity, connection, and care

Also in this episode:

💬 A personal story about my son’s comment on an old photo… and how I handled it
🧠 A brain hack called “Mind Movies” to help you visualize the life (and body) you want — without shame
❤️ Why one member in her 70s is finally loving herself while losing weight — without dieting

If this episode speaks to you, don’t keep struggling on your own. Book a free 20-minute call with me and let’s get to the bottom of your biggest block.

📞 www.daratomasson.com/contact

You’re not broken. You’re not behind. You’re just not using the right tools yet.

Let’s change that.

Do you find yourself dreading summer because you're unsure what to do with it—or yourself?
When was the last time you made a goal and actually followed through?

In this episode, Dara dives into the power of summer bucket lists—not just as a fun checklist, but as a tool for intention, growth, and creativity. Whether you're navigating emotional eating, dreaming of more meaningful experiences, or just want to feel something again, this episode will help you reconnect with yourself and your goals.

You’ll discover:

• Why most women stop setting goals (and how to shift that)

• How wonder and curiosity lead to real, lasting transformation

• The creative energy that comes from delight—not discipline

• The connection between purposeful goals and sustainable weight loss

• A moving story of a member breaking through the 200-lb mark (without counting calories or tracking steps)

Plus: Dara also shares a behind-the-scenes look at her coaching calls, where she can spot your #1 self-sabotaging pattern in just 7 minutes — and how to book a free call with her this week.

📞 Book your free call: www.daratomasson.com/contact

This episode is a celebration of intentional living, gentle curiosity, and what becomes possible when you give yourself permission to want more and do something about it.

🪣 Want to join the Summer Bucket List Challenge?
We're doing it now inside the membership—and it's not too late to join. Let’s make this summer meaningful, together. Book your call and rediscover joy and wonder this summer!

Follow Dara on Instagram for more inspiration @dara_tomasson

Learn more about Dara and her program on her website www.daratomasson.com

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube

Do you resist the label of perfectionist — or wear it like a badge of honor?

Either way, this episode is going to change the way you think about perfectionism forever.

Because perfectionism isn’t just about straight-A report cards or color-coded closets. It shows up in your weight, your relationships, your to-do list — and most importantly, your thinking.

In this episode, Dara explores the four most common types of perfectionism and how they shape your emotional habits, your body, and your experience of life:

• 🧍‍♀️ The Pleaser

• 🕰️ The Procrastinator

• 🏃‍♀️ The Over-doer

• ❓ The Self-Doubter

You’ll learn:

• How perfectionism is a survival response (not a flaw)

• Why we subconsciously cling to these patterns

• What you can do to retrain your brain with more emotional safety

• How one member shifted from emotional chaos to healing family relationships — just by losing the desire to soothe with food

👉 Plus, don’t miss the 9-question quiz to find out your perfectionist type.
Take the quiz and discover the customized support you need to rewire your brain and finally feel free.

What Kind of Perfectionist Are You?

Watch this episode on YouTube

Do you have boxes of stuff in your home that don’t even belong to you… but you still feel responsible for?
Do you feel overwhelmed just thinking about where to start — so you don’t start at all?

If the answer is yes, this episode is for you.

Whether it’s fabric you’ve been “saving for later,” photos from your dad’s amateur photography hobby, your great Aunt Sue’s china, or bins of your adult kids’ belongings, the emotional weight of stuff is real. And it’s often tied to self-worth, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and grief.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why letting go of physical clutter is also about letting go of emotional weight

• How cultural and family identity can keep us stuck in our stuff

• The most powerful question to ask when you feel stuck: “What would be delightful?”

• Why generic decluttering systems don’t work for everyone — and how to create your own

Plus, hear a touching member win about a woman in her 70s who finally stopped the pattern of emotional eating (starting with just one lonely cookie 🍪) — and how her mindset shift changed everything.

This is not just about getting organized.
It’s about creating peace in your space — and in your mind.

🧠 Mentioned in this episode:

• Quiz: What Kind of Perfectionist Are You?

🎧 Listen now and take the first step toward a more open, peaceful, and delightful life.

Do you ever feel like you're back in 6th grade when it comes to friendships?
Are you surprised (and maybe a little embarrassed) by how much drama, insecurity, or awkwardness still shows up when it comes to friendships as an adult?

If you've ever cringed at how much this still affects you... you're not alone, and you're in the right place.

In this episode, I'm diving deep into adult friendships — the good, the hard, the healing — and how our experiences with friends tie directly into our emotional well-being (yes, even our weight-loss journeys).

You’ll discover:

• Why old friendship wounds might still be affecting you today

• How unresolved trauma can keep you emotionally stuck (and how to begin moving forward)

• What it really means to be your own best friend — and how that shifts every other relationship in your life

• Why friendship dynamics can be tricky (especially when people-pleasing or obligation creeps in)

• The surprising connection between emotional safety and permanent weight loss

This episode is full of reflection questions, real-life stories from clients, and actionable takeaways to help you stop feeling like an insecure kid and start showing up as your most confident, connected self.

🎉 Member Win Highlight:
One of our incredible members recently hosted an awareness event for sex trafficking in her community — and over 300 people showed up. She thought no one would come... but she stepped into her power anyway. Just another reminder that age is never a disqualifier, and your courage matters more than your fear.

🧠 Why This Matters for Weight Loss
You might be asking: What do friendships have to do with losing weight? A lot more than you think. Weight loss isn't just about what you eat — it's about how you feel, how you cope, and how you treat yourself. Learning to process emotions, heal old wounds, and feel safe in relationships (including the one with yourself) is key.

💭 Reflective Questions to Consider:

• What is your friendship history?

• Do you change yourself to “fit in” or avoid disconnection?

• Do certain interactions trigger emotional responses that feel disproportionate?

• Are there unresolved friendship traumas from your past?

• Are your current friendships energizing or draining?

💌 Listener Challenge:
What would it look like to start being a better friend to yourself?
Instead of distracting with food, your phone, or errands… what if you slowed down and simply connected with you?

👯‍♀️ Ready for Deeper Connection?
Inside the Love Yourself Thin Membership, we’re spending July exploring what it really means to be with ourselvesinstead of just distracting or avoiding. Our Summer Bucket List Challenge is all about creating joy and connection — whether that’s making solo hikes, taking museum trips, or making charity quilts from a place of love and presence.

Want in? Let’s make this summer about being with yourself in ways that feel meaningful, not lonely.

🔗 Connect with Dara:

Instagram @dara_tomasson

Website

Watch this episode on YouTube

If this episode resonated, share it with a friend — or better yet, share it with yourself. You deserve friendships (and a life) that feel light, safe, and full of joy.

What if you never had to be afraid of your weight again? In this episode, I share a powerful mindset shift that will help you take full ownership of your weight loss journey—without guilt, shame, or punishment.

I dive into why past diets have failed you, not because of your lack of willpower, but because they never put you in charge. Just like learning to quilt, weight loss is about developing skills, making adjustments, and trusting yourself.

You’ll also learn about the five pillars of Love Yourself Thin and why they make weight loss sustainable—so you can finally step into the authority of you.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why past diets didn’t work (and it’s not your fault!)

• How to stop feeling guilty over food choices

• What quilting teaches us about weight loss

• The five pillars of Love Yourself Thin that guarantee success

• How to trust yourself so you never fear your weight again

Resources & Links:

• Download the worksheet HERE

• Join Love Yourself Thin and finally take charge of your weight loss

• Follow me on Instagram @dara_tomasson for daily coaching and inspiration

Do you feel anxious about summer and the pressure to look "just right" in your swimsuit or shorts? You're not alone! In this episode, we tackle the weight loss expectations that come with warmer weather and break the cycle of self-judgment and emotional eating.

You'll hear an inspiring story from a Love Yourself Thin member who, despite deep grief, chose to keep living her best life—because happiness isn’t about weight loss or looking a certain way. We also dive into the outdated "rules" of weight loss and what actually works for lasting change.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✔️ Why "I can’t be happy until I lose weight" is a lie
✔️ The real reason behind emotional eating (hint: it’s not just about food!)
✔️ How to break the cycle of stress-eating and self-judgment
✔️ A practical worksheet to help you stop numbing with food and start truly feeling

Resources & Next Steps:

🎉 Get the Free Worksheet: HERE
💡 Join Love Yourself Thin and learn how to lose weight without dieting: HERE
📩 Follow me on Instagram for daily insights: HERE

Do you feel like no matter how hard you try to make changes, you always seem to fall flat on your face? Maybe you stick to your goals for a few weeks, but then life happens—cupcakes are served, plans don’t go as expected, and suddenly you find yourself devouring a whole bag of Oreos or adding more fabric to your already full stash.

If this sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

I’m Dara Tomasson, and welcome to the 200th episode of The Quilters Coach Podcast! That’s right—200 episodes, over four years of showing up, learning, and growing together. And guess what? It’s all been perfectly imperfect.

In this special episode, we’re tackling perfectionism head-on. So many of my clients don’t even realize they’re perfectionists—until they take my quiz and have that oh wow moment. Perfectionism shows up in sneaky ways, keeping you stuck in all-or-nothing thinking, self-doubt, and endless frustration. But today, I’m here to offer you something invaluable: relief.

• Why embracing imperfection is the key to real change

• The perfectionism quiz—how to recognize the hidden ways perfectionism is holding you back

• How perfectionism fuels self-sabotage (whether it’s with food, quilting, or relationships)

• The wisdom of Brianna Wiest, Benjamin Hardy, and Stephen Covey on growth, nature, and success

• How small, consistent actions over time lead to massive transformation

I share the inspiring story of a woman who followed me for years, doubting herself, before finally reaching out. She thought she wasn’t “smart enough” to figure things out, but the truth was, she just needed the right tools to process her emotions and break free from old patterns. Now, she’s inside Love Yourself Thin, ready to change her life.

Are you a perfectionist? Find out by taking the quiz on my website! It will calculate your results and give you insights into how perfectionism might be affecting your life. Visit www.daratomasson.com to take the quiz today.

You don’t have to be perfect to grow. Nature isn’t perfect, yet it flourishes. Growth happens in the mess, in the imperfections, in the willingness to try again. So buckle up, listen in, and give yourself the gift of embracing imperfection.

Resources & Links:

• Take the Perfectionist Quiz: HERE

• Join Love Yourself Thin: www.daratomasson.com

• Follow me on Instagram: @daratomasson

• Book: The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest

Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to 200 episodes and many more to come!