Episode 218 · February 10, 2026
Cristina Simmons: What Emotional Eating is Really Trying to Tell You
with Cristina Simmons, Author of "Eat Your Feelings," occupational therapist, and health coach
25 min
Cristina Simmons: What Emotional Eating is Really Trying to Tell You
Never miss an episode
In this episode
In this episode I sit down with Cristina Simmons, author of *Eat Your Feelings*, for a conversation that's been a long time coming. We met at the Align event in San Diego (and went hiking together in Hawaii before that), and I knew I wanted to bring her raw, honest story to you. Cristina opens up about a hard childhood, the heartbreak of losing three biological children, the joy of adopting her twin girls and son, a cancer diagnosis, early menopause, and the slow, real work of healing — all of it woven into her relationship with food.
What I love about this conversation is how practical and human it stays. Cristina doesn't pretend she has it all figured out. She talks openly about feeling like an impostor while still eating her feelings, about getting a coach, cutting sugar over the holidays, and pushing through a month and a half of detox before the fog lifted. If you've ever gained and lost the same 30 pounds for twenty-five years, she sees you.
This one is really about self-awareness, accountability, and the power of the right community. We talk about why you have to take care of yourself before you can care for anyone else, why your "why" has to be deeper than looking good, and how the right people change everything. Keep going — even when the first weeks are the hardest.
Key takeaways
- Emotional eating is often a learned way of self-soothing — start by going inward and asking what feeling you're really trying to meet with food.
- Your 'why' has to be deeper than wanting to look good. For Cristina it became saving her marriage and being a better mother — a deeper need makes lasting change possible.
- You can't do it alone. A coach, mentor, and community give you the accountability you need in the moments you feel vulnerable, tired, or down.
- Detox takes time — Cristina had headaches and brain fog for about a month and a half after cutting sugar. Don't give up at two, three, or four weeks. Keep going.
- It's not just what you put in your mouth — it's what you feed your brain. Audit what you watch, listen to, and who you surround yourself with.
- Healing your gut can change how you experience everything; Cristina says the world literally looks brighter and more colorful now that the fog has lifted.
- Build daily non-negotiables that are doable: plenty of water, a few minutes outside, some kind of movement, and quiet time to set your intentions.
- Take care of yourself first so you can show up for the people who need you — self-care isn't selfish, it's the foundation.
Chapters
- 00:00Sponsor: Tulsa Garden Center at Woodward Park
- 02:00Welcome and meeting Cristina at the Align event
- 03:30Cristina's backstory: childhood, loss, adoption, and food
- 08:00Health struggles: cancer, gut health, and early menopause
- 10:00Finding the right community and doing the inward work
- 13:00Cutting sugar over the holidays and the detox journey
- 17:00Becoming a coach and a perspective on moving your body
- 21:00Tips for anyone frustrated with weight loss
- 24:00Daily non-negotiables and where to find Cristina
“You've got to take care of yourself before you can take care of anybody else.”
“I gained and lost the same 30 pounds over the last twenty-five years.”
“It's not just what you're putting in your mouth — it's what you're feeding your brain.”
“Everything that is worth doing, you can have a little bit of struggle. You've got to have a little bit of that in order to get to the other side.”
Resources mentioned
About Cristina
Author of "Eat Your Feelings," occupational therapist, and health coach
Cristina Simmons is the author of Eat Your Feelings and an occupational therapist who helps women understand the emotional side of wellness and how our relationship with food connects to our feelings, habits, and healing. After a difficult childhood, the loss of three biological children, adopting three children, and her own journey through cancer, gut health struggles, and early menopause, she now coaches women toward healthier, more aligned living.
Prefer another app? Open this episode on Spotify.
Free community
Connect, learn, and grow — together.
Listening is where it starts. The free community is where it sticks — Nancy, the conversations, and a circle of women cheering each other on. It's free to join, and there's a seat for you.
Join the free community →Keep listening
Episode 219 · Feb 17, 2026
Show notesAmy Lacey: Living Beyond Medicine
In this episode of Sharing Passion and Purpose, host Nancy Moore sits down with Amy Lacey, visionary founder of Califlour Foods and Living Beyond Medicine, the wellness brand behind Soursop.
Episode 217 · Feb 3, 2026
Show notesBrittany Greenwood: Turning Pain into Purpose through Faith, Service, and Small Acts of Kindness
New Episode Now Live on Sharing Passion and Purpose! This week, I’m honored to welcome Brittany Greenwood, the heart behind Cookie Jar Ministry, a beautiful mission born from faith, resilience, and the power of small acts of kindness.
Episode 220 · Feb 24, 2026
Show notesLaura Ard: It's Not Too Late to Rediscover Your Identity and Step Into Your Voice after Loss
What if the very story you’ve been hesitant to share is the one that holds the power to heal you—and others? In this deeply moving episode of Sharing Passion and Purpose, Nancy Moore sits down with Laura Ard, a 63-year-young widow,…