Welcome to the 12 Days of Mindful Eating Series! Each week I am dropping three episodes in the month of December to help you eat mindfully and feel your best. This season is all about gratitude, love, kindness and giving – yet, we do that with the people around us, and not so much ourselves.

But when we change the way we think, we change the way we eat (because it’s not about the food)! 

In this episode, I’m talking about protecting your peace, aka, disappointing others before you disappoint yourself. (Yes it’s not an option 100% of the time), but we need to do this a lot more than we slow ourselves to). So let’s talk about why! 

The People Pleaser’s Guide to Saying No (and Laughing About It)

Welcome to the Food Freedom Society Podcast, the last series of episodes for the year. Yep, we’re wrapping things up with a bang (or a boundary). Today’s topic? Protecting your peace. Trust me, it’s a wild ride through closets, McDonald’s drive-thrus, and a sprinkling of awkward honesty.

A Peek Behind the Curtain

So here’s the setup: I’m recording this episode in my closet. Yep, surrounded by my husband’s shirts because apparently, closets are the VIP lounge of audio quality. If you picture me dramatically parting the shirts like Moses and the Red Sea, you’re not far off. It’s real, it’s raw, and apparently, I’m incapable of editing out my verbal stumbles. Protecting your peace starts with embracing the chaos, am I right?

People Pleasers Anonymous

Let’s be real: if you struggle with binge eating or overeating, chances are you’re also a card-carrying member of People Pleasers Anonymous. We’re the ones running around like caffeinated squirrels, making everyone else happy while slowly turning into emotional roadkill. The result? We’re so burnt out we end up coping in the McDonald’s drive-thru. Sound familiar?

Why Saying “No” Feels So Hard

Let’s talk weekends. Remember when weekends were for rest, relaxation, and maybe a little Netflix? Yeah, me neither. These days, weekends are a minefield of obligations: birthday parties, mall trips, and soccer practices. Before you know it, your precious 48 hours have been gobbled up by everyone but you. No wonder Monday feels like a vacation.

I’ll never forget the time my husband and I were double-booked for two parties on the same day. Did we go to either? Nope. We told each party we were going to the other, then spent the day hiking, lunching, and binge-watching our favorite shows. Was it the most honest approach? Definitely not. But it was the first step in learning to protect our peace. (Pro tip: Just say “no” next time. Lying’s not a great look.)

The Cost of Disappointing Yourself

Here’s the thing: every time you say “yes” when you want to say “no,” you’re disappointing yourself. And guess what? That disappointment adds up. It breeds resentment—for your parents, your partner, your best friend, or anyone else you’re bending over backward for. And let’s not forget the sneaky side effect: using food to cope with that resentment.

Permission Granted

This episode is your official permission slip to say “no.” No, you can’t make it to the party. No, you’re not taking on that extra work project. No, you’re not available for a heart-to-heart at 11 p.m. Boundaries aren’t just a buzzword; they’re your lifeline.

Tips for Protecting Your Peace

1. Audit Your Day: How often are you saying “yes” to others at the expense of yourself?
2. Recognize the Pattern: Notice how people-pleasing correlates with your eating habits. Are you binging after a day of nonstop “yes”?
3. Practice Saying “No”: Start small. Decline an invitation or delegate a task. The world won’t end—promise.
4. Disappoint Others Before Yourself: A conference speaker once said this, and it’s stuck with me. It’s better to disappoint someone else than to continuously let yourself down.

Wrapping It Up

Protecting your peace isn’t about being selfish; it’s about survival. The more you prioritize your well-being, the better equipped you are to show up for others—without losing yourself in the process. So go ahead, set those boundaries, and reclaim your weekends. Your sanity (and your Netflix queue) will thank you.

Follow me for daily tips on Instagram! @kellylwellness

Are you ready to stop overeating and finally be in control around food? Watch my FREE training How to Stop Binge Eating (Without Cutting Out Your Favorite Foods) to learn how it’s possible!