Show Notes
In this deeply reflective episode, Leslie sits down with Amy DiGrosa, transpersonal life coach, clinical hypnotherapist, and university professor, to explore menopause as a spiritual initiation, identity shifts in midlife, subconscious healing, and the powerful call of the Camino pilgrimage. This conversation goes far beyond hormones and symptoms. Together, Leslie and Amy unpack how menopause, empty nesting, weight struggles, and emotional overwhelm are often invitations to reconnect with purpose, intuition, and inner truth. They also explore how hypnosis, community, and embodied practices help women heal at the root rather than constantly trying to "fix" themselves. What you will learn from this episode: 00:00 – Why menopause often coincides with weight gain, confusion, and identity shifts 01:30 – Menopause as a spiritual transition, not just a biological one 03:00 – Moving from caregiver identity to asking "What about me?" 04:55 – Why managing symptoms alone is not enough during menopause 06:45 – Asking for help and releasing shame during life transitions 08:15 – Introduction to guest Amy DiGrosa and how she and Leslie met 10:30 – Amy's work as a university professor and leading international programs 11:45 – Walking the Camino and why pilgrimage is transformational 13:10 – Growing up between countries and learning adaptability early in life 15:00 – How constant change builds resilience and flexibility 17:10 – Learning languages, making mistakes, and releasing perfectionism 19:05 – Parallels between language learning and healing relationships with food 21:00 – Why adults struggle more with change than children 22:30 – Adaptability, resilience, and responding instead of reacting 24:10 – Amy's introduction to hypnosis through her own healing journey 26:00 – How subconscious beliefs form in childhood 28:00 – Trauma, belonging, and the body remembering everything 29:45 – Dieting as a mask for deeper emotional wounds 31:10 – Leslie's personal breakthrough: realizing food struggles were emotional, not behavioral 33:15 – Internal self-conflict and how self-criticism fuels food issues 35:00 – Emotional release as the turning point in healing 36:40 – Why conditional self-love keeps women stuck 38:10 – Healing through hypnosis, therapy, and embodied practices 40:00 – Why no single tool works for everyone 41:45 – Following curiosity and inner nudges instead of rigid plans 43:20 – Empty nesting, menopause, and spiritual awakening happening together 45:10 – Identity loss after motherhood and discovering "Who am I now?" 46:55 – Shifting from religious conditioning to spiritual self-connection 48:30 – Asking bigger life questions: purpose, meaning, and contribution 50:10 – Responding to life instead of reacting from old programming 51:50 – Seeing problems as invitations instead of obstacles 53:30 – Why women often carry too much without support 55:10 – Asking for help as strength, not weakness 56:40 – Menopause as a collective, shared experience for women 58:10 – Introduction to the Camino pilgrimage 59:45 – History and spiritual meaning of the Camino de Santiago 1:01:30 – Why people walk the Camino during major life crossroads 1:03:20 – Walking as a form of healing and embodiment 1:05:00 – Community, generosity, and connection on the Camino 1:07:10 – "Buen Camino" as a life philosophy 1:08:45 – Using future desires (like walking the Camino) as motivation for healing 1:10:20 – Invitation to explore a future Camino retreat 1:11:40 – How to connect with Amy and access her free resources 1:13:00 – Final reflections on listening to inner guidance and trusting your path This episode is especially powerful for women in perimenopause, menopause, or major life transitions who feel disconnected, overwhelmed, or stuck in cycles with food, weight, or self-doubt. Valuable Resources: Join my next LIVE masterclass Join the 8-week Fastrack to Food Freedom Program -Guaranteed mental and emotional freedom f
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📲 Text HYPNOSIS to 855-232-5483 to book your free Food Freedom Call Stop blaming yourself. Rewire your subconscious. Find food freedom. Food Noise: Why You Can't Stop Thinking About Food (And How to Quiet It) Are you constantly asking yourself, "Should I eat this?" "Can I have that?" or "How do I make sure I don't gain weight?" In this episode, Leslie M. Thornton shares her personal experience with food noise the endless mental chatter, calculations, guilt, and anxiety surrounding food, body image, and weight. She explains how trying to make the "right" food choices can create so much pressure that you end up eating impulsively, feeling frustrated with yourself, and starting the cycle all over again. Whether you're struggling with binge eating, constant thoughts about food, or anxiety about your weight, this exhausting mental battle can affect your life regardless of what the scale says. Leslie explores why strict diets, willpower, and even weight-loss surgery may not resolve the underlying struggle with food. She shares stories from clients who continued experiencing food noise after surgery, as well as a client who discovered she could comfortably decline dessert without relying on willpower. Lasting change begins with understanding your emotions, reconnecting with your body, identifying your personal values, and learning to make decisions that feel authentic to you. Leslie also explains how guilt, shame, and restrictive beliefs can keep you trapped in diet mentality and why changing those patterns takes practice, emotional work, and a willingness to approach food differently. Ultimately, food freedom means more than reaching a particular number on the scale. It's about stepping away from the constant internal conflict and creating a life that reflects your values, whether that's freedom, connection, vitality, or fun. Leslie encourages you to stop blaming yourself, challenge the beliefs that keep you stuck, and decide whether you want to continue chasing temporary weight-loss results or build a more peaceful relationship with food for the long term. Listen to discover how getting off the fence and making decisions from a place of self-awareness can help you experience life in full color again. "You have to want that more than you want to be skinny." Timestamps: 0:00–2:37 – The constant mental chatter behind food decisions and impulsive eating 2:37–5:48 – The cycle of guilt, scale anxiety, body image, and food noise 5:48–7:47 – Why food noise is an exhausting internal struggle, regardless of your weight 7:50–9:43 – Client experiences with weight-loss surgery and discovering food freedom 9:49–10:59 – Why self-awareness and personal decision-making matter for lasting change 11:01–13:24 – Leslie's experience with restrictive dieting and the importance of personal values 13:26–15:56 – Rewiring diet mentality, processing emotions, and healing your relationship with food 16:10–17:57 – Releasing self-blame and shifting from a diet mentality to a freedom mindset 18:01–19:56 – Why temporary weight-loss results aren't the same as lasting food freedom 19:57–21:55 – Making confident decisions that align with your values 21:57–23:04 – Living life in full color and reflecting on the decisions keeping you stuck Ready to Find Food Freedom? 📲 Book your free Food Freedom Call: http://hpwl.info/855 Or text HYPNOSIS to 855-232-5483.
What if the reason your weight loss results never last isn't that you lack discipline, but that you're following someone else's blueprint? In this episode of Hypnosis for Permanent Weight Loss, Leslie M. Thornton shares a deeply personal lesson from her decision to call off her engagement and explains how the journey of self-inquiry, self-worth, and self-trust connects to lasting weight loss. She explores how following strict rules and trying to do everything "right" can lead to short-term results while leaving you disconnected from your authentic self. Leslie reflects on her own experience following a highly restrictive food addiction program, losing weight, and eventually regaining it. She explains how she had to challenge deeply ingrained beliefs about food, rebuild trust in her body, reconnect with her hunger cues, and learn to process her emotions. She draws a powerful parallel between relationships and weight loss: whether you're following someone else's rules about what to eat or someone else's expectations about how your life should look, lasting happiness requires choices that align with your own values, needs, and desires. The episode is an invitation to stop ignoring your feelings, question the rules you've been living by, and learn to trust yourself. Leslie reminds listeners that there is no shame in feeling stuck or asking for support. She also guides listeners through a calming hot air balloon visualization, helping them release other people's expectations, fear, confusion, and the pressure to get everything right. The goal is to move toward a life that feels authentic, fulfilling, and aligned with who you truly are. Highlighted Quote "If you are following someone else's blueprint, someone else's rules, you will get someone else's results." Key Topics & Timestamps 0:02–1:56 — Leslie's personal relationship update and the importance of self-trust
Does hypnosis really work? In this episode, Leslie M. Thornton answers one of the most common questions she receives about hypnosis and explains how it can help transform your relationship with food, your body, and yourself. Drawing from her own experience with dieting, food obsession, and years of struggling to control her eating, Leslie shares how her first hypnosis session helped her step back from the constant thoughts about food and realize that you are not your thoughts. Instead of being controlled by fear, guilt, and the need to be perfect, you can learn to experience greater peace and freedom. Leslie also explains how childhood experiences, family attitudes toward weight, past criticism, and restrictive dieting can shape the way your brain processes information and influences your relationship with food. Hypnosis can help quiet the constant mental chatter and introduce positive suggestions that align with your goals. However, lasting change involves more than a single hypnosis session. Through her HEAL method, Leslie combines hypnosis with emotional healing, reconnecting with your authentic self, and learning self-care habits that support long-term results without relying on willpower or restrictive rules. Ultimately, lasting weight loss is about more than changing your body or following another diet. It's about creating a healthier relationship with yourself, understanding your emotions, and making choices that genuinely fit your needs and lifestyle. Leslie shares why health, happiness, and inner alignment matter, and how working on your inner world can positively influence your relationships, confidence, and overall well-being. If you're tired of constantly thinking about food and weight loss, this episode offers a different perspective on how hypnosis can help you move toward a calmer, more fulfilling life. Highlighted Quote "You are not your mind. You are not your thoughts." Key Topics & Timestamps 0:00–1:31 – Does hypnosis really work? Leslie answers the most common question about hypnosis.
Fear can be a powerful motivator, but it can also create an exhausting cycle of urgency, restriction, burnout, guilt, and self-judgment. In this episode of Hypnosis for Permanent Weight Loss, Leslie M. Thornton explores what happens when the motivation to lose weight comes from fear, such as fear of knee pain, surgery, aging, losing independence, or what might happen if your health doesn't change. Instead of asking, "What am I trying to get away from?" Leslie encourages listeners to ask, "What am I actually moving toward?" Leslie explains the difference between panic-driven weight loss and purpose-driven health changes. She shares how fear can push you into extreme plans that may work temporarily, only to fall apart when life gets difficult. She also discusses how pain can create negative emotions and thinking, which can then trigger emotional or stress eating, creating another loop in the cycle. Through her own experience with injury and chronic pain, Leslie shares how reframing a difficult experience can help you move from fear and panic toward curiosity, purpose, and taking care of yourself. The episode ultimately encourages listeners to look underneath their fear and discover what they truly want their health to make possible. Whether that means traveling more comfortably, playing with grandchildren, hiking, playing pickleball, or simply living without constantly thinking about your body, the goal is to move toward a life you love, rather than constantly running away from something you fear. Leslie also reminds listeners that they don't have to navigate pain or health challenges alone and that support can help them become calm and clear enough to make empowered decisions. Highlighted Quote "Fear might get you started, but I don't want fear holding the steering wheel." Key Topics & Timestamps 0:02–0:52 — Breaking free from food and weight obsession 0:52–2:36 — Why fear-based weight loss can become a trap 2:43–4:20 — How fear creates urgency, burnout, and the cycle of self-judgment 4:26–5:42 — Shifting from "What am I running from?" to "What am I moving toward?" 5:42–7:36 — Client stories: finding peace with food and letting go of judgment 7:42–9:40 — Panic vs. purpose and why the unconscious mind needs choices 9:48–11:55 — Leslie's experience with injury, pain, and emotional eating 12:03–13:24 — Looking underneath fear to discover what you're actually afraid of 13:24–14:28 — Imagining what becomes possible when you heal 14:28–16:43 — Reframing pain and injury as an opportunity for deeper healing 16:43–18:17 — Moving from fear-driven energy toward purpose and consistency 18:17–19:42 — Understanding the impact of chronic pain and getting the right support 19:42–20:03 — Stop making fear the strategy for weight loss 20:04–21:03 — Free Masterclass: How to Stop the Food Noise Naturally Connect With Leslie Thornton: Book A Clarity Call Website Facebook LinkedIn Email: [email protected] If you enjoy the podcast, Would you please consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes in under 60 seconds? It brightens our day and helps us bring you incredible guests for top-notch content. Plus, I cherish reading every review! Click here to make a difference!