Episode 1

1 - Counting Calories Is Not a Long Term Solution

In this episode of Weight Loss for Female Executives Who Travel, Karen debunks the myth that calorie counting is the solution to lasting weight loss for busy, high-achieving women. Instead, she shares why calorie restriction can lead to burnout, obsession with food, and a slowed metabolism. She advocates for a mindset shift that emphasizes healthy eating and nourishment over numbers. This new approach helps female executives maintain their energy and achieve sustainable weight loss without relying on restrictive diets. 

Key Takeaways: 

  1. Calorie counting leads to burnout: Tracking every calorie can drain mental energy and lead to an unhealthy relationship with food, especially for female executives who travel frequently. 
  2. Quality over quantity matters: Choosing nutrient-dense, whole foods supports your health and energy better than focusing solely on calorie intake. 
  3. Emotional eating is ignored in calorie counting: Addressing the mental and emotional triggers behind your eating habits is essential for long-term weight loss. 
  4. Calorie restriction slows down metabolism: Restricting calories too much causes metabolic adaptation, which makes weight loss harder and weight regain easier. 
  5. Mindset matters more than numbers: Shift away from controlling food through calorie counting and focus on strategic thinking about nourishment and balance to achieve sustainable, lasting weight loss. 

"Calorie counting may seem like a simple solution, but it leads to burnout, ignores the quality of food, and fails to address emotional eating. Lasting weight loss comes from shifting your mindset to focus on nourishment, balance, and strategic thinking about your health." 

Further resources: 

About the Podcast

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Weight Loss for Female Execs Who Travel

About your host

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Karen Gombault

I’m Karen, and I know firsthand the challenges of balancing a passionate career with personal health.

As a former CEO with 30 years in corporate leadership, I’ve lived the pressures of work, travel, raising a family and emotional eating.

For years, I tried every diet, counting calories and macros, even training for marathons, but nothing worked long-term.

It wasn’t until I focused on how I thought about myself and my weight that I finally lost the last 10 pounds and have kept it off over 7 years.

Now, as a coach and mentor, I help ambitious women think differently and lose weight permanently.