I recently ran the Eugene Marathon - and I qualified for Boston. But what made this race so meaningful wasn’t just the finish time. It was how I showed up when things got hard.

In this episode, I’m sharing the full story of race day: the physical pain, the mental challenges, the moments I wanted to quit, and the mindset that carried me through. It’s the first in a 3-part series about the race, the recovery, and what it really means to never give up.

If you’ve ever struggled with regret or wished you could handle the hard moments differently, this episode is for you. It’s a story about resilience, support, and learning how to meet yourself in the moments that matter most.

Previous Episodes Referenced

What Marathon Training Taught Me About Healing

Experiences Are More Important Than Results

Curious what the finish line looked like?

Check out this Peaceful Eater post for finish line photos to get the real feel for the moment and the emotions involved.

Need support in your own healing journey?

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

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In today's episode, I share what happened when I watched Olympic and Paralympic athletes discuss their body image struggles on Project Runway. I was struck by how these incredible women - whose bodies many of us might envy - still faced insecurities and fitting challenges. If even Olympic athletes struggle with body image, what does that mean for the rest of us?

I explore how focusing on what our bodies can DO rather than how they LOOK can transform our relationship with food and ourselves. I share practical tips for shifting from body criticism to body kindness, no matter what limitations you might have, and explain why partnering with your body (rather than fighting against it) is the true path to both healing and performance. This episode will change how you think about "perfect" bodies - and your own.

Subscribe to The Peaceful Eater so that you don’t miss a new episode each Wednesday. Receive additional support and resources for your journey with food.

In this personal episode, I take you behind the scenes of my Boston Marathon qualifying journey and reveal the unexpected parallels I've discovered between athletic training and healing our relationship with food.

I share how shifting from bracing against discomfort to opening up to possibility has transformed not just my running performance, but offers a powerful framework for approaching food challenges.

You'll hear about the crucial role of community support, the mindset shifts that create breakthrough moments, and how embracing the process rather than fixating on outcomes creates freedom in both running and eating.

Whether you're struggling with binge eating or simply seeking a new perspective on healing, this episode offers practical wisdom about transformation that applies far beyond the marathon course.

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Co-Regulation

Marathon Recap & Lessons Learned

Experiences Are More Important Than Results

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In this episode, I explore the transformative power of co-regulation and why it might be the missing piece in your journey to freedom from binge eating. I'll share what happens in your brain and body when you connect with someone safe, why isolation often triggers binge behaviors, and how to find sources of co-regulation even when human connection feels risky. I open up about my personal story of finally sharing my binge eating struggles with my husband after years of suffering in silence and explain why gentleness - not harshness - is the path to lasting change.

Subscribe to The Peaceful Eater so that you don’t miss a new episode each Wednesday. Receive additional support and resources for your journey with food.

If you're tired of fighting your food struggles alone, this episode offers both the science and practical strategies to help you heal through connection. For personalized support in a safe, judgment-free space, my Swift Support Sessions provide an opportunity to experience the power of co-regulation firsthand. These two focused sessions can help you feel truly seen and understood, perhaps for the first time, as you navigate your relationship with food.

Thank you for listening to The Binge Breakthrough Podcast – your personal guide to breaking through the barriers that keep you stuck in the cycle of binge eating, compulsive overeating, or emotional eating.

Are you finding this podcast helpful on your journey with food? Want to give back to others struggling in silence? Leaving a review and sharing the show can have a huge impact. Help others realize they're not alone and that healing is possible.

Visit janepilger.substack.com to discuss this episode with other subscribers and to get access to additional resources to support your journey.

Visit my website at janepilger.com.

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What do you do when everything goes off the rails and your nervous system is on high alert?

In this episode, I share what happened during a recent workshop when unexpected tech issues threw everything off track—and how I responded in a way that’s very different from how I would have during my binge eating years.

Instead of relying on willpower or pushing through, I took a moment to pause, regulate, and move forward with intention. I walk you through the 5 specific steps I took in that moment - steps I now often guide my clients through when they’re feeling overwhelmed, out of control, or on the verge of turning to food for relief.

Whether you're in the middle of your struggle with food or learning how to navigate stress differently, this episode offers a compassionate, practical example of what it means to work with your nervous system instead of against it.

Ready for support in your own SOS moments?

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Want to watch this moment unfold in real time?

Catch the replay of the workshop Stop Binge Eating Without Diets, Rules, or Willpower through April 30, 2025.

Watch the Replay

Subscribe to The Peaceful Eater so that you don’t miss a new episode each Wednesday. Receive additional support and resources for your journey with food.

Many of us believe we need more control over our eating habits, more willpower, more discipline. But what if control is actually the problem, not the solution?

In this episode, I share my personal journey of realizing that my binge eating wasn't about lacking control—it was about desperately seeking safety in the wrong ways.

I explain why the more we try to control our eating, the more out of control we ultimately feel, and why creating internal safety is the missing piece for healing your relationship with food.

Previous episode referenced: The Restriction You Don’t Know You’re Doing

If you're tired of fighting against yourself and ready for a different approach that actually works, this episode offers both the insights and practical shifts to move from control to genuine safety with food.

Thank you for listening to The Binge Breakthrough Podcast – your personal guide to breaking through the barriers that keep you stuck in the cycle of binge eating, compulsive overeating, or emotional eating.

Are you finding this podcast helpful on your journey with food? Want to give back to others struggling in silence? Leaving a review and sharing the show can have a huge impact. Help others realize they're not alone and that healing is possible.

Visit janepilger.substack.com to discuss this episode with other subscribers and to get access to additional resources to support your journey.

You've heard that restriction leads to binging. You might even be trying hard not to restrict. But what if your body still thinks you're on a diet?

In this eye-opening episode, I reveal the hidden forms of restriction that might be sabotaging your relationship with food – even when you think you're doing everything right. From the fear of restriction paradox to unconscious social eating patterns, I'll help you discover how subtle mental and emotional barriers can keep you stuck in the binge cycle.

I share personal stories of my own unintentional restriction and offer practical insights on:

* Why eating "anything and everything" to avoid restriction might actually backfire

* How your energy and intention matter more than what's actually on your plate

* The surprising connection between social situations and late-night eating urges

* Why cultivating body trust is the real solution (not perfect eating habits)

If you've been working to heal your relationship with food but still feel stuck, this episode might hold the missing piece. I offer compassionate guidance for identifying your own hidden restrictions and practical steps for building genuine trust with your body.

Save your spot for my upcoming live event: Stop Binge Eating without Diets, Rules or Willpower on April 2nd where you will discover why what you've tried hasn't worked. Walk away with a clear next step on your path towards the freedom you crave.

Previous Episode Referenced: Why Letting Go of All Food Rules Isn't Working

Subscribe to The Peaceful Eater so that you don’t miss a new episode each Wednesday. Receive additional support and resources for your journey with food.

As a longtime cycling enthusiast, I know firsthand the joy and freedom that riding a bike can bring. But for too long, the cycling world has excluded people in larger bodies from fully experiencing that joy. That's why I'm so excited to share this episode as part of Podcasthon.

Podcasthon is an incredible non-profit initiative uniting over a thousand podcasters globally to raise awareness for charitable causes. And the organization I'm highlighting this week is truly inspiring - it's called All Bodies on Bikes.

All Bodies on Bikes is dedicated to creating a more inclusive cycling culture where people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities feel welcomed and empowered to experience the thrill of riding. In my conversation with co-founder and executive director Marley Blonsky, you'll be moved by the powerful story behind this nonprofit and the tangible impact they're having through community rides, education, and industry advocacy.

Marley shares her own cycling journey, the challenges she faced, and the joy she found in creating spaces where all bodies are celebrated on two wheels. This is a must-listen episode for anyone who loves cycling, believes in body positivity, or wants to get involved with an organization that's truly making a difference. Tune in to be motivated, uplifted, and ready to join the All Bodies on Bikes movement.

Learn more about All Bodies on Bikes: Website | Documentary | Instagram

Subscribe to The Peaceful Eater so that you don’t miss a new episode each Wednesday. Receive additional support and resources for your journey with food.