The Slow Kitchen Podcast

Episode 15: Why We Eat Until Our Pants Are Too Tight

• Cat Dillon • Season 1 • Episode 15

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0:00 | 13:20

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

  • Eating past fullness is not about willpower, but biological and neurological mechanisms.
  • Dopamine & anticipation: The brain releases dopamine before the next bite, driving continued eating.
  • Fullness as nervous system regulation: A full stomach can activate calming parasympathetic responses.
  • Blood sugar fluctuations: Glucose spikes and drops can create lingering hunger or cravings.
  • Energy debt: Skipping meals or under-eating earlier can trigger rebound overeating.
  • Emotional regulation: Food can temporarily soothe emotional states like stress or boredom.
  • Delayed satiety signals: Fullness hormones take ~15–20 minutes to register, making it easy to overshoot.
  • Big takeaway: Overeating often reflects biology interacting with environment, not personal failure.
  • Practice: Replace judgment with curiosity—ask what the body was trying to solve (reward, regulation, energy, emotion, or speed).


Mentioned in This Episode:

The Hunger Habit: Why We Eat When We're Not Hungry and How to Stop, Judson Brewer - https://amzn.to/4bl2BiO

Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food, Jan Chozen Bays, https://amzn.to/4sip3if

Emotional influences on food choice: sensory, physiological and psychological pathways, Edward Leigh Gibson, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16545403/

Need support?

Join the Mood and Metabolism Collective: If you’re looking for more support putting these ideas into practice, you can join The Mood and Metabolism Collective! Inside you’ll find quick, blood-sugar-steady recipes, an easy drag-and-drop meal planner with smart grocery lists (even Instacart integration), monthly cooking classes, and a calm community space to build a more grounded relationship with food. 

🌱 RevitalizeHER: Wellness and Health Strategy Call for Women Over 40: A 30-minute session for women navigating midlife changes like low energy, stress, digestive issues, or stubborn weight. Together we’ll uncover what’s been holding you back and map out a few simple, personalized steps to help you feel lighter, calmer, and more energized.

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