Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life

Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life is a straight-talking, compassionate podcast about the real journey with  weight loss surgery or life on a GLP-1 Medication.

Hosted by bariatric therapist, and award winning podcast host, Kyla Holley,  this show goes beyond the scale to explore mindset, emotions, habits, identity, relationships, and long-term success.

Each episode blends practical guidance, psychological insight, and honest conversations about the wins, the struggles, and the surprises no one warns you about. If you’re preparing for surgery or navigating life years after it, this podcast is your reminder that the goal isn’t just a smaller stomach — it’s a bigger, fuller life.

Kyla Holley was the winner of the Best Psychology Podcast at the Women in Podcasting Awards 2024.

*The content shared on Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life is based on the personal experiences, professional observations, and opinions of the host and any guests. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Every individual’s medical situation is unique. Listeners should always seek the guidance of their own qualified medical practitioner before making any changes to their health care, diet, exercise, medication, or treatment plan.

Listening to this podcast does not create a therapeutic or clinical relationship with the host. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please consult your healthcare provider promptly.

In case of a medical emergency, please contact your doctor or emergency services immediately.

Listen on:

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Episodes

4 days ago

In this episode, Kyla Holley discusses the challenges and strategies for maintaining weight after bariatric surgery or weight loss. She emphasizes the importance of developing skills for weight stability, monitoring, and building trust in oneself to sustain long-term success.
Kyla Holley is a Therapist and the Director of The Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour
www.acfeb.com
Please join our fabulous Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success/about
Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course
Join me here
Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?
Then click here Buy from Amazon
 

Tuesday Feb 17, 2026

Welcome to Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life.
In this episode Kyla discusses how significant weight loss—whether from surgery or GLP‑1 medication—can change friendships, intimate relationships, and how society treats you. She shares real examples, highlights challenges like jealousy, role shifts, and excess skin, and explains why people may react differently.
The episode emphasizes open communication, identifying who truly supports you, and finding peer support through an online community.
Kyla Holley is a Therapist and the Director of The Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour
www.acfeb.com
Please join our fabulous Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success/about
Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course
Join me here
Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?
Then click here Buy from Amazon

Tuesday Feb 10, 2026

In this episode of Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life we tackle the common fear of weight regain after bariatric surgery, explaining why small regain is often biologically normal and how past dieting history influences expectations. Kyla Holley outlines the main behavioral causes and possible medical contributors.
Practical prevention and recovery strategies are provided: prioritize protein, return to structured meals, limit liquid calories, watch easy-to-overeat foods, build muscle with strength training, and stay connected to your medical team or support community so you can act early and without shame.
Kyla Holley is a Therapist and the Director of The Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour
www.acfeb.com
Please join our fabulous Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success/about
Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course
Join me here
Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?
Then click here Buy from Amazon

Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life!

Tuesday Feb 03, 2026

Tuesday Feb 03, 2026

In this episode I announce an exciting rebrand: after 103 episodes I'm shifting focus to bariatric/metabolic surgery, and to people using GLP‑1 medications. The show will become "Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life," concentrating on support before, during, and after surgery, while still offering useful content for anyone improving their relationship with food.
Thank you for listening over the past two years — I hope you'll keep following the podcast as we move into this next chapter.
Kyla Holley is the Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour
Contact Kyla on info@acfeb.com
Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course
Join me here
Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?
Then click here Buy from Amazon
Join our bariatric community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success

Tuesday Jan 27, 2026

Welcome to Change Your Relationship With Food with Kyla Holley and an episode explaining why protein is essential for protecting muscle, supporting strength and balance as we age, and helping control appetite and blood sugar.
Kyla outlines a practical, non-dieting “protein-first” approach: prioritize protein, fill up on vegetables, and choose carbohydrates intentionally. She also warns against ultra-processed “high-protein” products and explains how protein supports wound healing, hair and immune health.
Practical tips and examples are given (eggs, Greek yogurt, lean meat, tofu, pulses), plus an invitation to join her Skool group for bariatric and GLP-1 patients.
Kyla Holley is the Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour
Contact Kyla on info@acfeb.com
Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course
Join me here
Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?
Then click here Buy from Amazon
Join our bariatric community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success

Tuesday Jan 20, 2026

Have you ever noticed how food can feel amazing in the moment… but leave you feeling empty, guilty, or still wanting more?
In this episode, we explore a powerful and often overlooked question:Are you mistaking pleasure for happiness—especially when it comes to food?
This is a compassionate, eye-opening conversation about emotional eating, dopamine-driven cravings, and why so many of us use food to cope with stress, exhaustion, and unmet emotional needs. Without shame or restriction, we unpack how food has become a stand-in for comfort—and what true nourishment actually looks like.
In this episode, we cover:
The key difference between pleasure and true happiness
Why emotional eating isn’t a lack of willpower
How modern foods hijack your brain’s reward system
The real reasons you eat when you’re not hungry
What it means to nourish your body and your emotions
Simple, gentle shifts to reconnect with food in a healthier way
If you’ve ever eaten to relax, reward yourself, numb out, or feel something—this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and empowered to create a new relationship with food.
🎧 Listen now and begin choosing nourishment over numbing—one compassionate moment at a time.
Kyla Holley is the Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour
Contact Kyla on info@acfeb.com
Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course
Join me here
Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?
Then click here Buy from Amazon
Join our bariatric community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success

Meet Hayley from Los Angeles

Tuesday Jan 13, 2026

Tuesday Jan 13, 2026

In this episode, Kyla Holley engages in a heartfelt conversation with Hayley, who shares her personal journey with food and weight loss. They explore the complexities of identity, self-perception, and the emotional challenges that accompany weight loss. Hayley discusses her struggles with food from a young age, the impact of societal expectations on her self-image, and the mental adjustments required after significant weight loss. The conversation delves into the concept of set weight theory and the importance of creating a new identity post-weight loss, emphasizing the ongoing journey of self-acceptance and the need for forgiveness in the process.Kyla HolleyDirector of the Australian Centre for Eating BehaviourContact Kyla on info@acfeb.comJoin our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online courseJoin me hereNeed the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?Then click here Buy from AmazonJoin our bariatric community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success

New Year, New Ideas

Tuesday Jan 06, 2026

Tuesday Jan 06, 2026

Kyla reflects on the new year, discusses format changes, and announces the launch of an interactive bariatric community. The new format includes real-life guest interviews and interactive consultations, while the bariatric community offers support and resources for individuals interested in or having undergone bariatric surgery.Kyla HolleyDirector of the Australian Centre for Eating BehaviourContact Kyla at info@acfeb.comJoin our new bariatric community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success/about?ref=40c4d745a5fe41979eb5e64f939ea06bJoin our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online courseJoin me hereNeed the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?Then click here Buy from Amazon

Tuesday Dec 16, 2025

In this holiday episode, Kyla dives into how to enjoy Christmas food without guilt, shame, or the annual pressure to start a restrictive New Year diet. If you're tired of the binge-restrict cycle, the “I’ll fix it in January” mindset, or feeling like every holiday treat needs to be “earned,” this conversation is for you. You’ll learn how to release guilt, trust your body, and break free from the trap of diet culture — all while savouring every festive bite!✨ Tune in for practical tips, mindset shifts, and empowering reminders to help you stay aligned with food freedom all season long.Kyla Holley is the Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviourwww.acfeb.comJoin our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online courseNeed the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?Also check out www.achievingstuff.com

Tuesday Dec 09, 2025

In this conversation, Kyla Holley interviews Kayla MacDonald, a food freedom and embodiment coach, who shares her journey from struggling with body image and emotional eating to developing a unique coaching method that combines creativity, archetypes, and emotional healing.
Kayla discusses the dark side of health coaching, the importance of understanding one's origin story, and how our relationship with food mirrors our desires in life. She introduces her innovative approach that encourages women to rewrite their narratives and embrace their bodies through a playful and imaginative lens.
Kyla Holley
Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour
To book a Discovery Session www.acfeb.com
Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course
Join me here
Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?
Then click here Buy from Amazon
Check out www.achievingstuff.com
 
Kayla MacDonald
www.embodiedwritingwarrior.com
Access Kayla's free course here 
Find the Divine Daddies audio listening guide here 
 
 

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Kyla Holley

Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

We are on a mission to help individuals break free from the vicious, toxic cycle of dieting and weight regain that simply doesn't work in the long term.

Instead, we focus on fostering a healthier and happier relationship with our body, our food and exercise.

Kyla's personal journey, which includes overcoming childhood trauma, panic attacks, and binge eating disorder, fuels her unwavering commitment to empower other.

With warmth, humour, empathy, and solid expertise at the core of her approach, she will tackle common themes from over 15 years in private practice.

Subscribe today and embark on a life-changing journey towards a healthier mindset, body, and soul.

Kyla x

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