The Chris Terrell Podcast

Chris Terrell introduces a new episode format by sharing an impromptu hot seat coaching call from his Guild program’s maintenance class. The featured coaching conversation is with Misty (a previous guest) who has lost about 190 pounds and maintained it, but struggles to add exercise consistently. Chris also mentions a free three-week audio weight loss coaching course available at becomingthin.com.

In the coaching call, Misty explains her rigid standard that “exercise” must be a 45–60 minute gym session, combined with a chaotic schedule, low enjoyment of the gym, and lack of a compelling goal. She likes activities that feel like normal life (hiking, paddleboarding, lake swimming) and notes fear around goals that might expose physical limitations (including pulmonary concerns). Chris and the group identify the root causes as philosophy/definition of exercise, unrealistic expectations, and focusing on “being better” rather than building the habit of showing up. Alex shares his own progression from very small fitness goals (VR workouts/kettlebell swings) to daily training, emphasizing that intrusive resistance thoughts can remain while the habit continues.

Chris guides Misty toward lowering the minimum standard to something “insultingly easy,” focusing first on consistency and accountability rather than the perfect program. He suggests setting a small, repeatable baseline (e.g., three days a week for 10 minutes for several weeks), allowing overdelivery without raising the standard too soon, reducing friction by taking tiny next steps (putting on workout clothes, driving to the park), and pairing exercise with enjoyable elements (music, audiobooks, scrolling, phone calls). He reinforces that since Misty isn’t chasing a specific performance goal yet, she can sample different activities and let a motivating goal emerge later. The episode ends with Chris highlighting how root cause analysis and coaching can shorten the time it takes to solve recurring problems.

00:00 Welcome Back, Champion: Learning From Failure
00:34 Chris’s 125-Lb Story & the 6 Levers That Change Results
01:13 Why This Episode: A Real Coaching Call on Adding Exercise
03:06 Quick Plug: Free 3-Week Weight Loss Coaching Course
04:01 Misty’s Roadblocks: Gym Hate, Time, and a Chaotic Schedule
06:08 Finding a Real Fitness Goal (Pushups, Pullups… or Something Bigger)
08:08 The Real Root Cause: Rigid Definitions & Fear of Not Being Capable
12:47 Resetting Expectations: What Counts as Exercise? (Even 5 Minutes)
14:23 Case Study: Alex’s “Start Tiny” Plan That Became a Daily Habit
16:11 The Core Skill: Showing Up + Accountability + Lowering the Bar
20:47 Making It Practical: Minimum Credit, Consistency, and Next Steps
22:48 Set the Bare-Minimum Workout Standard (Even on a Bad Week)
24:04 Make It ‘Stupid Easy’: 3 Days x 10 Minutes + Don’t Raise the Bar Yet
25:30 What Counts as Exercise? Define Your Personal ‘It Worked’ Metric
26:09 Time vs Rep Goals: Alternative Ways to Track Weekly Exercise
26:49 Perfectionism & Peloton ‘Completion’ Mindset—Why It Backfires
28:45 How Fit People Actually Get Themselves to Work Out (Friction, Inertia, Tiny Steps)
32:06 Pair Fun With Fitness: Audiobooks, Calls, Scrolling, and Rewards
34:18 When Weight Loss Isn’t the Driver: Build Momentum, Then Choose Bigger Goals
36:42 Think in Weeks, Not Days: Motivation Ebbs, Standards Hold
38:03 Sampling Phase: Do Whatever Exercise You’ll Actually Show Up For
39:25 Root Cause Analysis + When to Bring in a Coach (Wrap-Up)

What if exercise isn’t for weight loss?

In this episode of Becoming Thin, I sit down with a woman who lost 95 pounds… and didn’t stop there. She went from feeling postpartum, overwhelmed, depressed, and nearly 240 pounds to completing 100-mile ultramarathons.

But this is not an episode about running.

It’s about identity.

We talk about what happens when you stop using exercise to punish your body and start using it to care for it. We unpack why running alone won’t make you thin, why it often makes you hungrier, and how reframing movement can completely change your relationship with food.

She shares how she went “cold turkey” into keto and intermittent fasting, lost 95 pounds in a year, then faced carb fear when she reintroduced balance for marathon training. She gained some weight back — and didn’t panic. We discuss maintenance as awareness, not obsession, and thinking in seasons instead of days.

We also dive into mom guilt, modeling strength for your kids, the fear of regaining weight, and the mindset required to walk through the “pain cave” — those moments when you want to quit.

This episode is about learning to keep promises to yourself.

It’s about meeting yourself in hard moments.

It’s about realizing that wanting to quit isn’t the crime — quitting is.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, afraid of gaining it back, or unsure whether you’re “that kind of person,” this conversation will help you think differently.

And new thinking creates new results.

Listen for the mindset. Listen for the shift.00:00 Welcome Back, Champion: Learn From the Week’s Failures01:21 Meet the Guest: 95 lbs Down to 100-Mile Ultras (It’s Not Just About Running)03:02 Mindset Reframe: New Results Require New Thinking03:45 Free 3-Week Daily Coaching Course Announcement (Who It’s For)07:06 Interview Begins: The First Mile Always Sucks (And That’s Normal)08:35 Her Turning Point: Running for Love of the Body, Not Weight Loss12:00 Keto + Intermittent Fasting: Losing 95 lbs and Chasing the Next Medal14:17 Carb Fear, Strength Training, and Gaining Some Weight Back Without Panic17:33 Postpartum Survival Mode: Depression, Portions, and What She’d Tell New Moms22:25 Mom Guilt & Identity: Being a Mom and Still Having Your Own Passion25:42 Setting the Example: Grand Canyon Confidence and Breaking Family Patterns31:11 Maintenance Mindset: Balance, Seasons, and Living in “Training Mode”42:01 The Pain Cave: Choosing Your Attitude When You’re Suffering48:12 Embracing the Pain Cave: Remembering You Chose This48:47 Meeting Your Raw Self in Suffering (and Why It Heals)51:30 Future-Self Motivation: Deathbed Perspective & Big Goals53:19 How Hard Things Recalibrate Your Life (Work, Sleep, Mindset)58:16 “I’m Not Special”: Making Endurance Possible with Time & Priorities01:01:11 Grace vs. Excuses: The Push-Pull of Rest, Movement, and Honesty01:08:21 The 10-Minute Rule & Showing Up on Low-Motivation Days01:09:50 Running as Therapy (But Not a Replacement) + Trail Running as Sanctuary01:16:02 Mortality, Gratitude, and ‘Burn the Ships’ Commitment01:23:06 Closing Thoughts: Living Fully + Where to Follow + What’s Next

Join the Guild
www.imnotquitting.com 

Overcoming Emotional Eating: A Journey of Self-Love and Acceptance

In this episode of the Becoming Thin Podcast, host Chris Terrell opens up about his personal weight loss journey, sharing his struggle with yo-yo dieting and emotional eating. Chris provides valuable insights into the importance of self-love, acceptance, and forgiveness, emphasizing that real, lasting change requires overhauling one's lifestyle, habits, environment, community, and belief systems. He answers a poignant email from a listener named Ursula, offering her practical advice on how to start addressing emotional eating by fostering gratitude for her body, seeking therapy, and surrounding herself with supportive people. Chris also recommends the book 'Eight Keys to End Emotional Eating' by Dr. Howard Farkas and highlights the significance of understanding one's emotions and developing healthy ways to express them.

00:00 Introduction and Host's Weight Loss Journey
01:31 The Importance of Self-Love and Acceptance
04:38 A Listener's Struggle with Compulsive Eating
07:08 Chris Terrell's Personal Background
10:31 Foundations for Overcoming Emotional Eating
16:36 Practical Steps and Tools for Managing Emotional Eating
24:08 Building a Supportive Community
26:10 Conclusion and Encouragement

In this episode of the Becoming Thin Podcast, host Chris Tarroll shares insights from his personal weight-loss journey, losing 125 pounds after years of yo-yo dieting. Chris emphasizes the importance of learning from failures, making permanent lifestyle changes, and understanding the intrinsic link between body and lifestyle. He shares strategies for sustainable weight loss, emphasizing the need for adaptable weight loss methods and effective hunger management. Chris introduces three practical tips for using hunger to aid weight loss: allowing hunger to interrupt daily activities, engaging in activities that occupy both mind and body, and being mindful of food choices. He underscores the significance of discerning between hedonic and physical hunger, and eliminating hyperpalatable foods during the early stages of the journey. Chris also shares information about his Guild of Champions weight-loss coaching group and invites listeners to join the Becoming Thin Community on Facebook.00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome00:37 Personal Weight Loss Journey01:24 Understanding Lifestyle Changes02:58 Effective Weight Loss Strategies04:14 The Importance of Adaptability05:03 Addressing Weight Gain06:35 Using Hunger to Lose Weight10:33 Three Tips for Managing Hunger10:55 Community and Support12:27 First Tip: Allow Hunger to Interrupt13:32 Second Tip: Engage in Activities18:01 Third Tip: Be Mindful of Food Choices25:45 Conclusion and Invitation to Join

Join the Guild
www.imnotquitting.com 

The Guild of Champions: Three Key Weight Loss Philosophies

In this episode of 'Becoming Thin Podcast,' host Chris TaRL discusses the essential components and philosophies for a successful and sustainable weight loss journey. Sharing personal insights from his own 125-pound weight loss, Chris emphasizes the importance of changing lifestyle, habits, routines, environment, community, and belief systems. He introduces three crucial philosophies: questioning one's intuition, valuing partial efforts over perfect inaction, and making just enough changes to maintain progress. Chris invites listeners to review the podcast and join his supportive community for further guidance.

00:00 Introduction to the Becoming Thin Podcast
00:38 Chris's Weight Loss Journey and Key Changes
01:24 Reflecting on Your Weight Loss Journey
02:02 Community and Environment for Weight Loss Success
02:47 Invitation to Engage and Upcoming Free Course
04:44 Philosophy 1: Question Your Intuition
13:19 Philosophy 2: Progress Over Perfection
17:31 Philosophy 3: Do Just Enough
22:40 Join the Guild and Final Encouragement