Marla’s Blog

BE -Friend Yourself Marla’s Book

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Why "Just Stop" Never Works — And What Actually Does
Why "Just Stop" Never Works — And What Actually Does

Telling yourself to stop eating fast, stop worrying, stop rushing never works. Here's what actually helps — getting curious about why the pattern exists in the first place.

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The People Around You Either Heal You or Keep You Stuck — Choose Wisely
The People Around You Either Heal You or Keep You Stuck — Choose Wisely

When I came home from Pittsburgh five pounds lighter after the flu, my husband's response reminded me why the people around you matter so much in healing your relationship with food and your body.

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I Was Disappointed by My Own Book — And Then It Taught Me Something
I Was Disappointed by My Own Book — And Then It Taught Me Something

When my publisher sent me a copy of BE-Friend Yourself I thought it looked too small. Then I realized I needed to read my own book. A reflection on size, worth, and body acceptance.

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BODY LOVE

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Nostalgia Romanticizes the Prison and Calls It the Good Old Days
Nostalgia Romanticizes the Prison and Calls It the Good Old Days

I found an old photo of myself in Germany and felt that familiar pull — she was so thin, she looked so good. Then I remembered what that body actually felt like to live in. Nostalgia is selective amnesia.

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Why You're Still Struggling With Exercise (It's Not About Discipline)
Why You're Still Struggling With Exercise (It's Not About Discipline)

If exercise has ever felt compulsive, punishing, or something you couldn't stop even when your body was begging you to — this is for you. Real talk about what it actually looks like to heal your relationship with movement, from someone who has been there.

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When Your Body Pulls the Rug Out Right After You Finally Trusted It
When Your Body Pulls the Rug Out Right After You Finally Trusted It

I was finally proud of my body. Then I felt terrible in Japan and the old story rushed back. What I did differently this time — and the shift that changes everything with food, your body, and yourself.

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FREEDOM WITH FOOD

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If You Love It This Much It Must Be Obsession — The Rule That's Still Running Your Life
If You Love It This Much It Must Be Obsession — The Rule That's Still Running Your Life

Japan brought my tea obsession back and with it a memory I hadn't thought about in years. The belief I'd planted without knowing it: that loving something meant I'd eventually have to give it up.

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Healing Didn't Happen in One Big Moment — It Happened in the Small Ones
Healing Didn't Happen in One Big Moment — It Happened in the Small Ones

I kept waiting for the shift with Food that would finally set me free. It never came as one big moment. It came quietly, in small choices that were accumulating into something real without me even knowing it.

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Dismantling the Stigma Around Men’s Body Image and Food Struggles
Dismantling the Stigma Around Men’s Body Image and Food Struggles

A conversation with health coach Carlo Petrini about why men struggle in silence with body image and food — and how healing, vulnerability, and self-compassion can change everything.

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HEALING

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MUSINGS

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A prayer walk in Kyoto— Where God Spoke
A prayer walk in Kyoto— Where God Spoke

A pilgrimage to Mount Kurama in Kyoto, where Mikao Usui discovered Reiki. A reflection on prayer, presence, listening to God, and what healing really feels like when we finally get still.

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What Slowing Down in Japan Taught Me About Food, Rest, and My Body
What Slowing Down in Japan Taught Me About Food, Rest, and My Body

A letter from Hokkaido, Japan about what happens when you finally stop moving — the restlessness, the nervous system adjusting, and what Japan's relationship with food quietly revealed.

And for the short blog description, use this shorter version:

What happens when you finally stop moving? A letter from Japan about rest, restlessness, and what food looks like when you're not rushing.

Next — what's "My Mom the Prayer Warrior" about?

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When Family Tells You Who to Be — And How to Stay Rooted in Yourself
When Family Tells You Who to Be — And How to Stay Rooted in Yourself

The tension between belonging and losing yourself is real. A reflection on reclaiming your voice, your choices, and your truth — without fighting or conforming to who others think you should be.cepted, but not wanting to lose ourselves in the process.

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DISCOVER VIDEOS

There is a wealth of inspiring videos on my Youtube channel.

Receive my Free Gift to you. BREAKING the CYCLE of EMOTIONAL EATING

A Free Video Course designed to support you in finding appreciation for yourself from the inside out.

“Get out of your Mind and into Your Body”