094: Problem Solving

When you encounter a problem, do you immediately throw up your hands and say “I give up” or push the problem away and ignore it? We all do it, let’s be honest. But life is difficult, I’m sorry to say, and we will encounter problems of all sizes throughout life. So I want to talk about problem solving. There is a tried and true strategy out there that has specifically been validated for people suffering from binge eating disorder to help heal the binges. Studies have been done on how effective it is. And indeed, this strategy can be used on any problem in life, not just to aid binging and eating.

The problem solving strategy is a six step process. Well, six and a half because I like to add a final little note to the end of the six steps. Those steps are 1. Identify the problem, 2. Specify the problem accurately, 3. Brainstorm solutions, 4. Critically evaluate the solution implications, 5. Choose the best solution, 6. Take action. And then the half: Evaluate how well it works for you. But I’m not just going to throw this list at you and say “there you go”, I am going to break down each step, how to do it, and why it’s important. I use this process myself, so I have examples from my own life to share. After this episode you will have an actual step by step guide for how to tackle the next problem you encounter.

About host Michelle Tubman:

Michelle Tubman is an emergency physician in Alberta, Canada. She is also an overweight woman who has struggled for decades with her own weight and body image. She has spent her adult life constantly battling the urge to overeat with her desire to be thin and healthy. As a physician she understood the nutritional aspects of a healthy diet, but having the knowledge wasn’t enough to produce the changes she wanted in her body. And so she pursued extra training in life coaching, nutrition coaching, the science of habit formation, and eating psychology. And this is where the magic is. There is so much work that needs to happen on the inside before we can see changes on the outside.

Michelle founded Wazya Health to help successful, professional women who, after years of dieting, understand that optimal weight and health is more than calories-in-calories-out. She wants to help women listen to that quiet voice inside that tells them there’s deeper work to be done when it comes to weight and body image.

Learn more about Dr. Michelle Tubman and Wayza Health: