My personal Eating Disorder

🤯This may come as a shock, but one of the main reasons I got into health and fitness was because of my own incredible struggles with food.
🤯 Let’s be honest, the word trigger gets thrown around a lot these days. But through my journey, I’ve come to understand my own food triggers—or more specifically, the external circumstances that lead to internal failures with food. I hope sharing this helps you identify and address your own challenges:
1️⃣ REBELLION
Did you know most entrepreneurs were below a C+ average as students in high school or college—if they even attended? Many of us are naturally rebellious. We can’t stand rules, restrictions, or being told what to do.
For me, that rebellion showed up in how I viewed food. I hated rigid rules or restrictions around eating, even when I knew discipline was necessary to achieve my goals. While I’ve managed to build a physique most people can only dream of, that discipline often comes in waves—and it’s frequently paired with the dark shadow of disordered eating.
Case in point: by day six or seven of a strict diet, I’d find myself snacking, binging on sweet chili heat Doritos mixed with ranch Doritos, two pints of Ben & Jerry’s, and a bag of nibs. Every week, I’d start out telling myself I was going to stick to the plan, but by Thursday, I’d derail and hit a 4,000-calorie snack spree.
2️⃣ STRESS
Stress has been my most common excuse. Financial pain, legal battles with my ex-wife over parenting responsibilities, or even a slow sales week—all of it can send me straight to the snack cart.
When the pressure piles on by Thursday or Friday, I’ll often check out with drinks or snacks, telling myself I deserve the relief. But here’s the truth: these are internal problems that I’m trying to solve externally with food.
✅ SOLVING THE PROBLEM
The only way I’ve conquered these demons—and taught over 1,500 others to do the same—is through process, goals, and daily discipline.
For reference, I’m on a tear right now, down 12 pounds in two weeks. Here’s how: • Waking up at 5:30 AM. • Working out for an hour. • Listening to educational podcasts. • Performing daily stretches and routines. • Planning, prepping, and cooking all meals in advance. • Going to bed at 8 PM. • Limiting screen time.
Everything is clearly written on my wall, emphasized on my fridge, and tracked on a whiteboard in my home gym.
💥 When I don’t “mess around,” I discover that: 1. My business thrives. 2. My physique gets dialed in. 3. My mental health improves drastically.
One thing many overlook is the devastating effect sugar has on the brain. After binging on Ben & Jerry’s and nibs, I’ve noticed I become anxious, depressed, and angry. The chemical and emotional fallout is overwhelming—and I’ve realized it’s just not worth it anymore.
This is why I’ve committed to creating sustainable processes, learning from others, and getting out of my own way. It’s also why I became an elite nutritionist and physique transformation coach all over the world. I must practice what I preach, because when I don’t, both my personal life and business suffer. When I’m really struggling, I check out our Google reviews and look at all those five stars thinking we don’t deserve them because I’m a fraud. I’m a fraud because I don’t always practice what I coach. That usually gets me very fucking motivated.
I’ve learned that success often comes with a degree of suffering. I don’t like authority, but I need structure more than most. And now, I’ve turned that need into a system that works—not just for me, but for the hundreds of people I’ve coached worldwide.
Thanks for listening and I’m only a message away. Should you require the same level of discipline?
Sean HoganISSA, CanFit Pro, FMS, NPPresident & CEO