Dr. Michelle May, who is a recovered yoyo dieter and the award-winning author of ‘Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle’ joins us to talk about emotional eating on Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast on Thursday, April 19, 2018, 6 – 7:30PM, EST. 

“Emotional eating only becomes a problem when it’s over-used to cope with or avoid feelings,” says Dr. Michelle May.

Experts define emotional eating as eating as a way to suppress or soothe negative emotions, such as stress, anger, fear, boredom, sadness and loneliness. Major life events or, more commonly, the hassles of daily life can trigger negative emotions that lead to emotional eating and disrupt your weight-loss efforts.

“Over the years, I’ve learned to heal the emotional connection to food that wasn’t serving my highest good”, admits Dr. Michelle May. “I’ve also learned to embrace my healthy emotional relationship with food. When I’m craving chocolate even though I’m not hungry (and sometimes when I am!), I’m probably bored of working at my desk or I’m feeling overwhelmed and in need of a break. I also love the emotional connection of cooking with my chef-husband, dining with my friends and family, and savoring a fabulous piece of chocolate–simply for pleasure!”

Though Luther Vandross enjoyed success after success in his professional life, he was beset by personal struggles with his weight — the cruel cycle of gaining and losing 100 pounds dominated his life. He lost more than 100 pounds over thiriteen times during his lifetime.

“It’s the most awful, dark feeling in the world,” Luther said of the times when he put back on 100 pounds. “It feels like you’re wearing an 80-pound hat and a coat that weighs 300 pounds … You feel like it’s always dark and gloomy.”

While many people struggle with significant weight fluctuations, Luther’s yo-yo relationship with food was displayed before millions of fans.

“It makes it very hard,” he said. “You wear it externally so the minute you walk through the door, everybody knows ‘Luther’s not winning his battle with his demon.'”

Luther Vandross suffered from type 2 diabetes and hypertension, both of which may have been brought on by family genetics as well as lifestyle and nutrition. He had just finished the final vocals for the album ‘Dance With My Father’, when on April 16, 2003 he suffered a severe stroke at his home in New York City. The stroke left him in a coma for nearly two months, during which time he also had to fight both meningitis and pneumonia (which required a tracheotomy). The stroke also left Vandross with noticeable difficulty speaking and singing, as well as confinement to a wheelchair.’

TUNE IN: Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast  on Thursday, April 19, 2018, 6 -7:30 PM, EST.  Guests include Dr. Michelle May, Alyson Williams, ‘Here & Now’ songwriter and entertainer Terry Steele, Luther Vandross Historian Leon Petrossian and superfan, John Price. Throughout the  podcast we will be featuring selected songs from the album entitled ‘Busy Body’ courtesy of SONY Music. On ‘Busy Body’, Luther Vandross’ third album features ‘Superstar’, ‘For the Sweetness Of Your Love’, and the duet with Dionne Warwick entitled ‘ How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye’.

Join us for the inaugural Fandross Festival presented by the Vandross Family Estate and Divabetic celebrating the musical legacy of Luther Vandross and raising awareness for the prevention of diabetes health-related complications such as stroke.

Fandross Calendar of Events: Fandross Kick-Off Party at Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar on 5/10/18, Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton at the Blue Note on 5/11/18, Fandross Festival at SVA Theater on 5/12/18, Fandross Sunday Brunch at Casa de Femme on 5/13/18. All tickets sold separately on Eventbrite.

More event details at Divabetic.org