071 RIP Penelope: Dealing w/ Grief as a Recovered Binge Eater

Honoring Penelope Snow & Navigating Grief Without Binge Eating

In this deeply personal episode of Pretty Is as Pretty Does, Sami opens up about the heartbreaking loss of her beloved dog, Penelope Snow, who was by her side for 16 years. She shares the emotional journey of saying goodbye, the special moments they cherished in her final days, and the profound grief that followed.

As a recovered binge eater, Sami reflects on how she once coped with pain through food and how her healing journey has given her the strength to navigate heavy emotions without turning to binge eating. Drawing insights from her course Break Up With Binge Eating, she discusses why food doesn’t truly fix emotional pain and why building strong daily habits is essential for resilience in life’s hardest moments.

This episode is a raw and honest look at grief, self-care, and the power of showing up for oneself—even when it feels impossible. Listeners who have experienced loss or struggled with emotional eating will find comfort, validation, and encouragement to keep going.

I love you, Pretty's! Connect with me on Instagram @coachsamisnow for more inspiring content on overcoming the voice in your head that tells you to go eat some more.
xoxo Coach Sami Snow

Transcript

Podcast Episode: Honoring Penelope Snow & Navigating Grief Without Binge Eating

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of Pretty Is as Pretty Does. This one is going to be tough for me, but it’s also one I know I need to record. If you are a dog owner, or if you've ever loved and lost a pet, this might hit close to home. I recently had to say goodbye to my babygirl, Penelope Snow, and it has completely shattered me. For the last 16 years, she has been my best friend—she has known all my secrets, my quirks, my flaws, and she loved me unconditionally. Losing her has been one of the hardest things I have ever gone through, and today, I want to talk about grief, loss, and how I have managed to navigate these overwhelming emotions as someone who has recovered from binge eating.

[Losing Penelope]
Penelope came into my life in 2009. I thought I was getting a miniature dachshund, but what I ended up with was a 40-pound force of love, loyalty, and protection. She was there for everything—every struggle, every heartbreak, every moment of self-doubt. She was by my side through the highs and the lows of my binge eating journey. If I was binging, she was right there with me, an enabler in the best way. But she was also there as I healed, as I changed my habits, as I became the version of myself I am today.

A week ago Friday, I made the decision to give her a peaceful passing with the help of Lap of Love. It was the most gut-wrenching decision, but also the kindest one. She was declining, no longer eating, and I knew it was time. For our last weekend together, I wanted to make every moment count. I took her to her favorite dog park, we picked tulips together at a tulip farm—where, despite their no-dog policy, they allowed her in because she was in hospice care and wouldn’t leave the stroller (thank you, Texas Tulips)—and we had a picnic by the waters of White Rock Lake. I will cherish all of the memories made over the 16 years that I had her, but especially those in her last few days.

I took time off from everything—work, social media, coaching, content creation—because I couldn’t function. I spent four days in bed, just grieving, feeling the weight of her absence in every moment. And honestly, recording this right now is still really hard for me. But I know that part of healing is allowing myself to show up, even when it feels impossible.

[Navigating Heavy Emotions Without Binge Eating]
If this had happened years ago, I know exactly what I would have done—I would have turned to food. I would have numbed my emotions with binge eating because that was how I coped with pain. But I didn’t do that. And that, in itself, is a testament to how far I have come.

One of the biggest lessons from Break Up With Binge Eating is that food doesn’t actually fix the problem. We think it will bring comfort, but in reality, it only numbs us temporarily, leaving the real emotions unprocessed. The relief is fleeting, and afterward, the emotions remain—often accompanied by guilt or shame. Food was never the solution; it was just a distraction. True healing comes from sitting with those heavy feelings, allowing yourself to process them, and finding ways to nurture yourself that don’t involve self-sabotage.

Did I struggle to get out of bed? Yes.
Did I struggle to nourish my body? Yes.
Did I struggle to take care of myself? Absolutely.
But I did it.

Your best effort is going to look different every day. So while I was operating at a capacity of maybe 20%, I was giving 100% of my effort. And that’s okay.

And the reason I was able to do it is because of the habits I have built over time. These habits—the ones that feel small, the ones that feel insignificant—are what carry you when life feels unbearable. I didn’t make it to the gym four times this week, but I still got my steps in. I still ate nourishing meals. I still showed up for myself in the ways that I could, and I gave myself grace where I needed it. And that is why your daily routines matter so much.

[The Power of Habits in Hard Times]
James Clear, in Atomic Habits, talks about how our habits shape our identity. We don’t rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our systems. And my system—my foundation—held me up this week. Even in the depths of grief, I still took care of myself because the habits I have built are second nature to me now. This is why I stress the importance of daily habits so much, because when life throws you the hardest moments, you need something to fall back on that isn’t self-destruction.

If you are struggling—whether it’s grief, stress, heartbreak, or just the weight of life—I want you to remember this: The way you treat yourself in hard times determines how you come out on the other side. You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to hit every goal. But you do have to show up for yourself in the ways that you can.

[Honoring Penelope]
To honor my sweet Penelope, I’ve been reflecting on all the ways she changed my life. She taught me unconditional love. She taught me resilience. She reminded me that I was never alone, even in my darkest moments. And even though moving forward without her feels impossible right now, I know she would want me to keep going—to keep showing up, to keep living, to keep loving.

So, if you’re listening to this and you’re grieving, or struggling, or just trying to get through the day, I want you to do one thing for me: Show up for yourself in whatever way you can. It doesn’t have to be big. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just take one step, and then another. That’s how we keep going.

Thank you for listening and for holding space for me to share this. I appreciate you more than you know. If you have a pet you’ve loved and lost, know that I see you, I feel your pain, and I’m sending you so much love. If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who needs to hear it. And as always, take care of yourself, be gentle with your heart, and I’ll see you in the next episode.