Valley to Peak Nutrition Podcast · Kyle Kamp

Burnt Buns, The Impact Alcohol Actually Has on You, and Habit Change (W/ Kyle Zibrowski)

·1 hr 14 min·7 clips

Kyle forced himself to look in the mirror and say 'I love you' during rehab, a practice that transformed his recovery.

This episode of the Valley to Peak Nutrition Podcast features host Grant and his guest Kyle Zabrowski, a friend who shares his personal journey through alcoholism and recovery. Their conversation explores the connections between addiction, habit formation, and emotional health, extending the discussion to broader lifestyle and nutrition choices. Kyle details his 12-year battle with alcoholism, which culminated in him entering a 28-day inpatient rehab facility on May 15, 2023. A pivotal moment during his rehab stay was learning his wife was pregnant with their second child, offering him a profound sense of a second chance at fatherhood. The dialogue examines practical tools for behavior change, with Kyle emphasizing mindfulness practices, cognitive behavioral therapy, and the power of journaling to disrupt automatic negative thought patterns. He introduces the recovery concept of "do the next best thing" as a strategy for self-forgiveness and moving forward after a misstep. Kyle recounts a specific personal ritual from rehab where he forced himself to look in a mirror, make eye contact, and say "I love you" out loud to rebuild self-compassion. The hosts analyze the difference between guilt (feeling you did something bad) and shame (feeling you are a bad person), arguing that shame is far more corrosive. Grant observes from his nutrition coaching that clients who quit drinking often report unexpected positive cascades, like becoming more engaged parents or partners. They discuss the social pressures around consumption, using examples like accepting a sweet drink from a neighbor to avoid awkwardness, and reframe it as "choosing guilt over resentment." Kyle shares that addressing deep-seated resentments was critical, noting his first written list in recovery spanned 17 pages. The episode's tone is deeply personal, raw, and conversational, blending personal narrative with practical self-improvement advice. It adopts an educational yet vulnerable style, focusing on mindset and emotional mechanics rather than clinical instruction. Listeners interested in addiction recovery, habit formation, or the psychology behind lifestyle change will find this episode compelling. Those seeking strictly macronutrient or dietary supplement information might find the content less directly relevant.

As heard by us

Alcohol, attention, and habit change in a practical register.

Kyle Zabrowski's discussion keeps its feet on the ground even as it moves through alcohol, habit change, self-awareness, and the discipline that comes from choosing hard things on purpose.

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Why you'd press play

If alcohol feels normal but not neutral, this conversation gives you something concrete to notice.

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