Explore every episode of the podcast Her Best Self: Freedom from Disordered Eating, Body Obsession & Perfectionism
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP 269.5: What Are Your NOW Needs? Maslow's Hierarchy & How to Honor Yourself in ED Recovery **Must Listen Fav!** | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:17:20 | |
If your goal is to "recover from your eating disorder," what happens when you get there? Then what? Here's the problem: When you set the goal to recover, you're setting a goal with a finish line. But recovery isn't a destination. It's a journey of BECOMING. In this episode, I'm challenging you to shift your focus from what you want to change to who you need to become to achieve freedom. And it starts with understanding your NOW needs. Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, I break down why you can't move forward in recovery if your basic needs aren't even being met—and what to do about it RIGHT NOW. In this episode, you'll discover:
The wake-up call: You decide where your time goes. And if you don't decide, the world will decide for you. MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS & ED RECOVERYThe 5-Tier Model: 1. BASIC/SURVIVAL NEEDS (Foundation) Food, water, air, sleep, shelter, clothing, safety, stability, predictability The problem: When your brain has been hijacked by an eating disorder, you're not even getting these basic needs met. Without nourishment, you literally can't function. 2. PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS (Built on Basic Needs) Social connections, relationships, self-esteem, confidence, intimate connection, friendships, accomplishments, independence, self-respect The truth: If your basic needs aren't met, your psychological needs WON'T be met. This is why you have low self-esteem. This is why relationships feel broken. 3. SELF-FULFILLMENT NEEDS (Top of Pyramid) Problem-solving, growth, exploration, creativity, purpose, meaning The reality: You can't get here if you're not nourishing your body. Without basic needs met, self-fulfillment is impossible. THE SHIFT: FROM RECOVERING TO BECOMINGStop asking: "How do I recover from this eating disorder?" Start asking:
The truth: Your past and current distorted identity has created your current reality. It sabotages your success. This false identity creates negative habits that lead to negative outcomes—and reinforces the cycle. The problem isn't that you can't do it. The problem is you're consistently staying in the cycle that reinforces the belief that you CAN'T. YOUR NOW NEEDS: THE CHALLENGEThis week, do ONE thing every day that you don't want to do. Then ask yourself:
Remember: Without nourishment, you can't even begin to move into love, belonging, self-esteem, or purpose. THE 4 STEPS TO HONOR YOUR NOW NEEDSSTEP 1: VALIDATE YOUR FEELINGS & OWN YOUR NEEDS Admit and identify a NOW need:
Set the goal of WHO you're becoming in the process. STEP 2: GRANT YOURSELF PERMISSION & SET PRIORITIES Give yourself permission to put yourself FIRST. Permission + Priorities = Power We give grace and compassion to everyone else, but struggle to do the same for ourselves. Today, WEAR permission. Rock it out. STEP 3: REFLECT, PRAY, JOURNAL, THINK Don't overthink. Just think. Ask yourself:
STEP 4: DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT No one is going to recover FOR you. No one is going to:
You have to do something different. Because the truth is: You can listen to this show on repeat, but if you don't DO something about it, you're going to sit here stuck. THE TRUTH ABOUT RECOVERYWhen I actually recovered from my eating disorder, I didn't recognize my old self. I didn't even know who she was. I was fully transformed. Recovery isn't about checking a box. You still wake up. You still look at yourself in the mirror. You're still learning, growing, doing, BECOMING. Change your focus: From what you're trying to achieve → To WHO you need to be to achieve it. KEY QUOTES💛 "If you set the goal to recover, you're setting a goal with a finish line. I want you to set the goal of what recovery will make OF you." 💛 "This journey is about BECOMING. And becoming requires DOING." 💛 "The problem isn't that you can't do it. The problem is you're consistently staying in the cycle that reinforces the belief that you can't." 💛 "Without nourishment, you can't even begin to move into the next level of needs like love and belonging." 💛 "You decide where your time goes. And if you don't decide, the world will decide for you." 💛 "No one was going to recover for me. No one was going to be at the finish line. No one was going to gain the weight for me. No one was going to sit in my own head but me." 💛 "If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If not, you'll just find another excuse." - Jim Rohn 💛 "Stop focusing on what you want to change. Start focusing on who you want to BECOME." 💛 "Your purpose on this planet is not to be worried about your body. Your purpose is to show up authentically YOU. But in order to become her, you must start doing something differently." THE ONE QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF"What am I doing right now TODAY that my future self is going to love me for?" If you want to be recovered, you have to DO something to get there. WHAT ARE YOUR NOW NEEDS?Identify ONE need right now:
What is the ONE thing you need right now in your heart, in your life? Then DO something about it. READY TO MEET YOUR NOW NEEDS WITH SUPPORT?💛 HER BEST SELF SOCIETY Join our private Facebook community for support, accountability, and connection. 💛 1:1 RECOVERY COACHING If your NOW need is support and accountability to finally move forward—let's partner together. 👉 www.herbestself.co - Fill out a client application Your purpose on this planet is NOT to be worried about your body, the scale, or the label. Your purpose is to show up authentically YOU. But in order to become her, you must start doing something differently. Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.
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| EP 269: 💜Eating Disorder Awareness 2026💜 ~ Ozempic, Social Media & Rising Trends Every Woman Should Know | 13 Feb 2026 | 00:19:25 | |
February is Eating Disorder Awareness Month. And if you're stuck in quasi-recovery, telling yourself "I'm fine," avoiding help because you're ashamed—this is your wake-up call. I'm sharing 2026 statistics you haven't heard, alarming trends getting WORSE, and the truth about Ozempic, social media, and eating disorders. Because sis, you are not a statistic. At least not a negative one. But you need to hear this. What you'll learn:
The wake-up call: Every day you wait, you're missing out on life. KEY STATISTICS📊 28.8 million Americans will have an ED in their lifetime (15% increase since 2020) 📊 Every 52 minutes someone dies from an eating disorder 📊 Only 10% receive treatment (women 40+ wait 6-8 years longer) 📊 42% increase in midlife ED hospitalizations (women 45-65) 📊 60% higher ED risk with 3+ hours daily social media use 📊 300% increase in Ozempic/GLP-1 prescriptions (60-70% for weight loss, not diabetes) 📊 40% increase in ED patients requesting weight loss drugs 📊 45% relapse rate when stopping GLP-1s (rapid weight regain triggers ED) 📊 25-30% global increase in EDs since 2020 (still climbing) THE 5 ALARMING TRENDS1. MIDLIFE EATING DISORDERS EXPLODING 42% increase in hospitalizations for women 45-65. If you're over 40 thinking "I'm too old for this"—you're wrong. 2. SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDING THE CRISIS 3+ hours/day = 60% higher risk. #Ozempic has 1.3 billion views. You're being fed anti-aging, menopause weight loss, restriction disguised as wellness. 3. OZEMPIC NORMALIZING DISORDERED EATING 12 million Americans using GLP-1s. 30% of ED treatment centers treating patients whose ED was triggered by these drugs. These suppress appetite, reinforce that hunger is the enemy, bypass actual healing. Ask yourself: Am I healing my relationship with my body? Or medicalizing my eating disorder? 4. DIET CULTURE AS "WELLNESS" Orthorexia rising. Gluten-free, intermittent fasting, cleanses—these are eating disorders in disguise. If you have rigid food rules and anxiety around "unclean" foods, that's disordered eating. 5. POST-PANDEMIC CRISIS CONTINUES Six years later, anxiety up, depression up, eating disorders up. If your ED got worse during the pandemic and you've been saying "later"—later is NOW. LINDSEY'S STORYYears ago, someone told me most people with eating disorders don't fully recover. That I'd probably struggle forever. That the odds were against me. Something inside me snapped. I got angry—not at them, but at the eating disorder. So I decided: I'm not going to be that statistic. I refuse. I stopped avoiding, denying, pretending. I got help. I did the work. I recovered. I'm NOT a negative statistic. I'm a RECOVERY statistic. And you can be too. 3-QUESTION SELF-ASSESSMENTAnswer honestly:
If you said YES to even ONE: You need support! THE ONE THING YOU CAN DO TODAY
Don't wait 6-8 more years. Don't become another statistic. Don't waste the second half of your life. You deserve recovery. You deserve freedom. You deserve to LIVE. WORK WITH LINDSEY💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE Group coaching for women in midlife ready to break free. Monthly calls, sisterhood, access to me. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING Deep work to reclaim your life. Limited spots available. KEY QUOTES 💛 "You are not a statistic. At least not a negative one." 💛 "Every 52 minutes, someone loses their life to this illness." 💛 "If you're waiting for it to get bad enough, you're already in danger." 💛 "Ask yourself: Am I healing my relationship with my body? Or am I just medicalizing my eating disorder?" 💛 "I'm NOT a negative statistic. I'm a RECOVERY statistic. And you can be too." 💛 "Every day you wait, you're missing the second half of your life." Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worthy of support and love. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.
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| EP 268.5: If I Was Trapped in My Eating Disorder Right Now, Here's Exactly What I'd Do ~ The No BS Relapse Recovery Roadmap | 10 Feb 2026 | 00:22:02 | |
The opposite of quitting is recommitting. And sometimes that means you need a spelled-out roadmap to help you define what steps you can take to recommit to recovery. Today's episode is different. I'm not speaking in theoretical terms or giving advice I wouldn't follow myself. I'm sharing exactly what I would do if I was trapped in an eating disorder right now. The actual steps. The concrete path forward. The golden nugget roadmap I would follow myself. Whether you're experiencing a relapse, stuck in your recovery, or wish you could go back and tell your younger self what to do—this episode is your clear, actionable guide. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you're in the trenches, if you've relapsed, if you're struggling—this roadmap is for you. Not theory. Just honest, practical steps. THE 6-STEP RECOVERY ROADMAPSTEP 1: RECOGNITION AND ACCEPTANCE The hardest step: Admitting where you are is no longer where you want to be. If I was relapsing today, I know I'd experience a strong pull toward denial. I might tell myself:
What I'd do instead: ✅ Name what's happening - Get out of denial faster ✅ Ask myself: Am I skipping meals? Preoccupied with food thoughts? Anxious around mealtimes? Weighing myself? ✅ Practice self-compassion - Not excusing the behavior, but acknowledging eating disorders are complex illnesses, not personal failures ✅ Say to myself: "This is really hard. I don't have to do this alone." This step creates the foundation to move forward in ACTION instead of sitting in denial. STEP 2: IMMEDIATE OUTREACH Eating disorders thrive in isolation. My counter-attack would be CONNECTION. What I'd do: ✅ Contact someone I trust - In my case, my mom. I'd say: "I'm struggling with my thoughts and behaviors. I need support." ✅ Get professional help immediately
✅ Get accountability - Schedule meals, keep appointments with myself, check in with someone Key truth: Don't wait until things get "bad enough." Early intervention makes a tremendous difference. Breaking isolation doesn't mean everyone needs to know. It means strategically connecting with people who can provide support. STEP 3: IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE What I'd put in place immediately: ✅ Regular eating patterns - Have a plan ready, no reinventing the wheel during vulnerable times. Use the same meals daily to reduce decision fatigue. ✅ Clean up social media & entertainment
✅ Set clear boundaries with exercise - Temporarily pause formalized exercise, focus on gentle movement (This requires support—I couldn't do this alone) ✅ Document thoughts & feelings - Not to be perfect, but to increase awareness of patterns and triggers. Rebuild trust with body and mind. Structure = support. Not rigidity, but safety. STEP 4: INVESTIGATING TRIGGERS Eating disorders aren't just about food or weight. What's really happening beneath the surface? Questions I'd ask myself: ❓ What changes in my life have happened recently? (Transition, loss, increased responsibility, relationship change) ❓ What emotions am I struggling to manage? ❓ What am I trying to numb, distract from, or control? ❓ What needs aren't being met right now? ❓ What external pressures am I responding to? ❓ What beliefs am I believing about my worth, body, or identity? The truth: Eating disorders flare during periods of change and loss of control. Understanding triggers helps you heal beyond just the behaviors—you learn to process emotions in healthier ways. STEP 5: DEVELOPING A CRISIS RESPONSE PLAN Lasting recovery requires more than just putting out fires. What I'd create: ✅ Coping strategies - Tools to use when urges arise ✅ Relapse prevention plan - Document early warning signs, high-risk situations, actions to take ✅ Support system - Who to call, when, and why The sustainable plan is about building a life where:
Work with someone to determine exactly what support you need and put that planning in place. STEP 6: RECONNECTING WITH YOUR WHY The most important step: Remember what the eating disorder is stealing from you. What I'd do: ✅ Identify the values my ED violates The ED promises control, safety, worth. But it actually undermines: freedom, joy, creativity, authenticity, relationships, purpose. ✅ Compile a list: What has this ED taken from me?
✅ Ask: What present moments is it stealing RIGHT NOW? What future opportunities will be destroyed if I don't fix this? ✅ Dream beyond the disorder - What do I want my life to look like? Who is my BEST self? If I could go back 15+ years and tell my younger self: "You're gonna go through this godawful period, but on the other side is MAGICAL. You'll experience things you never would've allowed—wonderful relationships, contributions to the world, PURPOSE. Start dreaming NOW of the vision beyond this disorder." KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "The opposite of quitting is recommitting. And sometimes that means you need a spelled-out roadmap." 💛 "If you're experiencing a relapse, this is very normal. It doesn't mean you failed. It simply means you're human." 💛 "Eating disorders thrive in isolation. My counter-attack would be CONNECTION." 💛 "Don't wait until things get 'bad enough.' Early intervention makes a tremendous difference." 💛 "Eating disorders aren't just about food or weight. What's really happening beneath the surface?" 💛 "The sustainable plan is about building a life where the eating disorder becomes less necessary and less powerful." 💛 "What has this eating disorder taken from me? What present moments is it stealing? What future opportunities will be destroyed if I don't fix this?" 💛 "Recovery isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about progress, not perfection. Every compassionate moment with yourself is a victory." 💛 "Recovery isn't a destination you reach once and for all. These are skills you're learning." 💛 "You haven't failed. You've simply encountered another opportunity to practice compassion and recommit to the path toward freedom." 💛 "Whether this is your first day in recovery or your thousandth, whether you're thriving or struggling, you're worthy of support, compassion, and a life free from these constraints." 💛 "Recovery isn't just possible—with the right support and recommitment, it's inevitable." THE TRUTH ABOUT RELAPSERelapse is NORMAL. It's part of recovery. ✅ It doesn't mean you've failed ✅ It means you're human ✅ It's another opportunity to practice compassion and recommit ✅ Reaching out for support is courage, not weakness If you're in a relapse right now, you're not alone. WHAT I WISH I COULD TELL MY YOUNGER SELFIf I could go back 15+ years: "Friend, you're gonna have to go through this godawful period of your life, but on the other side is going to be MAGICAL. It's going to be so good. You'll experience things you never would've allowed—wonderful relationships, contributions to the world, PURPOSE." "Start dreaming RIGHT NOW of the vision you want beyond the eating disorder." "Ask yourself: What has this disorder taken from me? What is it stealing from my present? What future will be destroyed if I don't fix this?" READY TO TAKE ACTION? WORK WITH LINDSEYIf you're struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder that's been around for decades, and you're tired and fed up—I want to help you. I feel called to help as many women as possible get to the other side and recover from this devastating illness. Here's your personal invitation: Let's take this up a notch. 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING This is where my gift shines. I'm able to get you RESULTS. We work together on tiny wins that lead to massive overcoming and triumph. I'm opening the doors to take on a few additional clients. If you've been on the fence about working with a recovery coach—now's the time. Don't wait. Commit to your future self. 👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application We'll get on the phone together and talk about what you need to navigate next steps in your recovery journey. 💛 HER BEST SELF SOCIETY Join our private Facebook community where you'll be with like-minded individuals focused on recovery, not thinness. EATING DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH CHALLENGEIf you're in a relapse or currently struggling: REACH OUT. Don't wait another year. Don't wait another decade. The perfect time is NOW. +Share this episode with a woman who needs to hear this. Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.
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| EP 268: Eating Disorders in Midlife ~ Women 40+ Are Finally Recovering After Decades (Here's Why NOW Is the Perfect Time) | 06 Feb 2026 | 00:24:30 | |
I just turned 40 last month. And I don't know what shifts inside at midlife, but something changes when you hit this milestone. You start asking different questions: "Is this it?" "Is this who I really am?" "Is this all there is for me?" And if you've been battling an eating disorder for decades—maybe 10 years, maybe 20, maybe 30—you're asking an even harder question: "Who am I without this?" It's Eating Disorder Awareness Month. And this year, I want to talk about something we don't talk about enough—eating disorders in midlife. Did you know that eating disorder hospitalizations for women aged 45-65 have increased by 42% in the last decade? And yet, we still act like eating disorders are just a "young woman's problem." But if you're a woman in your late 30s, 40s, 50s, or beyond, and you're still struggling, I see you. This is NOT just a young woman's issue. And this episode? This one's for you. Because here's the truth: Midlife is an identity crisis. And breaking up with your eating disorder? That's an identity crisis too. And when those two collide, it can feel overwhelming. But what if this collision isn't a crisis at all? What if it's a crossroads? What if midlife is the PERFECT time to finally break free? IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER:
💛 "Midlife is an identity crisis. And breaking up with your eating disorder? That's an identity crisis too." 💛 "In midlife you ask: 'Who am I now that my kids don't need me?' In ED recovery you ask: 'Who am I without my eating disorder?' And the hardest question: 'I don't recognize myself anymore. So who AM I?'" 💛 "Eating disorder hospitalizations for women aged 45-65 have increased by 42% in the last decade. This is NOT just a young woman's issue." 💛 "You don't want to waste the second half of your life still trapped in this. You've already given the eating disorder the first half. You're not giving it the second." 💛 "Your body is changing whether you restrict or not. So what if you nourished it through this transition instead of punishing it?" 💛 "The question isn't 'How can I recover during menopause?' The question is 'How can I NOT recover during menopause?' 💛 "Recovery doesn't have an age limit. And it's not too late for you. The only thing that's too late? Waiting another decade to start." 💛 "This isn't a crisis. It's a crossroads. Midlife isn't the end. It's the beginning of the second half." 💛 "This is YOUR era. This is YOUR time." THE STATISTICS📊 42% increase in eating disorder hospitalizations for women aged 45-65 in the last decade 📊 13% of women over 50 report disordered eating behaviors 📊 62% of women in midlife report weight and shape concerns significantly impact quality of life 📊 Women who seek treatment in their 40s and 50s have recovery rates comparable to—and sometimes BETTER than—younger women The truth: It is NOT too late. THE 5 REASONS WHY MIDLIFE IS THE PERFECT TIME TO RECOVER1. You're running out of patience, not time You've tried everything. You're DONE. That urgency is your fuel. 2. "If not now, then when?" You're not wasting the second half of your life on this. 3. Your kids need less of you = space for YOU Finally, permission to ask: "What do I need?" 4. You're wiser now You're chasing presence, connection, LIFE—not perfection. 5. You have the resources now Financial, emotional, relational—you're ready to invest in yourself. MENOPAUSE & RECOVERY: WHY THEY WORK TOGETHERYour body is changing whether you restrict or not → Nourish it through the transition Hormonal shifts require MORE nourishment, not less → Support bone density, muscle mass, mental health Perimenopause forces you to let go of control → Exactly what recovery requires Recovery sets you up for a healthier second half → Bone health, heart health, energy, longevity REAL CLIENT STORIES✨ Age 52: 33 years with bulimia. Today she's free, travels, eats without fear, rebuilding relationships. ✨ Age 47: Restricted her entire adult life. Today she's in the best health of her life—strong, energized, PRESENT. ✨ Age 61: "I spent 40 years believing I'd never be free. But I'm free now. And I have so much life left to live." WHAT LIFE AFTER ED IN MIDLIFE LOOKS LIKE🌟 You wake up without immediately thinking about food or your body 🌟 You eat breakfast without guilt 🌟 You have ENERGY for work, passions, relationships 🌟 You're PRESENT with the people you love 🌟 You look in the mirror and recognize yourself—the REAL you 🌟 You travel, try new things, LIVE 🌟 You answer "Is this it?" with "No. This is just the beginning." THE REFRAMEThis isn't a crisis. It's a crossroads. You get to decide: Who do I want to be? How do I want to show up? What do I want my legacy to be? And the eating disorder? It doesn't get a vote. READY TO RECLAIM THE SECOND HALF OF YOUR LIFE?💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE Group coaching for women in midlife ready to break free. Monthly calls, sisterhood, support. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING Deep, transformational work to reclaim YOUR life. This is YOUR era. 👉 www.herbestself.co - Fill out a client application EATING DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH CHALLENGEIf you're in midlife and still struggling: REACH OUT. Don't wait another year. Don't wait another decade. The perfect time is NOW. Share this episode with a woman in midlife who needs to hear this. Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.
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| EP 267.5: The Cost of Perfection ~ “Be Thin but Not Too Thin” (& Other Impossible Standards Destroying Your Mental Health) | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:15:52 | |
The cost of perfection left me perfectly exhausted. Be thin, but not too thin. Be confident but not overly confident. Be successful, but not too successful. If you're with me and you experience the pressure to be perfect, this is a perfect paradox—and it is time to dump the impossible standards that are destroying your mental health and that are so tied to eating disorders. In this episode, I'm diving into the relentless pressure to be perfect and how it's literally rewiring your brain to keep you stuck. Whether you're just starting your recovery journey or you've been on this path for years, perfectionism might feel like both an old friend and your biggest obstacle. And when you couple perfectionism with the pressure from culture and society to be Instagram-ready? The output you receive is simply exhaustion. You're exhausted, sis. And trying to live up to these impossible standards. But today, we're going to dissect this. We're going to look at what science says about breaking free. Because you don't just have to take my word for it—research shows your brain can actually change. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you're tired of being tired, if you're exhausted from trying to be "perfect," if you feel stuck in the perfect paradox—this episode will give you both the science and the hope you need to break free. KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "The cost of perfection left me perfectly exhausted." 💛 "Be thin, but not too thin. Be confident but not overly confident. Be successful, but not too successful. This is a perfect paradox and it is time to dump the impossible standards that are destroying your mental health." 💛 "That perfection you're chasing? It's like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. Not humanly possible. It's just not possible." 💛 "I remember thinking that if I could just get everything perfect—my meals, my exercise, my body—then finally I'd be enough." 💛 "Research shows that up to 68% of individuals with eating disorders display clinically significant perfectionism. And perfectionism often appears even years before any eating disorder behaviors." 💛 "Perfectionists have heightened activity in the brain's error detection center. It acts like this oversensitive alarm system that's constantly scanning for things you're doing wrong or for mistakes." 💛 "The 'feel good' chemical—serotonin—is altered if you're a perfectionist, meaning the chemical that affects your mood regulation, your satisfaction, and the ability to feel good enough is altered." 💛 "Altered dopamine reward circuits make it harder to feel satisfied. It makes it harder for you to feel good enough. This creates that constant drive, that constant need to do better, to achieve more, to be smaller." 💛 "This cycle is created: Your threat detection system becomes hyperactive. This leads to increased anxiety. Anxiety triggers perfectionist behaviors. This gives you temporary relief. But it simply reinforces the cycle." 💛 "There is hope. With mindfulness practices, with self-compassion, with the opposite of perfection—being exposed to situations where you're almost forced to be imperfect—research shows you can actually change that hyperactivity in the brain." 💛 "Even if you feel like recovery is impossible, even if you feel like you've been doing this forever, I want you to understand that there is a neurobiological connection and research shows you can change. Your brain can change." 💛 "True recovery happens when you stop trying to do it perfectly and you start doing it honestly." 💛 "In a world filled with protocol, a never-ending list of do's and don'ts, and the pressure to be perfect, it can seem impossible to discover who you really are. But God uniquely made you. Nothing about you is a mistake, and He won't bless who you pretend to be." 💛 "Stop conforming, stop shrinking, stop dimming your light, and stop running from who and what you were always made to be." 💛 "Recovery is not about being perfect. It's about being present. It's about being real. It's about being gentle with you." 💛 "Your worth isn't measured by the ability to meet impossible standards, but it is measured by your courage to show up." THE IMPOSSIBLE STANDARDS (THE PERFECT PARADOX)You're trying to live up to contradictions that are literally impossible: ❌ Be thin, but not too thin ❌ Be confident, but not overly confident ❌ Be successful, but not too successful ❌ Be perfect with your meals, exercise, and body—then maybe you'll be enough The reality? These standards are like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. They're not humanly possible. And when you couple perfectionism with the pressure from culture and society to be Instagram-ready, the output is exhaustion. Of course you're tired. Of course you're tired of being tired. It is impossible living up to these standards. THE STATISTICS: PERFECTIONISM & EATING DISORDERS68% of individuals with eating disorders display clinically significant perfectionism Perfectionism often appears YEARS before any eating disorder behaviors - making it a crucial early warning sign Perfectionism remains elevated even AFTER recovery - making it a crucial focus in treatment and why so many people find themselves stuck in the "messy middle" of recovery Social media impact: Users who spend 3+ hours a day on social media are 60% more likely to develop body image issues THE DEEP ROOTS: WHERE PERFECTIONISM COMES FROMYour perfectionism didn't just appear out of nowhere. It has roots: 🌱 Early environmental factors:
🌱 Early exposure to:
🌱 Social media's impact:
1. HEIGHTENED ERROR DETECTION CENTER Perfectionists have heightened activity in the brain's error detection center. It acts like an oversensitive alarm system constantly scanning for things you're doing wrong or mistakes. This hyperactivity creates a feedback loop of anxiety and self-criticism. This is how your brain keeps you "safe"—but it's also what keeps you stuck. 2. ALTERED SEROTONIN (THE "FEEL GOOD" CHEMICAL) Perfectionists often show altered functioning in serotonin—the chemical that affects:
Translation: It's harder for you to feel satisfied or content. This explains why perfectionism often co-occurs with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. 3. ALTERED DOPAMINE (THE "REWARD" CHEMICAL) Perfectionists also show altered dopamine reward circuits, which means:
4. ELEVATED CORTISOL (THE "STRESS" HORMONE) Constant stress and elevated cortisol levels:
5. REDUCED COGNITIVE FLEXIBILITY All of this makes it harder for you to:
Here's how the cycle works: 1. Threat Detection System on Overdrive Your brain's alarm system becomes hyperactive ↓ 2. Increased Anxiety Anxiety about failure, not being good enough, rejection, not being worthy ↓ 3. Perfectionist Behaviors Triggered Insert unhealthy eating disorder coping mechanisms ↓ 4. Temporary Relief You get a hit of that "feel superior" chemical because you feel in control ↓ 5. Cycle Reinforced This strengthens the neural pathway over time—like digging a ditch deeper and deeper in your mind ↓ REPEAT This is why it feels like you're literally crawling out of your skin. You want to do something differently, but you're not. The action is hard. If you're there, I see you. I get it. THE HOPE: YOUR BRAIN CAN CHANGEHere's the beautiful truth: Your brain can actually change. With: ✅ Mindfulness practices ✅ Self-compassion ✅ Exposure to imperfection (being in situations where you're forced to be imperfect and there's nothing you can do about it) ✅ New learning experiences (exposures) Research shows you can:
That ditch can stop digging in one place and move to a different place in your brain that's gonna create healthier results for you. THE TRUTH: EVEN IF YOU FEEL STUCK, CHANGE IS POSSIBLEEven if:
I want you to understand: There is a neurobiological connection. Research shows you can change. Your brain can change. You can create absolutely new and healthier pathways. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUYou don't have to: ❌ Be thin, but not too thin ❌ Be confident, but not overly confident ❌ Be the most successful to be enough True recovery happens when you stop trying to do it perfectly and you start doing it honestly. Just getting honest with yourself. Looking at the research. Pointing to the facts. Science shows: Changes in your brain are possible. It's the exposure to being imperfect. It's creating self-compassion within you. It's putting yourself in new experiences. This is just collecting data. We're just trying to put ourselves in this experiment. What does that teach us? THE HARD TRUTHAs we go into a new month, ask yourself: Are you showing up day after day exactly as you are? Or are you playing a role of who it is that you desire to be—yet you're not even happy in that version? Recovery is measured by your courage to show up exactly as you are. Authentically. YOUR REFLECTION QUESTIONWhat is one area where perfectionism really shows up for you right now? Come share with us: 💛 Private Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society www.herbestselfsociety.com 💛 Instagram DM: @thelindseynichol I want to bring awareness about perfection. Because we hear "life isn't about being perfect"—but we don't actually LIVE that, sis. THE CLOSING TRUTHRecovery is not about being perfect. Life is not about being perfect. It's about: ✨ Being present ✨ Being real with the real people you have here now ✨ Being gentle with you Your worth isn't measured by the ability to meet impossible standards. It's measured by your courage to show up. NEED SUPPORT TO BREAK FREE FROM PERFECTIONISM? WORK WITH LINDSEY💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE My group coaching community where women come together to heal, let go of perfectionism, and do the deep work of recovery. You'll have access to me, monthly coaching calls, and a sisterhood that gets you. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING If you're ready for deep, transformational work to rewire your perfectionist brain and finally find freedom—let's work together. 👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application. 🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 267: Stop 'Shoulding' All Over Yourself ~ The One Word Keeping You Stuck in Your ED & How to Break Free | 30 Jan 2026 | 00:19:40 | |
There's ONE word that's absolutely destroying your progress in recovery. One word that's keeping you stuck, paralyzed, and living in a constant state of shame and disappointment. That word? Should. And sis, you need to stop shoulding all over yourself. Like, right now. Today. Because every time you tell yourself what you "should" be doing, what you "should" have accomplished by now, where you "should" be in your recovery—you're not motivating yourself. You're actually making it HARDER to take action. In this episode, I'm breaking down the science behind why "should" keeps you stuck, where all these "shoulds" come from in the first place, and giving you 5 powerful reframes you can start using TODAY to break free from the shame cycle and actually move forward. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you've ever thought "I should eat this," "I should start today," "I should be further along," or "I should be over this by now"—this episode is your wake-up call. Stop shoulding. Start choosing. Become who you're BECOMING, not who you "should" be. KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "Every time you tell yourself what you 'should' be doing, what you 'should' have accomplished by now, where you 'should' be in your recovery—you're not motivating yourself. You're actually making it HARDER to take action." 💛 "Your 'shoulds' didn't just appear out of nowhere. They were planted. They were taught. They were absorbed from every message you've ever received about who you're supposed to be." 💛 "These 'shoulds' create this distortion in your mind that where you currently are is SO far behind where you 'should' be. And so you live in this constant state of not enough." 💛 "'Should' is the language of obligation, not empowerment. It's the language of shame, not choice." 💛 "When we focus on what we 'should' be doing but aren't, our brain gets stuck in a loop of self-criticism rather than problem-solving. We're so focused on the gap that we can't actually take action to close it." 💛 "'Should' keeps you stuck focusing on what you AREN'T doing rather than what you ARE doing or COULD do." 💛 "I remember thinking, 'I should be over this by now. It's been YEARS. This is like a bad boyfriend I dated for three months—why am I still thinking about him?' And I felt so much shame." 💛 "I asked a different question: 'But should I? Should I be "over" something that was part of my life for so long? Should I expect perfection from myself?' And the answer? No." 💛 "You are not behind. You are not failing. You are not broken. You're healing. And healing doesn't follow a script." 💛 "If you're constantly 'shoulding' yourself but not taking action, you're using 'should' as an excuse to stay stuck." 💛 "Stop talking about what you 'should' do and start choosing what you WILL do." 💛 "The words you use shape the life you live. And if you're constantly shoulding yourself, you're living in a prison of obligation and shame." THE SCIENCE: WHY "SHOULD" KEEPS YOU STUCKDr. Albert Ellis, founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, identified "should statements" as one of the core irrational beliefs that lead to emotional disturbance. He called it "shoulding" and "musturbation"—the belief that things MUST or SHOULD be a certain way. When reality doesn't match that "should," we experience anxiety, depression, guilt, and shame. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology study: People who use obligatory language like "should," "must," and "have to" experience higher levels of stress and lower levels of intrinsic motivation compared to people who use choice-based language like "choose to," "want to," or "could." Stanford University research: When we focus on what we "should" be doing but aren't, our brain gets stuck in a loop of self-criticism rather than problem-solving. We're so focused on the gap between where we are and where we "should" be that we can't actually take action to close that gap. The bottom line: "Should" keeps you stuck focusing on what you AREN'T doing rather than what you ARE doing or COULD do. WHERE YOUR "SHOULDS" COME FROMYour "shoulds" were planted, taught, and absorbed from: ❌ Diet culture - You should be smaller, eat clean, have willpower, look like her ❌ Perfectionism - You should have this figured out, be recovered already, do this better ❌ Family expectations - You should make everyone proud, not cause problems, be strong ❌ Past trauma - You should have prevented it, known better, be over it by now ❌ Comparison - You should be as far along as she is, making more progress, be different These create a distortion that where you currently are is SO far behind where you "should" be. And that's exhausting—and it's keeping you stuck. HOW "SHOULDING" SHOWS UP IN ED RECOVERY"I should eat this." → Implies obligation, not choice. Strips away agency. Builds resentment, not trust. "I should start today." → Implies you're behind, late, already failed before you begin. Starts with shame instead of hope. "I should be further along by now." → Assumes there's a timeline you're supposed to be on. Ignores YOUR unique journey. "I should be able to eat normally." → Rooted in comparison and unrealistic expectations. Ignores the reality of YOUR story. "I should be over this by now." → The killer. Creates shame for being human and healing at your own pace. LINDSEY'S PERSONAL STORYYears into recovery, Lindsey still had moments where the eating disorder voice crept back in. One day she thought: "I should be over this by now. It's been YEARS. This is like a bad boyfriend I dated for three months—why am I still thinking about him?" She felt intense shame. What's wrong with me? Why am I not fully healed? But then she stopped and asked a different question: "But should I?" Should I be "over" something that was part of my life for so long? Should I expect perfection? Should I shame myself for being human? The answer? No. The reframe: "I'm healing at my own pace. And that's exactly what I need to be doing." Just like that, the shame lifted. The pressure lifted. And she could actually move forward instead of staying stuck in self-judgment. THE 5 POWERFUL REFRAMESREFRAME #1: ❌ Instead of: "I should eat this." ✅ Say: "I choose to nourish my body with this." or "I'm giving my body what it needs." Why it works: Choice language = empowerment. You're not obligated. You're making a conscious decision. REFRAME #2: ❌ Instead of: "I should start today." ✅ Say: "I'm ready to begin today." or "Today is a great day to take the next step." Why it works: Removes the shame of being "behind" and replaces it with readiness and hope. REFRAME #3: ❌ Instead of: "I should be further along by now." ✅ Say: "I'm exactly where I need to be in my journey." or "I'm making progress, even if it doesn't look like I thought it would." Why it works: Honors your unique timeline and removes comparison. Progress isn't linear. REFRAME #4: ❌ Instead of: "I should be able to eat normally." ✅ Say: "I'm learning to eat in a way that honors my body." or "I'm building a new relationship with food, and that takes time." Why it works: Removes unrealistic expectations and replaces them with patience and self-compassion. REFRAME #5: ❌ Instead of: "I should be over this by now." ✅ Say: "I'm healing at my own pace, and that's exactly what I need." or "Recovery is a journey, not a destination. I'm on my way." Why it works: Gives you permission to be human. To heal in YOUR time. To stop rushing the process. THE COMPASSIONATE TRUTHYou are not behind. You are not failing. You are not broken. You're healing. And healing doesn't follow a script. It doesn't follow a timeline. It doesn't look the same for everyone. When you stop "shoulding" yourself, you create space for what's actually true: ✅ You're doing the best you can with what you have right now ✅ You're allowed to be imperfect ✅ You're allowed to take your time ✅ You're allowed to choose yourself without shame When you replace "should" with choice, compassion, and truth—you unlock the ability to actually MOVE FORWARD instead of staying stuck in self-judgment. THE EDGE: STOP USING "SHOULD" AS AN EXCUSEIf you're constantly "shoulding" yourself but not taking action, you're using "should" as an excuse to stay stuck.
The challenge: Stop talking about what you "should" do and start choosing what you WILL do. Not because you have to. Not because you're obligated. But because you WANT freedom. Because you're READY to heal. Because you CHOOSE yourself. YOUR HOMEWORK: CATCH & REFRAMECatch yourself "shoulding" three times today. Just three. When you do, pause and ask yourself:
Then reframe it using one of the five reframes above (or create your own). Write it down. Say it out loud. Let your brain hear a different story. Because the words you use shape the life you live. READY TO BUILD BELIEF WITH SUPPORT? WORK WITH LINDSEY💛 JOIN OUR EMAIL COMMUNITY Get multiple weeks of encouragement, tools, and support delivered straight to your inbox. 👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and get on our email list 💛 WORK WITH A RECOVERY COACH If you're looking for someone to help you along your path to freedom, I have coaches on my team (or myself) who would love to support you. We'll help you incorporate these BELIEF steps in tangible ways—like tools in a toolbox—that are gonna get you living your very best life. 👉 Fill out a client application https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13WDpvmQNoVvAytBdqM72FIp1AqXMfSFrqzQVvBWrwHY/edit 💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE Join my group coaching community where women come together to build belief, support each other, and do the deep work of recovery. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING If you're ready for deep, transformational work and personalized support to build unshakeable belief in your recovery—let's partner together. Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 266: You Won't Recover If You Don't Believe You Can ~ Here's How to Build That Belief (6 Proven Steps) | 27 Jan 2026 | 00:19:21 | |
Let me be real with you: You won't experience healing if you don't lean in. And you won't lean in if you don't believe it's possible. This is the hardest thing about eating disorder recovery. Not the meal plan. Not the weight restoration. Not even the challenging of thoughts. It's the BELIEF. The belief that recovery from this terrible, horrifying, very no good, unfortunate eating disorder that has taken over your life is actually possible for YOU. Maybe you listen to this podcast and think, "Great, Lindsey. I love that this is inspirational, but I'm just not sure I'm fully bought in to the possibility that I can experience freedom. That I could actually change." If that's you, this episode is your game-changer + it's a ⭐ Fan Favorite that we knew we wanted to re-share with you this week. Recently, I had conversations with women who asked me, "Lindsey, I love what you do, but how do you help these women create that belief that this is possible for them?" And I said, "That IS the hardest thing. It's believing that this is possible." So today, I'm giving you a proven framework—a tangible acronym that spells out BELIEF—to help you overcome the limiting beliefs that are keeping you stuck and preventing you from your very best life. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you want to recover, if you want freedom so badly, if you're tired of running in circles, if you're exhausted from your unhealthy relationship with food and exercise—this episode will show you how to build the belief you need to finally break free. Because if I can do it, then so can you, friend. KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "You won't experience healing if you don't lean in. And the possibility of it being possible is dependent upon your belief." 💛 "If you choose to stay in that fixed mindset of 'I doubt myself, I will always be this way, there's no room for any of that freedom for me,' then that is where you will stay. But belief can be created." 💛 "A lot of women will stay stuck in this destructive cycle because they just don't believe that freedom's possible for them." 💛 "We are bounce back creatures. Anything is possible for us. But the possibility of it being possible is dependent upon your belief." 💛 "It doesn't matter which direction you go, as long as you continue to look forward and you continue to build forward." 💛 "Well, if she can do it, why can't I?" 💛 "Understanding that recovery is scientifically and clinically possible—this is gonna build that reassurance for you and give your brain some safety that leads to hope with belief." 💛 "It does not matter if you've done something before or if you have visualized something before—if you can visualize it, you can become it. If you can visualize it, you can be it." 💛 "Trust that your why is greater than your now. Trust that your why is bigger than your present reality." 💛 "Belief creates actual fact." - William James, Father of American Psychology 💛 "Can I believe that there is something grander, that there is something greater on the other side of all this? Can I believe that there is something more for me than this? And if your answer's yes, you already have the belief you need right now to create the life that you want." THE BELIEF FRAMEWORK: 6 PROVEN STEPSThis acronym will help you build the belief you need to recover. Grab a piece of paper and jot this down—or come back to this section whenever doubt creeps in. THE POWERFUL TRUTH: BELIEF CREATES ACTUAL FACTWilliam James, the father of American psychology, stated: "Belief creates actual fact." So when the enemy tries to steal your joy this week—when the enemy tries to bring you doubt and discouragement, when the enemy tries to have you staring at your step count, giving yourself shame thoughts, looking at your mirror and telling your body that you hate yourself—I want you to lean in. Remember these core fundamentals to step into belief: B - Begin Small E - Embrace Support L - Learn and Learn Again I - Imagine Freedom E - Establish Positive Practices F - Focus on Why You have the power to believe in the process. Trust that you might not know all the answers, but you're striving to figure them out along the way. READY TO BUILD BELIEF WITH SUPPORT? WORK WITH LINDSEY💛 JOIN OUR EMAIL COMMUNITY Get multiple weeks of encouragement, tools, and support delivered straight to your inbox. 👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and get on our email list 💛 WORK WITH A RECOVERY COACH If you're looking for someone to help you along your path to freedom, I have coaches on my team (or myself) who would love to support you. We'll help you incorporate these BELIEF steps in tangible ways—like tools in a toolbox—that are gonna get you living your very best life. 👉 Fill out a client application https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13WDpvmQNoVvAytBdqM72FIp1AqXMfSFrqzQVvBWrwHY/edit 💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE Join my group coaching community where women come together to build belief, support each other, and do the deep work of recovery. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING If you're ready for deep, transformational work and personalized support to build unshakeable belief in your recovery—let's partner together. Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 265: "Don't Try to Fix Her" ~ A Husband's Guide to Supporting His Wife in Eating Disorder Recovery with Kevin Nichol💙 | 23 Jan 2026 | 00:40:21 | |
Today is a very special episode. For the first time ever, I'm bringing on a guest. And not just any guest—my husband, Kevin. If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you know I talk a lot about my recovery journey, the tools, the strategies, the mindset shifts. But what I don't talk about as much is the man behind the scenes. The man who supports me. The man who holds down the fort so I can record this podcast, run my business, and continue to show up for you every single week. Kevin is that man. He's the anchor. And it's time for you to meet him. Here's the truth: Recovery doesn't just affect the person struggling. It affects the whole family. And the support of a partner can make or break the journey. Kevin met me shortly after my recovery, but he's watched me navigate ups and downs with body image and restrictive behaviors throughout our marriage. He's a law enforcement officer, lifts heavy weights, is in tip-top shape, and constantly pushes himself to the limit. He's an alpha personality—strong, driven, disciplined. And he's also a man of God, a father to our two boys, and the most supportive partner I could ever ask for. But supporting someone in eating disorder recovery didn't come naturally to him. He had to learn. And today, he's sharing what he learned—for the men listening, and for the women who want their husbands or partners to understand what real support looks like. In this episode, you'll hear:
If you're a woman in recovery, send this episode to your husband or partner. If you're a man listening, thank you for being here. Thank you for wanting to support your wife. This episode is for you. KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "Your wife doesn't need you to fix her. She needs you to support her. And those are two very different things." - Lindsey 💛 "You don't have to understand everything she's going through to support her. You don't have to have all the answers. But you do have to be willing to listen. And I mean really listen—without trying to fix it, without pressuring her, without making unnecessary comments." - Kevin 💛 "Early on, my instinct was to say things like, 'You're fine. You look great. Just go eat more.' And I thought I was being supportive. But what I didn't realize was that those kinds of comments actually created more distance between us." - Kevin 💛 "That disconnect—it affected intimacy. Not just physical intimacy, but emotional intimacy too." - Lindsey 💛 "I had to learn that sometimes the most supportive thing I can do is just listen. Ask questions. Ask what you need to feel safe. And then do that." - Kevin 💛 "When you asked what I needed instead of assuming, I felt seen. I felt heard. I felt like you were on my team." - Lindsey 💛 "I can't take away the struggle. I can't make the eating disorder voice go away. But I can support you in climbing out of the struggle. I can listen. I can be present. I can remind you who you are." - Kevin 💛 "You don't have to sit in the struggle with her. But you can support her in climbing out. You can be her safe place." - Kevin 💛 "I had to grant you permission to have a different relationship with your body than I have with mine. Your recovery doesn't look like my fitness journey. And that's okay." - Kevin 💛 "Supporting your wife's recovery—or supporting her business, her calling, her purpose—sometimes looks like doing the dishes or making dinner or getting the kids to bed so she can have space to breathe. It's not glamorous. But it matters." - Kevin 💛 "Your job is just to be the anchor." - Kevin MEET KEVIN NICHOLKevin is:
Kevin met Lindsey shortly after her initial recovery, but quickly realized that recovery is ongoing. He's watched her navigate ups and downs with body image and restrictive behaviors throughout their marriage, and he's learned how to support her without trying to fix her. KEVIN'S 5 PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR MENIf you're a man whose wife is struggling with an eating disorder, body image issues, or disordered eating, here's what Kevin wants you to know: #1: DON'T TRY TO FIX HER Your job isn't to solve the problem. Your job is to support her while she does the hard work of recovery. That means listening. Asking what she needs. Being present. #2: WATCH YOUR WORDS Don't say things like:
Those comments, even though they're well-intentioned, can make her feel dismissed. Instead, ask: "What do you need from me right now?" #3: RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR BODY IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT SHE NEEDS If you're into fitness or discipline or pushing your limits, that's great. But don't project that onto her. Grant her permission to have a different relationship with her body. Your fitness journey is not her recovery journey. And that's okay. #4: BE HER SAFE PLACE When she's spiraling, when she's struggling, when the eating disorder voice is loud—be the one who reminds her of the truth. Remind her:
#5: DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY Her struggle isn't about you. It's not because you're not enough or because you're doing something wrong. This is her battle. But you can be her ally. WHAT KEVIN DID THAT MADE LINDSEY FEEL SAFEKevin shares that the most supportive thing he learned to do was: ✅ Not reacting in passion or frustration - Even when he didn't understand why Lindsey was struggling, he learned not to react from confusion or frustration because it only made things worse. ✅ Actively listening - Instead of trying to fix or dismiss, he learned to ask, "What do you need right now to feel safe?" ✅ Taking action based on her needs - Sometimes that meant:
The result? Lindsey felt seen. Heard. Supported. Like Kevin was on her team. THE ALPHA MALE LEARNING CURVEAs someone who lifts heavy weights, is disciplined with fitness, and pushes his body to the limit, Kevin had to learn an important lesson: What HE needs for his body is very different from what Lindsey needs. In the beginning, Kevin would talk about his workouts, his macros, his goals—not realizing it could be triggering for Lindsey. Because for him, fitness and discipline are about strength and performance. But for Lindsey, those topics were tied to control, restriction, and shame. Kevin had to learn:
Lindsey says: "That was one of the most loving things you did for me. You gave me permission to be different. To need different things. To heal in my own way." THE MAN BEHIND THE BIZKevin doesn't get a lot of recognition, but he's the anchor. He's the one who makes it possible for Lindsey to do this work. What that looks like practically:
Kevin says: "Supporting your wife's recovery—or supporting her business, her calling, her purpose—sometimes looks like doing the dishes or making dinner or getting the kids to bed so she can have space to breathe. It's not glamorous. But it matters." And it matters SO much. WHAT'S NEXT: KEVIN IS COMING BACKThis is the first of what we hope will be many episodes with Kevin. Future topics might include:
If you're a woman listening: Send this episode to your husband or partner. Share it. Tag us on Instagram. Let's open up this conversation. If you're a man listening: Thank you for being here. Thank you for wanting to support your wife. We're going to keep creating content that helps you do that. NEED SUPPORT IN YOUR RECOVERY? WORK WITH LINDSEY💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE This is my group coaching community where women come together to heal, support each other, and do the deep work of recovery. You'll have access to me, monthly coaching calls, and a sisterhood that gets you. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING If you're ready for deep, transformational work, if you want someone in your corner who's going to hold you accountable and remind you who you are—let's work together. 👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application. And if you're a man listening and you want to reach out? You can do that too. I'd love to hear from you. I'd love to support you in supporting her. Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 264.5: Food Isn't the Problem (Control Is)—6 Steps to Stop Counting Calories for Good **Must Listen Fav!** | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:15:30 | |
Let me start this one hot and spicy for you: Counting calories isn't the answer because food isn't the problem. That's right. Food is not the problem. Especially when you've had an unhealthy obsession with calorie counting and diet culture. It's actually about control. And we give calories all the glory when in reality, choosing food based on calories doesn't even equate to the essential nutrients and vitamins that we need to thrive. Calories are simply a unit of energy. Energy that you need, sis, to function, to live, to be your best. Energy that you need to play with your kids, go out with your friends, dress up cute for a date night, do your job, clean your house, take that walk. But restrictive diets and disordered relationships with food cause this obsession with control and counting calories. And while we continue to be chained to numbers and the fixation of numbers, we're missing out on LIFE. Maybe you don't count calories, but you count other things—steps, fat grams, your weight on the scale. It's time to hang it up. It's time to stop. But I'm not just gonna ask you to stop cold turkey because we all know how that typically goes. In this episode, I'm giving you six practical steps you can take TODAY to stop counting calories so you can start counting moments that matter in your life. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you're obsessively counting calories, tracking your food, or constantly calculating like a mathematician how many calories you have left for the day—this episode is for you. Let's stop counting calories and start counting moments that matter. KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "Counting calories isn't the answer because food isn't the problem. Food is not the problem. It's actually control." 💛 "Calories are simply a unit of energy. Energy that you need to function, to live, to be your best." 💛 "Your body wasn't created to be restricted from the very thing that it needs to survive and thrive at its best." 💛 "Every single time you're thinking about restricting your calories, I want you to put on this thought: 'I'm making the choice right now to restrict my energy.' How does that feel?" 💛 "In 2018, researchers reviewed the effects of the MyFitnessPal calorie tracker, and 73% of users reported that the app contributed to disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders. Yet we're still using these things expecting different results." 💛 "Your brain is searching for control. It just wants some safety in an unsafe world." 💛 "You will actually start to forget calorie counts over time. I remember feeling like I could be on The Price is Right, but instead of knowing the price of food, I could tell you the calorie counts of food." 💛 "Calories won't kill you, but your eating disorder will." 💛 "100 more calories won't change your life, but the decision to avoid them—the decision to stay chained in the illness, the decision to not fight back, the decision to continue counting meaningless numbers as if they somehow measure the weight of your worth—that will alter your life every time." 💛 "You're allowed to take up space. You're allowed to be who you are created to be. And counting calories is not gonna be the answer for you." THE REAL ISSUE: IT'S NOT FOOD, IT'S CONTROLFood isn't the problem. Control is. Counting calories is about control, rigid routines, and the desire to provide assurance when we're feeling like we aren't assured. When we're needing security. When we're wanting comfort. When we just need something to cope with, something to have structure around. It gives you peace, but it's FALSE. It's a false sense of control. The counting started small, right? You wanted to track what you were eating, maybe to lose some weight. And it became an obsession. Now you know probably how many calories are in everything. You're tracking on paper, on an app, on your phone. This fear to control your weight, maintain your weight, or avoid gaining weight is what's leading you. But this is led by distorted standards of diet culture and worldly labels or traumas you've faced in your life. And sis, it has to stop. THE 6 STEPS TO STOP COUNTING CALORIES FOR GOODSTEP #1: ACKNOWLEDGE WHY YOU'RE COUNTING IN THE FIRST PLACE Counting calories has taken over your life. It didn't start out like that, but it became an obsession. I want you to acknowledge:
Typically, this is all about control. Control when we're feeling like we aren't assured. When we're needing security. When we're wanting comfort. When we just need something to cope with. You're measuring yourself against a false standard, against a unit of energy. How crazy is that? STEP #2: TRANSFORM YOUR THINKING AROUND CALORIES Calories are actually units of energy. But don't you want MORE energy? I mean, aren't you tired of being tired? Energy isn't good or bad. It's just energy. When you think of energy, do you view it as bad the way you view calories? Do you want less of it? No, right? You've tied negative meaning to calories and only given yourself permission to restrict them. But see, your body wasn't created to be restricted from the very thing it needs to survive and thrive at its best. Just like we need water every day to hydrate, we need food and calories to keep up with our day, to be energized. I want you to start reframing the way you're thinking about calories. Every single time you're thinking about restricting your calories, I want you to put on this thought: "I'm making the choice right now to restrict my energy." How does that feel? I don't know about you, but I can use all the energy I can get. Energy to take my kids to school, energy to show up on the podcast, energy to do all the things that life has for me. I don't need less of it. I need MORE of it. Sis, so do you. Stop thinking about calories as if they're bad. They're not bad. They're a form of energy that's gonna allow you to do life. STEP #3: GET RID OF THE TRACKERS Get rid of: ❌ The notebooks ❌ The watches ❌ The apps ❌ All the social accounts ❌ The food scales ❌ The scale scales ❌ Take off the labels Why put yourself in temptation's path? Practical tips:
The research is CLEAR: In 2018, researchers reviewed the effects of the MyFitnessPal calorie tracker. 73% of users reported that the app contributed to disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders. Yet we're still using these things expecting different results. Sit with that one today, sis. STEP #4: FACE THE FEAR It's time to challenge yourself: ✅ Go to a restaurant and avoid looking at the menu ahead of time ✅ Order something you can't get the calorie count for ✅ Have someone else going with you order something for you ✅ When you're home during the week, have someone else prepare your meals if possible Face the fear. Challenge yourself. Lean into it. STEP #5: COUNT SOMETHING ELSE INSTEAD Your brain is searching for control. It just wants some safety in an unsafe world. And your body is already a self-regulating machine. Your metabolism is gonna naturally heal itself. So count something else instead. Check out Episode 56: Calorie Counting Isn't Cute—30 Things to Count Instead of Calories, Macros, and Fat Grams. You're really going to enjoy that one. STEP #6: HONOR YOUR JOURNEY AND WHERE YOU ARE IN IT Honor your hunger. Your TRUE hunger. Stopping the desire to count every single morsel of food doesn't happen overnight. It takes time. But it can and it WILL happen if you keep showing up for you. Try this practice: STOP, PAUSE, PRAY (or say a mantra). STOP, PAUSE, FEEL. Sit with yourself:
Is the world gonna end tomorrow because you decided not to count your calories today? You will actually start to forget calorie counts over time. I remember in my eating disorder feeling like I could be on The Price is Right, but instead of knowing the price of food, I could tell you the calorie counts of food. That is what I used to gauge whether or not I was allowed to give myself permission to eat it. Stop. Stop the madness. You have permission. THE POWERFUL TRUTH YOU NEED TO HEARCalories won't kill you, but your eating disorder will. And I heard this amazing statement (I don't know who it came from, but it was bomb): "100 more calories won't change your life, but the decision to avoid them—the decision to stay chained in the illness, the decision to not fight back, the decision to continue counting meaningless numbers as if they somehow measure the weight of your worth—that will alter your life every time." I feel it to my core today. If you're listening and you're counting calories, it's time to stop. It's time to stop giving calories a place of power in your life. It's time to stop idolizing the fear of gaining weight. It's time to stop limiting your every single day by judging the back of a label. You're allowed to take up space. You're allowed to be who you are created to be. Counting calories is not gonna be the answer for you. Just like counting your weight on the scale is never gonna work. Because food isn't the problem and neither is that number on the scale. The problem is that you have been chained to believe that big is bad and skinny is in. The truth is that calories are just a unit of energy and we need to stop glorifying them. YOUR ACTION STEPS TODAY
💛READY TO PARTNER WITH ME? THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE This is my group coaching community where women just like you come together to heal, support each other, and do the deep work of recovery. You'll have access to me, monthly coaching calls, and a sisterhood that gets it. That gets you. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING If you're ready for deep, transformational work, if you want someone in your corner who's going to hold you accountable and remind you who you are when the eating disorder tries to convince you otherwise—let's work together. I'm taking applications right now. 👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application. Let's make 2026 the year you invest in yourself—whether that's through these books, through coaching, or both. Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 264: 6 Books That Will Transform Your ED Recovery in 2026 (My Must-Read List) | 16 Jan 2026 | 00:12:47 | |
I'm a huge believer in reading—not just consuming content on social media but actually sitting down with a book and letting the words sink deep into your soul. Over the years, there have been specific books that have absolutely transformed my life and my recovery journey. Books that challenged me. Books that comforted me. Books that made me think differently about myself, my identity, and my purpose. And today? I'm sharing my six must-read book recommendations for 2026. These are books that I believe will help you in your eating disorder recovery journey—whether you're just starting out, you're in the thick of it, or you're on the other side working to stay free. In this episode, you'll discover:
Grab a pen, grab your phone, take notes. Because sis, these books? They're game-changers. Let's fill your mind with truth, hope, and wisdom—so there's less room for the eating disorder's lies. THE 6 MUST-READ BOOKS FOR ED RECOVERY IN 2026📖 BOOK #1: Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo What it's about: This book is all about tackling problems, obstacles, and challenges with the mindset that no matter what you're facing—yes, even eating disorder recovery—you can figure it out. Why you need it: Marie teaches you how to reframe limiting beliefs, take action even when you're scared, and trust that you have everything you need inside of you to solve any problem. Perfect for you if: You feel stuck, like recovery is too hard or too complicated. This book will remind you that you are more capable than you think. Everything—yes, everything—is figureoutable. Including your freedom. 📖 BOOK #2: The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga What it's about: Based on the teachings of Alfred Adler, this book is presented as a dialogue between a philosopher and a young man about living free from the need for approval. Why you need it: It teaches you that you don't need everyone's approval to live your life. It challenges the people-pleasing, the need for external validation, and the fear of judgment that so many of us carry—especially those of us with eating disorders. Perfect for you if: You struggle with people-pleasing or feeling like you need permission to recover. This book will help you understand that you can choose freedom over approval. You can choose yourself over what everyone else thinks. And that's where real recovery lives. 📖 BOOK #3: Human Design by Jenna Zoe What it's about: Human Design is a system that helps you understand how you're uniquely wired as an individual. Why you need it: This book helps you discover who you are at your core—not who the eating disorder says you are, not who society says you should be, but who you were designed to be. Perfect for you if: You need permission to stop trying to fit into a mold that was never meant for you. When you start to see yourself through the lens of your unique design and personality, it helps you embrace your strengths, your natural way of being, and how you operate in the world. Recovery is about coming home to yourself. And this book? It's like a roadmap back. 📖 BOOK #4: I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn't) by Brené Brown What it's about: This book is all about shame resilience—understanding how shame works, how it keeps us stuck, and most importantly, how to build resilience against it. Why you need it: If there's one thing that fuels an eating disorder, it's shame. Shame about your body. Shame about your eating. Shame about not being "good enough" or "perfect enough." Brené teaches you that shame loses its power when we talk about it, when we share our stories, when we realize we're not alone. Perfect for you if: You've ever felt like you're the only one struggling, like there's something uniquely broken about you. This book will remind you that you're not alone. And that shame? It doesn't get to win. 📖 BOOK #5: Slip by Mallary Tarplay What it's about: This is a novel—fiction—about a woman struggling with bulimia and the journey she goes through to find recovery. It's raw, it's honest, and it doesn't sugarcoat the hard parts. Why you need it: Sometimes we need to see ourselves in a story. Sometimes we need to read about someone else's journey to remind us that recovery is possible. That it's worth it. That we're not alone in the fight. Perfect for you if: You want a book that feels like a mirror—one that reflects the struggle but also the hope. This book shows the beauty of healing, the messiness of recovery, and the hope that exists even in the darkest moments. 📖 BOOK #6: Now and Not Yet by Ruth Chou Simons What it's about: This book is all about living in the tension of the "already but not yet." The idea that you are already loved, already worthy, already enough—but you're also still becoming. Still growing. Still on the journey. Why you need it: Recovery isn't linear. You're not "there" yet, but you're also not back where you started. You're in the middle. You're in the messy, beautiful, uncomfortable middle. Perfect for you if: You need a book that speaks hope, grace, and truth over your recovery journey. This book will remind you that God is with you in the now AND the not yet. That you don't have to have it all figured out to be worthy. That you can rest in the process. That you can trust that you're becoming exactly who you were meant to be—even if you're not there yet. THE FULL MUST-READ LIST FOR 2026
Pick one. Pick all six. Just start reading. Because the more you fill your mind with truth, hope, and wisdom, the less room there is for the eating disorder's lies. KEY QUOTE FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "I'm a huge believer in reading—not just consuming content on social media, but actually sitting down with a book and letting the words sink deep into your soul." 💛 "The more you fill your mind with truth, hope, and wisdom, the less room there is for the eating disorder's lies." 💛 "Recovery is about coming home to yourself. And this book? It's like a roadmap back." 💛 "Shame loses its power when we talk about it, when we share our stories, when we realize we're not alone." 💛 "You are already loved, already worthy, already enough—but you're also still becoming. Still growing. Still on the journey." NEED MORE THAN BOOKS? WORK WITH ME IN 2026💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE This is my group coaching community where women just like you come together to heal, support each other, and do the deep work of recovery. You'll have access to me, monthly coaching calls, and a sisterhood that gets it. That gets you. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING If you're ready for deep, transformational work, if you want someone in your corner who's going to hold you accountable and remind you who you are when the eating disorder tries to convince you otherwise—let's work together. I'm taking applications right now. 👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application. Let's make 2026 the year you invest in yourself—whether that's through these books, through coaching, or both. Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 263: You're Approaching Recovery All Wrong (Hint: & It's Not Your Strategy!) Here's the 3B Framework That Actually Works | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:21:34 | |
We're already mid-January. Goals have been set. Maybe you wrote down "recover this year" or "heal my relationship with food" or "finally find freedom." But here's what I need you to hear: Setting the goal isn't the problem. How you're approaching it is. I was listening to a Tony Robbins podcast recently, and he said something that stopped me in my tracks: The reason why people don't get the results they're after is because they approach it all wrong. Most people start with the strategy—looking for the perfect plan, the magic formula, the one thing that's going to solve everything. And when that strategy doesn't work, they think they failed. But the truth is, the strategy was never the problem. It's that they started in the wrong place. This is SO true in eating disorder recovery. People come to me all the time asking, "Lindsey, what's THE strategy? What did YOU do to recover? Just tell me the steps and I'll do it." And here's what I have to tell them: There are multiple ways of getting to recovery. No one way is THE way. And anyone who tells you there is only one way? Run from them. In this episode, I'm introducing you to the 3B Framework—Being, Belief, and Blueprint—the exact approach I use with my private clients that actually gets lasting results. Because sis, the strategy isn't the first step. It's actually the LAST step. And that's why you've been stuck. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you keep doing what you've always done, you're going to keep getting what you've always gotten. And I'm guessing you're tired of being stuck. So let's change the approach. Let's do this differently. Let's actually get you FREE. KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "Setting the goal isn't the problem. How you're approaching it is." 💛 "There are multiple ways of getting to recovery. No one way is THE way. And anyone who tells you there is only one way? Run from them." 💛 "The reason why my clients see results? It's because we don't start with the strategy. We start with something much deeper." 💛 "The blueprint won't matter if your being and your belief are still stuck in the old ways of thinking. We have to conquer those pieces first." 💛 "The strategy isn't the first bite of the salad, sis. It's actually the Being and the Belief. We have to unravel the WHY behind why we believe what we believe." 💛 "You can have the best meal plan. You can have the best treatment team. You can have all the tools and resources and support in the world. But if you don't change your BEING—if you don't shift your BELIEF—you're going to keep sabotaging yourself." 💛 "The smell of the rink was the same. But my belief and my identity weren't trapped in the sport anymore. I was healed." 💛 "There's a reason why we hang on to the eating disorder for so long. For me, it was because I didn't see myself as anything but that version of myself. But sis, it's time to believe bigger." 💛 "The patterns and behaviors won't change long-lasting if the internal work isn't met." THE 3B FRAMEWORK EXPLAINEDThis is the exact framework I use with my private coaching clients—and it's why they see actual, lasting transformation instead of just temporary fixes. STEP 1: BEING (Your Current State) This is where you are RIGHT NOW. What is the state of your current being?
We start here. Because if you don't get honest about where you are, you can't get to where you want to go. Most people skip this step entirely. They want to jump straight to the strategy. But that's like asking for directions to a destination without telling me where you're starting from or what vehicle you're driving. STEP 2: BELIEF (Your Core Story) This is the story you've been telling yourself. What are the core beliefs driving your behaviors?
This is where we do the soul work. The deep work. Because sis, the patterns and behaviors won't change long-lasting if the internal work isn't met. These beliefs are running the show. And until you identify them, challenge them, and replace them with truth, you're going to stay stuck. There's a reason why we hang on to the eating disorder for so long. We have to unravel the WHY behind why we believe what we believe. STEP 3: BLUEPRINT (Your Strategy) This is the action plan. The "how do we get you there?" part. But here's the key: The blueprint won't matter if your being and your belief are still stuck in the old ways of thinking. We have to conquer Steps 1 and 2 first. Otherwise, you're just putting a band-aid on a wound that needs surgery. You can have the best meal plan. You can have the best treatment team. You can have all the tools and resources and support in the world. But if you haven't changed your BEING and shifted your BELIEF, you're going to keep sabotaging yourself. You're going to keep "cheating" on your meal plan. You're going to keep restricting in secret. You're going to keep pretending you're recovering while you're really just maintaining your eating disorder with a smile on your face. Once we've addressed your being and your belief, THEN we can create a blueprint. Then we can map out the tools, the action steps, the meal plans, the support systems, the practices that will actually work for YOU. But not before. Because the blueprint is useless without the foundation. MY FIGURE SKATING STORY: WHEN BELIEF KEPT ME TRAPPEDOver winter break, I took my boys ice skating. And the moment I walked into that rink, I was hit with a wave of memories. The smell of the ice. The cold, crisp air. The must from the hockey players and public skaters. I closed my eyes for a second, and it all came rushing back. For so long after my recovery, skating was triggering for me. Because my entire identity as a figure skater was wrapped up in perfectionism and performance. Being the smallest was the best. Looking perfect was the goal. Technique over joy. Approval over freedom. Those beliefs protected me during that season of my life. They gave me structure. They gave me control. They gave me a sense of worth when I felt worthless everywhere else. But they also trapped me. They kept me stuck in an eating disorder that nearly killed me. So for years, I avoided skating. Because I didn't know who I was without those beliefs. I didn't know if I could step onto the ice without falling back into that version of myself. But this time? This time was different. My oldest asked me to do a sit spin. And I thought, "Why not?" So I did it. And you know what? I nailed it. The muscle memory was still there. My body remembered. But something else was different. I was different. I wasn't focused on what others thought. I wasn't worried about my technique. I wasn't performing for approval. I was just... doing it. For fun. For the first time in my life, I was skating for JOY, not perfection. It felt like freedom. It felt playful. No strings attached. No perfection required. Just me being a mom, showing my kids that their mom was once someone cool. And honestly? Feeling pretty cool in that moment. And that's when it hit me: The smell of the rink was the same. But my belief and my identity weren't trapped in the sport anymore. I was healed. WHY BELIEF IS THE GAME-CHANGERThat moment on the ice showed me something so important: You can have all the skills. You can have all the muscle memory. You can have all the strategy in the world. But if your BELIEF about yourself hasn't changed, you'll always go back to the old patterns. This is why so many of my clients come to me looking for the strategy, but they realize pretty quickly that they need something deeper. They need to look at their BEING. They need to examine their BELIEF. Because the best strategy in the world won't work unless you're prepared to execute it. And you can't execute it if you're still operating from the old story. RUN FROM THESE "ONE WAY" LIESRun from anyone who says: ❌ A meal plan is the ONLY way to recover ❌ Intuitive eating is the ONLY way to recover ❌ You MUST follow a specific protocol ❌ There's a "proven recovery formula" that works for everyone ❌ Specific techniques are the answer for all people Recovery isn't one-size-fits-all. It's not a linear path. It's not a checklist. It's deeply personal, deeply individual, and it requires way more than just a strategy. YOUR HOMEWORK: EXCAVATE YOUR BELIEFSHere's your one tangible action. Sit down with a journal and answer these questions: ✍️ What are 3 beliefs I have about myself, my body, or my eating disorder? ✍️ For each belief, ask: Is this true? Or is this my eating disorder talking? ✍️ What is the story I've been telling myself that's keeping me stuck in this old identity? And here's the big one: ✍️ Who would I be without this story? Who am I BECOMING? Get really honest with yourself. Excavate those beliefs. Challenge them. Question them. Because sis, the strategy isn't going to save you. Your willingness to do the deep internal work is what's going to set you free. Stop searching for the perfect strategy. Start looking at your being. Start examining your beliefs. Start doing the soul work. Because that's where transformation happens. READY TO WORK THE 3B FRAMEWORK? LET'S DO THIS TOGETHERIf you're thinking, "Lindsey, I need help with this. I can't do this alone. I need someone to walk me through Being, Belief, and Blueprint"—I hear you. And I'm here for you. 💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE This is my group coaching community where we do this work together. We address your being, we challenge your beliefs, and we create blueprints that actually work. You'll have me, you'll have the community, and you'll have the support to actually make lasting change. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING If you're ready for deep, transformational work, if you want someone in your corner who's going to help you uncover those core beliefs and rewrite your story—let's work together. This is where we go ALL in on your recovery with radical change. 👉 Head to the link above & fill out a client application. Let's stop playing games. Let's stop searching for the magic strategy. Let's do the real work. The deep work. The work that actually gets you free. Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 262.5: "I Laughed When My Therapist Said to Journal — Then It Saved My Life" ~ #1 ED Recovery Tool📓 | 09 Jan 2026 | 00:16:21 | |
When my therapist first told me to start journaling as part of my recovery practice, I literally laughed in her face. Journaling? Like... affirmations? I didn't believe that writing in a notebook would help me recover from my eating disorder. It seemed too simple. Too basic. Too... pointless. But sis, I was so wrong. Journaling didn't just help me recover. It actually saved my life. And if fear is keeping you stuck in restrictive behaviors right now—if you're terrified to recover because you're not sure who you'll be without your eating disorder—then you need to hear this. In this episode, I'm breaking down the 7 science-backed benefits of journaling that transformed my recovery and why this simple practice might be the missing piece in yours. We live in a culture of information overload—endless scrolling, constant content, comparison on every platform. But what if instead of consuming more, you need to process what's already in your mind? According to the National Institute of Health, 26% of adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. And yet, only 8% of the world population keeps a journal. It's time to go back to the basics. It's time to slow down. It's time to give your brain the space it needs to heal. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you've been stuck, if you've been overwhelmed by the thoughts in your mind, if you don't know where to go next—this episode is your permission to start simple. Start small. Start today. Journaling changed my life. And it can change yours too. KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "When my therapist told me years ago to start journaling as part of a personal recovery practice, I believe I actually laughed in her face. I think I said, 'About what? Like affirmations?' I didn't even believe that journaling would help me recover from my eating disorder. But I was wrong." 💛 "It's time that we go back to the basics in order to heal our bodies. It's time that we stop just ingesting all of this content and information causing us to hate our lives, hate our bodies, draw closer to our disordered behaviors and sit miserable in comparison." 💛 "How do you expect to find freedom from an eating disorder or an unhealthy relationship with food if you're not getting any of that out of your mind? Journaling allows you to get out what is going in." 💛 "When you write down positive things over and over and over, it allows you to see patterns. It actually allows you to believe or to start believing what it is you're writing." 💛 "Maybe you need to get it out. Maybe you need to do exactly what I did: 'I hate this freaking snack right now. I hate that I have to sit here and eat it. I hate that I'm so scared to gain weight, and yet I'm doing the thing anyways because I know on the opposite side of this action one day I'm gonna wake up free.'" 💛 "How are you gonna remember the hard days if you don't get out the hard thing? How are you gonna remember the small wins that feel massive to you in the moment, five years from now, a month from now? Journaling helps you process." 💛 "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you." - Maya Angelou THE SHOCKING STATISTICS YOU NEED TO KNOW📊 Only 8% of the world population keeps a journal 📊 Only 22% of people have journaled in their lifetime 📊 26% of adults 18+ suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder (that's 1 in 4 adults) 📊 Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness 📊 Half of Americans will experience a mental illness in their lifetime 📊 4.5 million kids live with anxiety disorders The takeaway? We need to slow down as a culture. Instead of this flux of information overload, we need to give our brains time to PROCESS. We need grace to weed through all the things, filter out all the things, and process our thoughts and feelings about our lives—much less about our bodies and our relationship with food. THE 7 SCIENCE-BACKED BENEFITS OF JOURNALING IN ED RECOVERYBENEFIT #1: Reduces Anxiety and Depression, Increases Optimism Journaling boosts your immune system and researchers have shown improved organ function simply from journaling. Yes, ORGAN FUNCTION. Your body heals when you give your mind space to process. BENEFIT #2: Increased Cognitive Processing Journaling allows you to get OUT what is going IN. All the voices telling you you're not good enough, not small enough—all those beliefs you've been telling yourself over and over. How do you expect to find freedom if you're not getting any of that out of your mind? BENEFIT #3: Promotes Healing and Acceptance Writing is tranquil. Writing is a healing practice. When you write, you read. This creates improved memory function. When you write down positive things over and over, it allows you to see patterns. It actually allows you to START BELIEVING what you're writing. BENEFIT #4: Calms the Brain and Body This leads to stress resilience, allowing you to leverage writing versus going to negative coping mechanisms. When I was in the worst of the worst with my anorexia, every single time I felt like I wanted to over-exercise or restrict food, I would replace that with journaling. Example: "Let me go get my snack, and then after my snack, I'm gonna sit down and journal and get out the thoughts in my mind. Maybe I'll write: 'I hate this freaking snack right now. I hate that I have to sit here and eat it. I hate that I'm so scared to gain weight, and yet I'm doing the thing anyways because I know on the opposite side of this action one day I'm gonna wake up free.'" It allows your brain to be calm. It allows your body to be at peace. BENEFIT #5: Gives You Reset and Redirection Journaling creates space and distance from the things you're thinking about, and it allows you time to reframe, reset, and redirect. As you're writing, you're thinking about what you're writing. And if you don't spend time thinking about what you're thinking about, how are you gonna make a change? How are you gonna show up differently? BENEFIT #6: Practice Compassion and Gratitude When you're listing what you have overcome, what you've accomplished, what you're grateful for—this actually helps give you hope during the hard. It helps you process all that you have done. How are you gonna remember the small wins that feel massive to you in the moment, five years from now, a month from now? Journaling helps you process. BENEFIT #7: Helps You Reflect and Recover You can go back and read your journal. You can go back and read your journey. On the hard days, you can go back to the inspirational things and say, "You know what? Today might feel hard. Today might suck. But last week, look at this win I had." That gives you motivation, momentum, and it sparks your ability to want to keep going. It shows your progress. WHAT JOURNALING DOES FOR YOUR BRAINJournaling allows you to develop what is called a coherent narrative. This simply means you can take the experiences and events in your life and look at them almost as a third party. This is a very holistic practice. As you're getting these thoughts out on the page, as you're writing your story out, you can sit with it and say, "How would I view this if I was reading this as a novel? Or if this was a page from my friend's notebook?" Instead of judging yourself in the journey, it allows you to develop a new and true voice. Journaling is about: ✨ Self-discovery ✨ Self-love ✨ Processing emotions ✨ Identifying your triggers and stressors ✨ Gaining confidence in yourself ✨ Self-monitoring and self-accountability HOW TO START JOURNALING TODAYStart small. Start today. Find a cute blank notebook (or just a plain one—it doesn't have to be fancy). Take 5 minutes today and in the days to come to sit with YOU. Journal prompts to get you started: ✍️ What are you thinking about right now? ✍️ What thoughts come up? ✍️ What fears come up? ✍️ What are your daily intentions today? ✍️ Talk to God. Release those negative feelings. ✍️ Write about your truths. Write about where you want to go. ✍️ Write some things you're grateful for. ✍️ Write about how hard it is right now. ✍️ Write a letter to someone—or to yourself (past self, future self). ✍️ Write your Best Self statement. Morning journaling: Sets your day and gives you positive intent before your eating disorder brain clouds it. You can say, "Today, this is what I'm planning to do. This is what's on the agenda. This is my positive intent to do the right thing before that voice inside my head tells me not to." Night journaling: Promotes more restful sleep and allows you to process all you've done. It even allows you to get out shame, unforgiveness, or negative feelings. There's no right way. That's the fun thing. Just start. A PERSONAL NOTE FROM LINDSEYI still have all of my journals from my years of recovery. And today it is quite amazing to look back and reflect and read my journals. I can actually remember the feelings of writing on the pages from 15+ years ago. I can look now at that girl who was desperate for freedom, that girl who didn't believe it was possible. And I can hold her just like I'm holding you, friend. Because I know what it's like to feel those feelings and I know what it's like to find freedom from that place. "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you." - Maya Angelou Start spending time with your mind. Start releasing what's in your mind out on paper. Because I promise that if you have been stuck, if you have been feeling like there are so many different things inside your mind and you're just not sure where to go next—the first step is to alleviate those thoughts. The first step is to rid your mind of all those thoughts. Get them out on paper. What's true? What's not true? What's keeping you stuck? What's keeping you in fear? I believe that journaling is one of the best things I did in my eating disorder recovery. And it can be one of the best things you do too. NEED MORE SUPPORT? WORK WITH ME💛 ONE-ON-ONE PRIVATE RECOVERY COACHING I have only a few slots available, but I would love to work with you one-on-one. Recovery coaching allows us to work together, and I am in your ear. This is a place where you're gonna find love, support, and truth. I'm gonna hold your hand. I'm gonna show up. I'm gonna hold you accountable so that you can show up for YOU. If you've been struggling—giving yourself permission to recover, giving yourself permission to eat, giving yourself permission to let go of those unhealthy beliefs and behaviors—and you feel like you should know what to do but you don't know what to do at the same time... I've been there. And I wish I had a coach during my recovery process. That's why I do what I do. 👉 Go to LindseyNichol.com and fill out a client application. ~ Looking for inspiration on what to journal? 💛 Head to our private Facebook community: Hope and Healing for Eating Disorder Recovery at www.herbestselfsociety.com 💛 Check out the Her Best Self Statement in the featured area for some journaling inspiration! Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 262: New Year, Same Eating Disorder? The One Emotion That Will Actually Get You Out of ED Hell | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:19:55 | |
Let me guess. It's a new year, and you're supposed to feel motivated. Excited. Ready for a fresh start. But instead? You just feel tired. Tired of being tired. Tired of trying. Tired of feeling like you're starting over AGAIN with your eating disorder recovery. Everywhere you look, you're being bombarded with "new year, new you" messages. Detoxes. Transformation challenges. Fresh starts. Clean slates. And if you're in ED recovery, you know exactly what that pressure feels like—and how triggering it is. Here's what I need you to hear: A calendar flipping to January 1st doesn't magically fix anything. But there IS one emotion that will actually get you out of ED hell. And it's probably not what you think. In this raw, no-BS episode, I'm getting provocative, confrontational, and real with you about the power of frustration—and why being absolutely sick and tired of yourself and your eating disorder might be the best thing that could happen to your recovery. This isn't your typical "be kind to yourself" recovery talk. This is me calling you out with love, getting you MAD, and helping you channel that anger into the fuel you need to actually change. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you're done playing victim to your own story. If you're sick of half-assing your recovery. If you're ready to get FRUSTRATED enough to finally take action—this episode is for you. Let's go. 🔥 KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "It won't be a new year that brings anything new or better into your life. It will be YOU. And specifically, it will be you getting so absolutely frustrated, so fed up, so DONE with spending one more day entrenched in ED-ville that you finally say, 'Enough.'" 💛 "That frustration? That's not weakness. That's readiness. Frustration is your body and your soul screaming at you, 'WE ARE DONE WITH THIS.'" 💛 "I got sick of myself. Sick of my own BS. Sick of wasting time pretending I was recovering when I was really just maintaining my eating disorder with a smile on my face. I had to get angry to change." 💛 "What has the eating disorder taken from you? Not just this year. But over the YEARS. How many holidays has it ruined? How many relationships has it cost you? How much energy have you wasted? How many dreams have you put on hold?" 💛 "The eating disorder will take as much as you let it. And it will keep taking until you decide you're not giving it anything else." 💛 "You don't need a new year to change your life. You need to get so sick of yourself and your eating disorder that you finally decide enough is enough." 💛 "Recovery is not a 'new year, new you' situation. It's not a 30-day challenge. It's not a quick fix. It's not pretty. It's not Instagram-worthy. And it's definitely not easy." THE TRUTH ABOUT "NEW YEAR, NEW YOU"Let's call it what it is: the "new year, new you" message is toxic garbage. Especially in diet culture. Especially for women. And ESPECIALLY for women in eating disorder recovery. Right now, you're being sold the lie that January 1st is some magical portal where everything changes. You're seeing:
For someone in recovery? That's a minefield. The eating disorder LOVES a fresh start. It loves rules. It loves restrictions. It loves the promise of control disguised as "health" and "wellness." But here's the truth: It won't be a new year that brings change. It will be YOU getting so frustrated that you refuse to spend one more day living like this. WHY FRUSTRATION IS YOUR FUEL ( NOT A PROBLEM)You're frustrated that:
Here's what you need to hear: That frustration is not weakness. That's READINESS. Frustration is your body and soul screaming, "WE ARE DONE WITH THIS." It's the part of you that knows you were made for more. It's the part that's sick of the lies, sick of the exhaustion, sick of playing small. When you tap into that frustration—when you really let yourself FEEL how angry you are about what this eating disorder has taken from you—that becomes your fuel. That becomes the fire that drives you to actually change. MY STORY: THE MOMENT I GOT ANGRY ENOUGH TO CHANGEI was in treatment. I had a treatment team. I had a meal plan. My goal for that year was to gain 40 pounds. FORTY. And I knew that. I agreed to it. I said I was all in. But I was lying. To them. To myself. To God. I was pushing off meals. I was "cheating" on my treatment team. I was still counting calories in my head even though I knew better. I was doing the bare minimum and calling it recovery. I was playing the game without actually playing to win. And one day, I just caught myself. I looked at myself in the mirror and thought, "Who even are you? What are you doing? You KNOW what you need to do. You KNOW what recovery requires. And you're still choosing this?" I got angry. Not at my body. Not at food. At MYSELF. At my junk. At my excuses. At my half-hearted effort. I got sick of myself. Sick of my own BS. Sick of wasting time pretending I was recovering when I was really just maintaining my eating disorder with a smile on my face. THAT was the turning point. Not a new year. Not a motivational quote. Just me, getting so absolutely fed up that I finally decided to stop playing games. I had to get angry to change. And sis, so do you. WHAT HAS YOUR EATING DISORDER TAKEN FROM YOU?It's time to get uncomfortable. I need you to actually sit with this. I need you to get honest. I need you to get FRUSTRATED. What has the eating disorder taken from you over the YEARS? ❌ How many holidays has it ruined? ❌ How many family gatherings did you obsess over food instead of enjoying people? ❌ How many birthdays did you skip because you couldn't handle the cake? ❌ How many vacations did you ruin because you were too busy calculating, controlling, restricting? ❌ How many relationships has it cost you? ❌ How many friendships have you lost because you isolated yourself? ❌ How many moments with your kids did you miss because you were too exhausted, too distracted, too consumed? ❌ How much MONEY have you spent? (Diet programs, gym memberships, doctors, treatment, trying to "fix" yourself) ❌ How much ENERGY have you wasted? (Hours thinking about food, obsessing over your body, planning meals, beating yourself up) ❌ How many DREAMS have you put on hold? (The career, the trip, the LIFE you wanted—all sitting on the back burner) And how many more years are you going to let it take? 3 POWERFUL EXERCISES TO CHANNEL YOUR FRUSTRATIONDon't just sit in the frustration. USE it. Channel it. Let it fuel you into action. EXERCISE 1: The Plate-Throwing Exercise (Optional but Therapeutic) If you need a physical release—go to a thrift store. Buy some cheap plates. Take them somewhere safe (garage, backyard). And throw them. Smash them. Let out every ounce of anger you have at this eating disorder. Let out every bit of frustration at yourself for staying stuck. (Be safe. Wear shoes. Don't hurt yourself. But let yourself FEEL the rage.) EXERCISE 2: The "What ED Has Taken" Journal Prompts Get a journal and answer these: ✍️ How many holidays has my eating disorder ruined? ✍️ How many relationships has it cost me? ✍️ How many moments with my kids/family/friends have I missed? ✍️ How much money have I spent trying to fix this while refusing to fully commit? ✍️ How much energy have I wasted obsessing over food and my body? ✍️ What dreams have I put on hold because the ED convinced me I wasn't ready? ✍️ What does my life look like in 5 years if I stay here? ✍️ What does my life look like in 5 years if I ACTUALLY recover? Write it all out. Don't hold back. Let yourself see the cost. Let yourself get MAD. EXERCISE 3: The Anger Letter Write a letter to your eating disorder. Tell it exactly what you think. Tell it what it's stolen from you. Tell it that you're done. That you're not doing this anymore. That you're taking your life back. Then? Burn it. Rip it up. Throw it away. Symbolically release it. THE RAW REALITY: WHAT RECOVERY ACTUALLY TAKESHope is beautiful. But you also need to know what this is going to require. Recovery is NOT: ❌ A "new year, new you" situation ❌ A 30-day challenge ❌ A quick fix ❌ Pretty or Instagram-worthy ❌ Easy Here's what recovery ACTUALLY takes: ✅ Showing up when you don't feel like it ✅ Eating the meal even when the ED voice is screaming at you not to ✅ Sitting with discomfort without numbing it ✅ Asking for help when you'd rather isolate ✅ Being honest with your treatment team even when you're ashamed ✅ Gaining weight if that's what your body needs (yes, I said it) ✅ Letting go of control, perfectionism, and the idea you can do this halfway ✅ CONSISTENCY—day after day after day, even when it's boring or hard ✅ Getting so frustrated that you stop negotiating with the ED, stop bargaining, stop playing games The eating disorder will take as much as you let it. It will keep taking until YOU decide you're not giving it anything else. READY TO STOP PLAYING GAMES? WORK WITH ME IN 2026If you're sitting here thinking, "Yes, Lindsey, I'm done. I'm so done. I need help and I need it now"—then take action TODAY. 💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE My group coaching community where you'll get the support, accountability, and sisterhood you need to actually do this. No more doing it alone. No more pretending you've got it figured out. Just real women doing real recovery work together. Join us here: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING If you're ready to go ALL in, if you need deep transformational support, if you want someone in your corner who's going to call you out on your BS and remind you who you are when the ED gets loud—let's work together. I'm not here to coddle you. I'm here to help you get FREE. 👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application. Let's make 2026 the year you stop playing games and start actually recovering. Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 261: From Blah to Becoming in 2026 ~ Your Word of the Year Can Change Your Life & Recovery (Here's How to Find It) | 02 Jan 2026 | 00:18:37 | |
Can I be real with you for a second? 2025 was blah. Not bad. Not terrible. Just... blah. Some wonderful moments. Some not-so-wonderful moments. A lot of ordinary, messy, in-between moments that felt really uncomfortable for someone like me who's used to pushing, achieving, and making things happen. Sound familiar? Because that's exactly what recovery from disordered eating feels like too, doesn't it? Some days are good. Some days are hard. Most days are just... blah. You're not in crisis, but you're also not experiencing the freedom you're aching for. You're just stuck in the gray. But here's what I'm learning as I step into 2026: I don't need perfect. I need to become. In this episode, I'm getting raw and honest about my word for 2026—becoming—and why it terrifies me and excites me all at the same time. I'm sharing how my 2025 word "leadership" showed up in ways I never expected (including firing staff, getting burned by a coach, and learning what NOT to be as a leader). And I'm challenging you to find your own word for 2026. Because sis, having a word of the year in eating disorder recovery? It's a game-changer. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you're ready to stop waiting for perfect and start leaning into who you're becoming—even if you don't have all the answers yet—this episode is for you. Let's make 2026 the year of becoming. Together. KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "2025 wasn't a bad year. It wasn't a terrible year. But it also wasn't this explosive, breakthrough, 'oh my gosh, everything is amazing' kind of year either. It was just... blah." 💛 "That's exactly what recovery from disordered eating feels like too. Some days are good. Some days are hard. Most days are just... blah. You're not in crisis, but you're also not experiencing the freedom you're aching for. You're just stuck in the gray." 💛 "I don't need the perfect word. I need the right word. The word that's going to challenge me, stretch me, and call me into who I'm becoming." 💛 "Becoming means becoming more aligned and grounded in my purpose—knowing what's for me and what isn't. It means becoming a more present mom and wife, not just existing in the same space as my family but actually being there with them." 💛 "Becoming also means transitioning from so much structure and control to becoming someone who is okay in the gray. Someone who doesn't need to have it all figured out to move forward. And let me tell you, that is terrifying. But it's also freeing." 💛 "Your identity isn't lost in the eating disorder, sis. It's buried. And recovery is the process of becoming your true and best self—an identity that isn't based on weight or image or what other people think of you." 💛 "You don't have to have it all figured out. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to know exactly who you're becoming or what that looks like. You just have to keep showing up." WHAT "BECOMING" MEANS FOR 2026In this episode, I share what my word "becoming" means for me personally: ✨ Becoming more aligned and grounded in my purpose – knowing what's for me and what isn't ✨ Becoming a more present mom and wife – not just existing in the same space but actually being there ✨ Becoming more honest with myself around people-pleasing – finally laying down the boundaries I've been too scared to set ✨ Becoming the businesswoman who is ready to embrace the next season and all the favor God has for me ✨ Transitioning from structure to being okay in the gray – someone who doesn't need to have it all figured out to move forward The truth? This terrifies me. But it's also freeing. And that's exactly why it's the right word. WHY A WORD OF THE YEAR MATTERS IN RECOVERYHaving a word of the year in eating disorder recovery is powerful for three reasons: 1. It gives you a North Star. When you're in the thick of recovery, when the eating disorder is loud, when you feel lost or stuck—your word can ground you. It reminds you of who you're becoming and why you're doing this hard work. 2. It shifts your identity. The eating disorder has convinced you that your identity is tied to your weight, your body, your food rules, your control. But your word? It reminds you that you are becoming someone deeper. Someone truer. Someone who isn't defined by the lies the ED has been feeding you. 3. It gives you permission to be in process. Recovery isn't linear. It's messy. It's uncomfortable. It's full of blah days and setbacks. But when you have a word like "becoming," you remember that you don't have to be perfect. You just have to keep becoming. HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WORD FOR 2026Ready to find your word? Here's what I want you to do: Sit down with a journal. Get quiet. Get honest. And ask yourself: ✍️ What do I need more of this year? ✍️ What am I ready to let go of? ✍️ Who am I becoming in my recovery? ✍️ What is God calling me into? ✍️ What would freedom feel like for me? Your word might be something like:
It might be a word you've never thought of before. But when you land on it, you'll know. You'll feel it. Then: Write it down. Put it somewhere you can see it every single day. Let it be your reminder when the eating disorder gets loud. Let it be your anchor when recovery feels impossible. LESSONS FROM 2025: LEADERSHIPIn this episode, I share the raw truth about how my 2025 word "leadership" showed up:
The lesson? Leaders keep going. Even when it's hard. Even when it's uncomfortable. Even when they want to quit. READY TO STEP INTO WHO YOU'RE BECOMING IN 2026?If you're thinking, "Lindsey, I love this. I want to choose a word. I want to step into who I'm becoming. But I don't know how to do this alone"—I get it. And you don't have to do this alone. WORK WITH ME IN 2026💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE My group coaching community where women just like you come together to do the deep work of recovery. You'll have support, accountability, and a sisterhood that gets you. We meet monthly for coaching calls, and you'll have access to a community that will remind you who you're becoming when you forget. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING If you're ready to go all in, if you're ready for deep transformational work, if you're ready to step into the fullness of who you're becoming—let's work together. I'll walk beside you, hold you accountable, and help you dismantle the eating disorder once and for all. I'm taking applications right now for 2026. 👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application. Let's make 2026 the year of becoming. Together. A NOTE FROM LINDSEYYou don't have to have it all figured out. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to know exactly who you're becoming or what that looks like. You just have to keep showing up. Keep choosing yourself. Keep leaning into the uncomfortable, messy, gray space of recovery. Because that's where the magic happens, sis. That's where transformation lives. That's where you become who you were always meant to be. So here's to 2026. Here's to becoming. Here's to choosing yourself. And here's to stepping into the freedom that's been waiting for you all along. I love you, girl. I believe in you. And I can't wait to see who you're becoming this year. 💛 Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 260: The 5 BEST Eating Disorder Recovery Episodes of 2025 (Most Downloaded & Life-Changing) | 30 Dec 2025 | 00:16:48 | |
Can you believe we're at the end of 2025? What a year it's been. As we close out this incredible year, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate YOU—and reflect on the five episodes that resonated most deeply with this community. These are the most downloaded, most loved, and most life-changing episodes of the entire year. If you've been part of this journey all year long, this episode is your reminder of just how far you've come. And if you're new here? Welcome. This is your crash course in the content that has sparked the most transformation, healing, and freedom for women in eating disorder recovery. Today, I'm counting down the top five episodes of 2025—from number five all the way to the #1 most downloaded episode of the year. Each one of these episodes represents a breakthrough. A shift. A moment where you chose yourself and your recovery over the eating disorder's lies. My hope for this episode? That it reminds you of the tools you already have, inspires you to keep forging forward, and lights a fire in you as we head into 2026. In this episode, you'll hear about:
Plus, I'm sharing how you can take the next step in your recovery as we head into 2026—because listening is powerful, but implementation is where the magic happens. Let's dive in, sis. This one's for you. 💛 KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE 💛 "These five episodes represent transformation. Growth. Breaking free from the lies. And stepping into your truth." 💛 "Listening to episodes is amazing. But implementation? That's where the magic happens." 💛 "You are not stuck. You are not broken. And freedom is not just possible for you—it's already yours. You just have to choose it." 💛 "The same drive that made you an incredible athlete is the same drive that's going to set you free." 💛 "Recovery is not about perfection. It's about progress." 💛 "The mirror is not the enemy. Your perception is." READY TO MAKE 2026 YOUR YEAR OF FREEDOM?If you're sitting here thinking, "Lindsey, I've listened to all these episodes, but I still feel stuck. I still need more support. I still can't do this alone"—I hear you. And I want you to know that you don't have to do this alone. As we head into 2026, I want to invite you to take the next step in your recovery. You deserve more than just consuming content. You deserve personalized support. You deserve a coach who's going to walk beside you, hold you accountable, and remind you who you are when the eating disorder tries to convince you otherwise. WORK WITH ME IN 2026💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE My group coaching community where women just like you come together to heal, support each other, and do the deep work of recovery in a safe, sacred space. You get access to me, to the community, to monthly coaching calls, and to a sisterhood that gets it. That gets YOU. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 💛 THE FREEDOM FORMULA EXPERIENCE (1:1 Personalized Coaching) My signature 1:1 coaching program for the woman who's ready to go all in. Who's ready for deep, transformational work. Who's ready to dismantle the eating disorder once and for all and step into the fullness of who she was created to be. I'm taking applications right now for 2026. If you're hearing this and something in your spirit is saying, "Yes, this is my time. This is my year"—I want you to listen to that voice. 👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application. Let's talk about what support looks like for you. Let's make 2026 the year you finally break free. EPISODES MENTIONED📍 Episode 212: What Is Body Dysmorphic Disorder? 6 Powerful Tips to Overcome Body Image Distortion So That You Can Move Beyond the Mirror 📍 Episode 228: The Recovery Mindset Shift That Ends All-or-Nothing Food & Body Thinking Forever + The 3 Step Framework to Implement it Just for You! 📍 Episode 223: Former Athletes & Eating Disorders ~ Why Freedom Feels Impossible (Until Now) + Your Competitive Edge Solution 📍 Episode 210: STOP Doing These 10 Things if You Feel Stuck & Chained to Disordered Patterns ~ Part 1 📍 Episode 190: Did You Know 92% of Eating Disorder Thoughts Are Hidden Emotions? Here Is the Scientific Truth Behind 'Feeling Fat' + 2 Tools to Help You Silence the Voice LOVED THIS EPISODE?If this year-end recap resonated with you: ⭐ Rate and review Her Best Self on Apple Podcasts—it helps more women find freedom 💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear these top 5 episodes 📲 Tag me on Instagram with which episode was YOUR favorite this year! A NOTE FROM LINDSEYThank you so much for being here this year. Thank you for trusting me with your story, your struggle, and your journey. Thank you for showing up, even when it's hard. As we close out 2025, I want you to remember this: You are not stuck. You are not broken. And freedom is not just possible for you—it's already yours. You just have to choose it. So here's to 2026. Here's to choosing yourself. Here's to showing up. Here's to doing the work. And here's to stepping into the freedom that's been waiting for you all along. I love you, sis. I believe in you. And I can't wait to see what God does in your life this year. Until next time, keep forging forward. You've got this. 💛 📧 Email Lindsey: info@lindseynichol.com 🌐 Apply for Recovery Coaching: www.herbestself.co 💕 Join the Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com Limited spots available for January coaching - only 2 slots remaining Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 259: Metabolism Myths Debunked ~ Why Your Body Isn't Broken After Disordered Eating + Hypermetabolism in Recovery | 26 Dec 2025 | 00:11:04 | |
Worried that years of disordered eating have permanently damaged your metabolism? You're not alone. In this Coaching Over Coffee episode, Lindsey addresses one of the most common fears in eating disorder recovery: "Is my metabolism broken?" The truth might surprise you—and it's actually incredibly hopeful. What You'll Learn in This Episode
Your metabolism isn't broken—it's adaptive. When you restrict food intake over months or years, your body learns to conserve energy by slowing down non-essential functions. Think of it like turning off lights in the house to save power. Research proves recovery is possible. A University of North Carolina study found zero metabolic differences between women who never had eating disorders and those fully recovered from anorexia and bulimia. All metabolic changes are fully reversible. 50-80% of your energy goes to resting functions. Your body needs fuel for basic organ function, tissue repair, fighting infections, physical activity, and digesting food—all before you even get out of bed. The opposite of the disorder is the path to healing. Stop restricting. Start fueling. Embrace food variety. Let go of rigid routines. Prioritize hydration, quality sleep, and self-care. Your body knows better than you think. At set point weight, your metabolism normalizes and your body operates at peak performance—not where society says you should be, but where your body thrives. Quotes from This Episode"You can slow down your metabolism and you can speed up your metabolism, but you can't break your metabolism. It's not ruined, it's not wrecked." "Your body doesn't care how you think it should look, or what society says is the best or the trendiest. Your body cares about its optimal function." "The lie that your eating disorder mind is telling you—that your metabolism is ruined—is just to keep you stuck, to make you believe there's nothing you can do to fix this." "Your body will heal itself, but you must learn to trust and to honor it. It's a two-way street." Resources Mentioned
If you're tired of missing the magic in your life because you're trapped in those eating disorder thoughts that are eating away at your mind—I want you to take a stand. 💛 Fill out a client application and let's talk about how we can make this season about presence, not perfection. 💛 I'm taking a couple more applications for the new year for personalized coaching and my Freedom Formula experience. 👉 Visit www.herbestself.co to apply No more missing moments. No more letting the ED steal your holidays. Let's make this season different. Ready to sign up for our recovery support group? www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 📧 Email Lindsey: info@lindseynichol.com 🌐 Apply for Recovery Coaching: www.herbestself.co 💕 Join the Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com Limited spots available for fall coaching - only 2 slots remaining Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 258.5: Missing Christmas Magic Because of Your ED? 3 Ways to Choose Presence Over Perfection🎄**Must Listen Fav!** | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:14:02 | |
The holidays are here. And if you're struggling with an eating disorder, you know exactly what that means—anxiety, overwhelm, and missing the magic happening right in front of you because you're stuck in your head, counting, calculating, and controlling. But what if this year could be different? In this fan fav, I'm getting real about how the eating disorder literally steals decades of precious moments from your life. How many Christmases have you missed because you were trapped in those ED thoughts? How many family gatherings have you sat through physically present but mentally a million miles away? Here's the truth: The present moment is your present. And it's time to stop letting your eating disorder be the Grinch that steals your holiday joy. I'm sharing a powerful realization I had while standing in line with my boys to see Santa—how they were fully immersed in the magic while everyone else (myself included) was rushing, stressing, and missing it. And it reminded me: recovery happens in the NOW. Not in the past with regrets. Not in the future with anxiety. Right here. Right now. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you're tired of missing the magic. If you're done letting your ED steal another Christmas. If you're ready to be HERE for the moments that matter—this episode is your holiday recovery guide. The present is your present, sis. Let's unwrap it together. KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "The present is your present. And what I wanted to show up and talk to you about today was how you can be present right now in the magic of the season." 💛 "When you're struggling with an eating disorder, it literally sucks decades, all the good moments from your life. So many moments are missed because you were caught up in those eating disorder thoughts." 💛 "The magic of recovery, just like the magic of Christmas, it happens in the now. It happens in the present. And it happens when we choose to be here, even when it's super, super uncomfortable." 💛 "The eating disorder wants to pull you into the past with regrets or push you into the future with anxiety. But recovery, recovery happens right here, sis. It's right now." 💛 "Connections over calculations. Remember, perfect moments aren't perfectly planned." 💛 "While your eating disorder is trying to steal your holiday joy, she is a true Grinch. You have the power to choose differently." POWERFUL STATISTICS SHARED IN THIS EPISODE📊 The average person spends 47% of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they're currently doing—and for those in recovery, that percentage can be even higher. 📊 92% of people report higher anxiety during the holidays 📊 73% of those in recovery say they struggle more with being present during celebrations 📊 89% of individuals who practice being in the moment and are mindful during recovery report better outcomes—not only in how they experience the holidays, but in how they supercharge their recovery forward. The takeaway? Being present isn't just a nice idea. It's not just a Christmas card quote. It's actually a recovery tool. 3 PRACTICAL WAYS TO STAY PRESENT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON1. CREATE A PRESENT ANCHOR Choose a holiday symbol—a Christmas tree, a star, an ornament, whatever is meaningful to you. When you see it, take three deep breaths (check out my mindful meditation episode for guidance). Use this symbol as a grounding tool to come back to the present moment. We're not going to let our minds tell us the direction we're going. We're going to be intentional about what we give our thoughts and time to. 2. PRACTICE THE GIFT OF PRESENCE Put your phone away. Seriously. Don't just say you're going to do it—actually do it during family activities. Engage in conversations. Notice what you can see, touch, and hear around you. Get fully immersed. Example: If you have kids, commit to watching a Christmas movie WITHOUT getting up to do the next thing on your to-do list. Sit there. Be present. Let your mind have space where you're not thinking about the next thing. 3. HONOR YOUR RECOVERY IN THIS MAGICAL MOMENT Take each meal one bite at a time. Focus on connections over calculations. Remember: perfect moments aren't perfectly planned. The eating disorder will leave you isolated, wanting to avoid conversations—but engage in them anyway. This gives you the gift of presence and lets your mind have space. THE TRUTH ABOUT HOLIDAY GATHERINGS IN RECOVERYI shared a personal story from a recent family gathering—the kind that in past years would have sent me into a tailspin. Charcuterie boards, espresso martinis, cookies, brownies, shortbread, banana pudding—all the festive treats. But my recovered self? I enjoyed every bite of nourishment. And I realized how fast time flies. I questioned myself: Do I live here in all the right now moments? Or am I living back there in how it used to be, or fast forward to what hasn't even arrived yet? The answer: I want to remember all these moments that I have left. All of them. And so do you. IF THE HOLIDAYS TRIGGER YOUI know that if you're drained, overwhelmed, or the holidays just aren't your thing because of past traumas, the eating disorder, or lost loved ones—I totally get that. But there is still something so magical about this time of year. And it's important to live in these moments. Yes, it might feel uncomfortable. Yes, it might be challenging. But that's where the transformation actually happens. And not only that—that's how it sticks. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. In the transformation is the magic. And personally, there's nothing more magical this time of year than true self-transformation. Because that is giving God all the glory in your life—and that is the purpose of the season. READY TO MAKE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON DIFFERENT?If you're tired of missing the magic in your life because you're trapped in those eating disorder thoughts that are eating away at your mind—I want you to take a stand. 💛 Fill out a client application and let's talk about how we can make this season about presence, not perfection. 💛 I'm taking a couple more applications for the new year for personalized coaching and my Freedom Formula experience. 👉 Visit www.herbestself.co to apply No more missing moments. No more letting the ED steal your holidays. Let's make this season different. Ready to sign up for our recovery support group? www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 📧 Email Lindsey: info@lindseynichol.com 🌐 Apply for Recovery Coaching: www.herbestself.co 💕 Join the Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com Limited spots available for fall coaching - only 2 slots remaining Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 258: Start Eating Disorder Recovery Before You Feel Ready ~ Taking Your First Step to Freedom + 100K HBS🎙️Celebration🎉 | 19 Dec 2025 | 00:15:53 | |
Sis, if you've been waiting to feel ready before starting your eating disorder recovery journey, this episode is for you. The truth is, you'll never feel completely ready—and that's exactly why you need to start now. In this powerful episode, I'm sharing why waiting for perfect conditions is just another way the eating disorder keeps you trapped, the personal story of how my own eating disorder began (and why I waited years to start recovering), and the faith step that changed everything for me. Plus, we're celebrating a HUGE milestone: 100,000 podcast downloads! Thank you for being part of this community of brave women choosing freedom over fear. As we head into 2026, don't let another year pass while you're still stuck. This could be the moment everything changes—if you're willing to start before you're ready. 🎯 IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL DISCOVER:✨ Why you'll never feel "ready" to start recovery (and why that's okay) ✨ The moment my eating disorder began at age 13 in a dance studio—and the rejection that changed everything ✨ What a "faith step" really means and how it differs from feeling confident ✨ The brutal truth about waiting for the "right time"—and how many New Years have already passed ✨ Scripture-based wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6) on trusting God's path even when you can't see the full journey ✨ How starting creates momentum—even when you're terrified ✨ Two ways to get support on your recovery journey right now ✨ Why inspiration without action keeps you stuck (and what to do instead) 💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS"You will never feel ready. And that's exactly why you need to start now."
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Notice it doesn't say, "Wait until the path is straight and THEN start walking." It says submit to Him, start walking, and THEN the path becomes straight. 📖 MY STORY: THE DANCE STUDIOAt thirteen years old, I was a competitive figure skater who lived for the ice and the studio. During dance conditioning, the instructor called out, "Get in line by size!" Everyone shuffled around, sizing each other up. I stood there frozen, unsure where I belonged. When I took a step, I heard: "Not here." Not mean. Just matter-of-fact. But in that moment, everything changed. The joy I felt became fear. Every mirror became an assessment. Within weeks, I started making excuses and eventually stopped going altogether. That's when I began changing what I ate. Trying to shrink myself to fit into a line where I thought I belonged. That was the beginning of my eating disorder. I didn't wait to feel ready for that. But recovery? I waited for YEARS thinking I needed to feel ready first. 🎉 CELEBRATING 100K DOWNLOADS!We just hit 100,000 downloads on the Her Best Self Podcast! This milestone isn't just about numbers—it's about YOU. Every brave woman who presses play and says yes to healing. Every person who keeps showing up even when it's hard. And here's the full-circle moment: I started this podcast before I felt ready. I had no idea it would reach 100,000 downloads. I had no guarantee anyone would listen. But I did it scared. I did it imperfect. I did it before I had it all figured out. And look where we are now. The same is possible for YOUR recovery journey. ❤️ 💪 READY TO TAKE ACTION?If you're feeling that stirring in your heart—that little voice saying "maybe it's time"—I want to invite you into something: OPTION 1: The Recovery Collective (Group Support)A small, intimate group of brave women who meet every other week to:
Investment: $97/month Learn More: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective OPTION 2: 1:1 Private CoachingPersonalized support where we dive deep into:
Next Step: Fill out a client application at www.herbestself.co What You Need to Do RIGHT NOW:👉 Go to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application That's it. Just fill it out. You don't have to commit to anything yet. You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to take that first step. 🔥 CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEKWhat would your life look like a year from now if you started today? Write it down. Imagine it. Feel it. Then ask yourself: What's the very next step I can take RIGHT NOW? Don't wait another year. Don't let another 365 days pass with you trapped in this same place. Start before you're ready. 📱 CONNECT WITH LINDSEYWebsite: www.herbestself.co Recovery Collective: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com Instagram: @thelindseynichol Email: info@lindseynichol.com 🎧 SUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf this episode empowered or blessed you, I'd be honored if you:
Your rating and review helps more women find the show and start their journey to freedom! About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 257.5: Silence Your Inner "Mean Girl" ~ The 7 Voices Keeping You in Quasi-Recovery (& How to Stop Them) **Must Listen Fav!** | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:21:26 | |
That voice inside your head—the one that tells you you're not good enough, that you need to be perfect, that you're a failure if you rest—she's keeping you stuck. And it's time to silence her. In this episode, we're diving deep into the seven inner critics that are holding you hostage in quasi-recovery. These voices? They're the reason you can't move forward. They're the reason you feel trapped in the exhausting cycle of trying and failing, restricting and controlling, never feeling like you're doing it right. But here's the truth: 80% of your thoughts are negative, and 95% of them are repetitive. No wonder you feel stuck. No wonder you lack motivation. No wonder you believe the lies that you'll always be this way. The good news? You can change your thoughts. And when you change your thoughts, you change your entire life. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you're tired of feeling controlled by that voice in your head, if you're ready to stop believing the lies, and if you're done staying stuck in quasi-recovery—this episode is for you. It's time to be the boss of you. Not your eating disorder. Not your inner critic. You. KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "It's not who you are that holds you back, sis. It's who you think you're not." 💛 "Your inner critic is just that part of you that needs more love, more compassion. You're the boss, not your eating disorder." 💛 "When you change the way that you think, you change your entire life. When you can change your mind, you can recover from your eating disorder." 💛 "80% of our thoughts are negative and 95% of our thoughts on the daily are repetitive. No wonder why you lack motivation. No wonder why you think you're always gonna be here." 💛 "You are the boss of you. You are not a quitter. You are creating a new version of you." THE 7 INNER CRITICS EXPLAINED1. THE PERFECTIONIST Sets unrealistic standards and makes you feel inadequate when you don't achieve them. Your self-worth depends on achievement, and mistakes feel catastrophic. 2. THE INNER CONTROLLER Tries to control impulsive behaviors around eating, drinking, or spending. When you slip up, this voice shames you: "You should have known better. You have no willpower." 3. THE TASKMASTER Pushes you to keep going without rest. Fears you'll become "lazy" if you stop. Makes you believe you have to exercise every day or you're unworthy. 4. THE DESTROYER Makes direct attacks on who you are as a person. Tells you you're worthless, broken, a waste of space. This one breeds depression and keeps you trapped. 5. THE UNDERMINER Keeps you small and afraid to take risks. Paralyzes you from believing freedom is possible. Says, "Why try when you're gonna fail anyway?" 6. THE MOLDER (People Pleaser) Makes you adapt and mold yourself to fit in with others. You cut calories, follow rules, stay in your lane—all to be liked and accepted by everyone else. 7. THE GUILT TRIPPER Keeps a record of all your wrongs and never lets you move forward. Reminds you of past failures and says, "This is just who you are. This is your karma." REFLECTION EXERCISE (5-10 MINUTES)As you listen to this episode, I want you to identify which inner critic(s) show up most frequently for you. Then, spend 5-10 minutes reflecting: ✨ What are the constant nagging thoughts she says to you? ✨ What is the voice inside your mind constantly telling you? ✨ How are these thoughts simply not true? ✨ What data do you have to prove your mind could be lying? Now, act as your own BFF, your own ally, your own coach:
📊 According to the National Science Foundation:
This is why you feel stuck. But you can change this pattern starting today. RESOURCES + SUPPORTReady to silence your inner critic with personalized support? 💛 Work With Me 1:1 - I provide deep accountability, connection, and personalized coaching to help you navigate your inner critics, shift your perspective, and find freedom from food and body. If you're exhausted from these voices running your life, let's work together. 👉 Apply for coaching: Visit www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application 💛 Join Our Private Community - Connect with other women in recovery who understand what you're going through. Find support, hope, and healing. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 👉 Hope and Healing for Eating Disorder Recovery Facebook Group www.herbestselfsociety.com Connect with Lindsey Nichol:Website: www.herbestself.co Apply for Coaching: www.herbestself.co Instagram: @thelindseynichol Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com Share This Episode:Know someone who desperately needs to hear this? I'd love for you to share this one. +If this shifted something in you, please:
If this episode resonated with you—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and living trapped in their mind and body find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear the truth! About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 257: Cozy, Not Lazy ~ Why Rest is Revolutionary in Eating Disorder Recovery + What "Wintering" Teaches Us | 12 Dec 2025 | 00:12:36 | |
What if rest isn't laziness—it's wisdom? What if slowing down isn't a setback—it's the most revolutionary thing you can do in recovery? In this episode, we're diving into the concept of "wintering"—the intentional act of stepping back, slowing down, and allowing yourself to rest and recharge, just like nature does. If you're in eating disorder recovery, this might feel like an absolute riot. Because your ED has convinced you that rest is weakness, that comfort must be earned, and that slowing down means you're flawed. But sis, it's time to dismantle those lies. Winter is the season of recovery. It's preparation time. It's when the earth takes what it needs so that spring can even happen. And you? You're allowed to do the same. In this episode, you'll discover:
If you've been running on empty, pushing through exhaustion, or feeling guilty every time you slow down—this episode is your permission slip. Rest is not laziness. Rest is natural. And you deserve it. KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE💛 "You are allowed comfort. You are allowed to wrap yourself in a soft blanket. To eat warm, nourishing food. To sleep in. To say no. To take up space without earning it." 💛 "What if wintering isn't lazy—it's cozy? What if it's not weakness—it's wisdom? What if rest isn't a setback—it's natural?" 💛 "If plants and the earth are resting, so can you. The trees aren't apologizing for losing their leaves. The ground isn't hustling through winter. Nature understands that rest is not optional; it's essential." 💛 "Winter is the slow-down, the search for self. It's the pause that says, 'Who am I when I'm not running? Who am I when I stop proving? Who am I when I just... am?'" 💛 "This is not laziness. This is survival. This is healing. This is how you prepare for your spring." IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE:✨ The concept of "wintering" and why it matters in eating disorder recovery ✨ How the ED voice makes rest feel impossible—and how to challenge it ✨ Why comfort is not something you have to earn ✨ The difference between "cozy" and "lazy" (spoiler: rest is natural, not flawed) ✨ How your body already knows what it needs—you just have to listen ✨ Why winter's gray helps you see your own color and spark ✨ The gift of silence and choosing to listen to yourself ✨ How to give yourself permission to rest without guilt or shame Ready to Get Support for the New Year Ahead?You don't have to winter alone. Recovery Collective: Group support program with 2x monthly coaching calls and community chat~ www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective One-on-One Coaching: Personalized support to help you discover your true identity and walk in freedom. Learn more and apply at www.herbestself.co Connect with Lindsey Nichol:Website: www.herbestself.co Apply for Coaching: www.herbestself.co Instagram: @thelindseynichol Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com Share This Episode:Know someone who desperately needs to rest and give herself grace but refuses to "winter"? I'd love for you to share this one. +If this shifted something in you, please:
If this episode resonated with you—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and living trapped in their mind and body find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear the truth! About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 256: Press Play When Anxious▶️~ 3 Guided Meditations to Calm Pre-Meal Panic + Body Image Struggles in ED Recovery | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:15:35 | |
Sis, this season can be all the chaos. It's time you be present with yourself, take a step back, allow yourself rest, peace, and grace. Friend, you owe you. This episode is DIFFERENT. This isn't just host Lindsey Nichol talking - it's Lindsey GUIDING you through 3 calming meditations specifically designed for your recovery journey. Save this episode. Bookmark it. Come back to it whenever you need it. This time of year, anyone can feel overwhelmed by holiday chaos. But for someone with an eating disorder, the anxiety can be crippling. Pre-meal panic. Body image triggers. Overwhelming thoughts that feel impossible to quiet. Lindsey has walked this path. She knows how overwhelming those thoughts and feelings get, especially during the holidays. That's why she created these simple, powerful meditations to be your companion whenever you need to:
Whether you're struggling with pre-meal anxiety, having a hard day with your body image, or just need a moment to ground yourself - press play on this episode. Come back to this episode when you're feeling overwhelmed, when you're feeling not enough, and when that anxiety feels like it's on overdrive. The 3 Guided Meditations: Meditation #1: Pre-Meal Calming Meditation (For Anxiety Before Eating)When to use this:
What Lindsey guides you through:
Duration: ~5 minutes Key truth: These quiet moments of connection with yourself are powerful. This helps you separate from the ED voice and reconnect with your TRUE self. Meditation #2: Body Image Grounding Meditation (For Body Hate Days)When to use this:
Important reminder: "Feeling fat" isn't actually a feeling - it's often your body's way of telling you something else is going on emotionally. What Lindsey guides you through:
Key practice: When critical thoughts arise, simply say "I notice I'm having a judgmental thought," then return to observing with curiosity. Duration: ~7 minutes Key truth: Your body is not your enemy. It's not up for negotiation. It's your HOME - where you live. Meditation #3: Self-Compassion Meditation (For Suffering + Hard Moments)When to use this:
What Lindsey guides you through:
Key practice: You deserve the same kindness you'd offer your friend, mom, or sister. Duration: ~5 minutes Key truth: Your ED voice may be loud this season, but it doesn't have to control you or your actions. Key Reminders Throughout:Thoughts Are Like Clouds: They can come in (like your breath) and flow out (like your exhale) without you grabbing onto them. Your Truth:
For Beginners: This isn't about doing it perfectly. It's about giving yourself permission and the gift of being present and compassionate. How to Use This Episode:Save it. Bookmark it. Add it to a playlist. Press play:
Come back often: These meditations get easier with regular practice. Each time you return to this episode, you're strengthening your recovery toolkit. Pause anytime: Lindsey guides you through, then gives you space to practice on your own. Feel free to pause and extend any meditation as long as you need. Powerful Truths from This Episode:
They're Specific to ED Recovery: Not generic mindfulness - these address pre-meal panic, body image, and self-compassion specific to eating disorder struggles. They're Quick: 5-7 minutes each. You can do them anywhere, anytime. They're Guided: Lindsey walks you through every step. No meditation experience needed. They're Repeatable: Come back to this episode again and again. Build these into your recovery routine. They Separate You From the ED Voice: These practices help you recognize that the ED thoughts are NOT you - they're just thoughts passing through. Your Recovery Toolbox:These meditations are TOOLS in your recovery toolbox. Use them whenever you need extra support. Before meals → Meditation #1 Body image crisis → Meditation #2 Hard day/overwhelm → Meditation #3 Remember: You are stronger than you know. You don't have to do this alone. Ready for More Support?If you're looking for an extra hand guiding you along the way from somebody who has been there, who has recovered - not just a therapist, but a COACH who has recovered - Lindsey offers: Recovery Collective Group support with other women on the recovery journey. Community that understands: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective One-on-One Recovery Coaching Personalized guidance from someone who's walked this path and found freedom. Learn more and apply at www.herbestself.co Connect with Lindsey Nichol:Website: www.herbestself.co Apply for Coaching: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13WDpvmQNoVvAytBdqM72FIp1AqXMfSFrqzQVvBWrwHY/edit Email: info@lindseynickel.com Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society - www.herbestselfsociety.com Instagram: @thelindseynichol How to Support This Show:If you found value in today's episode:
Your reviews truly help us keep showing up week after week with recovery truth and awareness. Share This Episode:Know someone struggling with pre-meal anxiety or body image? Send them this episode. It's a gift they can use again and again. How to share:
You are stronger than you know. You do not have to do this alone. Recovery isn't about perfection - it's about progress. And that means showing up for yourself one moment, one breath at a time. About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 255.5: 11 Recovery Wins That Have Nothing to Do with the Scale (Celebrate Your Small Victories)🎉 | 05 Dec 2025 | 00:23:17 | |
Sister, friend, we've got to celebrate all that you're accomplishing in eating disorder recovery. And one of those accomplishments? Maybe you're listening to today's show and starting to recognize this is a problem in your life. Celebrate that win. Your life has been measured around LESS. Less food, less weight, less energy. You're more successful by being less, running on less, weighing less, consuming less. But today, we're celebrating victories that have nothing to do with the scale. Host Lindsey Nichol shares 11 recovery wins to celebrate that measure MORE goodness in your life - not lack, not weighing less, not being less. Because girlfriend, you're gaining so much more than the weight you're terrified to gain. This process of recovery, of letting yourself BE (not letting yourself go, but surrendering to who you truly are inside) - that's what we're celebrating today. Stop measuring your worth by a number. Start celebrating these wins. The 11 Recovery Wins to Celebrate: Win #1: When You Eat MORECelebrate: That snack. Adding nuts to your oatmeal. Adding something versus restricting. Truth: When you eat more, you think bigger. Your mind uses fuel to function. Action: Add one extra thing today - more protein, more than coffee for breakfast, something. Win #2: When You Challenge THAT ThoughtThe thought: "You shouldn't have had that. Now you have to wait until dinner. You need to run an extra hour." Celebrate: When you sit that thought down and tell it to shut up. Truth: "Not today. I'm not running 45 minutes because I had carbs. I'm taking a walk and nourishing my body." Win #3: When You Face a Fear FoodNot: Going from nothing to 50 donuts (that's not what we're doing). Celebrate: Integrating something that's been a struggle. Breaking a rigid rule. Examples: Having cashews at dinner when you only "allowed" almonds at breakfast. Two tablespoons of peanut butter instead of one. Action: Try something outside your normal rigid routine. Eat at a different time. Try a new snack. Get conscious with your eating. Win #4: When You Get Intuitive and ReflectCelebrate: Journaling. Getting present with your feelings. Truth: "Today sucks. I don't want to gain weight. I'm feeling heavy. I'm not sure I'm all in. I'm going to let these feelings in, sit with them, and move on." Remember: We cannot heal what we cannot feel. Win #5: When You Exercise for Enjoyment (Or Don't Exercise at All)Celebrate: Moving your body for FUN, not punishment. Examples: Taking a walk just to reflect. Going to yoga to try something new. Skipping exercise to REST. Truth: No one said you weren't allowed. Grant yourself permission. Win #6: When You Want STRENGTH Over SkinnyThe shift: Wanting to feel STRONGER versus wanting to be skinnier. Celebrate: When you're putting yourself first, nourishing your body, starting to believe in the process. Truth: You're going to feel liberated, clearer minded, STRONGER. That's winning. Win #7: When You Go Out to Dinner Without AnxietyNot overnight: You don't go from making excuses to avoid restaurants to enjoying dinner stress-free immediately. Celebrate: When you can be PRESENT in the moment. When you hear the nasty thoughts and say "Not for these 45 minutes." Win: Saying yes to events instead of isolating. Win #8: When You Get OFF the ScaleThe game changer: No longer allowing the scale to define your worthiness. Truth: Not looking at the number to define what you can eat today or what you have to restrict tomorrow. Celebrate: If you're not weighing yourself every second and you're starting to lay that down - that's MASSIVE. Win #9: When You Notice More Energy and Better SleepCelebrate: Having more brain function. Getting clearer, more sound sleep. Truth: Your body's not running on SILENCE anymore. Things underneath are working properly because you're nourishing yourself. Notice: Different energy spikes after eating. Give yourself props for this. Win #10: When You Let Go of Shame and Guilt After MealsCelebrate: "I gave myself permission to eat something I normally don't eat. I'm on this pathway to recovery. I know I'm fearful, but I'm creating a healthier place for me." Action: Set down the shame. Ask yourself: "What do I need to do right now to not let this consume me?" Win: That's MASSIVE. Celebrate that victory. Win #11: When You Get SUPPORT and CommitThe biggest win: Acknowledging you need help and support. Truth: You weren't meant to do this alone. You just weren't. Question: Wouldn't you want help from somebody who's been there? Wouldn't you want to fast-track the process instead of struggling longer? Key Takeaways:✨ Your life has been measured by LESS - recovery is measured by MORE ✨ Eating disorders become a game - the more successful at restriction, the more achievement we feel ✨ We need to measure with a NEW measuring stick - small victories ✨ When you eat more, you think bigger - your mind needs fuel ✨ Challenge the thought - sit it down and tell it to shut up ✨ We cannot heal what we cannot feel - sit in the discomfort ✨ Want STRENGTH over SKINNY - that's the breaking point toward triumph ✨ Getting off the scale is where the game changes ✨ Recovery takes time - celebrate the small wins in the messy middle ✨ Every single thing against negative behaviors needs to be PRAISED Powerful Quotes:
The Perfectionist Trap: Living in black and white thinking makes it hard to find wins because we measure against an unrealistic stick. But counting each win grants compassion and grace to create momentum. The Messy Middle: Recovery isn't linear. You slip backwards, move forwards, slip backwards again. You throw your hands up and wonder "Was I really that miserable before?" THIS is where measuring small victories matters most. The Scale Obsession: When you've been chained, obsessed, and addicted to taking personal worth inventory over the scale, it's hard to measure differently. But we MUST celebrate victories that have nothing to do with that number. The Truth: Every single thing you do against negative behaviors keeping you stuck is something that needs to be PRAISED. This creates the momentum you need to keep going. If You're Not There Yet:Listen: If you're thinking "I want to celebrate recovery wins but I'm not in recovery yet" - STOP. Celebrate THIS: You're listening to this podcast. You're not here by accident. You're not searching for the new craze diet. You're here because you know something is going on. You're tired of this struggle. Praise that. Hold that close to your heart. You were brought here for a reason. The reason? It has more to do than just experiencing freedom from food controlling your life. When you start finding your purpose because you have more brain capacity, because you're nourishing yourself, because you're finally LIVING - that's where life lives. That's where you're supposed to be. Ready to Stop Doing This Alone?You weren't meant to do recovery by yourself. Wouldn't you want help and support from somebody who's been there? Wouldn't you want to fast-track the process instead of struggling longer? Recovery Collective Group support program with accountability outside of yourself. Bi-weekly coaching calls, supportive community, and the focus and action you need to get from one place to the other. One-on-One Recovery Coaching Personalized support to help you celebrate these wins and create more of them. We literally walk over the bridge together - from where you are to where you want to be. Why it matters: Accountability is a MUST. Recovery coaching is an extra layer to your care team that's going to get you THRIVING. Learn more and apply at www.herbestself.co Connect with Lindsey Nichol:Website: www.herbestself.co Apply for Support: www.herbestself.co Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com Instagram: @thelindseynichol Your Challenge:Pick ONE of these 11 wins and celebrate it today. Then come share it in the Her Best Self Facebook community. We want to celebrate WITH you. Remember: Simple, still moments bring the most peace, clarity, and confirmation for your success. Your success is a series of small victories and small wins. Share This Episode:Know someone who needs to celebrate recovery wins beyond the scale? Send them this episode. If this touched your heart today, please:
"The first and greatest victory is to conquer you." - Plato Start believing in YOU. Start believing this is possible for you. Look around and believe you're worthy of it - because you are. Celebrate your small wins that have absolutely nothing to do with the measurement of a scale. Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and living trapped in their mind and body find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear the truth! About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 255: Sis, Stop Identifying as Disordered! You're Not a Number, a Diagnosis, or a Label ~ Get Rooted in the RIGHT Identity for the New Year | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:18:48 | |
Girlfriend, if you want freedom from your eating disorder in the new year, you can't keep identifying AS the eating disorder. In this powerful new episode, host Lindsey Nichol gets vulnerable about being defined by labels - the number on the clothing tag, the OSFED diagnosis that made her feel "not sick enough," then the anorexia diagnosis that felt like she'd "earned" being officially sick. She shares the moment she realized the energy it took to be everyone's label was debilitating - and how everything changed when she stopped identifying as disordered and started living from her TRUE identity. Here's the truth: If you are defined by your labels, you're also confined by your labels. And no label - no matter how authoritative, no diagnosis, no number, no title - can contain the full perspective and constellation of who you might become. You are NOT your eating disorder. You are NOT your diagnosis. You are NOT the number on the tag. You are a saint. An heir. A daughter of the Most High. Royalty. This episode will shift how you see yourself and give you a tangible exercise to discover your true identity as we head into a new year. What You'll Learn:The Label Trap
Lindsey's Vulnerable Label Story
The Labels Keeping You Stuck
Who God Says You REALLY Are
The New Year Identity Shift
Step 1: Write down FALSE labels you've been carrying (Anorexic, bulimic, the number on the tag, not good enough, the sick one, etc.) Step 2: Cross them ALL out (These are NOT your identity - they're lies that cannot contain who you might become) Step 3: Write down WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE
Step 4: Read these truths OUT LOUD (Let your ears hear what God says about you) Step 5: Live from THIS identity (Not from labels, not from diagnosis, not from what people call you) Key Takeaways:✨ If you're defined by your labels, you're also confused by your labels ✨ No label can contain who you might become ✨ The ED voice tells you WHAT you have/do, never WHO you are ✨ You are NOT: your eating disorder, your diagnosis, your size, your past ✨ You ARE: a saint, an heir, a daughter of the Most High, royalty ✨ 80% of New Year's resolutions fail - identity-based change is what works ✨ Stop identifying as disordered, start identifying as who God says you are ✨ When you change your identity, your behavior follows Powerful Quotes:
You don't have to root yourself in the right identity alone. Recovery Collective: Group support program with bi-weekly coaching calls and community chat~ www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective One-on-One Coaching: Personalized support to help you discover your true identity and walk in freedom Learn more and apply at www.herbestself.co Connect with Lindsey Nichol:Website: www.herbestself.co Apply for Coaching: www.herbestself.co Instagram: @thelindseynichol Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com Share This Episode:Know someone who's been identifying as their eating disorder? Send them this episode. If this shifted something in you, please:
You are NOT your eating disorder. You are NOT your diagnosis. You are NOT a number or a label. You are a saint. An heir. A daughter of the Most High. Royalty. That's your TRUE identity. Now go live like it. You really can move from perfection to purpose. Let's break the chains together. Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and living trapped in their mind and body find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear the truth! About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 254:🖤Black Friday Special🖤~ Finding Gratitude in ED Recovery (Even When It's Hard) + The 3 Things I'm Most Thankful for Right Now | 28 Nov 2025 | 00:11:55 | |
Hey girlfriend, happy day after Thanksgiving. Maybe yesterday was really hard for you. Maybe you broke a boundary. Maybe you're beating yourself up right now. Maybe you barely survived Thanksgiving dinner and you're exhausted. You made it through. You're here. And today, we're going to talk about gratitude anyway. In this special mini episode, host Lindsey Nichol gets vulnerable about a season when she couldn't feel grateful for anything - when she was so trapped in her eating disorder that gratitude felt impossible. She shares what she's genuinely, deeply thankful for this season, and invites you to find your own gratitude too - even in the mess, even in the middle of the struggle. Because here's the truth: Gratitude doesn't require perfection. It doesn't require having it all together. It doesn't require that yesterday went well. Gratitude just requires being willing to look for the light, even in the hard. Plus: A special Black Friday opportunity to invest in yourself and your recovery (because the best investment you'll ever make is in your own healing). This is a quick dose of hope, vulnerability, and possibility for the day after Thanksgiving. You survived yesterday. Now let's find the gratitude together. In This Mini Episode, You'll Hear:If Yesterday Was Hard
When Gratitude Felt Impossible
What Lindsey Is Thankful For This Season: #1: Her Clients and Listeners (YOU)
#2: Recovery Is a Journey
#3: Keeping Promises
Your Gratitude Invitation
Black Friday Investment Opportunity
What You Get:
This is for you if:
Join here: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective Option 2: One-on-One Personalized Coaching - $500 OFFWhat You Get:
This is for you if:
Go to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application. These offers are ONLY available through Sunday. Limited spots available. If you're thinking:
Black Friday isn't just about buying things. It's about investing in what matters. And YOU matter. Your recovery matters. Your freedom matters. Key Takeaways:✨ You made it through Thanksgiving - even if it was hard, you're here ✨ Gratitude doesn't require perfection or having it all together ✨ There was a season Lindsey couldn't FEEL gratitude - she was too numb, too consumed ✨ Recovery gave her the ability to feel gratitude again - that's possible for you too ✨ Lindsey is grateful for: her clients/listeners, recovery as a journey, keeping promises to herself ✨ You can find gratitude even in the struggle - even if it's small ✨ Recovery isn't a destination, it's a journey - constantly evolving and growing ✨ Keeping promises to yourself builds self-trust and proves you're worth showing up for ✨ The best investment you'll ever make is in your own healing ✨ Black Friday offers available through Sunday: Recovery Collective $47/month or $500 off 1-on-1 Powerful Quotes from This Episode:
Write down 3 things you're thankful for this season. Prompts if You're Struggling:
About Yesterday:
About Gratitude:
About Your Recovery:
About Black Friday:
This mini episode is for you if:
Timing: Released the day after Thanksgiving when:
Message: You don't have to be perfect to practice gratitude. You don't have to have a "good" Thanksgiving to find things to be thankful for. And you don't have to do recovery alone. Opportunity: Special Black Friday offers make this the PERFECT time to invest in yourself and get the support you need so next year is different. Ready to Invest in Your Recovery?Don't Wait Until Next Thanksgiving to Get Support You just survived another Thanksgiving trapped in the eating disorder. You made it through, but was it how you want to live? Next year can be different. But only if you get support NOW. Two Options Available Through Sunday: Recovery Collective - $47/monthGroup support, bi-weekly calls, texting community. You're not alone anymore. One-on-One Coaching - $500 OFFPersonalized support, weekly sessions, custom plan for YOU. Finally get the guidance you need. Apply now at herbestself.co Offers end Sunday. Limited spots available. This is your sign. This is your moment. Invest in yourself. Connect with Lindsey
. Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and living trapped in their mind and body find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear the truth! About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 253.5: When Your Family Doesn't Understand Your ED ~ How to Set Boundaries This Holiday Season | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:21:40 | |
Your family doesn't understand your eating disorder. They make comments about your food. They trigger you at every holiday gathering. You're walking on eggshells, feeling attacked, and wondering if recovery is even possible around them. Girlfriend, this episode is for you. Host Lindsey Nichol shares an incredibly vulnerable moment - her mom called crying after listening to the podcast for the first time, saying "I had no idea what I was doing during your recovery. I just knew I needed to help you." This emotional conversation revealed a profound truth: families don't understand because they're trying to understand while dealing with their own pain. In this powerful episode, Lindsey addresses both sides of the struggle - what to do when your family doesn't understand your eating disorder, AND what loved ones need to know about supporting someone in recovery. Because the truth is, hurt people hurt people. And your family's "attacks" might actually be their way of coping with fear, denial, and their own feelings of helplessness. Whether you're dreading Thanksgiving dinner, anxious about Christmas gatherings, or just trying to survive family events without being triggered - this episode gives you the boundaries, scripts, and strategies you need to protect your recovery while staying connected to the people you love. This is for you if you're struggling. This is for you if you're supporting someone. This is for all of us navigating the complexity of family, recovery, and the holidays. In This Episode, You'll Hear:Lindsey's Mom's Tearful Phone Call
The Truth About Family Not Understanding
Why This Matters for YOU
The Reality: Your ED Affects Everyone
Why Your Family Seems Unsupportive
The Walking on Eggshells Reality
The Phases of Denial
Hurt People Hurt People
Brené Brown says: "When we are busy pleasing and perfecting and performing, we end up saying yes a lot when we mean no."
Why This Matters: If you're a people pleaser, this is hard. But if your support system is trying to fix or please you, they actually NEED something to do. Give them something to do that makes them feel like they're helping. Strategy #2: Have the Hard Conversations
What to Say:
As you go into the holiday season with family gatherings and events:
Lindsey's Example: Even YEARS after recovering from anorexia, she'd go to Thanksgiving wondering:
The Truth: That was HER stuff. Even if they ARE watching, you're strong in your decision-making. You're strong in your truth. You know you're for YOU. Strategy #5: Have an Exit StrategyIf you're going to be around someone super triggering:
The Reality: When you're stuck in the disorder, you can't have dreams because it robs you of thinking further along than the current moment. All you can think about is what you can eat next or can't. Strategy #7: Put Yourself Around Understanding PeopleTake care of YOU. Spend time with people who understand where you are. But even if they DON'T understand - boundaries provide healthy structure. The Truth: You're a structure queen. Structure is essential in building anything that lasts and thrives. You've got to have healthy structure. Boundaries = valuing you + bettering you For Loved Ones & Supporters:If You're Supporting Someone With an ED: Your Boundaries Are Just As Important
"I feel like there is something going on with you. I want to support you. I'm seeing changes in you. I want to help you, and right now maybe I don't even know what that looks like, but I just want you to feel seen and loved by me. I want to hold your hand. When you need me - and we all will have that breakdown mode - I'm here." When They Pull Away:Sometimes when somebody pulls away, it means they need space to process. Lindsey's Truth: She knew what her mom was telling her was the truth because she loved and looked up to her. Part of her heart already KNEW. Part of her was searching for someone to say it. But she was feeling all these different feelings. Brain Dump Your FeelingsWhether you're the one struggling OR the caretaker - brain dump all those feelings. That's part of healing. Remember: Hurt people hurt people. Key Takeaways:✨ When your family doesn't understand, it's paralyzing - but love doesn't always know how to show up correctly ✨ Your eating disorder affects EVERYONE close to you, even if it feels isolating ✨ People that love you usually mean well - they're just not sure HOW to mean well ✨ Your family's "attacks" are often their way of coping with fear, denial, and helplessness ✨ Hurt people hurt people - pain gets passed on generation after generation ✨ Use your voice - share where you are with SAFE people and ask for what you need ✨ Boundaries value you and better you - they create space to heal ✨ Have an exit strategy for triggering holiday situations ✨ Pre-plan your self-care practices before family gatherings ✨ Setting boundaries isn't pushing family away - it's creating space you need to heal ✨ Your recovery journey deserves respect and protection ✨ If you're a supporter, your boundaries are just as important ✨ When someone pulls away, they often just need space to process Questions to Reflect On:About Your Family:
About Your Boundaries:
About Your Growth:
If You're a Supporter:
Don't Face the Holidays Alone If you need support this season because you don't have that support person, or no one understands you, or you feel like no one does - Lindsey doesn't want you to go at this alone. Even with a healthy support system, you should work with somebody who's been there and gone through an eating disorder. Why It Matters: How do we teach our kids to ride a bike if we've never ridden a bike before? It's so important to work with a professional who understands right where you are. How to Get Support: Visit www.herbestself.co to fill out a client application and get on the books for the new year. You deserve to have a wonderful holiday. Focus on setting personal boundaries for yourself AND for your loved ones. Option 1: The Recovery Collective Join Lindsey's group coaching program where you'll get:
Option 2: One-on-One Personalized Coaching work directly with Lindsey for:
Learn more about both options at www.herbestself.co You don't have to navigate this alone. Let's walk through recovery together. Connect with Lindsey
. Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear the truth! About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 253: Lights Off, Shirt On? Let's Talk About Sex! 5 Reasons Eating Disorders Block Intimacy + What Exactly to Do About It | 21 Nov 2025 | 00:20:43 | |
Okay girlfriend, we're going there. We're talking about the thing nobody talks about when it comes to eating disorders: sex, intimacy, and what's happening (or NOT happening) in your bedroom. If you've noticed your sex drive has disappeared, you're avoiding intimacy with your partner, you can't be present during sex because you're too busy worrying about what your body looks like, or your relationship is suffering and you don't know why - this episode is for you. Host Lindsey Nichol gets incredibly vulnerable about her own experience with blocked intimacy during her eating disorder - how she was physically shut down, emotionally unavailable, and performing instead of experiencing. She shares the research-backed reasons why eating disorders completely sabotage intimacy (spoiler: your body is literally in survival mode), and gives you practical tools to address it. This isn't just about emotional connection - we're talking about SEX. Physical intimacy. The bedroom. Your relationship with your spouse or partner. Because your eating disorder isn't just stealing your relationship with food and your body. It's stealing your relationship with your partner too. In this episode, you'll learn:
This is real talk. This is vulnerable. This is the conversation we need to have. So grab your favorite Tarjay journal and let's get into it. Content Note: This episode discusses sexual intimacy and eating disorders openly. Best listened to in a private space. In This Episode, You'll Hear:Lindsey's Vulnerable Truth
The Research Nobody Talks About
The Question We're Answering Why is intimacy blocked when you struggle with an eating disorder? And what can you actually DO about it? The 5 Reasons Why Intimacy Gets Blocked: Reason #1: Your Body is Literally Shutting Down
What This Means:
The Truth You Need to Hear: This is not a personal failure. This is a SYMPTOM of your eating disorder. Just like:
The Hope: Research shows that as women recover from eating disorders, sexual function, desire, and satisfaction improve SIGNIFICANTLY. Recovery doesn't just give you food freedom - it gives you intimacy freedom too. If your relationship is suffering, recovery is the answer. Not just for food. Not just for your body. But for your relationship too. What You Can Do About It (6 Action Steps): Step 1: Check Your Intimacy TemperatureGet honest with yourself. On a scale of 1-10, where is your intimacy RIGHT NOW? Not where you think it should be. Not where it used to be. Where is it TODAY? Ask yourself:
Get real about what's actually happening. You can't change what you won't acknowledge. Step 2: Recognize This is an ED SymptomStop blaming yourself. Stop thinking you're broken or wrong or failing. This blocked intimacy is a SYMPTOM of your eating disorder. Your body is depleted. Your hormones are disrupted. You're disconnected. You're consumed. This isn't about:
This is about your eating disorder stealing one MORE thing from you. Name it for what it is: An eating disorder symptom. Step 3: Bring It Into the Light - Talk to Your PartnerThis is the scariest step, but it's the most important. You have to talk to your spouse or partner about what's going on. When to Have This Conversation:
What to Say (Script): "Hey, I need to talk to you about something that's been hard for me. I've been struggling with my relationship with food and my body, and it's affecting our intimacy. I want you to know it has nothing to do with you or how I feel about you. My body is depleted, my hormones are off, and I'm having a hard time being present. I'm working on it, but I need you to know what's going on." You Don't Need:
You Just Need:
You don't have to fix everything overnight. Start somewhere small. Ideas:
Just start. Somewhere. Anywhere. Step 5: Work on Body AcceptanceYou don't have to LOVE your body to be intimate. But you do have to accept that your body is allowed to:
This is work:
The more you work on accepting your body (not loving it, just ACCEPTING it), the more available you'll be for intimacy. Step 6: Prioritize Your RecoveryIf you want intimacy back in your relationship, you MUST prioritize recovery. Because the eating disorder is the blocker. What This Looks Like:
Recovery gives you:
✨ Your ED isn't just stealing food freedom - it's stealing intimacy too ✨ Blocked intimacy is a SYMPTOM, not a personal failure ✨ Your body is in survival mode - sex is not a priority when you're starving ✨ You can't experience pleasure in a body you're disconnected from ✨ Body shame follows you into the bedroom and paralyzes intimacy ✨ You're emotionally unavailable because the ED consumes all your bandwidth ✨ Control issues with food show up as control issues with intimacy ✨ Research shows recovery improves sexual function, desire, and satisfaction ✨ You need to talk to your partner - bring it into the light ✨ Start small: reconnect with non-sexual touch first ✨ Body acceptance (not love) opens the door to intimacy ✨ Recovery gives you your relationship back Powerful Quotes from This Episode:
Sexual Dysfunction & Eating Disorders:
Hormone Disruption:
Body Image During Sex:
Recovery Improves Everything:
About Your Intimacy:
About Your Body:
About Your Partner:
About Your Recovery:
This episode is essential listening if you:
The Script: "Hey, I need to talk to you about something that's been hard for me. I've been struggling with my relationship with food and my body, and it's affecting our intimacy. I want you to know it has nothing to do with you or how I feel about you. My body is depleted, my hormones are off, and I'm having a hard time being present. I'm working on it, but I need you to know what's going on." Why This Works:
What Happens Next:
Your Libido Disappearing is NOT Your Fault: It's biology. Your body is in survival mode. Sex is not essential for survival. Your hormones are disrupted. This is a symptom. You're Not Broken: Your body is responding exactly as it should to starvation and restriction. This is protective, not defective. Your Partner Isn't the Problem: Even if you're attracted to them, your body can't prioritize sexual function right now. This isn't about attraction. Shame is the Enemy: The shame you feel about your body during intimacy is what's blocking connection. The body itself isn't the problem - the shame is. Recovery Restores Everything: This isn't permanent. As you nourish your body, your hormones will regulate. Your libido will return. Your ability to be present will come back. Intimacy can be restored. You Deserve Intimacy: Even with an eating disorder, you deserve connection, pleasure, and intimacy. But you have to do the recovery work to get there. Ready for Support?Work with Lindsey One-on-One: If you're ready to prioritize your recovery - not just for food freedom, but for your relationship too - Lindsey offers personalized recovery coaching where you work through:
Your relationship deserves you showing up fully. Your partner deserves you being present. YOU deserve to experience intimacy without shame, anxiety, or the ED blocking it. Recovery gives you that. And Lindsey is here to help you get there. Ready for Support?Option 1: The Recovery Collective Join Lindsey's group coaching program where you'll get:
Option 2: One-on-One Personalized Coaching work directly with Lindsey for:
Learn more about both options at www.herbestself.co You don't have to navigate this alone. Let's walk through recovery together. Connect with Lindsey
. Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear the truth! About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 252.5: You Are Not Your Eating Disorder ~ Finding Your Worth & True Identity in Recovery **Must Listen Fav!** | 18 Nov 2025 | 00:18:33 | |
Girlfriend, if you're struggling with self-worth, feeling like you'll never measure up, or can't separate yourself from your eating disorder - this episode is for you. Host Lindsey Nichol shares an incredibly vulnerable and inspiring episode about finding worth from within and discovering your true identity beyond the eating disorder. After a powerful moment during yoga listening to Lauren Daigle's "You Say," Lindsey was reminded of a truth that changed everything: You are not your eating disorder. Your true, authentic self lives underneath all of that. In this encouraging episode, Lindsey walks you through:
This isn't just inspiration - this is an invitation to remember who you are beyond the eating disorder. To find worth from within. To practice self-compassion on the hard days. And to stop settling for a false version of yourself. If you're having a down day or need encouragement, grab your favorite Tarjay journal and let's sit together. You are worthy just because you are. In This Episode, You'll Hear:The Yoga Moment: Lauren Daigle's "You Say"
The Worth Trap: Measuring Yourself by External Things
Identity Consumed: You Are Not Your Eating Disorder
Finding Worth From Within (And Above)
Creating Awareness: The Identity Shift
The Self-Compassion Research
Mindful Awareness Practice
The Self-Compassion Exercise: Hand Over Heart
The Truth About Your Worth
What You're Worth
✨ You are not your eating disorder - your true self lives underneath the disorder ✨ Eating disorders consume identity over time - healing requires separating yourself from the disorder ✨ Worth measured by external things is a trap - weight, appearance, achievements, others' opinions don't define you ✨ You're worthy just because you ARE - you cannot earn worth, it's inherent ✨ The voice on repeat is not YOU - that critical voice is the eating disorder, not your true self ✨ Self-compassion is research-backed - Kristin Neff's work shows its impact on mental health ✨ Feelings and thoughts aren't truths - they're temporary, not facts ✨ It's okay to not feel enough right now - this moment doesn't mean you aren't enough ✨ Your true identity lives underneath - beyond the false identity of the eating disorder ✨ Healing means choosing you daily - and that's okay, that's the work ✨ You're designed for more - there's a radical need for your uniqueness in this world Powerful Quotes from This Episode:From Lauren Daigle's "You Say":
From Lindsey:
Step 1: Identify Your Biggest Challenge Think about your biggest challenge right now - the one thing you're most terrified of. Maybe it's weight gain, taking the next step, letting go of control, being honest, or something else. Name it. Step 2: Place Your Hand Over Your Heart If you're able (not driving or operating machinery), place your hand over your heart. Feel:
Step 3: Acknowledge Your Worth Say to yourself:
Step 4: Let the Heaviness Be Acknowledge that the challenge feels super heavy. That's not wrong. That's not bad. It just IS. Allow it to be there. Allow the feeling of heaviness. Let it wash over you. Step 5: Breathe Breathe in deeply. Then breathe out the heaviness. This is just a season. Step 6: Talk to Yourself with Compassion Say these words to yourself:
Let that feeling sit there. Don't push it away. Step 7: Breathe It Out Breathe in. Exhale it out. It is just a temporary emotion. This moment is not permanent. Step 8: Practice Self-Compassion Tell yourself:
Step 9: Offer Kindness As though you're speaking to your best friend or your daughter:
Step 10: Remember the Truth When you challenge and change what's inside of you, everything changes around you. The Kristin Neff Self-Compassion Research:Who is Kristin Neff? Recognized worldwide as a leading expert on self-compassion and its impact on positive mental health and psychology. What is Self-Compassion?
Why It Matters in Recovery:
The Connection: Eating disorders are framed around exaggerated, glamorized negative beliefs. Self-compassion creates the space to observe these beliefs without identifying with them. Questions to Reflect On:About Your Identity:
About Your Worth:
About Self-Compassion:
About Your Uniqueness:
The Big Questions:
Option 1: The Recovery Collective Join Lindsey's group coaching program where you'll get:
Option 2: One-on-One Personalized Coaching work directly with Lindsey for:
Learn more about both options at www.herbestself.co You don't have to navigate stomach hate alone. Let's walk through this together. Connect with Lindsey
. Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear that her rejection story can become her redemption story. About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 252: "I Hate My Stomach, Now What?" Real Talk + 7 Tools for Your Food Freedom Journey🩷 | 14 Nov 2025 | 00:16:32 | |
"Lindsey, I hate my stomach. I can't stop thinking about it. It's ruining my day, my mood, my recovery. What do I do?" If your stomach is your biggest trigger in recovery - if you can't stop looking at it, obsessing over whether it looks bigger, spiraling every time you see your reflection - this episode is for you, girlfriend. Host Lindsey Nichol gets real about stomach hate in recovery and shares something her client needed to hear today: "I may not love my stomach every day, but if I'm being honest? I didn't love my stomach every day when I was in the trenches of my eating disorder either." So here's the question: Which hard do you want? Hard #1: Hating your stomach while you're restricting, obsessing, body checking, over-exercising, and missing your life. Hard #2: Sometimes not loving your stomach, but being FREE. Living your life. Eating with family. Being present. Having energy. Both are hard. But only one leads to freedom. In this episode, Lindsey shares her own stomach struggles - how she used to search for evidence it was "blowing up," how it would send her into spirals of restriction and over-exercise, and what she does NOW on the days when she doesn't love her stomach. Plus, she gives you 7 practical tools you can use on your hardest days. This is real talk with practical help. No toxic positivity. No "just love yourself." Just honest truth and actionable tools for when your stomach triggers you. In This Episode, You'll Hear:Lindsey's Stomach Story: The Disorder Days
The Truth Bomb: Choose Your Hard
Why the Stomach Specifically?
What Lindsey Does NOW on Hard Days
The Shift That Changed Everything
7 Tools for Your Hardest Days
✨ You didn't love your stomach in the disorder either - so what are you really choosing? ✨ There are two hards: choose yours - trapped with stomach hate OR free with occasional stomach discomfort ✨ Your stomach is not the problem - it's a symptom, a distraction from real feelings ✨ Restriction makes stomach issues WORSE - bloating, digestion problems increase with restriction ✨ Stomachs are supposed to change - throughout the day, after meals, when sitting vs standing ✨ The stomach is an easy target - easier to hate your stomach than deal with underlying fears ✨ You'll never be satisfied at any size - if stomach hate is really about control and self-sabotage ✨ Body checking makes it worse - the more you look, the more you spiral ✨ Function over form - your stomach's job is to digest food, not be flat 24/7 ✨ Little girl you didn't care - the goal isn't loving your stomach, it's living without it controlling you ✨ You don't have to love it to live - freedom doesn't require stomach love, just stomach acceptance Powerful Quotes from This Episode:
When you feel the urge to look in the mirror, pull your shirt tight, or analyze your stomach - STOP. Literally stop. Walk away. Do something else. Put on baggy clothes. The more you body check, the worse the obsession gets. Tool #2: Ask the Real QuestionStop asking "Why does my stomach look like this?" and start asking "What am I really feeling right now? What am I avoiding?" Get to the root. Your stomach is almost never the actual problem. Common real feelings underneath stomach hate:
Remind yourself: Your stomach digests food. It nourishes you. It expands when you eat because that's its JOB. It's not supposed to be flat 24/7. That's not realistic, healthy, or even possible. Tool #4: Remember Your Little Girl SelfYou didn't care about your stomach as a kid. You just lived. You played. You ate. You didn't analyze your body. THAT is the goal - not loving your stomach every day, just LIVING without it controlling you. Also remember: When you were pregnant (if applicable), you LOVED watching your stomach grow. You celebrated what your body could do. Why do you hate it now? Tool #5: Choose Your HardOn the hard days, say this out loud: "I can hate my stomach and be trapped in restriction, obsession, and isolation - OR I can sometimes not love my stomach but be FREE to live my life. Which hard do I want?" Tool #6: Wear Comfortable ClothesStop punishing yourself with restrictive clothing. Stop wearing things that make you hyper-aware of your stomach all day. Wear what feels good. Your comfort matters more than how your stomach looks. Baggy clothes aren't "giving up" - they're choosing peace. Tool #7: Talk Back to the VoiceWhen that critical voice says "Your stomach is too big," you talk back with truth:
About Your Stomach Hate:
About the Real Feelings:
About Your Choices:
About Your Little Girl Self:
This episode is essential listening if you:
Stomachs Change Throughout the Day:
Restriction Makes It Worse:
Stomach Hate Is Usually About Something Else:
You Didn't Love It at Your Lowest Weight Either:
Function Over Form:
Morning Routine:
After Meals:
On Triggering Days:
Clothing Choices:
Hard Option #1: Hating Your Stomach While Trapped
Hard Option #2: Sometimes Not Loving It But Being Free
The Question: Which hard do you want? The Truth: You're going to have hard days with your stomach either way. At least in recovery, you get your LIFE back. Ready for Support?Option 1: The Recovery Collective Join Lindsey's group coaching program where you'll get:
Option 2: One-on-One Personalized Coaching work directly with Lindsey for:
Learn more about both options at www.herbestself.co You don't have to navigate stomach hate alone. Let's walk through this together. Connect with Lindsey
. Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear that her rejection story can become her redemption story. About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 251.5: Turn Your ED Worries into Freedom ~ The 3-Step Battleplan to Stop Wishing & Start Living | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:13:51 | |
Hey sis, here is hope. You can turn your worries and your wishes into your true realities, and you can surely find freedom from the debilitating disease of an eating disorder and disordered eating. In this powerful episode, host Lindsey Nichol speaks truth directly to your heart, spirit, and mind. If you're stuck in the same place year after year - same worries, same wishes, same Thanksgiving anxiety, same holiday struggles - this is your wake-up call. Lindsey reveals why your worries and anxieties can actually HELP you move forward (or keep you stuck in the safe zone), and why your wishes and dreams must become greater than your fears. She introduces her 3-step battle plan for turning wishes into reality: align with your biggest challenge, align with your greatest dream, and study your enemy - that nagging voice keeping you in the cycle. This isn't just another motivational episode. This is a strategic battle plan for warriors ready to stop wishing and start living. Because girlfriend, warriors don't go into battle without a shield, a sword, or a plan. And you're not meant to go alone. If you've been waiting for the "magic pill" to create peace in your life, this episode will show you that YOU have the power to transform everything - starting right now. In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why Worries Can Help You (Or Keep You Stuck)
Why Wishes Aren't Enough
The Biggest Challenges Women Face in Recovery When Lindsey asks her one-on-one clients "What is your biggest challenge?" she hears:
The Greatest Wishes Women Have When Lindsey asks "What is your greatest wish?" she hears:
The Bridge: Freedom IS Your Reality
The Hard Truth You Need to Hear
Study the enemy like no other:
✨ Worries can work FOR you or AGAINST you - they can propel you forward or keep you stuck ✨ Wishes without action keep you in the same place - year after year, holiday after holiday ✨ Feelings aren't forever - no matter how stuck you feel right now, it can change ✨ You have to stop loving the drama of the cycle - the cycle only continues if you participate ✨ Your wishes must become GREATER than your worries - this is the tipping point ✨ Warriors don't go into battle unprepared - you need a shield, sword, helmet, and plan ✨ You're not meant to do this alone - going solo into battle is a losing strategy ✨ YOU have the power to transform your life - no one else can do this for you ✨ Freedom is already yours - it's been granted to you, you just have to claim it ✨ Commit to ONE action today - your future self will thank you Powerful Quotes from This Episode:
Zechariah 10:5-12 (paraphrased): You shall be mighty in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets. You shall fight because God is with you and you will put to shame the riders on horses. He will strengthen you. He will save you. He will bring you back because he has compassion for you. And you will be enough. You won't be rejected. For he is God and he will deliver you. You shall become a mighty warrior and your heart will be glad and your children will see it and rejoice. God will whistle for you and gather you in because he is redeeming you and you shall be as you were before. He will bring you home from the desert land and gather you. He will pass through the sea of troubles with you and strike down the waves, and all the depths will dry up. The enemy shall depart. He will make you strong and you shall walk in his name. Questions to Reflect On:About Your Challenges:
About Your Dreams:
About Your Enemy:
About Your Battle Plan:
The Big Question:
. Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear that her rejection story can become her redemption story. About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 251: I Lied to My Treatment Team ~ Why A Relapse or Fall Doesn't Equal Failure + How to Get Back Up in Recovery | 07 Nov 2025 | 00:17:13 | |
Girlfriend, if you've fallen in your recovery - if you've had a setback, slipped back into old behaviors, or feel like you're not where you "should" be - this episode is for you. This morning, Lindsey was walking her 7-year-old son Blake to school when he fell hard while skipping in Crocs. Through his tears, he looked up and said, "I guess I shouldn't skip so fast to school." And in that moment, Lindsey realized something profound: Sometimes the fall is required. Not because we want to hurt, but because without the fall, we wouldn't learn any other way. In this vulnerable episode, Lindsey shares her own painful fall in recovery - when she was lying to her treatment team, telling everyone she was "doing the things" while secretly still restricting out of fear. Her results weren't matching her actions, and she felt defeated. But that fall? It became her turning point. Drawing from her figure skating background (landing her first double loop took countless falls), Lindsey reveals why falls aren't failures - they're required education. She addresses the shame that comes with relapsing, gives you permission to be right where you are, and shows you how to get back up without beating yourself up. If you've been too afraid to risk falling or too ashamed to get back up, this episode will change everything. In This Episode, You'll Hear:Blake's Fall: The Morning Walk to School
Lindsey's Recovery Fall: The Painful Truth
The Figure Skating Metaphor: Landing the Double Loop
The Shame of Falling in Recovery
You Are Right Where You Need to Be
✨ Sometimes the fall is required - without it, we wouldn't learn any other way ✨ Falls aren't failures, they're required education - each one teaches you something ✨ Shame isn't about the fall - it's about what you're making the fall mean about you ✨ You are right where you need to be - not where you want to be, but exactly where you need to be to learn and grow ✨ You can't change what you won't acknowledge - getting honest is the first step to getting back up ✨ The fall is setup for your breakthrough - not a setback, but preparation for progress ✨ Recovery is learning a jump you've never done before - of course you're going to fall multiple times ✨ Staying stuck is its own kind of fall - it's just slower, more painful, and doesn't teach you anything ✨ You don't have to get up alone - reach out for help, let someone stoop down to your level Powerful Quotes from This Episode:
Step 1: Stop Beating Yourself Up Stop making the fall mean something about your worth. The fall is data. It's information. It's feedback. It's not a judgment on who you are. Step 2: Get Honest Really honest. With yourself first, then with your treatment team, support system, and your people. Say: "I fell. Here's where I am. Here's what I need." Step 3: Reach Out for Help Just like Lindsey stooped down to Blake's level to dust him off - you don't have to get up alone. In fact, you shouldn't. Let someone help you back up. Step 4: Take the Lesson Forward Blake learned not to skip so fast. What are YOU learning from this fall? What does this fall need to teach you that you couldn't have learned any other way? Step 5: Keep Moving Forward Maybe a little slower. Maybe a little more carefully. Maybe with more honesty this time. But keep going. Because recovery isn't about never falling - it's about learning to get back up. Questions to Reflect On:About Your Falls:
About Growth:
Specific Scenarios:
The Risk Question:
This episode is essential listening if you:
Falls Are Not Failures: They're required education. Each fall teaches you something you couldn't learn any other way. The Length of Your Struggle Doesn't Matter: Whether this is your first fall or your hundredth, you can still get back up and keep going. Results Not Matching Actions Is a Sign: It means you're not being fully honest - with yourself or others. That realization IS the breakthrough. You Can't Skip the Lesson: Just like Blake couldn't skip learning to slow down without falling, you can't bypass the lessons recovery requires. Honesty Is the Turning Point: Once you get real about where you are, you can finally do something about it. Blake's Lesson Applied to Your Recovery:Blake was skipping too fast → You might be rushing recovery, trying to do it perfectly Lindsey kept warning him to be careful → Your body, treatment team, loved ones have been giving you signals He fell hard and got hurt → You've had a setback, relapse, or painful realization He reached out for help → You don't have to get up alone - reach out Lindsey stooped to his level → The right support meets you where you are, doesn't shame you She dusted him off → You can clean yourself up and start fresh He learned the lesson → "I shouldn't skip so fast" = awareness leads to change He got back up and kept going to school → You get back up and keep moving toward recovery The Figure Skating Lesson:Just like Lindsey fell countless times before landing her first double loop jump - and it became her favorite jump BECAUSE of all the falls - your recovery falls are teaching you:
And eventually, when you land it, recovery will become your favorite part of your story. Not in spite of the falls, but because of them. Permission Slip:You have permission to:
If you need support getting back up after a fall, Lindsey has spots open for one-on-one recovery coaching. She'll meet you exactly where you are - no judgment, no shame - and help you find your footing again. Visit www.herbestself.co to book your complimentary consultation. Let's turn your fall into your breakthrough. Connect with Lindsey
. Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear that her rejection story can become her redemption story. About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 250.5: Eating Disorder Treatment Options ~ What's Best for You? (6 Levels of Care Explained) **Must Listen Fav!** | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:17:36 | |
Girlfriend, maybe you've been struggling with disordered eating for decades and you don't want to put your life on hold to go into a full-blown treatment facility. Maybe you have kids at home, aging parents to care for, or a career you can't walk away from. Or maybe you don't even know what options are available, so you just stay stuck thinking you'll manage it all by yourself. Girl, you weren't meant to do this alone. In this episode, host Lindsey Nichol breaks down the 6 different levels of eating disorder treatment and care - from outpatient support to acute medical stabilization - so you can understand what's available and what might be best for YOUR unique situation and life circumstances. Lindsey shares her own treatment journey through IOP and day treatment, and why finding the right level of care that fits your life is so important. Whether you're a busy mom, working woman, caregiver, or someone who simply can't leave home for residential treatment, this episode will help you understand all your options - including recovery coaching as a personalized support option. You deserve a life free from the chains of disordered eating. And it starts with knowing what treatment options are out there. In This Episode, You'll Learn:The 6 Levels of Eating Disorder Treatment: Level 1: Outpatient Care
Level 2: Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Level 3: Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) / Day Treatment
Level 4: Residential Treatment
Level 5: Inpatient Hospitalization
Level 6: Acute Medical Stabilization
Plus: Recovery Coaching as a Treatment Option
✨ Treatment is personalized - what works for someone else may not work for you, and that's okay ✨ You don't have to choose residential - there are multiple levels of care that allow you to stay home ✨ Recovery is NOT black and white - you can get support at various levels based on your life circumstances ✨ You weren't meant to do this alone - even if you can't go to residential, you need SOME level of support ✨ Everyone's recovery is their own - your journey is unique and valid regardless of which level of care you choose ✨ Recovery coaching is a valid option - especially when layered with other care team members ✨ You owe you, sister - putting yourself first isn't selfish, it's necessary ✨ More options exist now - compared to years ago, there are so many more treatment options available Powerful Quotes from This Episode:
Not therapy: Coaches don't diagnose or address trauma - they focus on forward action Accountability structure: Weekly sessions keep you committed to your recovery goals Actionable support: Focused on practical steps like facing fear foods, getting off the scale, eating out with family Virtual and flexible: Fits into busy lives with kids, work, caregiving responsibilities Layered care: Works alongside dietitians, therapists, and medical professionals Relapse prevention: Helps maintain recovery after intensive treatment Questions to Ask When Choosing Treatment:
This episode is essential listening if you:
National Alliance for Eating Disorders: Information on treatment levels and resources National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): Comprehensive treatment information and support Recovery Coaching with Lindsey: One-on-one virtual support, weekly sessions, actionable recovery tools Her Best Self Facebook Community: Support group for women in recovery Important Reminder:Lindsey is NOT a medical professional. The information in this episode is based on her personal experience and education but should not replace consultation with a licensed healthcare professional. Always speak with your doctor, therapist, or treatment team to determine which level of care is most appropriate for your specific situation. Connect with Lindsey
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you identify the core beliefs feeding your eating disorder, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 250: 5 Scary Stories Your ED Tells You + How to Stop Being Haunted by Them This Halloween👻🍬 | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:19:00 | |
Happy Halloween, girlfriend! But let's talk about what's TRULY scary - the lies your eating disorder has been telling you that keep you trapped, paralyzed, and missing out on your life. In this special Halloween episode, host Lindsey Nichol unmasks the 5 scariest stories your eating disorder tells you and reveals why they're complete fiction. If you're a woman over 40 who's been haunted by food fears, candy panic, and the belief that you've been struggling "too long" to ever find freedom, this episode is your wake-up call. Lindsey shares her own triggering Halloween experience - dressing up as a plastic surgery victim in her mid-20s, complete with bandages and circles marking her "imperfections" - and how that costume revealed just how deep her denial really was. Then she walks you through each scary story, debunking the lies and replacing them with truth. This isn't just a Halloween episode. This is permission to finally unmask your eating disorder and step into the freedom you deserve - no matter your age, no matter how long you've been struggling. In This Episode, You'll Learn:Lindsey's Halloween Confession:
The 5 Scary Stories (Lies) Your ED Tells You: Scary Story #1: "If I Eat Candy, I'll Lose All Control"
Scary Story #2: "I'll Gain Weight Immediately If I Stop Restricting"
Scary Story #3: "I Can't Trust Myself Around Food"
Scary Story #4: "Everyone Will Judge Me If I Gain Weight (And So Will I)"
Scary Story #5: "I've Been Struggling So Long, I'll Probably Always Be This Way"
The Unmasking:
✨ The ED convinces you the horror show is normal - it puts a mask over your eyes so you can't see reality ✨ Fear of losing control actually CREATES loss of control - restriction is what makes you feel out of control ✨ Your body has a set point - fighting against it is what's exhausting you, not the weight itself ✨ You CAN trust yourself - but trust is rebuilt one choice at a time after years of external rules ✨ The people who matter want you present, not perfect - they're judging your obsession, not your body ✨ It's NOT too late - recovery is possible at ANY age after ANY amount of time struggling ✨ You're already miserable - the ED isn't protecting you from misery, it IS the misery ✨ Today is your "sooner" - stop waiting for the perfect time to unmask and get free Powerful Quotes from This Episode:
Part 1: Identify and Unmask Your Scariest Lie Write down the SCARIEST lie you've been believing - the one that has the most power over you. Then unmask it by writing the TRUTH next to that lie. Examples:
Part 2: Face One Food Fear This Halloween Weekend Take one action that scares you:
One unmasked lie. One fear faced. That's how recovery starts. Reflection Questions:
This Halloween episode is for you if:
EPISODE 250! This milestone episode falls on Halloween, making it the perfect time to unmask the eating disorder and celebrate how far you've come. Whether this is your first episode or you've been listening since day one, thank you for being part of this community. Recovery is possible, girlfriend - and it starts with unmasking the lies. Important Truth:Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. This isn't small. This is life and death. If you're trapped in the cycle of food fear, restriction, and believing you've been struggling "too long" to ever find freedom, please hear this: It's not too late. Recovery is possible. And you deserve to live without being haunted. Ready to Unmask Your Eating Disorder and Find Freedom?Lindsey has spots open for one-on-one recovery coaching. If you're done being haunted by scary stories and ready to live in truth, visit www.herbestself.co to book your complimentary consultation. Let's make this the last Halloween you spend trapped in these lies. Connect with Lindsey
💝 Rate and review to help more perfectionists find freedom 💝 Share with a friend who's stuck in the perfection trap 💝 Join the Facebook community for recovery hugs and support 💝 Apply for 1:1 coaching if you're ready for personalized guidance Special Announcements:🎉 Subscribe to the email list at www.herbestself.co to get your free recovery journal download 🎉 Free FB Community at www.herbestselfsociety.com About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 249: Your Recovery Reality Check to Stop Making Excuses & Start Making Changes (+ 2 Freedom Challenges to Try Today!) | 28 Oct 2025 | 00:17:50 | |
Girlfriend, it's time for some real talk. If you keep saying you want recovery but your actions don't match your words, this episode is your wake-up call. Host Lindsey Nichol delivers tough love with compassion as she breaks down the truth: there are two types of people in this world - those with reasons and those with results. Which one are you? In this powerful episode, Lindsey shares her own struggle with desperately wanting recovery while still restricting, lying to her treatment team, and choosing the "safe" option every single time. She'll teach you how one simple shift - replacing "I can't" with "I won't" - can completely transform your recovery journey by helping you own your choices and reclaim your power. If you're tired of making excuses, breaking promises to yourself, and staying stuck in the same cycle, this is the episode that will challenge you to finally show up for yourself and your family. In This Episode, You'll Learn:The Two Types of People Framework:
The "I Can't" vs "I Won't" Truth Bomb:
Lindsey's Personal Story:
The Reality Check You Need:
✨ There are two types of people: those with reasons and those with results - you get to choose which one you'll be ✨ "I can't" is a lie - what you really mean is "I won't" and that's a choice you have power over ✨ Wanting recovery and DOING recovery are completely different things - listening to podcasts isn't the same as taking action ✨ You cannot want recovery more than you want the eating disorder - your actions reveal what you truly want ✨ Your recovery isn't just for you - it's for your family too - they need to see you model what keeping promises looks like ✨ Every action you take is a vote for who you're becoming - what are you voting for today? Powerful Quotes from This Episode:
Brené Brown: "You either walk inside your story and own it, or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness." James Clear (Atomic Habits): "Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become." Mel Robbins: "You are one decision away from a completely different life." Important Truth:Did you know? Eating disorders have the HIGHEST mortality rate of any mental illness. This isn't small. This is life and death. If you're stuck in the cycle of wanting recovery but not doing recovery, it's time to get honest about what's at stake. Your Two Challenges (Do Them NOW): Challenge #1: The "I Won't" Awareness ExerciseFor the next 24 hours, every time you catch yourself saying "I can't," PAUSE. Take a breath. Replace it with "I won't." Examples:
Notice how different that FEELS. When you admit it's a choice, you suddenly have the power to make a different one. Challenge #2: Make ONE Promise and Keep ItJust ONE. Not ten. Not a complete recovery overhaul. ONE promise. Maybe it's:
Write it down. Then DO IT. Prove to yourself that you're someone who keeps promises. Reflection Questions to Journal On:
This episode is your wake-up call and reality check if you:
You have everything you need to recover. You have the desire. You have the resources. You have the support. The only thing standing between you and freedom is YOU. Your family needs you. Your future needs you. And most importantly, YOU need you. So stop playing small. Stop breaking promises. Stop saying "I can't" when you mean "I won't." Because those with reasons stay stuck. But those with RESULTS? They change their lives. Which one are you going to be? Ready to Stop Breaking Promises and Start Living Free?Lindsey has spots open for one-on-one recovery coaching. If you're ready to stop making excuses and start getting results, visit www.herbestself.co to book your complimentary consultation. Let's make this the season where everything changes. Now let's talk support: Ready to sign up for our recovery support group? www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 📧 Email Lindsey: info@lindseynichol.com 🌐 Apply for Recovery Coaching: www.herbestself.co 💕 Join the Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com Limited spots available for fall coaching - only 2 slots remaining Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 248: The 4 Types of Body Image ~ How to Heal from Negative Ideals & Appreciate Your Body in Recovery | 24 Oct 2025 | 00:17:05 | |
Girlfriend, if you're tired of the never-ending cycle of body checking, comparing yourself to everyone around you, and feeling trapped in a body you don't recognize, this episode is for you. Host Lindsey Nichol breaks down the 4 categories of body image according to the National Eating Disorder Collaboration and walks you through practical exercises to challenge the negative body ideals that are keeping you stuck. In This Episode, You'll Discover:The 4 Categories of Body Image:
Plus, You'll Learn:
✨ You are NOT your body - Your body is a vessel, not your identity ✨ Body ideals are conditioned, not truth - Society programmed you to believe skinny is good and fat is bad ✨ Your true beauty is who you are WITHOUT restrictive behaviors ✨ Choice is your superpower - You can choose appreciation right now, today ✨ You can change the way you see, feel, and think about your body - And that changes everything Powerful Exercises to Try Today: 1. The Body Ideal InventoryWrite out every detail of your "perfect body." Then ask yourself:
Today, look at someone in your life without judging or comparing their body to yours. Find ONE thing you can admire or appreciate about their body. Then reflect on what this reveals about your own body ideals. 3. The Mirror ChallengeLook at yourself face-to-face in the mirror and say OUT LOUD: "I am willing to do the hard things. I am willing to make changes in my life. I may not be seeing what is real and true because of false distortion, but I can choose right now to appreciate, respect, and care for me regardless." 4. The Reframe ExerciseChoose one body part you criticize. Now reframe it - what can you appreciate about this part? Just like you appreciated something about someone else, extend that same grace to yourself. 5. The Shift from Skinny to StrongInstead of idolizing being skinny, focus on STRENGTH. Instead of weighing less, focus on HEALTH. What would change in your life if you made this shift? Questions to Journal On:
This episode is for you if you're:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - "Do you not know that your body is a temple? You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Honor your body to honor your creator." Resources & Next Steps:Join the Community: Connect with other women on the recovery journey in Lindsey's private Facebook community - www.herbsestselfsociety.com ! Work with Lindsey: Ready for one-on-one support? Lindsey offers personalized recovery coaching. Visit www.herbestself.co/services to book a complimentary consultation and see if coaching is the right fit for you. Take Action: Grab your journal, do the exercises from this episode, and share your insights in the Her Best Self Facebook community. Recovery isn't meant to be done alone, girlfriend! Connect with Lindsey
. Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear that her rejection story can become her redemption story. About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder | |||
| EP 247.5: From Rejection to Redemption ~ How Past Hurts Keep You Stuck in Disordered Eating & What to Do Next | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:13:00 | |
What if I told you that the eating disorder you're battling isn't really about food at all—it's about rejection? In this deeply personal episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own rejection story and how those painful moments shaped my relationship with food, my body, and control. From being told to "get in line by size" at dance practice to corporate disappointments and broken friendships, I'm sharing the rejection wounds that led me down the path of disordered eating. Here's the truth: perfectionism is rejection prevention. It's the way your brain tries to avoid the emotional trauma of feeling "not enough." And your eating disorder? It offers the illusion of protection—a false comfort that promises to fix everything and prevent future rejection. But the only thing it really does is lead to the deepest rejection of all: rejecting your own worthiness. Today, we're dissecting rejection together. I'm meeting you in that painful place so you can discover what I've learned: your rejection story can become your redemption story. Rejection isn't the end—it's God's protection, His redirection, and often the most powerful motivator for transformation. If you've been shrinking yourself to fit into spaces you were rejected from, this episode is your invitation to take up space again, feel free again, and reject the rejection that was never yours to carry. What You'll Learn:[02:30] The moment everything changed: My dance practice rejection story and how one comment shifted my entire relationship with my body [05:00] Why perfectionism is actually rejection prevention—and how it fuels your eating disorder [07:15] The cycle that keeps you stuck: Fear of rejection → False control → Isolation → Disordered eating behaviors → Reinforced rejection fears [09:45] How early experiences shape your relationship with safety (and why you desperately want to be seen, heard, and loved) [12:00] Protection strategies your brain uses: Numbing through restriction, creating physical armor through body changes, food rituals as predictable comfort [15:30] My personal rejection timeline: From Disney on Ice to corporate promotions, college boyfriends to broken friendships—the moments that shaped my story [18:00] The powerful reframe: Rejection is God's protection and redirection. What would you have missed if those doors had stayed open? [20:30] How recovered people reject rejection—practical steps to heal and move forward [23:00] The three questions to ask when rejection voices show up: "So what? Says who? Who cares?" Key Takeaways:💔 Perfectionism = Rejection Prevention: Your eating disorder isn't about food. It's your brain's attempt to avoid the pain of feeling "not enough." 🔄 The Rejection Cycle: Fear of rejection leads to false control (food/body manipulation), which leads to isolation, which reinforces rejection fears, which prevents you from being seen, heard, and loved. ✨ Rejection → Redemption: Your rejection story matters because it can become your redemption story. Every painful moment can be transformed into power. 🚪 If those doors had stayed open, what would you have missed? Rejection is often God's redirection toward a better path you couldn't have imagined. 🛡️ Protection Strategies Keeping You Stuck:
💪 Recovered People Reject Rejection: They show up imperfectly, embrace progress over perfection, create healthy boundaries, build self-trust, and sit with uncomfortable emotions. 🎯 The Most Powerful Truth: No one needs to like you but you. You are approved by God who created you and put a seal of worthiness on your birth certificate. You're not rejected—you're redeemed. Reflection Questions for Your Journal:📝 What are your rejection stories? What moments made you feel unseen, unheard, or unloved? 📝 How did those rejections shape your relationship with food and your body? When did you start "the exhausting project of trying to shrink yourself"? 📝 What parts of yourself have you rejected? Movement you loved? Activities that brought joy? Nourishment? Rest? Connection? 📝 If those doors had stayed open, what would you have missed? What blessings came from closed doors? 📝 What rejection are you still carrying that isn't yours? What old wound keeps replaying as current truth? Action Steps:✍️ Write out your rejection story. This isn't to create trauma—it's to find freedom in laying it down, forgiving it, and moving forward. 🗣️ Practice the three questions: Next time rejection voices show up ("you're not good enough," "you can't eat that"), respond with: "So what? Says who? Who cares?" 🔄 Reframe your rejections: List your biggest rejections, then write what you would have missed if those doors had stayed open. 💪 Start doing the next right thing: Show up imperfectly, embrace progress over perfection, create healthy boundaries, and build self-trust. 🙅♀️ Stop people pleasing: You don't need to be for everyone. It's okay to not have a seat at everyone's table. Quotes from This Episode:"Perfectionism is rejection prevention. It's the way that our brain and our mind tries to avoid the pain and the emotional trauma of feeling the not enoughness." "In trying to protect yourself from rejection, you begin rejecting parts of yourself—movement you enjoyed, activities that bring you joy, nourishment, rest, and eventually connection with people you cherished." "The eating disorder promises to fix everything, promises that everyone will accept you, promises to fix any future rejection. But the only real thing it does is lead to the deepest rejection of all: rejecting your own worthiness." "Whatever story you've been replaying on repeat, you can learn to take up space, feel free again, and reject the rejection that was never yours to carry." "Rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of a better path. When we start looking at it like that, it becomes the most powerful motivator in your life." "No one needs to like you but you. The cycle of fear of rejection leads to false control, which leads to isolation, which reinforces rejection fears and prevents you from being seen, heard, and loved." "Rejection is God's protection. It is His redirection. If those doors had stayed open, what would you have missed?" "You're not rejected, you're redeemed. You're not bad. Maybe you just shine a little too bright for someone who couldn't handle it." "Recovered people reject rejection." Connect with Lindsey
. Subscribe & Review:If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear that her rejection story can become her redemption story. About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder | |||
| EP 247: "Will I Always Feel This Way?" Understanding Hard Times in ED Recovery + 3 Outcomes That Determine Your Freedom | 17 Oct 2025 | 00:15:19 | |
If you're in the thick of eating disorder recovery right now and wondering if it's ever going to get easier, this episode is for you. Maybe you had a rough week with food. Maybe you're exhausted from fighting the same battles in your head every single day. Maybe you're wondering if recovery is even worth it because right now it just feels so incredibly hard. In this episode, Lindsey gets real about hard times in recovery and shares a truth that will change how you see your struggle: there are only three possible outcomes when you're going through something hard, and what you choose determines everything about your recovery and your future. This isn't a "just think positive" pep talk. This is truth-telling, no-nonsense guidance about why hard times don't last forever—but only if you refuse to stay stuck in them. If you're ready to stop waiting for recovery to magically get easier and start building the resilience you need to actually get better, this episode will show you how. What You'll Learn:
The 3 Outcomes of Hard Times: Outcome #1: You Quit Quitting looks like going back to restriction because it feels safer. It's skipping meals after a bad body image day. It's choosing what's familiar over what will set you free. When you quit moving forward, the hard time doesn't end—it just becomes your new normal. Outcome #2: It Gets Better Sometimes circumstances change and the external situation improves. But if YOU don't change? You're just waiting for the next hard time to come along. You'll always be one comment away from spiraling, one trigger away from old patterns. Outcome #3: You Get Better This is where your power lives. This is where transformation happens. When YOU get better, you learn to nourish your body even when you don't feel deserving. You challenge food rules. You sit with emotions instead of controlling them through food or exercise. You make decisions from your healed self. Key Takeaways: ✨ Hard times don't last forever—but they also don't end just because you want them to. They end when you choose to move through them. ✨ There are only 3 outcomes: you quit, it gets better, or you get better. Only one leads to lasting freedom. ✨ When you quit, the hard time doesn't disappear—it just continues and becomes your normal. ✨ Relying on circumstances to improve keeps you at the mercy of triggers and external situations. ✨ You getting better means actively participating in your own healing, not just hoping things change. ✨ The hard time becomes your identity when you refuse to move forward—it becomes who you are instead of something you're moving through. ✨ Choosing to get better is hard, but staying stuck is harder. Wake up a year from now in the same place or choose to do the work now. Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "Hard times don't last forever. They don't. But only if you refuse to stay stuck in them." "Hard times end when you decide they end. Not when circumstances are perfect. Not when you feel ready. Not when it's easy. They end when you decide to keep moving forward even when it's hard." "When you quit, the hard time doesn't actually end. It just continues. It stretches out. It becomes your new normal." "When YOU get better, it doesn't matter as much what the circumstances are. When YOU get better, you have tools to work through triggers." "You don't have to stay here. You don't have to live in this hard time forever. But you do have to choose to move through it." "The hard time you're in right now? It's not forever. It's not your ending. It's not your identity. It's just a chapter. And you get to write what comes next." Real Talk: This episode delivers no-nonsense truth: the eating disorder wants you to believe you'll always feel this way, but that's a lie. You don't have to stay stuck. But you do have to choose outcome #3—to get better. That means showing up when you don't feel like it, doing the opposite of what the disorder tells you, and trusting the process even when you can't see results yet. What's harder than doing the work? Waking up years from now still fighting the same battles because you never chose to get better. Questions to Ask Yourself:
Ready to Choose Outcome #3? If you're ready to stop staying stuck and start getting better, you don't have to do it alone. Inside The Recovery Collective, Lindsey's support group program, you get:
Learn more and join at: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective Connect with Lindsey
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 246: What to Do When You're Triggered ~ A Real-Time, 6-Step Recovery Game Plan (Perfect for the Holidays)🎃 | 14 Oct 2025 | 00:21:06 | |
You're at a family dinner. Someone makes a comment about your body or what's on your plate. Suddenly your chest is tight, your mind is racing, and you're already planning tomorrow's restriction or extra workout. Sound familiar? In this episode, Lindsey Nichol gives you a real-time, actionable game plan for working through triggers as they happen—not tomorrow, not after the holidays, but RIGHT NOW. Whether it's an upcoming holiday gathering, a comment from a loved one, or scrolling social media, you'll learn exactly what to do in those moments when you feel completely out of control. Lindsey walks you through six powerful steps to move through triggering situations without falling back into restriction, over-exercising, or shame spirals. This isn't theory—this is practical, do-it-now guidance that will help you act from your healed self instead of your wounded self. What You'll Learn:
Key Takeaways: ✨ Your body isn't broken—it's trying to protect you based on old experiences that aren't happening right now ✨ You can't heal what you won't feel—naming your emotions is essential to moving through triggers ✨ The emotions you feel during triggers exist because they once kept you safe, but you get to choose differently now ✨ What would your best self do? Your future self who's already free? Act as if you're already her—because you are ✨ One triggering moment doesn't define your recovery—how you respond does The 6-Step Trigger Game Plan:
Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "What you do in the next few minutes after you feel triggered will either keep you stuck in the same cycle or move you one step closer to the freedom you're desperately craving." "You can't heal what you won't feel." "That old experience isn't happening right now. You're not that little girl anymore who learned she had to earn love or approval." "Stop operating from your unhealed self. Stop letting the wounds make the decisions. Stop letting the fear drive the bus." "You ARE that future version of yourself. She's not some distant dream. She's you—making the next right choice in this moment." Ready for More Support? If you need help working through triggers and breaking free from the restrict-binge cycle, join The Recovery Collective—Lindsey's group support program where you get live weekly coaching, a supportive community, and the exact tools you need to find lasting food freedom. Learn more at: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective Connect with Lindsey
💝 Rate and review to help more perfectionists find freedom 💝 Share with a friend who's stuck in the perfection trap 💝 Join the Facebook community for recovery hugs and support 💝 Apply for 1:1 coaching if you're ready for personalized guidance Special Announcements:Subscribe to the email list at www.herbestself.co to get first access 🎉 Free FB Community at www.herbestselfsociety.com If You're Reading This and Struggling:You don't have to be perfect at recovery. You don't have to check all the boxes. You don't have to be further along than you are. Success is showing up today, even when yesterday was hard. Success is choosing growth over perfection. Success is becoming who you're meant to be, not achieving some impossible standard. You are worthy. You are strong. You are perfectly capable right now, today, to lean into the biggest struggle of your life. Consider this your virtual hug from Lindsey. You've got this, beautiful. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.
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| EP 245: Stop the Restrict-Binge Cycle ~ Debunking Diet Culture's Biggest Lie (You Don't Need to Earn Your Food) | 10 Oct 2025 | 00:38:14 | |
In this insightful conversation originally recorded with dietitian Brittany Braswell on Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast, I open up about the restrict-binge cycle that keeps so many women trapped—saving calories all day only to overeat at night. This episode dismantles the myth that it's about willpower and reveals the biological and spiritual truths behind this destructive pattern. What You'll Learn
✨ The restrict-binge cycle is biological, not about willpower - When you don't eat enough during the day, your body forces a response ✨ Scarcity thinking is rooted in worthiness issues - Diet culture has taught us food must be earned, rationed, and controlled rather than something we deserve consistently ✨ Comfort isn't the goal, freedom is - Breaking the cycle requires doing uncomfortable opposite actions ✨ Ask yourself: Is this decision from fear or love? - If you're making food choices out of fear, that's a signal to do the opposite ✨ You are fearfully and wonderfully made - Your identity is larger than the vessel you came here with Practical Strategies Discussed 1. Combat the Lie of Unworthiness
"You were created by God, made in His image, and you are so worthy of love and nourishment—period. There's no arguing, no bargaining about that." "Comfort isn't the goal. Freedom is the goal." "Your body deserves consistent fuel. What would I tell my daughter, my best friend, you over coffee? I would never tell you that you can't have that coffee because there's cream in it." "Is this decision coming from a place of fear or a place of love? If it's fear, pluck that thought." "God's grace is built from abundance. Your identity is something larger than the vessel that you came here with." Key Questions for Reflection
This conversation was originally recorded as a guest appearance on Brittany Braswell's podcast, Faith-Filled Food Freedom. Adapted and shared with the Her Best Self Podcast community because the message was too powerful not to share with you. Resources & Links Join The Recovery CollectiveReady to break free from the restrict-binge cycle for good? The Recovery Collective is Lindsey Nichol's signature group support program where you'll get the support, strategies, and community you need to finally find freedom. Inside The Recovery Collective, you'll receive:
Learn more and join The Recovery Collective at www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective Connect with Lindsey Nichol
Check out Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast for more faith-based nutrition and food freedom content at www.brittanybraswellrd.com ___________________________ If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 244.5: How to Use Distraction as a Healing Tool ~ Healthy Coping Strategies for Eating Disorder Recovery **Must Listen Fav!** | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:17:01 | |
In this powerful episode, host Lindsey Nichol explores the dual nature of distraction in eating disorder recovery—how it can either support your healing journey or keep you trapped in unhealthy patterns. Drawing wisdom from Proverbs, Lindsey breaks down when distraction becomes a helpful tool versus when it's a form of avoidance that prevents true recovery. What You'll Learn
✨ Distraction can be leveraged temporarily to prevent unhealthy actions—like reaching out to support, journaling, changing your environment, or having a dance party ✨ Unhealthy distraction looks like telling yourself "now isn't the right time" or using life circumstances to avoid recovery work ✨ Common urges to distract from include: compulsive exercise, repetitive safe foods, body checking in mirrors, scale obsession, and other OCD-like behaviors ✨ The "messy middle" of recovery is normal—that awkward phase where you're better than before but haven't fully arrived ✨ Important questions to ask yourself: How can I honor myself right now? What does my soul need? What does my body need? What does my mind need? Episode Quotes"Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life. Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you." - Proverbs "Nothing good, including progress, occurs when you're confused or when you're completely sidetracked." "If today is not a good day for this, then when is going to be a good day to put yourself first, to put your health first?" "A distraction is simply a thing that prevents you from giving your complete attention to something else." Healthy Distraction Ideas Mentioned
💝 Rate and review to help more perfectionists find freedom 💝 Share with a friend who's stuck in the perfection trap 💝 Join the Facebook community for recovery hugs and support 💝 Apply for 1:1 coaching if you're ready for personalized guidance Special Announcements:🎉 Subscribe to the email list at www.herbestself.co to get your free recovery journal download 🎉 Free FB Community at www.herbestselfsociety.com About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 244: Quit Body Checking & Food Obsessing with My Go-To 3 Question Ritual That Takes Under 5 Minutes | 03 Oct 2025 | 00:18:29 | |
Tired of waking up in reaction mode—immediately checking your body, obsessing over yesterday’s food choices, or spiraling into anxiety about what you’ll eat today? You’re not alone, and there’s a better way. In this episode, I’m sharing the exact 3-question ritual that helped me break free from the constant body checking and food obsession that kept me stuck in my eating disorder. This practice takes less than 5 minutes but will completely shift how you start your day—from reaction mode to intention mode. You’ll discover: - Why living in reaction mode keeps you trapped in your eating disorder’s grip - The neuroscience behind why this simple ritual actually works to rewire your brain - The 3 powerful questions I use every morning (and whenever I’m triggered) - How to shift from avoidance motivation to approach motivation in recovery - Specific examples of how to apply each question to eating disorder recovery - Why gratitude isn’t just “toxic positivity” when done right If you’re ready to stop giving your eating disorder the power to dictate your entire day, this quick win is for you. ----- **The 3-Question Ritual:** 1. What am I grateful for? (Look for evidence of goodness and progress) 1. What am I focused on gaining? (Move toward something, not away from fear) 1. What am I choosing to release? (Let go of what’s weighing you down) **From Reaction to Intention:** Your eating disorder thrives when you’re reactive. Intention gives you back your power. **Approach vs. Avoidance:** Research shows you’re significantly more likely to succeed when you focus on what you’re moving toward (freedom, energy, peace) rather than what you’re running from (weight gain, judgment, discomfort). **Start Small:** On hard days, “I’m grateful I woke up today” is enough. Progress over perfection, always. ----- Resources Mentioned: - **The Recovery Collective:** Bi-weekly community calls where we practice living recovery with intention together. Founding member pricing: $47/month for the first 6 months. Learn more and apply at www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective ----- Action Steps: **Grab your journal and answer these three questions right now:** 1. What are 3 things I’m grateful for? (At least one recovery-related) 1. What am I focused on gaining this week in my recovery? 1. What am I choosing to release today? **Commit to asking yourself these questions every morning this week** and notice how it shifts your day **Next time you catch yourself body checking or food obsessing,** pause and run through the 3 questions to ground yourself back in intention ----- Quotes from This Episode: *“Your eating disorder loves when you’re reactive—it feeds off your panic, your fear, your overwhelm. But when you start with intention, you take that power back.”* *“You can’t gain what you want while holding onto everything from your past. You can’t move forward while gripping tightly to old beliefs, old behaviors, old versions of yourself.”* *“When you’re living with intention instead of reaction, recovery becomes something you’re actively creating rather than something you’re just trying to survive.”* *“We’re not white-knuckling our way through recovery anymore. We’re intentionally choosing what we want to gain.”* *“Recovery is so much sweeter when you’re not white-knuckling it by yourself.”* Connect with Lindsey
💝 Rate and review to help more perfectionists find freedom 💝 Share with a friend who's stuck in the perfection trap 💝 Join the Facebook community for recovery hugs and support 💝 Apply for 1:1 coaching if you're ready for personalized guidance Special Announcements:🎉 Subscribe to the email list at www.herbestself.co to get your free recovery journal download 🎉 Free FB Community at www.herbestselfsociety.com About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 243: Stop Measuring Recovery Like an A-Student (What Success Really Means) + How to Overcome Perfectionism | 30 Sep 2025 | 00:14:50 | |
What does success really mean in recovery? In this powerful solo episode, Lindsey gets real about perfectionism, the fear of success vs. fear of failure, and why trying to be an "A-student" at recovery keeps you stuck. If you've ever felt like you're not trying hard enough, not far enough along, or wondered what life would look like if you actually succeeded at recovery - this episode is for you. Discover why traditional definitions of success are keeping you trapped and learn a new perspective that will transform how you approach your recovery journey. Key Topics Covered:⚡ The perfectionist's dilemma: Why wanting recovery to be flawless keeps you stuck ⚡ Two types of fear: Fear of failure vs. fear of success in recovery ⚡ Redefining success: From what you accomplish to who you become ⚡ The pressure of "A-student recovery": Why this mindset leads to relapse ⚡ Surrender and empowerment: Research on how letting go creates better outcomes ⚡ Daily choices over gold medals: Success when no one is watching The Two Fears That Keep You Stuck: Fear of Failure
Success = Who you become in the process, not what you accomplish Success equals:
🤔 Where do I spend my time and energy?
🤔 Am I putting one foot in front of the other?
🤔 What would success look like if I lived in accordance with:
🤔 Am I being honest to myself and others?
🤔 Am I contributing to the world or being consumed by it? Key Insights from This Episode:💡 "Success doesn't equal full recovery - success equals your best self" 💡 "You don't get a PhD for healing - there's no 'better' way to heal than anyone else" 💡 "The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake - you can't learn anything from being perfect" 💡 "You weren't called to be perfect - you're just called to be better" 💡 "The more you surrender and let be, the higher you rise" 💡 "If you thought you're not gonna fail because you're just gonna keep going until you arrive, it takes the pressure off" Research Highlights:📊 Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology: Individuals who surrendered to God or a higher power in recovery had increased feelings of personal empowerment and happiness 📊 Addiction Sciences and Clinical Practice: Surrender was associated with the highest positive recovery outcomes The Reality Check:✨ You don't get applause for daily recovery choices ✨ There's no gold medal for healing ✨ Success is in the daily choices when no one is watching ✨ You're allowed to be perfectly flawed ✨ Constant growth leads to happiness and contentment ✨ The eating disorder doesn't know what to do when you surrender control From One Client's Story:A client came to Lindsey after a "bad day" expecting judgment. Instead, Lindsey asked: "Do you want me to sit in that pity party with you, or do you want me to ask: Where do we go from here? What's next?" The client's response: "You're right. I need to put this down. Tomorrow's a new day. I need to surrender this." This is true for you too. Moving Forward:Stop driving for perfection - it simply doesn't exist Embrace mistakes - they're where momentum comes from Measure small wins - daily progress over perfection Surrender control - to gain ultimate control, courage, acceptance, and trust Focus inward - character growth over external validation Ready for Community Support? Join The Recovery Collective!If you're tired of trying to be perfect at recovery, if you're caught between fear of failure and fear of success, if you want support from women who understand the pressure of high-performing perfectionism - The Recovery Collective is for you. What You'll Find:
Special Founding Member Pricing:
Recovery doesn't require perfection - it requires showing up. Let's show up together. Ready to join? Visit www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective for more information Connect with Lindsey
💝 Rate and review to help more perfectionists find freedom 💝 Share with a friend who's stuck in the perfection trap 💝 Join the Facebook community for recovery hugs and support 💝 Apply for 1:1 coaching if you're ready for personalized guidance Special Announcements:🎉 Upcoming this fall: Masterclass, giveaways, and exciting new offerings 🎉 Subscribe to the email list at www.herbestself.co to get first access 🎉 Free FB Community at www.herbestselfsociety.com If You're Reading This and Struggling:You don't have to be perfect at recovery. You don't have to check all the boxes. You don't have to be further along than you are. Success is showing up today, even when yesterday was hard. Success is choosing growth over perfection. Success is becoming who you're meant to be, not achieving some impossible standard. You are worthy. You are strong. You are perfectly capable right now, today, to lean into the biggest struggle of your life. Consider this your virtual hug from Lindsey. You've got this, beautiful. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 242: Practical Meal Planning Tips & Tricks to Lessen Stress & Reduce Food Anxiety ~ HBS Interview With Dietitian Brittany Braswell | 26 Sep 2025 | 00:34:31 | |
In this powerful interview, Lindsey sits down with Brittany Braswell, a registered dietitian, food freedom coach, and host of Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast. Brittany shares her unique approach to eating disorder recovery that integrates evidence-based nutrition with Christian faith, creating lasting transformation for women struggling with food guilt and body shame. In this episode you will discover practical strategies for menu planning without restriction, overcoming fear foods, and why having a strong faith foundation accelerates recovery progress. This episode is perfect for: Christian women in eating disorder recovery, anyone struggling with meal planning anxiety, and those seeking faith-based approaches to food freedom. Meet Brittany Braswell:🎓 Registered Dietitian with 12+ years experience 🎤 Public Speaker and Podcast Host of Faith-Filled Food Freedom 💝 Specializes in: Food freedom and body image coaching for Christian women 🏡 Life: Wife and mom of three in small-town Alabama ✨ Mission: Helping women break free from food guilt and body shame through Christ-centered coaching Key Topics Covered: Brittany's Journey to Food Freedom
Brittany's Go-To Mexican Bowl:
💡 "Our bodies were created by the Lord, so He knows them better than we do" 💡 "Clients who integrated faith made progress faster and sustained it longer" 💡 "You don't have to do recovery like an A-student - there's no perfect way" 💡 "Having a plan doesn't mean you can't be intuitive - it means ingredients are available when cravings hit" 💡 "Everything will feel scary first when incorporating new foods" Brittany's Definition of "Best Self":"Having total peace about saying no and setting boundaries"
✅ Provides solid foundation beyond personal willpower ✅ Offers truth to combat eating disorder lies ✅ Reduces pressure of carrying recovery weight alone ✅ Creates sustainable progress vs. white-knuckling ✅ Addresses identity and worth at the core level ✅ Prevents relapse behaviors from perfectionist pressure For Christian Women in Recovery:🙏 Your faith matters in your food freedom journey 🙏 God designed your body and knows what it needs 🙏 Recovery doesn't have to be perfect - grace covers the messy middle 🙏 Community and accountability accelerate healing 🙏 Your identity is in Christ not in food control or body size 🙏 Boundaries are biblical and necessary for wholeness Connect with Brittany Braswell:🎧 Podcast: Faith-Filled Food Freedom (wherever you listen to podcasts) 🌐 Website: www.brittanybraswellrd.com 📚 Free Resources: www.brittanybraswellrd.com/herbestself Free Resources Mentioned:Visit www.brittanybraswellrd.com/herbestself for:
✨ Menu planning can support intuitive eating when done flexibly ✨ Faith provides the foundation recovery needs to be sustainable ✨ Fear foods become manageable with education and gradual exposure ✨ Quick meal strategies prevent eating disorder thoughts from winning ✨ Accountability accelerates progress in recovery ✨ Boundaries protect your recovery and honor your values ✨ You don't have to be perfect at recovery to be successful For Supporters and Family:Understanding that:
💕 Rate and review to help more women find faith-based recovery content 💕 Share with a friend who's struggling with food and faith integration 💕 Follow Brittany's podcast Faith-Filled Food Freedom 💕 Connect in comments about your biggest takeaway Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. | |||
| EP 241: After 10+ Years of Fighting ~ The Missing Piece in Your Recovery Journey + What You May Need Beyond Therapy | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:18:04 | |
If you've been fighting eating disorder recovery for 10, 20, or even 40+ years, this episode is specifically for you. You've probably been to therapy, worked with dietitians, read all the books, and know more about nutrition than most professionals - but you're still struggling. Why? In this deeply personal episode, I'm sharing real stories from women who've been in this battle for decades and revealing the missing piece that most traditional treatment approaches overlook. Plus, I'm introducing something I've been dreaming about for months that goes beyond individual therapy to address what your recovery journey might actually need. If you've ever thought "I should be over this by now" or "I can't keep doing this alone," this episode will remind you that you're not broken - you just might need a different approach. What You'll Learn:
"You probably know more about nutrition than most dietitians. The missing piece isn't more information - it's support and community." "Isolation is eating disorder fuel, and support and community is recovery fuel." "Research shows us that peer support - connecting with others who truly understand your experience - is one of the most powerful predictors of lasting recovery." "You were never meant to do recovery alone." Client Stories Featured:
The Recovery Collective - A bi-weekly virtual support group for women in eating disorder recovery What it includes:
Founding Member Special:
Note: The Recovery Collective is designed to complement, not replace, professional treatment. Take Action:Ready to find your recovery family? Apply to become a founding member of The Recovery Collective at www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective The process just takes a few minutes and could be the step that changes everything for your recovery journey. Connect with Lindsey
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.
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| EP 240: How to Overcome "Never Enough" Thoughts in Your Recovery Journey + The Pep Talk You Need to Break Free From Shame📍 | 19 Sep 2025 | 00:13:27 | |
If you've been struggling with feeling like you're not good enough, constantly falling short, or carrying the weight of perfectionism on your shoulders, this episode is your gentle reminder that you are already enough. Host Lindsey Nichol shares a heartfelt message about breaking free from the shame cycle that keeps us trapped in eating disorder patterns and perfectionist thinking. In This Episode, You'll Learn:
✨ You don't need to weigh yourself to determine your worth ✨ Feelings aren't facts - the fact is you are enough ✨ You can't hate yourself into a version you'll love ✨ Stop trying to be enough - you already are Action Steps:
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 239.5: From Trauma to Triumph ~ 6 Things Your Past Can Teach You **Must Listen Fav!** | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:16:54 | |
In this powerful episode, Lindsey gets vulnerable about the connection between trauma and eating disorders, sharing why sometimes it's okay to look at our past to catapult us into our future. If you've experienced trauma and are wondering how it connects to your eating disorder, this episode will provide hope, healing insights, and practical steps forward. Discover the 6 essential things to remember about your past that can transform your recovery journey and help you move from survival to thriving. Note: This episode addresses sensitive topics around trauma. Lindsey emphasizes that as a recovery coach, she focuses on the here and now of recovery, while encouraging professional therapy support for trauma processing. Key Topics Covered:💔 The trauma-eating disorder connection: Why 81% of people with eating disorders have experienced trauma 🧠 Understanding trauma types: Acute vs. chronic trauma and how it relates to ED development 🛡️ Eating disorders as coping mechanisms: How restriction becomes a false sense of control 🌅 6 powerful reminders about your past that can transform your recovery journey 🕊️ The role of forgiveness in healing and moving forward 💪 Why your deepest pain can become your greatest triumph Shocking Statistics Revealed:📊 25% of those with eating disorders also meet criteria for PTSD 📊 81% of people with eating disorders had at least one traumatic experience 📊 68% experienced trauma before any eating disorder symptoms appeared These numbers show you're not alone and that the connection between trauma and eating disorders is real and valid. Common Traumas Associated with Eating Disorders:⚡ Childhood abuse (physical, emotional, sexual) ⚡ Bullying or social ostracism ⚡ Body shaming and weight stigma ⚡ Loss and grief experiences ⚡ Accidents or medical trauma ⚡ Intergenerational or cultural traumatic events Remember: Trauma is subjective - what's traumatic for one person may not be for another, and that's completely valid. 6 Things to Remember About Your Past: 1. Your Past Doesn't Exist Anymore
🔍 Eating disorders as control: When the world feels chaotic, restricting food can feel like the one thing you can control 🔍 Numbing mechanism: ED behaviors often serve to numb overwhelming emotions from traumatic experiences 🔍 False sense of safety: The eating disorder creates an illusion of control and perfection 🔍 Survival strategy: You turned to these behaviors because you needed to survive in that moment Powerful Quotes from This Episode:💭 "The deepest, hardest, darkest pain you've been through is most often what's going to catapult you into your highest, best, and truest version of yourself." 💭 "Your wound is not your fault, but your healing is most certainly your responsibility." 💭 "You do not need to judge your past self with your current wisdom." 💭 "You now know better, so you can now do better." 💭 "You aren't damaged. You're not broken. Nothing needs to be fixed, including your body." Important Reminders:✨ Trauma-informed care is crucial for eating disorder recovery ✨ Professional therapy support is essential for processing trauma ✨ Recovery coaching focuses on the here and now, not digging up past trauma ✨ Forgiveness is part of the healing equation ✨ You're worthy of a life free from pain, regardless of your past Questions for Self-Reflection:🤔 What am I holding onto and why? 🤔 What can be released from my past? 🤔 What needs to be forgiven? 🤔 How can my past serve as a teacher rather than a prison? 🤔 What version of myself am I ready to let go of? Ready for Support? Work with Lindsey:If you're ready for accountability, support, and freedom from your eating disorder, and you're done playing small, Lindsey would love to connect with you. Next Steps:
What You'll Get:
🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Private Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟 Email List: Join at www.herbestself.co for upcoming announcements about new services Love this episode? Here's how you can support:💕 Rate and review the podcast to help more women find freedom 💕 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear about trauma healing 💕 Join the private Facebook community for ongoing support 💕 Connect on social media and let Lindsey know how this impacted you Special Announcement:🎉 Podcast Anniversary Coming! Her Best Self Podcast anniversary is 10/10 - don't miss out on joining the Recovery Collective! You can find more details on how you can join our special support group for women here: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective If You're Struggling with Trauma and Recovery Today:Remember that whatever you've experienced, whatever trauma you're carrying, you're still worthy of a life free from pain. Your past has served a purpose, but it doesn't have to define where you're going. You have the power to take what you've learned and use it to catapult yourself into your highest and best self. Your healing journey matters, and you deserve nothing less than complete freedom.
Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 239: "Am I Eating Too Much?" ~ Understanding Extreme Hunger (What's Really Happening in Your Body & How To Cope) | 12 Sep 2025 | 00:22:39 | |
Are you experiencing intense hunger in recovery and wondering if something is wrong? Feeling like you can't get full no matter how much you eat? In this essential episode, Lindsey breaks down everything you need to know about extreme hunger in eating disorder recovery - why it happens, what it looks like, and most importantly, that it's completely normal and necessary for healing. Whether you're early in recovery or experiencing hunger waves after years of healing, this episode will help you understand your body's wisdom and navigate this phase with self-compassion instead of fear. Today's Truth: Extreme hunger is your body's way of healing and honoring it is one of the bravest things you can do in recovery. Key Topics Covered:🍽️ What extreme hunger actually is - The different types and what they feel like in your body 🧠 Why extreme hunger happens - The science behind your body's need for extra nourishment ⏰ When it can occur - Early recovery, years later, or anytime your body needs healing 🚫 Myth-busting - Why extreme hunger isn't binge eating and doesn't mean you'll "blow up" 💪 Practical coping strategies - How to navigate extreme hunger with confidence and self-compassion 🤝 Dealing with others - How to handle comments from people who don't understand recovery Types of Extreme Hunger Explained:🔹 Mechanical Hunger: Physical growling, gnawing sensations, feeling like a bottomless pit 🔹 Mental Hunger: Obsessive food thoughts, inability to concentrate on anything but eating 🔹 Reactive Eating: Eating large amounts quickly, especially previously restricted foods 🔹 Primal Hunger: Desperate, urgent need to eat that feels impossible to ignore What this might look like:
Remember: All of this is your body's wisdom in action. Why Extreme Hunger Happens:✅ Metabolic restoration - Your metabolism needs extra energy to speed back up to normal levels ✅ Physical repair - Your body is repairing damage to organs, bones, hair, skin, and tissues ✅ Replenishing stores - Restoring depleted fat stores, glycogen, and energy reserves ✅ Trust building - Your body needs to learn that food will be consistently available Key insight: Extreme hunger can happen at ANY stage of recovery - sometimes years later when your body feels safe enough to ask for what it really needs. Myths About Extreme Hunger (DEBUNKED):❌ Myth: "Everyone experiences extreme hunger in recovery" ✅ Truth: Not everyone does, and that's okay - every body is different ❌ Myth: "Extreme hunger is bad or means something is wrong" ✅ Truth: It's your body's intelligence and healing in action ❌ Myth: "Extreme hunger means you're binge eating" ✅ Truth: This is biological necessity, not psychological binge eating ❌ Myth: "If you honor it, you'll gain too much weight" ✅ Truth: Your body will settle at its natural weight when fully nourished Practical Coping Strategies:🌟 Honor Your Hunger - Eat when hungry, as much as you're hungry for, whatever you're craving 🌟 Challenge ED Voice - Replace "This is too much" with "My body is healing" 🌟 Don't Compensate - No extra exercise, meal skipping, or restricting the next day 🌟 Include All Foods - Your body often craves calorie-dense foods for important reasons 🌟 Practice Self-Compassion - Remember your "why" and thank your body for its wisdom 🌟 Handle Outside Comments - You don't owe explanations for nourishing your body 🌟 Remember It's Temporary - Extreme hunger normalizes as your body heals and trusts Signs Hunger Is Normalizing:✨ Hunger cues become more predictable ✨ You can go longer between meals comfortably ✨ Food thoughts become less obsessive ✨ You naturally desire a variety of foods ✨ Physical hunger matches mental satisfaction Key Takeaways:💝 Your hunger is not your enemy - It's your body's wisdom guiding your healing 💝 This is normal and necessary - Extreme hunger is part of recovery, not a sign of failure 💝 Trust your body - It knows exactly what it needs to heal, even when it feels scary 💝 You're not binge eating - This is biological necessity driven by your body's needs 💝 It's temporary - Hunger will normalize as your body heals and learns to trust 💝 You don't need to justify nourishing yourself - To anyone, ever For Those Supporting Someone in Recovery:What NOT to say:
What TO say:
Finally, a recovery community that normalizes experiences like extreme hunger. If this episode resonated with you, you're exactly who The Recovery Collective was created for. This is where women in all phases of eating disorder recovery come together every other week to normalize confusing experiences like extreme hunger, support each other through scary phases, and celebrate victories along the way. What You Get:
Special Founding Member Pricing:
Imagine having a safe space where you could share that you're experiencing extreme hunger and receive understanding and practical support instead of judgment or confusion. Your body's wisdom deserves to be celebrated, not questioned. Ready to learn more? Join us in the collective! www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective Connect with Lindsey
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. Experiencing Extreme Hunger Right Now? Remember:Your hunger is not your enemy. Your body is not trying to trick you or hurt you. When extreme hunger shows up, it's your body saying "I trust you enough now to ask for what I really need." Honor that trust. Honor that hunger. Honor that incredibly wise body of yours that's working so hard to heal. You deserve nourishment, you deserve recovery, and you deserve to trust your body's wisdom. Progress over perfection, always. | |||
| EP 238: The Truth About Recovering from an Eating Disorder Alone vs. in Community + Why I Wish I'd Had a Support Group Sooner | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:21:18 | |
Have you ever felt completely alone in your eating disorder recovery? Like you're the only one dealing with food thoughts, body image struggles, and the exhaustion of pretending you're "fine"? In this vulnerable episode, Lindsey shares her personal story of trying to recover mostly in isolation and why she's now passionate about creating healing communities for women. Discover the research-backed reasons why community isn't just nice to have in recovery—it's essential. Plus, learn about The Recovery Collective, a new support group launching in October 2025 specifically for women in eating disorder recovery. Today's Truth: You were never meant to heal alone, and community isn't just nice to have in recovery - it's essential. Key Topics Covered:🤝 Lindsey's personal story: What it felt like to recover mostly alone with limited community support 🧠 The science behind community healing: Research-backed evidence of why support groups transform recovery 💔 The isolation trap: How eating disorders thrive in secrecy and why healing alone is harder than it needs to be ✨ What community provides: Normalization, accountability, shared wisdom, and hope 🌟 The Recovery Collective: A new support group launching October 2024 for women in all phases of recovery Research Highlights:📊 Support groups reduce symptoms: Studies show support groups helped reduce post-meal distress in young people with anorexia and can prevent disordered eating 📊 Connection drives recovery: Research confirms that eating disorder recovery is largely influenced by the individual's sense of connection to self and others 📊 Isolation increases struggle: When socially isolated, you lack the support and connection that can help protect against negative self-perception and low self-esteem 📊 Community decreases stigma: Eating disorder support groups offer safe spaces that decrease isolation and stigma while increasing engagement and motivation 📊 29 million affected: Nearly 30 million Americans will experience an eating disorder at some point during their lifetime What Community Provides in Recovery:💬 Language for your experience - Finally having words for what you're going through instead of feeling "crazy" 🔍 Perspective and reality checks - Others who can distinguish between your eating disorder voice and your true self 💕 Accountability that feels like love - Gentle support that comes from care, not judgment 🌈 Proof that recovery is possible - Seeing women further along in recovery living free, vibrant lives 🛡️ Protection against isolation - Regular connection that prevents the dangerous spiral of being alone with ED thoughts 🎯 Practical wisdom - Real-life strategies from women who've faced similar challenges Key Takeaways:✨ You don't have to heal alone - Recovery was never meant to be a solo journey ✨ Community isn't replacement for therapy - It's the ongoing support that helps you live your recovery, not just survive it ✨ The right kind of community matters - Led by someone with lived experience who understands both clinical and personal aspects ✨ Consistency is crucial - Regular, ongoing support rather than crisis-only intervention ✨ Isolation fuels eating disorders - Breaking the cycle of secrecy and shame is essential for healing Introducing The Recovery Collective (Launching October 2025!)Finally, a recovery community that truly gets it. The Recovery Collective is where women in all phases of eating disorder recovery come together every other week to lock arms, share real struggles, and heal together in a safe, supportive environment. What You Get:
What Makes This Different:
Special Founding Member Pricing:
Who This Is For:
Recovery is possible, and it's so much sweeter when you're not doing it alone. Ready to learn more? www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective Connect with Lindsey
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you identify the core beliefs feeding your eating disorder, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. Love this episode? Here's how you can support:💕 Share it with a woman who's feeling alone in her recovery journey 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help other women find hope and community 💕Reach out if you're interested in The Recovery Collective founding member spots Feeling Isolated in Your Recovery? Remember:You were never designed to heal alone. The exhaustion you feel from battling thoughts by yourself, the loneliness of feeling like no one understands - that's not how recovery has to be. Community changes everything, and you deserve to be seen, heard, and valued in your healing journey. Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you recover alone. Healing is meant to happen in relationship, with support, and with women who can look you in the eye and say "I've been there too, and you're going to be okay." Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.
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| EP 237: Do I Still Have Bad Body Image Days? (The Honest Truth) + My 8 Step Bad Body Image Toolkit | 05 Sep 2025 | 00:18:07 | |
What does recovery actually look like years later? Do bad body image days ever completely disappear? In this vulnerable episode, Lindsey pulls back the curtain on her life after eating disorder recovery and shares exactly what she does when difficult body image moments show up - because yes, they still do sometimes. If you've ever wondered what to expect from recovery or you're struggling with perfectionism around your healing journey, this episode will give you hope and practical tools you can use today. Today's Truth: Recovery doesn't mean perfection - it means having the tools to navigate difficult moments with love instead of war. Key Topics Covered:🌟 The reality check: Do bad body image days ever completely stop? 🌟 Why having difficult moments doesn't mean you're "not recovered enough" 🌟 The difference between struggling in active eating disorder vs. recovery 🌟 8 practical tools for navigating bad body image days 🌟 How thoughts about your body directly impact how you feel in your body Lindsey's 8-Step Bad Body Image Day Toolkit:✨ Give Yourself Grace Upon Grace
✨ Throw on Comfy, Baggy Clothes
✨ Get to the Root: What Am I Trying to Control?
✨ Resist Mirror-Checking Temptation
✨ Honor Yourself with Mindful Eating
✨ Notice Exercise Compulsions and Pause
✨ No Social Media Scrolling
✨ Ask "How Do I Want to Feel?"
💝 Recovery isn't about never struggling - it's about struggling with love instead of war 💝 Bad days don't mean bad weeks or months - you have tools now 💝 Your humanity doesn't disqualify your recovery - difficult moments are normal 💝 Progress over perfection, always - you're exactly where you need to be 💝 You can do hard things - including sitting with uncomfortable feelings Research Highlight:Studies show that when we focus on how we want to feel in our bodies rather than how we think we look, it directly impacts our actual body image experience. Our thoughts about our bodies influence how we experience being in our bodies - which means we have more power than we realize! Ready for Community Support? Join The Recovery Collective!Finally, a recovery community that gets it. If this episode resonated with you, you're exactly who The Recovery Collective was created for. This is where women in all phases of eating disorder recovery come together every other week to normalize the messy parts of healing, celebrate victories, and support each other with practical tools and genuine understanding. What You Get:
Special Founding Member Pricing:
Imagine having a safe space where you could share that you're having a difficult body image day and receive understanding, practical support, and gentle reminders of your worth instead of judgment. Recovery is possible right now, and it's so much more beautiful when we do it together. Ready to sign up? www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective Ready for Support?📧 Email Lindsey: info@lindseynichol.com 🌐 Apply for Recovery Coaching: www.herbestself.co 💕 Join the Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com Limited spots available for fall coaching - only 2 slots remaining Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.
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| EP 236: 7 Books Every Woman in Recovery Needs on Her Nightstand + Your Personal Invite to The Recovery Collective Support Group💕 | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:18:26 | |
Are you tired of self-help books that sound good but don't create real change in your recovery journey? In this episode, Lindsey shares 7 current book recommendations that she's actively using with clients and in her own healing - books that will meet you right where you are and support your next brave step toward freedom. Whether you're just beginning to question your relationship with food and your body, or you're years into recovery and ready for that next level of freedom, there's something here for you. Today's Truth: You deserve resources that support your healing, and recovery is possible right now....but sometimes you just need an extra boost of belief! Books Featured in This Episode:📚 "Feed Yourself" by Leslie Schilling
📚 "You're Not Enough (And That's Okay)" by Allie Stuckey
📚 "Goodbye Perfect" by Homaira Kabir
📚 "Already Enough: A Path to Self-Acceptance" by Lisa Olivera
📚 "Don't Believe Everything You Think" by Joseph Nguyen
📚 "A Crown That Lasts: You Are Not Your Label" by Demi Tebow
📚 "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brené Brown
✨ Recovery is possible right now - You don't have to wait until you're "ready enough" ✨ You are not your eating disorder - Your thoughts and diagnosis don't define your worth ✨ Progress over perfection - Healing isn't linear, and that's completely normal ✨ You can do hard things - And you don't have to do them alone ✨ Your journey is unique - What works for others might look different for you, and that's okay Exciting News: The Recovery Collective is Launching October 2025!Finally, a recovery community that gets it. The Recovery Collective is where women in all phases of eating disorder recovery come together bi-weekly to share wins, navigate challenges, and build lasting freedom in a safe, supportive community. What You Get:
Special Founding Member Pricing:
Recovery isn't a destination - it's a journey best taken together. www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective Connect with Lindsey:🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if you're reading any of these books! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||
| EP 235.5: The 3 Core Beliefs That Are Secretly Fueling Your Eating Disorder + What to Do Next to Change the Way You Think | 29 Aug 2025 | 00:16:48 | |
Core beliefs are the fundamental, deeply held beliefs we develop in early childhood that shape how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. In this eye-opening episode, Lindsey breaks down how eating disorders stem from and reinforce negative core beliefs that can take years to heal from. Learn about the three types of core beliefs that are secretly feeding your disordered eating patterns and discover how to identify and transform these beliefs to break free from the cycle keeping you stuck. Key Takeaways
What It Includes:
How It Feeds EDs:
How to Change It:
What It Includes:
How It Feeds EDs:
How to Change It:
What It Includes:
How It Feeds EDs:
How to Change It:
The Connection:
From: "I'm not good enough" To: "I am a warrior becoming someone I've never been before" From: "I must be perfect to be loved" To: "I am worthy of love exactly as I am" From: "The world is unsafe" To: "I can create meaning and purpose beyond my fears" Journal Prompts for Core Belief Work
Be the Change:
If you're ready for personalized support in transforming the core beliefs keeping you stuck, Lindsey has one slot available for personal coaching, plus amazing support coaches on her team. Fill out a client application at herbestself.co and get the help you need to see yourself, others, and the world differently. Connect with Lindsey
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you identify the core beliefs feeding your eating disorder, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder. | |||