Her Best Self: Freedom from Disordered Eating, Body Obsession & Perfectionism

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: Why so many women stay stuck in the destructive cycle (hint: they don't believe freedom is possible) The truth: Belief CAN be created, and it's a crucial step in the healing process The BELIEF Framework: 6 proven steps to create unwavering faith in your recovery B - Begin Small: Why trying to change everything at once keeps you stuck E - Embrace Support: The game-changing power of working with someone specialized in ED recovery L - Learn and Learn Again: How educating yourself builds reassurance and hope I - Imagine Your Future: The science behind visualization and why your brain can't tell the difference E - Establish Positive Practices: How to challenge negative thoughts and speak kinder to yourself F - Focus on Why: Why your "why" is greater than your "now" The powerful William James quote: "Belief creates actual fact" Why recovery is scientifically and clinically possible (yes, even for you) How to answer the question: "Can I believe there is something greater on the other side of all this?" 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 STEPS This 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 FACT William 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.

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: How Kevin met me shortly after recovery and realized it's an ongoing journey, not a one-and-done Why his instinct to "fix" me actually created distance instead of intimacy The words he thought were supportive that actually made me feel dismissed What he did that made me feel the MOST safe and supported How he learned not to react in passion or frustration, but to actively listen instead Why asking "What do you need right now to feel safe?" changed everything How Kevin had to recognize that what HE needs for his body is very different from what I need The learning curve of being an alpha male married to someone in ED recovery What it really looks like to be "the man behind the biz" (spoiler: it's cooking, cleaning, and holding down the fort) Kevin's 5 practical takeaways for men supporting their wives through ED recovery or body image struggles A sneak peek at future episodes where Kevin will come back to share more of his perspective 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 NICHOL Kevin is: A law enforcement officer A fitness enthusiast who lifts heavy and pushes himself to the limit An alpha personality—strong, driven, disciplined A man of God A father to two boys Lindsey's husband and "the man behind the biz" The anchor who holds down the fort so Lindsey can do this work 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 MEN If 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: "You're fine" "Just eat more" "You look great, stop worrying" 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: She's loved She's more than enough Her value isn't tied to her body She is who God created her to be #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 SAFE Kevin 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: Cooking dinner so Lindsey didn't have to make food decisions Picking the restaurant so she didn't spiral in anxiety Reminding her of her truth and worth Simply sitting with her without trying to solve anything The result? Lindsey felt seen. Heard. Supported. Like Kevin was on her team. THE ALPHA MALE LEARNING CURVE As 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: To be mindful of how he talked about fitness and discipline To grant Lindsey permission to have a different relationship with her body than he has with his That her recovery doesn't look like his fitness journey—and that's okay 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 BIZ Kevin 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: Cooking meals Cleaning the house Taking care of the boys so Lindsey can record the podcast Getting the kids to bed so Lindsey can do yoga or self-care Holding down the fort so Lindsey can show up for her clients and her calling 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 BACK This is the first of what we hope will be many episodes with Kevin. Future topics might include: What NOT to Say to Your Wife About Food or Body How to Be Her Safe Place When She's Spiraling Navigating Intimacy When She's Struggling with Body Image The Man's Perspective on Recovery: What You're Really Feeling (And How to Handle It) 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

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: Why food isn't the problem (control is) and what you're really searching for The shocking truth about calorie tracking apps (73% of MyFitnessPal users reported it contributed to disordered eating!) 6 actionable steps to stop counting calories for good How to transform your thinking around calories (they're energy, not the enemy) What triggers to eliminate from your life RIGHT NOW How to face the fear and challenge yourself in restaurants and at home What to count INSTEAD of calories (hint: Episode 56 has 30 ideas!) Why honoring your hunger is the key to freedom The powerful statement that will shift everything: "100 more calories won't change your life, but the decision to avoid them will" 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 CONTROL Food 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 GOOD STEP #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: Why it's there in the first place What you're searching for when you're counting What knowing that number is actually giving you Is what it's giving you a good outcome? Or is it just leading to more shame? 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: Have someone in your house or someone close to you go grocery shopping for you Challenge yourself if you're at the store to shorten your shopping time and select only items you cannot check labels of Make it a game: Nothing goes in your basket that you've looked at the label for Select only items that you don't know the calorie content of 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: Why do I wanna count this thing? What am I making this mean by counting it? Grant yourself grace and permission to NOT count 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 HEAR Calories 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 idoli

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: Why reading matters in your recovery (and why it's different from scrolling social media) 6 game-changing books that will give you momentum in 2026 How to tackle limiting beliefs and trust that recovery is figureoutable Why you don't need everyone's approval to live your life (and recover) How to understand who you are at your core—beyond the eating disorder's lies The power of shame resilience and why shame doesn't get to win A raw, honest fiction novel that mirrors the struggle and hope of recovery How to live in the beautiful tension of "now and not yet" on your journey 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 Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga Human Design by Jenna Zoe I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn't) by Brené Brown Slip by Mallary Tarplay Now and Not Yet by Ruth Chou Simons 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.

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: Why starting with strategy is keeping you stuck in the recovery cycle The 3B Framework: Being, Belief, and Blueprint (and why the order matters) Why anyone promising "one proven way" to recover is lying to you The real reason my clients see lasting transformation (it's not the meal plan) My personal figure skating story and how old beliefs kept me trapped for years The moment at the ice rink that showed me I was finally free Why the patterns and behaviors won't change long-lasting if the soul work isn't met How to identify the story you've been telling yourself that's keeping you stuck Practical homework to excavate your core beliefs and rewrite your narrative 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 EXPLAINED This 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? What is the urgency of your situation? What is your mental, emotional, and physical state when you come to me? Are you in crisis? Are you stuck in quasi-recovery? Are you white-knuckling your way through life pretending you're fine when you're actually dying inside? 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? What narrative have you been living in for months, years, maybe even decades? What do you believe about yourself, your body, your worth, your identity? Are you believing that you're only worthy if you're small? That food is the enemy? That control equals safety? That you'll never recover? That this is just who you are? 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 TRAPPED Over 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-CHANGER That 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" LIES Run 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 BELIEFS Here'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. Que

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: Why I laughed when my therapist suggested journaling (and why I was so wrong) The shocking statistics about mental health and why we need to process, not just consume 7 powerful benefits of journaling in eating disorder recovery (backed by science) How journaling reduces anxiety and depression while boosting your immune system Why getting thoughts OUT of your mind is critical for cognitive processing How writing promotes healing, acceptance, and actually changes your brain The way I used journaling to replace negative coping mechanisms with positive ones How journaling gives you reset, redirection, and compassion for your journey Why reflecting on your progress through old journals sparks hope and momentum Practical tips on how to start journaling TODAY (no fancy notebook required) 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 RECOVERY BENEFIT #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 BRAIN Journaling 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 TODAY Start 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 LINDSEY I 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+ y

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: Why "new year, new you" is toxic garbage (especially in ED recovery) The ONE emotion that will actually get you out of ED hell (hint: it's frustration) Why feeling "sick of yourself" isn't weakness—it's readiness My personal story of how I had to get ANGRY with myself to finally stop playing games with recovery What your eating disorder has actually taken from you over the years (and how many more years you're going to let it take) 3 powerful action steps to channel your frustration: plate-throwing, journaling prompts, and the anger letter The raw, unfiltered reality of what recovery actually takes (no sugarcoating) Why you need to stop negotiating with your ED and start getting pissed off enough to do something different 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: Detox teas Meal plans Fitness challenges Before-and-after pictures "Fresh start" messaging everywhere 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: You're still here, still struggling, still stuck Another year has passed and you're not where you thought you'd be Recovery feels so hard You're missing out on life because you're too wrapped up in food, body, and control 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 CHANGE I 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 FRUSTRATION Don'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 TAKES Hope 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 2026 If you're sitting here think

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: Why 2025 felt "blah" for me (and why that's okay) How my word "leadership" in 2025 taught me hard lessons I didn't see coming What "becoming" means for me in 2026—and why it's the scariest and most freeing word I could choose Why becoming is about transitioning from structure to being okay in the gray How a word of the year gives you a North Star in recovery when you feel lost Why your identity isn't lost in the eating disorder—it's buried (and recovery is the process of becoming your true self) Practical questions to help YOU choose your word for 2026 Why your word doesn't have to be perfect to be powerful 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 2026 In 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 RECOVERY Having 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 2026 Ready 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: Brave Trust Nourish Grace Enough Present Surrender 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: LEADERSHIP In this episode, I share the raw truth about how my 2025 word "leadership" showed up: I had to make the really hard decision to fire some of my support staff and go back to running my business solo I invested a large amount of money in a business coach who didn't deliver and didn't keep her commitment—and I was left feeling burned and frustrated But that experience taught me what NOT to be as a leader and who I wanted to attract into my life and business It eventually led me to an incredible coach and mentor who has been exactly what I needed Leadership meant I had to lead myself first—push forward without second-guessing, stop questioning myself, and just trust 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 LINDSEY 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. 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.

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: The #5 episode that helped you connect your emotions to your eating disorder thoughts The #4 episode that called out what's keeping you stuck (and gave you permission to stop) The #3 episode that showed former athletes how to use their competitive edge for recovery, not restriction The #2 episode that gave you a 3-step framework to end all-or-nothing thinking forever And the #1 MOST DOWNLOADED episode of 2025—the one that helped you move beyond the mirror and overcome body image distortion 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 LINDSEY Thank 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.

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 The truth about metabolism: What it actually is and how it works in your body Can you break your metabolism? Spoiler alert: No, but you can slow it down (and speed it back up!) The myth of "calories in vs. calories out" and why this oversimplified formula doesn't tell the whole story What happens to your body during restriction: How your metabolism, digestion, heart rate, and body temperature all slow down to conserve energy Hypermetabolism in recovery: Why your body goes into "high gear" during the restoration process Science-backed hope: Research showing metabolic changes are fully reversible How to boost your metabolism: Practical steps to work WITH your body instead of against it Set point weight explained: Understanding when your body reaches its optimal performance state Key Takeaways 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 Harvard Medical School research on metabolism variability University of North Carolina and Chapel Hill study on metabolic recovery What's Next? 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.

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: Why the eating disorder wants to pull you out of the present moment (and how to fight back) The shocking statistics about anxiety during the holidays (and why being present is actually a recovery tool) How 89% of individuals who practice mindfulness during recovery report better outcomes 3 practical ways to choose presence over perfection this holiday season Why your recovery is the most magical gift you can give yourself How to focus on connections over calculations at family gatherings 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 SEASON 1. 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 RECOVERY I 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 YOU I 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.

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." Starting creates momentum. You don't need to see the whole path—you just need to take the next step. Recovery doesn't wait for readiness. I didn't wait to feel ready to develop an eating disorder. Why should recovery be different? Faith steps > Perfect conditions. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us: "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." Start walking, and THEN the path becomes clear. The eating disorder lies to you. It tells you to wait until after the holidays, after you lose weight, after you feel more in control. Those "afters" never come. Another year will pass regardless. You can end 2025 exactly where you are now, or you can look back at THIS moment as when everything changed. Inspiration without action is just noise. That stirring in your heart? That's God inviting you into something greater. But you have to respond. 🙏 FEATURED SCRIPTURE 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 STUDIO At 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: Share recovery wins and struggles Gain accountability and support Receive coaching in a sacred space Show up as the messy, imperfect, beautiful work-in-progress you are Investment: $97/month Learn More: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective  OPTION 2: 1:1 Private Coaching Personalized support where we dive deep into: YOUR specific struggles and food rules YOUR unique triggers A customized path forward designed just for you 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 WEEK What 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 LINDSEY Website: www.herbestself.co  Recovery Collective: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective  Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com  Instagram: @thelindseynichol Email: info@lindseynichol.com 🎧 SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If this episode empowered or blessed you, I'd be honored if you: ⭐ Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen 📲 Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear this message 💌 Join our email list at herbestself.co for exclusive content and updates Your rating and review helps more women find the show and start their journey to freedom! About the Host 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.

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: What your inner critic is and how it developed in early childhood The 7 types of inner critics: Perfectionist, Inner Controller, Taskmaster, Destroyer, Underminer, Molder/People Pleaser, and Guilt Tripper Which inner critic is running the show in YOUR mind (and how to identify it) Why your inner critic isn't wrong—it's just a part of you that needs more love How to reframe your negative thoughts and shift your perspective A powerful reflection exercise to help you silence your mean girl once and for all 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 EXPLAINED 1. 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: If your thought is: "I'll never recover" → Shift it: "I'm healing and learning. I'm not there yet, but I'm going there." If your thought is: "This is just too hard" → Shift it: "The more I practice doing the opposite action, the easier it gets." If your thought is: "I always go back to unhealthy patterns" → Ask: "What are some different actions I can take right now so that doesn't happen? How can I show up for my true self?" RESEARCH MENTIONED 📊 According to the National Science Foundation: You think approximately 60,000 thoughts per day 80% of those thoughts are negative 95% of those thoughts are repetitive This is why you feel stuck. But you can change this pattern starting today. RESOURCES + SUPPORT Ready 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: Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts Share on social media and tag @thelindseynichol Screenshot your favorite quote and post it 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 Host 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.

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: What "wintering" really means and why it's essential for recovery Why the eating disorder makes you feel bad about comfort (and why that's a lie) How to reframe rest as "cozy" instead of "lazy" Why your body knows exactly what it needs—and how to start listening The beautiful truth about finding your own spark in the gray season How winter's silence gives you the choice to finally hear yourself 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: Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts Share on social media and tag @thelindseynichol Screenshot your favorite quote and post it 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 Host 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.

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: Calm pre-meal anxiety before eating with family Ground yourself during a body image crisis Show yourself compassion on the hardest days 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: Before lunch or dinner when anxiety feels highest When sitting down with family for meals When you feel panic rising about food choices When the ED voice is loudest before eating What Lindsey guides you through: Finding comfortable seated position Gentle breathing to become present Noticing thoughts like clouds passing in the sky Hand-on-heart, hand-on-belly grounding Affirmations: "I give my body permission to be nourished" "I choose to feed my body with compassion" "Food is my medicine. This is a good thing" "This is one step in my recovery journey" Breathing mantras: "I am stronger than the eating disorder voice" "I have the wisdom to nourish my body" "I am more than my body" 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: When you're having a hard body image day When "feeling fat" is overwhelming When critical thoughts about your body won't stop When you need to reconnect with gratitude for your body 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: Comfortable position (seated or lying down) Noticing where your body contacts the ground (grounding) Body scan from feet to head with gentle awareness: Feet: Connecting to the ground, wiggling toes Legs: Getting stronger, supporting you Core/Stomach: Your true strength, your center (not to be micromanaged) Chest: Rising and falling with each breath Arms/Hands: Tools to express love, create amazing things Head: Houses thoughts AND dreams, desires, wishes Acknowledging judgmental thoughts without judgment Thanking your body for what it allows you to do Self-hug + gratitude: "Thank you for allowing me to walk, breathe, be grounded" 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: When you're feeling overwhelmed When you don't honor or love yourself When you don't know where to turn next When you need to be as kind to yourself as you'd be to a friend What Lindsey guides you through: Thinking of a recent challenge in recovery Noticing emotions and physical sensations Hand over heart, feeling steady heartbeat Affirmations: "This is a moment of suffering" "Suffering will pass - it's part of life and recovery" "I can be kind to myself in this process" Imagining a friend facing the same challenges Asking: "What would I say to them? How would I support them?" Offering yourself that same grace: "I'm doing the best I can" "Recovery takes time" "I'm worthy of patience and understanding" 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: These thoughts can pass like clouds in the sky You are MORE than these thoughts This voice is NOT your truth You can choose recovery in this exact moment Your worth will NEVER be determined by food or weight You are SAFE here 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: Before meals when anxiety rises During body image struggles On overwhelmingly hard days Whenever you need grounding 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: "Since your body, it is worthy of nourishment" "These thoughts are like clouds passing in the sky - they can come in and go out without you grabbing onto them" "Your body is not your enemy. It's your home. It's where you live" "Feeling fat isn't actually a feeling - it's often your body's way of telling you something else is going on emotionally" "Your core is your true strength, your center - it's not to be micromanaged" "You deserve the same kindness you would offer to your friend" "Your eating disorder voice may be loud, but it doesn't have to control you" "Recovery isn't about perfection - it's about progress" "These quiet moments of connection are so powerful" Why These Meditations Work: 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: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (this helps us reach more women!) Share this episode with someone who needs these meditations Save/bookmark this episode to come back to Join the Her Best Self Facebook community 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: "Press play on this when you're anxious before meals" "Saved this meditation episode for you" "This helped me calm down - thought you might need it too" Remember, Friend: 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 Host 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.

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 MORE Celebrate: 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 Thought The 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 Food Not: 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 Reflect Celebrate: 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 Skinny The 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 Anxiety Not 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 Scale The 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 Sleep Celebrate: 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 Meals Celebrate: "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 Commit The 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: "Your life is measured around success of LACK. Your life is measured off of having less" "Eating disorders become a game - the more successful we are at restriction and manipulation, the more personal achievement we have" "We are not measuring lack. We are measuring the small wins creating more goodness in our life" "You are gaining so much more than weight that you're terrified to gain" "When you eat more, you think bigger" "We cannot heal what we cannot feel" "Celebrate wanting to feel STRONGER versus wanting to be skinnier" "Recovery takes time. Sometimes you live in this messy middle place where it feels hard, it feels mundane" "Your success is a series of small victories and small wins" "The first and greatest victory is to conquer you" - Plato "Today is your opportunity to create the tomorrow that you want" Why Celebrating Small Wins Matters: 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: Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts Share on social media and tag @thelindseynichol Screenshot your favorite win and post it Join the Facebook community and celebrate your wins with us Remember, Friend: "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! Abou

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 Arianna Huffington's truth: No label can contain who you might become How the ED voice defines you by WHAT you have/do, never WHO you are Why being defined by labels means you're also confused by them Lindsey's Vulnerable Label Story Obsessed with the number on clothing tags OSFED diagnosis: feeling "not sick enough" Anorexia diagnosis: feeling "officially sick" The shift: When being someone else's label became debilitating Realizing she wasn't designed to be a label - she was designed to be HER The Labels Keeping You Stuck "Anorexic," "bulimic," "the girl with the eating disorder" "The fit one," "the vegan," "the one on a diet" "Perfectionist," "people pleaser," "the sick one" Even "recovered" can become a trap Research: 80% of New Year's resolutions fail because they're rooted in outcomes, not identity Who God Says You REALLY Are Fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) Chosen - royal priesthood, holy nation (1 Peter 2:9) Deeply loved - nothing can separate you (Romans 8:38-39) A new creation - old is gone, new is here (2 Corinthians 5:17) An heir - daughter of the King, royalty (Galatians 4:7) The New Year Identity Shift Most resolutions fail because they're about WHAT you want to do Identity-based change is more powerful than outcome-based goals You can't identify as "the girl with the eating disorder" and expect to live free When you change your identity, your behavior follows Stop identifying as disordered, start identifying as WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE Your Tangible Exercise: 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 I am fearfully and wonderfully made I am chosen I am deeply loved I am a new creation I am an heir I am a daughter of the Most High I am royalty I am a saint I am NOT my eating disorder I am created for freedom 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: "No label, no matter how authoritative - one given to you by a doctor or a boss - no title, no dollar sign can ever contain the full perspective and constellation of who you might become." - Arianna Huffington "If you are defined by your labels, you're also confused by your labels" "The eating disorder voice loved defining me by WHAT I had and WHAT I did. But it never told me WHO I was" "The energy it took to remain someone else's label was absolutely debilitating" "I wasn't designed to be a label. I was designed to be ME" "You weren't designed to be 'anorexic.' You were designed to be a daughter of the Most High" "If you keep identifying as 'the girl with the eating disorder,' you will keep living like the girl with the eating disorder" "You are NOT your eating disorder. You are a saint, an heir, a daughter of the Most High, royalty" "When you're rooted in THAT identity - when that becomes your foundation - everything changes" "You can't keep identifying AS the eating disorder and expect to live free" "No label can contain the full perspective and constellation of who you might become" Ready to Get Support for the New Year Ahead? 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: Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts Share on social media and tag @thelindseynichol Screenshot your favorite quote and post it Do the identity exercise and share your breakthrough Remember, Sis: 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 Host 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.

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 Maybe you broke a boundary at Thanksgiving dinner Maybe you're beating yourself up today Maybe you barely survived and you're exhausted You made it through - and that matters Today we're talking about gratitude anyway When Gratitude Felt Impossible Lindsey's vulnerable truth: there was a season she couldn't FEEL gratitude Not that she wasn't grateful - she literally couldn't access the feeling Trapped in the eating disorder, consumed, numb, disconnected Sitting at Thanksgiving tables saying generic things but not feeling it Just surviving, just getting through, counting and calculating If that's where you are today - Lindsey sees you, she's been you Recovery gave her gratitude back - the ability to not just say it but FEEL it That's possible for you too What Lindsey Is Thankful For This Season: #1: Her Clients and Listeners (YOU) This community of women fighting for their freedom Doing the hard things, showing up even when it's scary Women in one-on-one coaching keeping promises to themselves Women in Recovery Collective supporting each other Messages saying "this episode came at the exact right time" You inspire her every single day You remind her why she does this work You remind her that recovery is possible Thank you for trusting her with your stories #2: Recovery Is a Journey That it's not linear Constantly evolving, growing, teaching Used to think recovery meant "fixed" - arriving at perfection But recovery taught her it's not about arriving, it's the JOURNEY Learning and growing and evolving Becoming more of who she's meant to be, one choice at a time Grateful she gets to keep learning and discovering Grateful she gets to mess up and extend herself grace Recovery isn't a destination - it's a way of life Choosing yourself every day #3: Keeping Promises  This might sound small, but it's everything For so long, she broke every promise to herself Every broken promise reinforced she couldn't trust herself Recovery taught her that keeping promises builds self-trust Proves to herself she's worthy of showing up for Now she keeps her promises - not perfectly, but consistently That has changed everything She can look in the mirror and know when she says she'll do something, she does it That's freedom. That's recovery. Your Gratitude Invitation What are YOU thankful for this season? It might feel hard, especially if yesterday was rough But look for it anyway - gratitude doesn't require perfection Maybe you're thankful you made it through Thanksgiving (even if messy) Maybe you're thankful for one person who showed up for you Maybe you're thankful you're still here, still fighting, still trying Maybe you're thankful for your body (even if you don't love it) because it's carrying you Maybe you're thankful that recovery is possible, even if you're not there yet Find it. Write it down. Speak it out loud. Let yourself feel it. Gratitude is a practice - the more we practice, the more we can access it Black Friday Investment Opportunity Today is Black Friday - you're getting a million emails about sales But Lindsey wants to offer something different: investing in YOURSELF The best investment you'll ever make is in your own healing Two special opportunities available today through Sunday Special Black Friday Offers (Through Sunday Only): Option 1: Recovery Collective - $47/month What You Get: Live group coaching calls every other week (one hour each) Texting chat community for support between calls Connection with other women who GET IT Accountability, tools, and strategies for your recovery journey This is for you if: You need community and support You want guidance but aren't ready for one-on-one yet You're tired of doing this alone You want connection with women who understand Join here: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective  Option 2: One-on-One Personalized Coaching - $500 OFF What You Get: Weekly coaching sessions customized for YOU Someone walking beside you every single week A plan specifically for YOUR challenges, triggers, and recovery path Personalized, intensive support to get from where you are to where you want to be This is for you if: You're ready for customized, personalized support You want someone in your corner weekly You need a plan made specifically for you You're done doing this alone How to Claim Either Offer: 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: "This is my sign" - it is "I can't do this alone anymore" - you don't have to "I'm ready to invest in myself" - Lindsey is here for you 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: "Maybe yesterday was really hard for you. Maybe you broke a boundary. Maybe you're beating yourself up. You made it through. You're here." "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" "There was a season of my life when I couldn't feel grateful for anything. I literally couldn't FEEL it" "I was so consumed, so numb, so disconnected from myself that I couldn't access those feelings" "Recovery gave me my gratitude back. It gave me the ability to not just say I'm thankful, but to actually FEEL it" "You inspire me every single day. You remind me why I do this work" "Recovery isn't a destination. It's a way of life. It's choosing yourself every day" "Keeping promises to myself is how I build trust with myself" "That's freedom, girlfriend. That's recovery" "Gratitude is a practice. The more we practice it, the more we can access it" "The best investment you'll ever make is in your own healing" "Black Friday isn't just about buying things. It's about investing in what matters" "YOU matter. Your recovery matters. Your freedom matters" Gratitude Practice for You: Your Invitation: Write down 3 things you're thankful for this season. Prompts if You're Struggling: What's one thing that went RIGHT yesterday (even if small)? Who is one person in your corner? What's one thing your body did for you yesterday? What's one step you've taken in recovery (no matter how small)? What's one hope you have for your future? What's one thing you can appreciate about yourself today? Remember: It doesn't have to be big It doesn't have to be perfect It can be messy It can be hard to find That's okay - you're practicing The Practice: Write it down (in your Tarjay journal!) Speak it out loud Let yourself feel it, even for just a moment Come back to it when things get hard Questions to Reflect On: About Yesterday: How do you feel about how Thanksgiving went? Are you beating yourself up about something? What's one thing you can give yourself grace for? Did you make it through? (If yes, that counts!) About Gratitude: When was the last time you felt genuine gratitude? What made that moment different? What's blocking you from feeling grateful today? Can you practice looking for light even in the hard? About Your Recovery: Are you doing this alone or do you have support? What would change if you had community? What would change if you had personalized guidance? What's holding you back from investing in yourself? About Black Friday: What are you investing in today? What if you invested in YOUR healing instead of just "stuff"? What would it mean to prioritize yourself? Is this your sign to finally get support? Who This Episode Is For: This mini episode is for you if: Yesterday (Thanksgiving) was really hard You're beating yourself up today You barely survived Thanksgiving dinner You feel exhausted and triggered You can't feel gratitude right now You're numb and disconnected You made it through but don't

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 Her mom called crying after listening to the podcast for the first time "I had no idea what I was doing through your healing journey" "I just knew you were my only child and I wasn't gonna have it" How she educated herself about eating disorders but still felt lost "Most of the time I had no idea what to do next" The growth that's happened over the years in their relationship Why this conversation was so powerful and needed The Truth About Family Not Understanding When your family doesn't understand, it can be paralyzing Even though Lindsey's mom didn't understand HOW to support her, she loved her The message: Love doesn't always know how to show up correctly There is so much happening in your mind that family can't see The growth that happens over time as you work through recovery together Why This Matters for YOU You don't have to sit in this mess and let it become who you are This is just a speed bump in your journey If you're a parent struggling with what to do next, you don't have to have it all figured out It's important to get as educated as possible to support your loved one The importance of boundaries on BOTH sides during recovery The Reality: Your ED Affects Everyone This illness affects and hurts every person close to you Yes, it's isolating, but it echoes to everyone around you like dominoes You can be in your own feelings thinking it's not harming people, but it is If you don't have energy, you're snapping at your kids If you aren't nourishing yourself, you're not giving your best to others You may be triggered by family comments, but they're dealing with their own emotions too Why Your Family Seems Unsupportive Everyone in your life has their own way of coping with what you're struggling with If you're resisting recovery, your family might be resisting change too They may seem unsupportive or attacking, but this is THEIR way of handling and coping Lindsey's mom was terrified and avoiding judgment from others She told NO ONE - not even immediate family She took it on as self-blame: "What did I do wrong as a parent?" Your illness is NOT isolated - it's impacting everyone, even if it feels isolating to you The Walking on Eggshells Reality Lindsey's mom felt like she was walking on eggshells She never knew if she'd trigger Lindsey or push her in the opposite direction She never knew what mood Lindsey was in or what she'd eaten last When she asked questions, it was to gain understanding But Lindsey couldn't give that understanding because she was trying to figure it out herself There was positive intent 9 times out of 10 Even anger or denial often comes from positive intent The Phases of Denial Lindsey was in denial of the disorder Her mom was ALSO in denial that this could happen to her child Her mom was angry - all those feelings were valid and real Being in denial works in many ways on both sides You might not feel "sick enough" but that's not the point Even loved ones go through phases of denial before they can help Hurt People Hurt People This is how pain gets passed on generation after generation Lindsey doesn't want you to just break chains of ED She wants you to break chains FOR your loved ones and yourself Meet anger with kindness and understanding Be compassionate while honoring your path This is hard because we want to be left alone in the disorder Boundaries & Strategies You Can Set: Strategy #1: Use Your Voice Brené Brown says: "When we are busy pleasing and perfecting and performing, we end up saying yes a lot when we mean no." Use your voice Share with people closest to you where you are in your journey Share where you are in your struggle This was the hardest thing - Lindsey didn't share, she just dealt with her own stuff She wasn't ready to share when she was being probed Share if they're SAFE people (this is important) Ask them for support Ask them for what you need from them 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 Let people in your circle know how they can show up for you in hard times Have those vulnerable moments Lindsey wishes she would have done this Hear them and remain open-minded Let them share their feelings too Strategy #3: Decide Your Boundaries & SHARE Them What to Say: "I know that you care about me, but comments about my food choices right now aren't helpful for my recovery journey" "I appreciate you and I know that you love me, but I'm working with a care team and professionals to help guide my journey and health forward" "I need to heal my relationship with my food, so I'm going to remove myself from any diet conversations or triggering discussions this holiday season because I don't want to absorb that. It's the opposite of what I'm trying to do" Strategy #4: Pre-Plan to Ease Overwhelm As you go into the holiday season with family gatherings and events: Have self-care practices in place Know your go-to's for triggering situations Sometimes this looks like an EXIT STRATEGY Lindsey's Example: Even YEARS after recovering from anorexia, she'd go to Thanksgiving wondering: Are people watching if Lindsay takes the roll? Are they watching if Lindsay has stuffing? If she only has a bite of pie vs. a slice, does that mean she's struggling again? She felt like people were watching her in a fish tank 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 Strategy If you're going to be around someone super triggering: Share your voice Speak your truth Be true to you Go with other people BUT if you get super triggered, know that's not going to help you hours or days after Have an EXIT STRATEGY ready It's okay to focus on recovery while participating in traditions Strategy #6: Reflect on Your Growth How am I different this Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year than last year? How has my mind grown? How has my heart grown? What are my dreams? 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 People Take 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 When Lindsey's mom was trying to help, fix, and do all the things - she wasn't taking care of HERSELF She wasn't honoring her own needs She was walking on eggshells worried something she said would set Lindsey off Setting boundaries isn't about pushing that person away That's actually ENABLING them by isolating them more into the disorder What to Say: "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 Feelings Whether 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

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: The 5 reasons why intimacy gets completely blocked when you have an eating disorder Why your libido has disappeared (hint: hormones, energy, survival mode) How body shame follows you into the bedroom Why you can't experience pleasure when you're disconnected from your body How to check your "intimacy temperature" and get honest about where you are Exactly what to say to your partner about what's going on Practical steps to start reconnecting 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 What intimacy looked like when she was in the thick of her eating disorder Being in a relationship while physically and emotionally shut down Not being present during sex - performing instead of experiencing Constantly worried about what her body looked like during intimacy Anxious thoughts: "Is my stomach flat enough? Can he feel certain parts? Should the lights be off? Should I keep my shirt on?" The realization: She wasn't experiencing intimacy, she was performing it The Research Nobody Talks About Women with eating disorders experience significantly higher rates of sexual dysfunction Lower libido, avoidance of intimacy, relationship dissatisfaction are common We suffer in silence, fake it, avoid it, make excuses And our relationships suffer while we pretend everything is fine 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 When you restrict food, your body goes into survival mode Sex, reproduction, intimacy are NOT essential for survival Your hormones tank: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone plummet Your libido disappears completely You lose your period (amenorrhea) Your energy is non-existent Research shows women with anorexia and bulimia have significantly disrupted hormone levels All of these hormones impact sexual desire and function If you have zero sex drive, if intimacy feels like a chore, if you're exhausted - your body is saying "I don't have resources for this" Your body is trying to keep you alive, not reproduce Reason #2: You're Disconnected From Your Body When you spend every day hating, criticizing, punishing your body - you disconnect You dissociate from physical sensations The problem: You can't experience pleasure in a body you're not connected to Intimacy requires being IN your body, feeling sensations, being present But when you're trapped in your head analyzing what you look like - you're performing, not experiencing Research: Women with eating disorders report significantly higher body image concerns during sexual activity This directly correlates with lower sexual satisfaction and avoidance behaviors You can't enjoy intimacy when you're worried about appearance the entire time Reason #3: The Shame is Paralyzing Body shame doesn't stay in the mirror - it follows you into the bedroom When you feel disgusting in your own skin, how are you supposed to let someone see it? Touch it? The shame is so heavy that many women avoid intimacy altogether Making excuses, shutting down, pulling away Being vulnerable and exposed when you feel shame about your body is terrifying Intimacy requires vulnerability - shame blocks that completely Reason #4: You're Emotionally Unavailable When you're consumed by an eating disorder, there's no room for anything else Your entire mental and emotional bandwidth is taken up by food thoughts, body checking, planning, restricting, compensating You don't have capacity to show up emotionally for your partner Can't connect, can't be present, can't be intimate beyond the physical act Intimacy requires emotional availability When your eating disorder is screaming 24/7, you're not available - you're surviving Reason #5: Control Issues Prevent Vulnerability Eating disorders are about CONTROL Intimacy requires letting GO of control, being vulnerable, surrendering If you can't let go of control long enough to eat without anxiety, how can you surrender during intimacy? The same rigidity and need for control with food shows up in the bedroom It blocks true intimacy completely The Impact on Your Relationship: What This Means: Distance and disconnection in your relationship Your partner might feel rejected, confused, helpless They might think you're not attracted to them anymore They might think they did something wrong You feel guilty, broken, like you're failing at one more thing "I can't do anything right - not food, not my body, and now not my relationship" The Truth You Need to Hear: This is not a personal failure. This is a SYMPTOM of your eating disorder. Just like: Restriction is a symptom Body checking is a symptom Blocked intimacy is a symptom 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 Temperature Get 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: Am I avoiding intimacy? Am I going through the motions? Am I anxious the entire time? Am I emotionally checked out? Is my libido non-existent? Am I making excuses to avoid it? Get real about what's actually happening. You can't change what you won't acknowledge. Step 2: Recognize This is an ED Symptom Stop 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: Not loving your partner enough Being inadequate Being broken Personal failure 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 Partner This 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: NOT in the moment NOT during intimacy In a calm, safe space where you can be honest 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: All the answers A complete plan To have everything figured out You Just Need: To be honest about what's happening To help them understand it's not about them To let them in instead of shutting them out Step 4: Start Small With Reconnection You don't have to fix everything overnight. Start somewhere small. Ideas: Physical touch that's NOT sexual - holding hands, cuddling, hugging Reconnecting with non-sexual physical intimacy first Being honest when you're not in the mood instead of forcing it or avoiding it Working on being present - staying in your body during intimacy instead of in your head Taking pressure off yourself and your partner Just start. Somewhere. Anywhere. Step 5: Work on Body Acceptance You don't have to LOVE your body to be intimate. But you do have to accept that your body is allowed to: Exist Be touched Experience pleasure Take up space This is work: Therapy work Coaching work Recovery work Daily practice 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 Recovery If you want intimacy back in your relationship, you MUST prioritize recovery. Because the eating disorder is the blocker. What This Looks Like: Get support (coach, therapist, dietitian) Join a community Do the work of nourishing your body Work through the shame Address the control issues Heal the disconnection Recovery gives you: Food freedom Body peace Your relationship back Intimacy freedom Key Takeaways: ✨ 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