Her Best Self: Freedom from Disordered Eating, Body Obsession & Perfectionism EP 258: Start Eating Disorder Recovery Before You Feel Ready ~ Taking Your First Step to Freedom + 100K HBS🎙️Celebration🎉
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)
"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.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Notice it doesn't say, "Wait until the path is straight and THEN start walking." It says submit to Him, start walking, and THEN the path becomes straight.
📖 MY STORY: THE DANCE STUDIOAt thirteen years old, I was a competitive figure skater who lived for the ice and the studio. During dance conditioning, the instructor called out, "Get in line by size!"
Everyone shuffled around, sizing each other up. I stood there frozen, unsure where I belonged.
When I took a step, I heard: "Not here."
Not mean. Just matter-of-fact. But in that moment, everything changed. The joy I felt became fear. Every mirror became an assessment. Within weeks, I started making excuses and eventually stopped going altogether.
That's when I began changing what I ate. Trying to shrink myself to fit into a line where I thought I belonged.
That was the beginning of my eating disorder.
I didn't wait to feel ready for that. But recovery? I waited for YEARS thinking I needed to feel ready first.
🎉 CELEBRATING 100K DOWNLOADS!We just hit 100,000 downloads on the Her Best Self Podcast!
This milestone isn't just about numbers—it's about YOU. Every brave woman who presses play and says yes to healing. Every person who keeps showing up even when it's hard.
And here's the full-circle moment: I started this podcast before I felt ready. I had no idea it would reach 100,000 downloads. I had no guarantee anyone would listen. But I did it scared. I did it imperfect. I did it before I had it all figured out.
And look where we are now.
The same is possible for YOUR recovery journey. ❤️
💪 READY TO TAKE ACTION?If you're feeling that stirring in your heart—that little voice saying "maybe it's time"—I want to invite you into something:
OPTION 1: The Recovery Collective (Group Support)A small, intimate group of brave women who meet every other week to:
- 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
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 WEEKWhat would your life look like a year from now if you started today?
Write it down. Imagine it. Feel it. Then ask yourself: What's the very next step I can take RIGHT NOW?
Don't wait another year. Don't let another 365 days pass with you trapped in this same place.
Start before you're ready.
📱 CONNECT WITH LINDSEYWebsite: www.herbestself.co
Recovery Collective: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective
Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com
Instagram: @thelindseynichol
Email: info@lindseynichol.com
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
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Your rating and review helps more women find the show and start their journey to freedom!
About the HostLindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom.
If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.