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

Girlfriend, if you've fallen in your recovery - if you've had a setback, slipped back into old behaviors, or feel like you're not where you "should" be - this episode is for you. This morning, Lindsey was walking her 7-year-old son Blake to school when he fell hard while skipping in Crocs. Through his tears, he looked up and said, "I guess I shouldn't skip so fast to school." And in that moment, Lindsey realized something profound: Sometimes the fall is required. Not because we want to hurt, but because without the fall, we wouldn't learn any other way. In this vulnerable episode, Lindsey shares her own painful fall in recovery - when she was lying to her treatment team, telling everyone she was "doing the things" while secretly still restricting out of fear. Her results weren't matching her actions, and she felt defeated. But that fall? It became her turning point. Drawing from her figure skating background (landing her first double loop took countless falls), Lindsey reveals why falls aren't failures - they're required education. She addresses the shame that comes with relapsing, gives you permission to be right where you are, and shows you how to get back up without beating yourself up. If you've been too afraid to risk falling or too ashamed to get back up, this episode will change everything. In This Episode, You'll Hear: Blake's Fall: The Morning Walk to School How her 7-year-old fell hard while skipping in Crocs The mama moment of dusting him off and helping him up His profound realization: "I guess I shouldn't skip so fast" Why she knew he needed that fall to learn The parallel to recovery that changed her perspective Lindsey's Recovery Fall: The Painful Truth When she was lying to her treatment team about doing "the things" The internal defeat of results not matching actions One side wanting weight gain, the other side feeling betrayed and terrified Beating herself up for not being "further along" The turning point: getting real and honest with herself Why that fall propelled her forward more than smooth sailing ever could The Figure Skating Metaphor: Landing the Double Loop Falling over and over trying to land her first double loop jump How each fall taught her something new (angle, timing, fear, adjustment) Why it became her favorite jump BECAUSE of the falls, not in spite of them The parallel: recovery is learning a jump you've never done before The Shame of Falling in Recovery Why Blake was embarrassed when he fell (other kids watching, teacher saw) The truth: shame isn't about the fall, it's what you make it mean about you Your fall doesn't mean you're a failure, weak, or not worth the effort It just means you're learning Why Lindsey eventually saw her falls as necessary How falls are setups for breakthroughs, not just setbacks You Are Right Where You Need to Be Not where you want to be, but where you need to be You can't skip ahead or bypass the lesson The truth: you can't change what you won't acknowledge You can't heal what you won't feel You can't grow without falling The fall isn't the end of your story - it's the beginning of your breakthrough Key Takeaways: ✨ Sometimes the fall is required - without it, we wouldn't learn any other way ✨ Falls aren't failures, they're required education - each one teaches you something ✨ Shame isn't about the fall - it's about what you're making the fall mean about you ✨ You are right where you need to be - not where you want to be, but exactly where you need to be to learn and grow ✨ You can't change what you won't acknowledge - getting honest is the first step to getting back up ✨ The fall is setup for your breakthrough - not a setback, but preparation for progress ✨ Recovery is learning a jump you've never done before - of course you're going to fall multiple times ✨ Staying stuck is its own kind of fall - it's just slower, more painful, and doesn't teach you anything ✨ You don't have to get up alone - reach out for help, let someone stoop down to your level Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "Sometimes the fall is required. Not because I want you to hurt, but because without the fall, we wouldn't learn any other way" "I guess I shouldn't skip so fast to school" - Blake, age 7 "I was telling everyone I was doing the things, but in reality I wasn't because I was scared" "The results weren't matching my actions and I felt so defeated internally" "One side of me wanted weight gain because I knew I needed it. The other side felt betrayed and terrified" "That fall was my turning point. Once I got real and honest with myself, I could finally do something about it" "I fell SO many times trying to land that double loop. It became my favorite jump not in spite of the falls, but BECAUSE of them" "The falls weren't failures. The falls were required education" "The shame isn't about the fall. The shame is about what you're making the fall mean about you" "Your fall doesn't mean you're a failure. It just means you're learning" "I eventually saw my falls as necessary. I don't think I would have made the progress I made without falling multiple times" "The falls weren't setbacks. They were setups for my breakthrough" "You are right where you need to be. Not where you want to be, but where you need to be" "You can't change what you won't acknowledge. You can't heal what you won't feel. You can't grow without falling" "The fall isn't the end of your story. It's the beginning of your breakthrough" "Recovery isn't about never falling. Recovery is about learning to get back up" "Staying stuck is its own kind of fall. It's just slower, more painful, and doesn't teach you anything" How to Get Back Up After You Fall: Step 1: Stop Beating Yourself Up Stop making the fall mean something about your worth. The fall is data. It's information. It's feedback. It's not a judgment on who you are. Step 2: Get Honest Really honest. With yourself first, then with your treatment team, support system, and your people. Say: "I fell. Here's where I am. Here's what I need." Step 3: Reach Out for Help Just like Lindsey stooped down to Blake's level to dust him off - you don't have to get up alone. In fact, you shouldn't. Let someone help you back up. Step 4: Take the Lesson Forward Blake learned not to skip so fast. What are YOU learning from this fall? What does this fall need to teach you that you couldn't have learned any other way? Step 5: Keep Moving Forward Maybe a little slower. Maybe a little more carefully. Maybe with more honesty this time. But keep going. Because recovery isn't about never falling - it's about learning to get back up. Questions to Reflect On: About Your Falls: Where have you fallen recently in your recovery? What is that fall trying to teach you? Are you making the fall mean something about your worth? Have you gotten honest about where you really are? About Growth: What fall might you need to RISK in order to grow? What must you go through in order to evolve? Are you staying stuck because you're too afraid to risk falling? What lesson can't you learn any other way except through falling? Specific Scenarios: Maybe you've restricted when you said you wouldn't - what is that teaching you about your fear? Maybe you've isolated when you said you'd reach out - what is that teaching you about shame? Maybe you've lied to your treatment team - what is that teaching you about control? The Risk Question: Do you need to risk eating a fear food and falling into discomfort? Do you need to risk being honest and falling into vulnerability? Do you need to risk resting and falling into fear of losing control? Who This Episode Is For: This episode is essential listening if you: Have fallen or relapsed in your ED recovery recently Are lying to your treatment team about what you're really doing Feel ashamed about "falling again" in your recovery Beat yourself up for not being "further along" Think you're a failure because you keep slipping back Are too afraid to risk falling, so you stay stuck Feel defeated because your results don't match your stated actions Need permission to be imperfect in recovery Want to understand why falls are necessary, not shameful Are ready to get honest and finally change Have kids and relate to the parenting/learning moments Are a mom who sees your own journey in your child's lessons Important Truths About Falls in Recovery: Falls Are Not Failures: They're required education. Each fall teaches you something you couldn't learn any other way. The Length of Your Struggle Doesn't Matter: Whether this is your first fall or your hundredth, you can still get back up and keep going. Results Not Matching Actions Is a Sign: It means you're not being fully honest - with yourself or others. That realization IS the breakthrough. You Can't Skip the Lesson: Just like Blake couldn't skip learning to slow down without falling, you can't bypass the lessons recovery requires. Honesty Is the Turning Point: Once you get real about where you are, you can finally do something about it. Blake's Lesson Applied to Your Recovery: Blake was skipping too fast → You might be rushing recovery, trying to do it perfectly Lindsey kept warning him to be careful → Your body, treatment team, loved ones have been giving you signals He fell hard and got hurt → You've had a setback, relapse, or painful realization He reached out for help → You don't have to get up alone - reach out Lindsey stooped to his level → The right support meets you where you are, doesn't shame you She dusted him off → You can clean yourself up and start fresh He learned the lesson → "I shouldn't skip so fast" = awareness leads to change He got back up and kept going to school → You get back up and keep moving toward recovery The Figure Skating Lesson: Just like Lindsey fell countless times before landing her first double loop jump - and it became her favorite jump BECAUSE of all the falls - your recovery falls are teaching you: What angle is wrong (what approach isn't working) What timing is off (maybe you're not ready for this step yet) What fear you're holding onto (what's really keeping you stuck) What adjustment you need to make (how to do it differently next time) And eventually, when you land it, recovery will become your favorite part of your story. Not in spite of the falls, but because of them. Permission Slip: You have permission to: Fall and not be a failure Be right where you are, even if it's on the ground Get honest about lying or hiding Reach out for help getting back up Learn slowly, one fall at a time Be imperfect in your recovery journey Risk falling in order to grow Stop beating yourself up Start fresh today, right now Ready to Get Back Up? If you need support getting back up after a fall, Lindsey has spots open for one-on-one recovery coaching. She'll meet you exactly where you are - no judgment, no shame - and help you find your footing again. Visit www.herbestself.co to book your complimentary consultation. Let's turn your fall into your breakthrough. Connect with Lindsey Website: www.herbestself.co  Private Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society www.herbestselfsociety.com  1:1 Client Applications: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms . Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear that her rejection story can become her redemption story. About the 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.

Girlfriend, maybe you've been struggling with disordered eating for decades and you don't want to put your life on hold to go into a full-blown treatment facility. Maybe you have kids at home, aging parents to care for, or a career you can't walk away from. Or maybe you don't even know what options are available, so you just stay stuck thinking you'll manage it all by yourself. Girl, you weren't meant to do this alone. In this episode, host Lindsey Nichol breaks down the 6 different levels of eating disorder treatment and care - from outpatient support to acute medical stabilization - so you can understand what's available and what might be best for YOUR unique situation and life circumstances. Lindsey shares her own treatment journey through IOP and day treatment, and why finding the right level of care that fits your life is so important. Whether you're a busy mom, working woman, caregiver, or someone who simply can't leave home for residential treatment, this episode will help you understand all your options - including recovery coaching as a personalized support option. You deserve a life free from the chains of disordered eating. And it starts with knowing what treatment options are out there. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The 6 Levels of Eating Disorder Treatment: Level 1: Outpatient Care What it is: Weekly sessions with a care team while living at home Who it's for: Those deemed medically stable who need ongoing support What's included: Dietitian, therapist, medical doctor, support groups Best for: Maintaining school, work, family life while getting treatment Level 2: Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) What it is: Multiple sessions per week in specialized settings Where it happens: Treatment centers or hospitals What's included: Group therapy, individual therapy, structured programming Lindsey's experience: This is where she spent the majority of her recovery Level 3: Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) / Day Treatment What it is: 5-6 days per week, 6-8 hours per day Structure: More intensive than outpatient, includes meals and therapies What happens: You return home in the evenings Lindsey's experience: Combined with IOP while in school - included therapies and support groups Level 4: Residential Treatment What it is: 24-hour care and supervision (inpatient experience) Who it's for: Those medically stable but requiring intensive support Where it happens: Medical hospitals, centers, or homelike facilities Structure: Full-time structured environment with comprehensive care Level 5: Inpatient Hospitalization What it is: Most appropriate for high-intensity medical/psychiatric needs Structure: 24-hour medical psychiatric facility Who it's for: Those not responding to other treatments, experiencing self-harm, severe depression, or needing intensive medical oversight Level 6: Acute Medical Stabilization What it is: The highest level of critical care for eating disorders Who it's for: Those medically unstable due to severity or medical complications Primary focus: Physical stabilization before moving to other treatment levels Plus: Recovery Coaching as a Treatment Option What it is: One-on-one virtual support for guided accountability and actionable recovery steps Who it's for: Those who can't or won't go into residential but need support How it works: Weekly sessions focused on action, not diagnosis Can be layered: Works alongside therapy, dietitian, and medical care Key Takeaways: ✨ Treatment is personalized - what works for someone else may not work for you, and that's okay ✨ You don't have to choose residential - there are multiple levels of care that allow you to stay home ✨ Recovery is NOT black and white - you can get support at various levels based on your life circumstances ✨ You weren't meant to do this alone - even if you can't go to residential, you need SOME level of support ✨ Everyone's recovery is their own - your journey is unique and valid regardless of which level of care you choose ✨ Recovery coaching is a valid option - especially when layered with other care team members ✨ You owe you, sister - putting yourself first isn't selfish, it's necessary ✨ More options exist now - compared to years ago, there are so many more treatment options available Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "You deserve a life that's free from the chains of disordered eating" "Maybe you don't even know what options are available for you, so you just stay here thinking you're gonna manage it all by yourself" "Everyone's recovery is your recovery. Your journey is your journey" "What's best for you might not be best for me. What worked for me might not work for someone else" "You weren't meant to do life alone. You definitely weren't meant to do the hard things alone" "You owe you, sister" "It's not black and white. There's so many other options" "What matters is that you're standing up for you" "You are worth it. You deserve it" "Everyone else in your life is gonna benefit when you can start putting you first" Important Information About Each Treatment Level: When to Consider Outpatient: You're medically stable You can maintain work/school/family responsibilities You need ongoing support and accountability You're in maintenance or relapse prevention phase When to Consider IOP: You need more structure than weekly appointments You can still live at home You benefit from group support You need multiple therapy modalities When to Consider PHP/Day Treatment: You need daily structure but can return home at night You require meal support You need more intensive care than IOP You're transitioning from residential or preventing residential When to Consider Residential: You need 24-hour support but are medically stable Your home environment isn't supportive of recovery You need complete immersion in treatment Outpatient options haven't been effective When to Consider Inpatient: You're experiencing severe symptoms There's self-harm or suicidal ideation You need medical and psychiatric oversight You require the highest level of structure When to Consider Recovery Coaching: You can't or won't do residential treatment You have kids, aging parents, or career obligations You want actionable support, not diagnosis You're looking for relapse prevention You want to layer support with existing care team What Makes Recovery Coaching Different: Not therapy: Coaches don't diagnose or address trauma - they focus on forward action Accountability structure: Weekly sessions keep you committed to your recovery goals Actionable support: Focused on practical steps like facing fear foods, getting off the scale, eating out with family Virtual and flexible: Fits into busy lives with kids, work, caregiving responsibilities Layered care: Works alongside dietitians, therapists, and medical professionals Relapse prevention: Helps maintain recovery after intensive treatment Questions to Ask When Choosing Treatment: What level of medical stability am I at currently? What are my life circumstances? (Kids, work, caregiving, school) Can I leave home for treatment, or do I need to stay local? What treatment options are available in my area? What does my insurance cover? Do I need 24-hour support or can I manage with weekly sessions? Am I willing to commit to doing the work required at each level? What has or hasn't worked for me in the past? Do I have a support system at home? What does my healthcare team recommend? Action Steps After This Episode: Assess where you are: Are you medically stable? What symptoms are you experiencing? Talk to a healthcare professional: Schedule appointments with your doctor to discuss which level of care is appropriate Research local options: Google treatment centers, IOP programs, PHP programs in your area Consider online options: Virtual recovery coaching, online support groups, telehealth therapy Build your care team: Even if you can't do residential, assemble support (dietitian, therapist, coach, doctor) Stop doing this alone: Commit to getting SOME level of support starting today Reach out: If recovery coaching interests you, visit lindseynickel.com to learn more Who This Episode Is For: This episode is essential listening if you: Don't know what eating disorder treatment options exist Think residential is your only option (and you can't do it) Have been doing this alone and need to know what help is available Are a busy mom, working woman, or caregiver who can't leave home Have been in treatment before and need to know what's next Are researching options for a loved one struggling with disordered eating Want to understand the difference between IOP, PHP, and residential Need permission to choose the treatment level that fits YOUR life Are looking for alternatives to inpatient treatment Want to layer recovery coaching with your existing care team Resources Mentioned: National Alliance for Eating Disorders: Information on treatment levels and resources National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): Comprehensive treatment information and support Recovery Coaching with Lindsey: One-on-one virtual support, weekly sessions, actionable recovery tools Her Best Self Facebook Community: Support group for women in recovery Important Reminder: Lindsey is NOT a medical professional. The information in this episode is based on her personal experience and education but should not replace consultation with a licensed healthcare professional. Always speak with your doctor, therapist, or treatment team to determine which level of care is most appropriate for your specific situation. Connect with Lindsey Website: www.herbestself.co  Private Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society www.herbestselfsociety.com  Client Applications: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms 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 identify the core beliefs feeding your eating disorder, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

Happy Halloween, girlfriend! But let's talk about what's TRULY scary - the lies your eating disorder has been telling you that keep you trapped, paralyzed, and missing out on your life. In this special Halloween episode, host Lindsey Nichol unmasks the 5 scariest stories your eating disorder tells you and reveals why they're complete fiction. If you're a woman over 40 who's been haunted by food fears, candy panic, and the belief that you've been struggling "too long" to ever find freedom, this episode is your wake-up call. Lindsey shares her own triggering Halloween experience - dressing up as a plastic surgery victim in her mid-20s, complete with bandages and circles marking her "imperfections" - and how that costume revealed just how deep her denial really was. Then she walks you through each scary story, debunking the lies and replacing them with truth. This isn't just a Halloween episode. This is permission to finally unmask your eating disorder and step into the freedom you deserve - no matter your age, no matter how long you've been struggling. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Lindsey's Halloween Confession: Why Halloween was always triggering (candy panic, food fear, restriction spirals) The plastic surgery victim costume story that revealed her denial How eating disorders convince you the horror show is normal The moment she realized she was literally wearing her body dysmorphia as a costume The 5 Scary Stories (Lies) Your ED Tells You: Scary Story #1: "If I Eat Candy, I'll Lose All Control" Why restriction and deprivation CREATE the loss of control How scarcity breeds obsession and leads to binging The truth about trusting yourself around "forbidden" foods What you're really missing when you avoid Halloween treats with your family Scary Story #2: "I'll Gain Weight Immediately If I Stop Restricting" Why your body is not a calculator waiting to punish you The truth about initial weight fluctuation during healing How restriction has NEVER given you the body you thought it would What set point really means and why fighting it exhausts you Scary Story #3: "I Can't Trust Myself Around Food" Why you've forgotten what trust feels like after years of external rules How every restriction reinforces the lie that you're not capable What you're modeling for your kids or grandkids when you don't trust yourself The truth: trust is rebuilt one choice at a time Scary Story #4: "Everyone Will Judge Me If I Gain Weight (And So Will I)" The double lie: external judgment + internal harsh critic Why the people who matter want you PRESENT, not perfect What people are actually judging (your obsession, not your body) The scary truth: you're already miserable, the ED isn't protecting you FROM misery Scary Story #5: "I've Been Struggling So Long, I'll Probably Always Be This Way" Why the length of time struggling has NOTHING to do with recovery potential The truth for women in their 40s, 50s, 60s+ finding freedom Why "I wish I had started sooner" means TODAY is your sooner How to stop wasting one more Halloween believing this is your fate The Unmasking: Why you're exhausted from wearing the ED mask How to stop hiding and pretending this is sustainable What it means to take off the costume and show up as your real self The truth about who you are underneath the eating disorder Key Takeaways: ✨ The ED convinces you the horror show is normal - it puts a mask over your eyes so you can't see reality ✨ Fear of losing control actually CREATES loss of control - restriction is what makes you feel out of control ✨ Your body has a set point - fighting against it is what's exhausting you, not the weight itself ✨ You CAN trust yourself - but trust is rebuilt one choice at a time after years of external rules ✨ The people who matter want you present, not perfect - they're judging your obsession, not your body ✨ It's NOT too late - recovery is possible at ANY age after ANY amount of time struggling ✨ You're already miserable - the ED isn't protecting you from misery, it IS the misery ✨ Today is your "sooner" - stop waiting for the perfect time to unmask and get free Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "These aren't the fun kind of scary stories. These are the lies that keep you trapped." "I was literally wearing my body dysmorphia as a costume" "Your fear of losing control is actually what creates the loss of control" "You've spent DECADES restricting and you STILL don't have the body you thought restriction would give you" "You're trading temporary weight fluctuation for permanent freedom - and that's the best trade you'll ever make" "Every time you follow a rule instead of listening to your body, you're telling yourself 'I can't handle freedom'" "The people who matter don't care about your body size. The people who care about your body size don't matter" "You're ALREADY miserable. The eating disorder isn't protecting you from misery - it IS the misery" "The length of time you've been struggling has NOTHING to do with whether you can recover" "You've been wearing the eating disorder mask for how long now? It's time to unmask" "Wanting freedom isn't enough. You have to DO it" Your Halloween Challenge: Part 1: Identify and Unmask Your Scariest Lie Write down the SCARIEST lie you've been believing - the one that has the most power over you. Then unmask it by writing the TRUTH next to that lie. Examples: Lie: "I can't trust myself around food" Truth: "I am learning to trust myself one choice at a time" Lie: "I'm too old to recover" Truth: "Recovery is possible at any age, and I'm starting today" Lie: "If I gain weight, I'll be miserable" Truth: "I'm already miserable. Freedom is worth more than a number on the scale" Part 2: Face One Food Fear This Halloween Weekend Take one action that scares you: Have one piece of candy without guilt Order the food you actually want Take a rest day without panic Eat Halloween treats with your family without restriction One unmasked lie. One fear faced. That's how recovery starts. Reflection Questions: Which of the 5 scary stories has the most power over me? How long have I been wearing the eating disorder "mask"? What am I missing out on while I'm trapped in food fear? If my kids or grandkids are watching, what am I modeling about trust and food? What would change in my life if I stopped believing the scariest lie? Am I ready to unmask and show up as my real self? What's ONE fear I can face this Halloween weekend? Who This Episode Is For: This Halloween episode is for you if: You experience candy panic and food fear during holidays You've been struggling for 10, 20, 30+ years and think it's "too late" You're in your 40s, 50s, or 60s and wonder if recovery is possible at your age You can't trust yourself around "trigger foods" You're terrified of gaining weight if you stop restricting You're missing out on holiday memories with family because of food obsession You're exhausted from wearing the ED mask and pretending everything is fine You're ready to stop being haunted by lies and start living in truth You need permission to believe change is possible after all this time Special Episode Note: EPISODE 250! This milestone episode falls on Halloween, making it the perfect time to unmask the eating disorder and celebrate how far you've come. Whether this is your first episode or you've been listening since day one, thank you for being part of this community. Recovery is possible, girlfriend - and it starts with unmasking the lies. Important Truth: Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. This isn't small. This is life and death. If you're trapped in the cycle of food fear, restriction, and believing you've been struggling "too long" to ever find freedom, please hear this: It's not too late. Recovery is possible. And you deserve to live without being haunted. Ready to Unmask Your Eating Disorder and Find Freedom? Lindsey has spots open for one-on-one recovery coaching. If you're done being haunted by scary stories and ready to live in truth, visit www.herbestself.co to book your complimentary consultation. Let's make this the last Halloween you spend trapped in these lies. Connect with Lindsey Website: www.herbestself.co  Private Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society www.herbestselfsociety.com  1:1 Client Applications: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support: 💝 Rate and review to help more perfectionists find freedom 💝 Share with a friend who's stuck in the perfection trap 💝 Join the Facebook community for recovery hugs and support 💝 Apply for 1:1 coaching if you're ready for personalized guidance Special Announcements: 🎉 Subscribe to the email list at www.herbestself.co to get your free recovery journal download 🎉 Free FB Community at www.herbestselfsociety.com  About the 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.

Girlfriend, it's time for some real talk. If you keep saying you want recovery but your actions don't match your words, this episode is your wake-up call. Host Lindsey Nichol delivers tough love with compassion as she breaks down the truth: there are two types of people in this world - those with reasons and those with results. Which one are you? In this powerful episode, Lindsey shares her own struggle with desperately wanting recovery while still restricting, lying to her treatment team, and choosing the "safe" option every single time. She'll teach you how one simple shift - replacing "I can't" with "I won't" - can completely transform your recovery journey by helping you own your choices and reclaim your power. If you're tired of making excuses, breaking promises to yourself, and staying stuck in the same cycle, this is the episode that will challenge you to finally show up for yourself and your family. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The Two Types of People Framework: Those with REASONS vs those with RESULTS - which one are you? Why having a list of excuses keeps you stuck in disordered eating patterns How to shift from wanting recovery to DOING recovery The "I Can't" vs "I Won't" Truth Bomb: Why "I can't" gives away your power and keeps you playing victim How replacing "I can't" with "I won't" creates awareness and ownership The massive difference between these two phrases in your recovery journey Lindsey's Personal Story: When she desperately wanted to get better but her actions didn't match How she was still restricting while saying she wanted freedom The moment she realized she was tired of her own BS and didn't want to be a statistic What finally shifted her from reasons to results The Reality Check You Need: Why your fear isn't protecting you - it's imprisoning you How every broken promise reinforces the belief that you can't trust yourself The truth about what breaking promises is really doing to your recovery Key Takeaways: ✨ There are two types of people: those with reasons and those with results - you get to choose which one you'll be ✨ "I can't" is a lie - what you really mean is "I won't" and that's a choice you have power over ✨ Wanting recovery and DOING recovery are completely different things - listening to podcasts isn't the same as taking action ✨ You cannot want recovery more than you want the eating disorder - your actions reveal what you truly want ✨ Your recovery isn't just for you - it's for your family too - they need to see you model what keeping promises looks like ✨ Every action you take is a vote for who you're becoming - what are you voting for today? Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "Recovery isn't happening because you keep breaking promises to yourself" "There are two types of people in this world - those with reasons and those with results" "Every time you say 'I can't,' what you really mean is 'I won't'" "My desires and my future wants didn't match my daily actions" "I was tired of my own BS. I didn't want to be a statistic" "Wanting recovery and DOING recovery are two completely different things" "Your fear is not protecting you. It's imprisoning you" "You cannot want recovery more than you want the eating disorder" "Your family can't see what you're not modeling" "You are one decision away from a completely different life" "Those with reasons stay stuck. Those with results change their lives" Featured Wisdom: Brené Brown: "You either walk inside your story and own it, or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness." James Clear (Atomic Habits): "Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become." Mel Robbins: "You are one decision away from a completely different life." Important Truth: Did you know? Eating disorders have the HIGHEST mortality rate of any mental illness. This isn't small. This is life and death. If you're stuck in the cycle of wanting recovery but not doing recovery, it's time to get honest about what's at stake. Your Two Challenges (Do Them NOW): Challenge #1: The "I Won't" Awareness Exercise For the next 24 hours, every time you catch yourself saying "I can't," PAUSE. Take a breath. Replace it with "I won't." Examples: "I can't eat that" → "I won't eat that" "I can't rest today" → "I won't rest today" "I can't be honest right now" → "I won't be honest right now" Notice how different that FEELS. When you admit it's a choice, you suddenly have the power to make a different one. Challenge #2: Make ONE Promise and Keep It Just ONE. Not ten. Not a complete recovery overhaul. ONE promise. Maybe it's: "I will eat breakfast tomorrow, even if it scares me" "I will take a rest day this week" "I will order something different at the restaurant" "I will tell my therapist one true thing I've been hiding" Write it down. Then DO IT. Prove to yourself that you're someone who keeps promises. Reflection Questions to Journal On: What excuses have I been using to avoid recovery? Where is the gap between what I SAY I want and what I'm actually DOING? What promises have I been breaking to myself? Am I someone with reasons or someone with results? What am I voting for with my choices today? What type of person am I becoming based on my current actions? What's ONE promise I can make and keep today? If I'm honest with myself, do I want recovery more than I want the eating disorder? Who This Episode Is For: This episode is your wake-up call and reality check if you: Keep saying you want recovery but your actions don't match Have a list of excuses for why "now isn't the right time" Break promises to yourself regularly Lie to your treatment team about what you're really doing Choose the "safe" option every single time Say "I can't" more than you take action Want to be present for your family but feel trapped Are tired of making excuses and ready for results Need tough love mixed with fierce support Want to stop being a statistic and start living in freedom The Bottom Line: You have everything you need to recover. You have the desire. You have the resources. You have the support. The only thing standing between you and freedom is YOU. Your family needs you. Your future needs you. And most importantly, YOU need you. So stop playing small. Stop breaking promises. Stop saying "I can't" when you mean "I won't." Because those with reasons stay stuck. But those with RESULTS? They change their lives. Which one are you going to be? Ready to Stop Breaking Promises and Start Living Free? Lindsey has spots open for one-on-one recovery coaching. If you're ready to stop making excuses and start getting results, visit www.herbestself.co to book your complimentary consultation. Let's make this the season where everything changes. Now let's talk support: Ready to sign up for our recovery support group? www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective  📧 Email Lindsey: info@lindseynichol.com  🌐 Apply for Recovery Coaching: www.herbestself.co  💕 Join the Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com  Limited spots available for fall coaching - only 2 slots remaining Connect with Lindsey: 🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show: 💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week! Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

Girlfriend, if you're tired of the never-ending cycle of body checking, comparing yourself to everyone around you, and feeling trapped in a body you don't recognize, this episode is for you. Host Lindsey Nichol breaks down the 4 categories of body image according to the National Eating Disorder Collaboration and walks you through practical exercises to challenge the negative body ideals that are keeping you stuck. In This Episode, You'll Discover: The 4 Categories of Body Image: Perceptual - The way you SEE your body Affective - The way you FEEL about your body (shape, weight, emotions) Cognitive - The way you THINK about your body Behavioral - How you REACT and engage based on the first three Plus, You'll Learn: How to identify where your "body ideal" came from (and why it might not be real) The truth about social media comparison and "comparisonitis" Why achieving your ideal body still won't make you feel "enough" How conditioning from a young age programmed false beliefs about your body The difference between focusing on being skinny vs. focusing on strength and health Practical ways to shift from body dissatisfaction to body appreciation Key Takeaways: ✨ You are NOT your body - Your body is a vessel, not your identity ✨ Body ideals are conditioned, not truth - Society programmed you to believe skinny is good and fat is bad ✨ Your true beauty is who you are WITHOUT restrictive behaviors ✨ Choice is your superpower - You can choose appreciation right now, today ✨ You can change the way you see, feel, and think about your body - And that changes everything Powerful Exercises to Try Today: 1. The Body Ideal Inventory Write out every detail of your "perfect body." Then ask yourself: Where did this image come from? Is there a specific person (celebrity, friend, family member) that comes to mind? Has social media contributed to this ideal? Would I care about this if I lived alone on an island with no one to compare myself to? 2. The Appreciation Practice Today, look at someone in your life without judging or comparing their body to yours. Find ONE thing you can admire or appreciate about their body. Then reflect on what this reveals about your own body ideals. 3. The Mirror Challenge Look at yourself face-to-face in the mirror and say OUT LOUD: "I am willing to do the hard things. I am willing to make changes in my life. I may not be seeing what is real and true because of false distortion, but I can choose right now to appreciate, respect, and care for me regardless." 4. The Reframe Exercise Choose one body part you criticize. Now reframe it - what can you appreciate about this part? Just like you appreciated something about someone else, extend that same grace to yourself. 5. The Shift from Skinny to Strong Instead of idolizing being skinny, focus on STRENGTH. Instead of weighing less, focus on HEALTH. What would change in your life if you made this shift? Questions to Journal On: What would my ideal body be if I had no one to compare myself to? Would I be restricting food if I lived on an island alone? At what point in my life did someone make me feel "less than" about my body? What if this belief I've held for so long isn't even true - just a programmed distortion? What do I want to be KNOWN for beyond my appearance? Who am I outside of my body? What can I appreciate about myself RIGHT NOW? Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "You are not your body. Your body is a vessel." "Comparisonitis is real and it's poison to your being" "Your true beauty is who you are without restrictive behaviors" "You can be 80 pounds or 400 pounds and you're still YOU" "What if this belief in your heart that you've been believing for so long is not even true?" "Do you not know that your body is a temple? You were bought at a price. Honor your body to honor your creator." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Who This Episode Is For: This episode is for you if you're: Tired of the never-ending cycle of disordered eating Sick of restricting some days and eating other days Done with the shame game and feeling "not good enough" Exhausted from hating your body while simultaneously punishing it Ready to stop comparing your body to everyone around you Wanting to feel happy, confident, and empowered in your skin Wondering if body acceptance is even possible after years of struggle Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - "Do you not know that your body is a temple? You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Honor your body to honor your creator." Resources & Next Steps: Join the Community: Connect with other women on the recovery journey in Lindsey's private Facebook community - www.herbsestselfsociety.com ! Work with Lindsey: Ready for one-on-one support? Lindsey offers personalized recovery coaching. Visit www.herbestself.co/services  to book a complimentary consultation and see if coaching is the right fit for you. Take Action: Grab your journal, do the exercises from this episode, and share your insights in the Her Best Self Facebook community. Recovery isn't meant to be done alone, girlfriend! Connect with Lindsey Website: www.herbestself.co  Private Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society www.herbestselfsociety.com  1:1 Client Applications: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms . Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear that her rejection story can become her redemption story. About the 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 I told you that the eating disorder you're battling isn't really about food at all—it's about rejection? In this deeply personal episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own rejection story and how those painful moments shaped my relationship with food, my body, and control. From being told to "get in line by size" at dance practice to corporate disappointments and broken friendships, I'm sharing the rejection wounds that led me down the path of disordered eating. Here's the truth: perfectionism is rejection prevention. It's the way your brain tries to avoid the emotional trauma of feeling "not enough." And your eating disorder? It offers the illusion of protection—a false comfort that promises to fix everything and prevent future rejection. But the only thing it really does is lead to the deepest rejection of all: rejecting your own worthiness. Today, we're dissecting rejection together. I'm meeting you in that painful place so you can discover what I've learned: your rejection story can become your redemption story. Rejection isn't the end—it's God's protection, His redirection, and often the most powerful motivator for transformation. If you've been shrinking yourself to fit into spaces you were rejected from, this episode is your invitation to take up space again, feel free again, and reject the rejection that was never yours to carry. What You'll Learn: [02:30] The moment everything changed: My dance practice rejection story and how one comment shifted my entire relationship with my body [05:00] Why perfectionism is actually rejection prevention—and how it fuels your eating disorder [07:15] The cycle that keeps you stuck: Fear of rejection → False control → Isolation → Disordered eating behaviors → Reinforced rejection fears [09:45] How early experiences shape your relationship with safety (and why you desperately want to be seen, heard, and loved) [12:00] Protection strategies your brain uses: Numbing through restriction, creating physical armor through body changes, food rituals as predictable comfort [15:30] My personal rejection timeline: From Disney on Ice to corporate promotions, college boyfriends to broken friendships—the moments that shaped my story [18:00] The powerful reframe: Rejection is God's protection and redirection. What would you have missed if those doors had stayed open? [20:30] How recovered people reject rejection—practical steps to heal and move forward [23:00] The three questions to ask when rejection voices show up: "So what? Says who? Who cares?" Key Takeaways: 💔 Perfectionism = Rejection Prevention: Your eating disorder isn't about food. It's your brain's attempt to avoid the pain of feeling "not enough." 🔄 The Rejection Cycle: Fear of rejection leads to false control (food/body manipulation), which leads to isolation, which reinforces rejection fears, which prevents you from being seen, heard, and loved. ✨ Rejection → Redemption: Your rejection story matters because it can become your redemption story. Every painful moment can be transformed into power. 🚪 If those doors had stayed open, what would you have missed? Rejection is often God's redirection toward a better path you couldn't have imagined. 🛡️ Protection Strategies Keeping You Stuck: Numbing emotional pain through food restriction Creating physical armor through weight manipulation Using food rituals as predictable comfort Turning inward to "fix" things that don't need fixing 💪 Recovered People Reject Rejection: They show up imperfectly, embrace progress over perfection, create healthy boundaries, build self-trust, and sit with uncomfortable emotions. 🎯 The Most Powerful Truth: No one needs to like you but you. You are approved by God who created you and put a seal of worthiness on your birth certificate. You're not rejected—you're redeemed. Reflection Questions for Your Journal: 📝 What are your rejection stories? What moments made you feel unseen, unheard, or unloved? 📝 How did those rejections shape your relationship with food and your body? When did you start "the exhausting project of trying to shrink yourself"? 📝 What parts of yourself have you rejected? Movement you loved? Activities that brought joy? Nourishment? Rest? Connection? 📝 If those doors had stayed open, what would you have missed? What blessings came from closed doors? 📝 What rejection are you still carrying that isn't yours? What old wound keeps replaying as current truth? Action Steps: ✍️ Write out your rejection story. This isn't to create trauma—it's to find freedom in laying it down, forgiving it, and moving forward. 🗣️ Practice the three questions: Next time rejection voices show up ("you're not good enough," "you can't eat that"), respond with: "So what? Says who? Who cares?" 🔄 Reframe your rejections: List your biggest rejections, then write what you would have missed if those doors had stayed open. 💪 Start doing the next right thing: Show up imperfectly, embrace progress over perfection, create healthy boundaries, and build self-trust. 🙅‍♀️ Stop people pleasing: You don't need to be for everyone. It's okay to not have a seat at everyone's table. Quotes from This Episode: "Perfectionism is rejection prevention. It's the way that our brain and our mind tries to avoid the pain and the emotional trauma of feeling the not enoughness." "In trying to protect yourself from rejection, you begin rejecting parts of yourself—movement you enjoyed, activities that bring you joy, nourishment, rest, and eventually connection with people you cherished." "The eating disorder promises to fix everything, promises that everyone will accept you, promises to fix any future rejection. But the only real thing it does is lead to the deepest rejection of all: rejecting your own worthiness." "Whatever story you've been replaying on repeat, you can learn to take up space, feel free again, and reject the rejection that was never yours to carry." "Rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of a better path. When we start looking at it like that, it becomes the most powerful motivator in your life." "No one needs to like you but you. The cycle of fear of rejection leads to false control, which leads to isolation, which reinforces rejection fears and prevents you from being seen, heard, and loved." "Rejection is God's protection. It is His redirection. If those doors had stayed open, what would you have missed?" "You're not rejected, you're redeemed. You're not bad. Maybe you just shine a little too bright for someone who couldn't handle it." "Recovered people reject rejection." Connect with Lindsey Website: www.herbestself.co  Private Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society www.herbestselfsociety.com  1:1 Client Applications: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms . Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear that her rejection story can become her redemption story. About the 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

If you're in the thick of eating disorder recovery right now and wondering if it's ever going to get easier, this episode is for you. Maybe you had a rough week with food. Maybe you're exhausted from fighting the same battles in your head every single day. Maybe you're wondering if recovery is even worth it because right now it just feels so incredibly hard. In this episode, Lindsey gets real about hard times in recovery and shares a truth that will change how you see your struggle: there are only three possible outcomes when you're going through something hard, and what you choose determines everything about your recovery and your future. This isn't a "just think positive" pep talk. This is truth-telling, no-nonsense guidance about why hard times don't last forever—but only if you refuse to stay stuck in them. If you're ready to stop waiting for recovery to magically get easier and start building the resilience you need to actually get better, this episode will show you how. What You'll Learn: The only 3 possible outcomes when you're in a hard season of recovery (and why understanding this changes everything) Why quitting doesn't actually end the hard time—it just makes it last longer The difference between "it getting better" and "you getting better" (and why only one leads to lasting freedom) How to stop waiting for circumstances to change and start actively participating in your own healing Why hard times only end when you decide they end—not when you feel ready How to make decisions from your healed self instead of your wounded self What it really means to move through hard times instead of staying stuck in them The 3 Outcomes of Hard Times: Outcome #1: You Quit Quitting looks like going back to restriction because it feels safer. It's skipping meals after a bad body image day. It's choosing what's familiar over what will set you free. When you quit moving forward, the hard time doesn't end—it just becomes your new normal. Outcome #2: It Gets Better Sometimes circumstances change and the external situation improves. But if YOU don't change? You're just waiting for the next hard time to come along. You'll always be one comment away from spiraling, one trigger away from old patterns. Outcome #3: You Get Better This is where your power lives. This is where transformation happens. When YOU get better, you learn to nourish your body even when you don't feel deserving. You challenge food rules. You sit with emotions instead of controlling them through food or exercise. You make decisions from your healed self. Key Takeaways: ✨ Hard times don't last forever—but they also don't end just because you want them to. They end when you choose to move through them. ✨ There are only 3 outcomes: you quit, it gets better, or you get better. Only one leads to lasting freedom. ✨ When you quit, the hard time doesn't disappear—it just continues and becomes your normal. ✨ Relying on circumstances to improve keeps you at the mercy of triggers and external situations. ✨ You getting better means actively participating in your own healing, not just hoping things change. ✨ The hard time becomes your identity when you refuse to move forward—it becomes who you are instead of something you're moving through. ✨ Choosing to get better is hard, but staying stuck is harder. Wake up a year from now in the same place or choose to do the work now. Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "Hard times don't last forever. They don't. But only if you refuse to stay stuck in them." "Hard times end when you decide they end. Not when circumstances are perfect. Not when you feel ready. Not when it's easy. They end when you decide to keep moving forward even when it's hard." "When you quit, the hard time doesn't actually end. It just continues. It stretches out. It becomes your new normal." "When YOU get better, it doesn't matter as much what the circumstances are. When YOU get better, you have tools to work through triggers." "You don't have to stay here. You don't have to live in this hard time forever. But you do have to choose to move through it." "The hard time you're in right now? It's not forever. It's not your ending. It's not your identity. It's just a chapter. And you get to write what comes next." Real Talk: This episode delivers no-nonsense truth: the eating disorder wants you to believe you'll always feel this way, but that's a lie. You don't have to stay stuck. But you do have to choose outcome #3—to get better. That means showing up when you don't feel like it, doing the opposite of what the disorder tells you, and trusting the process even when you can't see results yet. What's harder than doing the work? Waking up years from now still fighting the same battles because you never chose to get better. Questions to Ask Yourself: Am I quitting on myself in this moment? Am I waiting for circumstances to change, or am I choosing to change? Am I making decisions from my healed self or my wounded self? What would it look like for ME to get better, not just for IT to get better? Am I refusing to move forward and making this hard time my identity? Ready to Choose Outcome #3? If you're ready to stop staying stuck and start getting better, you don't have to do it alone. Inside The Recovery Collective, Lindsey's support group program, you get: Live 2x coaching calls with Lindsey per month A community of women also choosing to get better Tools and frameworks to move through hard times instead of staying stuck Support to actively participate in your healing journey Learn more and join at: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective  Connect with Lindsey Website: www.herbestself.co  Private Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society www.herbestselfsociety.com  1:1 Client Applications: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms 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.

You're at a family dinner. Someone makes a comment about your body or what's on your plate. Suddenly your chest is tight, your mind is racing, and you're already planning tomorrow's restriction or extra workout. Sound familiar? In this episode, Lindsey Nichol gives you a real-time, actionable game plan for working through triggers as they happen—not tomorrow, not after the holidays, but RIGHT NOW. Whether it's an upcoming holiday gathering, a comment from a loved one, or scrolling social media, you'll learn exactly what to do in those moments when you feel completely out of control. Lindsey walks you through six powerful steps to move through triggering situations without falling back into restriction, over-exercising, or shame spirals. This isn't theory—this is practical, do-it-now guidance that will help you act from your healed self instead of your wounded self. What You'll Learn: Why your body's physical response to triggers is actually giving you valuable information The 6-step method to work through any triggering situation in real-time How to identify what your body and emotions are actually asking for (hint: it's not restriction) The "Act As If Now" principle that changes everything about how you respond to triggers A real client story of working through a triggering family gathering Why you have to stop operating from your unhealed self and start making decisions from freedom Key Takeaways: ✨ Your body isn't broken—it's trying to protect you based on old experiences that aren't happening right now ✨ You can't heal what you won't feel—naming your emotions is essential to moving through triggers ✨ The emotions you feel during triggers exist because they once kept you safe, but you get to choose differently now ✨ What would your best self do? Your future self who's already free? Act as if you're already her—because you are ✨ One triggering moment doesn't define your recovery—how you respond does The 6-Step Trigger Game Plan: Notice Your Body - Is your chest tight? Shoulders tense? Jaw clenched? Your body is giving you information Breathe - Hand on belly, breathe in for 4 counts, out for 6. Create space between the trigger and your reaction Name the Sensation - Where is the tension? The tightness? The heaviness? What is your body saying? Name the Emotion - I feel scared. Sad. Ashamed. Out of control. Unworthy. Name it out loud Compassion - That emotion exists because it once kept you safe. Your body is being reminded of an old experience. Give yourself grace Meet Your Now Needs - What do you need right now? A break? A phone call? Food? To do the opposite action? Then ACT AS IF you're already recovered Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "What you do in the next few minutes after you feel triggered will either keep you stuck in the same cycle or move you one step closer to the freedom you're desperately craving." "You can't heal what you won't feel." "That old experience isn't happening right now. You're not that little girl anymore who learned she had to earn love or approval." "Stop operating from your unhealed self. Stop letting the wounds make the decisions. Stop letting the fear drive the bus." "You ARE that future version of yourself. She's not some distant dream. She's you—making the next right choice in this moment." Ready for More Support? If you need help working through triggers and breaking free from the restrict-binge cycle, join The Recovery Collective—Lindsey's group support program where you get live weekly coaching, a supportive community, and the exact tools you need to find lasting food freedom. Learn more at: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective Connect with Lindsey Website: www.herbestself.co  Private Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society www.herbestselfsociety.com  1:1 Client Applications: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support: 💝 Rate and review to help more perfectionists find freedom 💝 Share with a friend who's stuck in the perfection trap 💝 Join the Facebook community for recovery hugs and support 💝 Apply for 1:1 coaching if you're ready for personalized guidance Special Announcements: Subscribe to the email list at www.herbestself.co to get first access 🎉 Free FB Community at www.herbestselfsociety.com  If You're Reading This and Struggling: You don't have to be perfect at recovery. You don't have to check all the boxes. You don't have to be further along than you are. Success is showing up today, even when yesterday was hard. Success is choosing growth over perfection. Success is becoming who you're meant to be, not achieving some impossible standard. You are worthy. You are strong. You are perfectly capable right now, today, to lean into the biggest struggle of your life. Consider this your virtual hug from Lindsey. You've got this, beautiful. Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.  

In this insightful conversation originally recorded with dietitian Brittany Braswell on Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast, I open up about the restrict-binge cycle that keeps so many women trapped—saving calories all day only to overeat at night. This episode dismantles the myth that it's about willpower and reveals the biological and spiritual truths behind this destructive pattern. What You'll Learn Why saving calories backfires: Understanding the biological response to restriction and how scarcity thinking drives the restrict-binge cycle The worthiness wound: How diet culture has taught women they need to earn, ration, and delay food instead of deserving consistent nourishment Lindsey's personal story: Her years-long struggle with anorexia and calculating every meal, and how she found freedom Practical action steps: Four concrete strategies to start eating earlier in the day and breaking the restrict-binge pattern Identity in Christ: How knowing you're fearfully and wonderfully made changes how you treat your body as a temple Key Takeaways ✨ The restrict-binge cycle is biological, not about willpower - When you don't eat enough during the day, your body forces a response ✨ Scarcity thinking is rooted in worthiness issues - Diet culture has taught us food must be earned, rationed, and controlled rather than something we deserve consistently ✨ Comfort isn't the goal, freedom is - Breaking the cycle requires doing uncomfortable opposite actions ✨ Ask yourself: Is this decision from fear or love? - If you're making food choices out of fear, that's a signal to do the opposite ✨ You are fearfully and wonderfully made - Your identity is larger than the vessel you came here with Practical Strategies Discussed 1. Combat the Lie of Unworthiness Recognize you are deserving of good things NOW, not later Your worth is tied to being made in God's image—period Feelings aren't facts when you feel undeserving 2. Set New Non-Negotiables Create mechanical eating boundaries (2-3 meals + snacks) regardless of hunger cues Commit to eating 1-2 hours earlier than your current pattern Make a specific plan: What time? What food? Write it down. 3. Do the Opposite Action When the voice says "wait until later," immediately do the opposite Rewire your brain by not taking orders from "Regina George" anymore Break the rules that keep you trapped—the world won't fall apart 4. Start with Half Portions Earlier If eating a full meal earlier feels overwhelming, start with half Build consistency with small steps, not overnight overhauls Change happens with consistent small actions 5. Get Logical About Time Challenge arbitrary eating times—it's already mealtime somewhere else in the world Do the hard thing first to get it out of the way Make concrete plans, not optional intentions Powerful Quotes "You were created by God, made in His image, and you are so worthy of love and nourishment—period. There's no arguing, no bargaining about that." "Comfort isn't the goal. Freedom is the goal." "Your body deserves consistent fuel. What would I tell my daughter, my best friend, you over coffee? I would never tell you that you can't have that coffee because there's cream in it." "Is this decision coming from a place of fear or a place of love? If it's fear, pluck that thought." "God's grace is built from abundance. Your identity is something larger than the vessel that you came here with." Key Questions for Reflection What am I believing that is false? What do I know is true when I'm feeling I don't deserve nourishment? What rules am I following that I need to break? Am I making this decision out of fear or out of love? What does my body deserve right now? About This Episode This conversation was originally recorded as a guest appearance on Brittany Braswell's podcast, Faith-Filled Food Freedom. Adapted and shared with the Her Best Self Podcast community because the message was too powerful not to share with you. Resources & Links Join The Recovery Collective Ready to break free from the restrict-binge cycle for good? The Recovery Collective is Lindsey Nichol's signature group support program where you'll get the support, strategies, and community you need to finally find freedom. Inside The Recovery Collective, you'll receive: Every other week group coaching calls with Lindsey  A proven framework to break disordered eating patterns A supportive community of women on the same journey Practical tools and resources for lasting recovery Biblical foundation for healing your relationship with food and body Learn more and join The Recovery Collective at www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective   Connect with Lindsey Nichol Website: www.herbestself.co  One-on-One Coaching: Limited spots available - apply at herbestself.co Facebook: www.herbestselfsociety.com Connect with Brittany Braswell Check out Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast for more faith-based nutrition and food freedom content at www.brittanybraswellrd.com  ___________________________ If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

In this powerful episode, host Lindsey Nichol explores the dual nature of distraction in eating disorder recovery—how it can either support your healing journey or keep you trapped in unhealthy patterns. Drawing wisdom from Proverbs, Lindsey breaks down when distraction becomes a helpful tool versus when it's a form of avoidance that prevents true recovery. What You'll Learn The two faces of distraction: Understanding when distraction works for you versus against you in recovery Identifying unhealthy distractions: Recognizing when you're using circumstances, people, or timing as excuses to deprioritize your healing Strategic distraction techniques: Practical ways to interrupt urges for compulsive exercise, body checking, restrictive eating, and other disordered behaviors The "Stop, Drop, and Go" method: How to immediately shift your environment when triggering urges arise Questions for self-reflection: What your soul, body, and mind truly need in this moment Key Takeaways ✨ Distraction can be leveraged temporarily to prevent unhealthy actions—like reaching out to support, journaling, changing your environment, or having a dance party ✨ Unhealthy distraction looks like telling yourself "now isn't the right time" or using life circumstances to avoid recovery work ✨ Common urges to distract from include: compulsive exercise, repetitive safe foods, body checking in mirrors, scale obsession, and other OCD-like behaviors ✨ The "messy middle" of recovery is normal—that awkward phase where you're better than before but haven't fully arrived ✨ Important questions to ask yourself: How can I honor myself right now? What does my soul need? What does my body need? What does my mind need? Episode Quotes "Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life. Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you." - Proverbs "Nothing good, including progress, occurs when you're confused or when you're completely sidetracked." "If today is not a good day for this, then when is going to be a good day to put yourself first, to put your health first?" "A distraction is simply a thing that prevents you from giving your complete attention to something else." Healthy Distraction Ideas Mentioned Reaching out to your support person (friend, family, coach, therapist) Leaving the triggering environment immediately Journaling and reflection Self-care and pampering activities Getting fresh air (sitting on a park bench, going outside) Dancing to music on blast Household activities (vacuuming, organizing) Spending quality time with loved ones Watching comforting shows with cozy blankets Reading Scripture or inspirational material Resources Mentioned Work with Lindsey: One-on-one personalized recovery coaching available at www.herbestself.co  Join the Community: Private Facebook group "Hope and Healing for Eating Disorder Recovery" www.herbestselfsociety.com  Recovery Collective Support Group: www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective  1:1 Client Applications: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms Love this episode? Here's how you can support: 💝 Rate and review to help more perfectionists find freedom 💝 Share with a friend who's stuck in the perfection trap 💝 Join the Facebook community for recovery hugs and support 💝 Apply for 1:1 coaching if you're ready for personalized guidance Special Announcements: 🎉 Subscribe to the email list at www.herbestself.co to get your free recovery journal download 🎉 Free FB Community at www.herbestselfsociety.com  About the 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.