

Her Best Self | Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast, Disordered Eating, Anorexia, Bulimia, Orthorexia, Body Image, Food Freedom, Calorie Counting, Obsessive Exercise, Food Restriction
Lindsey Nichol - Certified Health Coach, Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, Food Freedom Coach, Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy Certified
Transform Your Relationship with Food and Your Body - Find Freedom from Eating Disorders
Welcome to the Her Best Self podcast, where women discover lasting freedom from disordered eating, food obsession, and body shame. Hosted by Lindsey Nichol, eating disorder recovery coach and former anorexia survivor, this show provides hope, practical tools, and expert guidance for women ready to break free from the nightmare of disordered eating and reclaim their lives.
Lindsey combines her personal recovery journey with professional coaching expertise to deliver actionable strategies for eating disorder recovery, intuitive eating, body image healing, and food freedom. Each episode addresses the real challenges women face when healing their relationship with food - from weight gain fears and exercise addiction to perfectionism and decision-making paralysis.
This show is perfect for you if you:
Struggle with chronic dieting, restriction or excessive exercise
Are exhausted from food rules and calorie counting obsession
Battle negative body image and weight preoccupation
Feel controlled by exercise compulsion or movement anxiety
Are high-achievers dealing with perfectionism in recovery
Want to stop the start-stop recovery cycle and commit fully to healing
Are ready to go ”all in” on recovery but need guidance and support
Desire food freedom and body peace without endless therapy or diet programs
Episode Topics Include:
Eating disorder recovery strategies and mindset shifts
Breaking food rules and challenging fear foods safely
Body image healing and weight restoration support
Exercise addiction recovery and joyful movement
Perfectionism, people-pleasing, and control in recovery
Decision-making, commitment, and overcoming recovery resistance
Meal planning, intuitive eating, and mechanical eating guidance
Family relationships, social eating, and recovery in real life
Lindsey doesn’t just share recovery theory - she provides the raw truth about what recovery actually looks like, the uncomfortable parts no one talks about, and the specific tools that create lasting change. Her approach combines evidence-based recovery principles with spiritual foundation and practical implementation for busy women. Whether you’re just beginning to consider recovery, are in the early stages of healing, or are working to maintain long-term food freedom, this podcast meets you where you are with compassion, expertise, and actionable guidance.
New episodes air twice per week (Tuesday’s and Friday’s) featuring solo deep-dives, client success stories, expert interviews, and listener Q&A sessions. Join thousands of women who are choosing recovery, embracing their worth beyond their weight, and discovering that food freedom is not only possible - it’s their birthright.
Ready to take the next step? Visit www.herbestself.co for a coaching application, free resources, and community support.
Your best self is waiting. Your freedom starts now.
_____________________________________________________________________
**DISCLAIMER** Trigger warning: The episodes on Her Best Self podcast may, at times, cover sensitive topics including but not limited to eating disorders & mental health. You are advised to refrain from listening if you are likely to be triggered or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Neither Lindsey Nichol LLC, associates nor guests, shall at any time be liable for the content covered causing offense, distress or any other reaction. The information contained comes from personal insight & education but should not be viewed as clinical support or professional diagnosis. Anything said should NOT be taken as a replacement for medical intervention & is nothing is intended to establish a therapist-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained therapist, doctor or other health professional, nor treatment. @ Copyright 2025 Lindsey Nichol LLC
Welcome to the Her Best Self podcast, where women discover lasting freedom from disordered eating, food obsession, and body shame. Hosted by Lindsey Nichol, eating disorder recovery coach and former anorexia survivor, this show provides hope, practical tools, and expert guidance for women ready to break free from the nightmare of disordered eating and reclaim their lives.
Lindsey combines her personal recovery journey with professional coaching expertise to deliver actionable strategies for eating disorder recovery, intuitive eating, body image healing, and food freedom. Each episode addresses the real challenges women face when healing their relationship with food - from weight gain fears and exercise addiction to perfectionism and decision-making paralysis.
This show is perfect for you if you:
Struggle with chronic dieting, restriction or excessive exercise
Are exhausted from food rules and calorie counting obsession
Battle negative body image and weight preoccupation
Feel controlled by exercise compulsion or movement anxiety
Are high-achievers dealing with perfectionism in recovery
Want to stop the start-stop recovery cycle and commit fully to healing
Are ready to go ”all in” on recovery but need guidance and support
Desire food freedom and body peace without endless therapy or diet programs
Episode Topics Include:
Eating disorder recovery strategies and mindset shifts
Breaking food rules and challenging fear foods safely
Body image healing and weight restoration support
Exercise addiction recovery and joyful movement
Perfectionism, people-pleasing, and control in recovery
Decision-making, commitment, and overcoming recovery resistance
Meal planning, intuitive eating, and mechanical eating guidance
Family relationships, social eating, and recovery in real life
Lindsey doesn’t just share recovery theory - she provides the raw truth about what recovery actually looks like, the uncomfortable parts no one talks about, and the specific tools that create lasting change. Her approach combines evidence-based recovery principles with spiritual foundation and practical implementation for busy women. Whether you’re just beginning to consider recovery, are in the early stages of healing, or are working to maintain long-term food freedom, this podcast meets you where you are with compassion, expertise, and actionable guidance.
New episodes air twice per week (Tuesday’s and Friday’s) featuring solo deep-dives, client success stories, expert interviews, and listener Q&A sessions. Join thousands of women who are choosing recovery, embracing their worth beyond their weight, and discovering that food freedom is not only possible - it’s their birthright.
Ready to take the next step? Visit www.herbestself.co for a coaching application, free resources, and community support.
Your best self is waiting. Your freedom starts now.
_____________________________________________________________________
**DISCLAIMER** Trigger warning: The episodes on Her Best Self podcast may, at times, cover sensitive topics including but not limited to eating disorders & mental health. You are advised to refrain from listening if you are likely to be triggered or adversely impacted by any of these topics. Neither Lindsey Nichol LLC, associates nor guests, shall at any time be liable for the content covered causing offense, distress or any other reaction. The information contained comes from personal insight & education but should not be viewed as clinical support or professional diagnosis. Anything said should NOT be taken as a replacement for medical intervention & is nothing is intended to establish a therapist-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained therapist, doctor or other health professional, nor treatment. @ Copyright 2025 Lindsey Nichol LLC
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 12, 2025 • 18min
EP 233: Be The Boss of Your Thoughts! The Triple Threat Tool ~ A 3-Step Framework to Stop Disordered Thoughts from Controlling Your Day
Tired of being held hostage by thoughts like "When can I eat next?" or "I need to work this off"? In this game-changing episode, Lindsey introduces her signature Triple Threat Tool that stops ED thoughts from spiraling and puts YOU back in control of your mind. Learn the exact 3-step framework to go from being controlled by eating disorder thoughts to being completely in control of your recovery.
Key Takeaways
You can't fight what you don't acknowledge, and you can't change what you don't challenge
Your ED thoughts aren't actually YOUR thoughts - they're learned responses
The Triple Threat Tool threatens the lies, the spiral, and the ED's power over your choices
You're allowed to have the thought - but you don't have to believe it or act on it
Deciding your comeback in advance stops spirals before they start
The Triple Threat Tool Breakdown
Step 1: NAME IT - Who's Really Talking Here?
Purpose: Identify whether this is your ED voice or your authentic voice
How to Do It:
Give your ED voice an actual name (Restriction Rachel, Control Freak Carla, Body Critic Betty)
Separate the ED voice from who you really are
Recognize these aren't YOUR thoughts - they're learned responses from diet culture
Example:
ED Thought: "I shouldn't eat this cookie"
Name It: "That's Restriction Rachel trying to control my food choices"
Step 2: TAME IT - Take Your Power Back
Purpose: Acknowledge the thought without giving it power
How to Do It:
Refuse to let the ED voice drive the bus
Thank the voice but decline to take orders
Set boundaries with your ED thoughts like you would with a demanding person
Example:
Tame It: "Thanks for sharing, Restriction Rachel, but I'm not taking orders from you today"
Lindsey's Example: "Rachel, you've been fired. I'm in charge of my nourishment now"
Step 3: FRAME IT - Create Your New Truth
Purpose: Replace ED lies with recovery-aligned thoughts
How to Do It:
Create thoughts that feel true and move you toward recovery
Not fake positive affirmations - authentic recovery truths
Choose thoughts that serve your healing journey
Example:
Frame It: "My body needs consistent fuel throughout the day, and this cookie is part of my recovery"
Real-Life Triple Threat Examples
Food Thought Scenario:
ED Thought: "I need to work out extra today because I ate something different last night"
Name It: "That's Control Freak Carla"
Tame It: "Carla, exercise isn't punishment for eating"
Frame It: "I move my body because it feels good, not to earn or burn off food"
Body Image Scenario:
ED Thought: "I look disgusting in this dress"
Name It: "That's Body Critic Betty"
Tame It: "Betty, your harsh comments aren't welcome here"
Frame It: "My body deserves to be treated with respect, and I choose clothes that make me feel comfortable"
ED Voice vs. Authentic Voice Guide
Your ED Voice:
Is harsh, critical, and demanding
Uses words like "should," "can't," "need to," "have to"
Makes you feel anxious, guilty, or ashamed
Wants you to be smaller, eat less, control more
Your Authentic Voice:
Is kind, curious, and flexible
Uses words like "I choose," "I want," "I deserve"
Makes you feel peaceful, empowered, or hopeful
Wants you to be nourished, rested, and free
Common ED Thoughts to Practice With
Food Thoughts:
"When can I eat next?"
"What am I allowed to eat?"
"How can I avoid eating?"
"I need to work this off"
"I shouldn't eat this"
Body Image Thoughts:
"I look huge in this outfit"
"If I eat that, I'll gain weight"
"I'm bigger than everyone else"
"People are judging my body"
"I'm disgusting"
Powerful Quotes from This Episode
"You can't fight what you don't acknowledge, and you can't change what you don't challenge."
"Your eating disorder thoughts aren't actually YOUR thoughts."
"You're allowed to have the thought. There's no judgment in having an ED thought pop up."
"You are not your thoughts. You are the thinker of your thoughts."
"Your ED voice is loud, but your authentic voice is stronger."
When to Use the Triple Threat Tool
In front of the mirror when body image thoughts attack
At meal times when food anxiety kicks in
The moment any ED thought enters your mind - don't wait for it to spiral
During social eating situations
When getting dressed or shopping for clothes
Before, during, and after exercise
This Week's Homework
Give your ED voice a name (make it specific to your struggles)
Identify your 3 most common ED thoughts
Write out your Triple Threat response for each one
Practice your comebacks - decide in advance what you'll say
Use the tool immediately when any ED thought pops up
Lindsey's Personal Example
Situation: Standing in front of closet, choosing what to wear
ED Thought: "You can't wear that dress, you look huge, everyone will notice how much weight you've gained"
Name It: "That's Gina trying to make me hide my body"
Tame It: "Gina, you don't get to dictate my wardrobe choices anymore"
Frame It: "I'm choosing clothes that make me feel comfortable and confident in my recovery"
Result: Wore the dress, had an amazing day, realized Gina's opinion had nothing to do with reality
Signs You Need This Tool
Food thoughts consume your mental energy throughout the day
You spiral from one negative thought into restriction or shame
You feel controlled by thoughts about your body or food
You believe every critical thought about yourself
You can't distinguish between ED voice and authentic voice
What Mastering This Tool Looks Like
You catch ED thoughts before they spiral
You feel empowered instead of controlled by your mind
You can enjoy meals and social situations without mental chatter
You respond to body image thoughts with compassion instead of criticism
You're present in your life instead of trapped in your head
Ready to Master Your Mental Game?
If you want to learn how to use the Triple Threat Tool in every situation and build an entire toolkit of weapons against ED thoughts, go to www.herbestself.co and fill out an application to work with Lindsey.
Stop trying to figure this out alone. Your ED voice has had you for years - but it doesn't get to have your future.
Connect with Lindsey
Website: www.herbestself.co
Private Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com
Client Applications: www.herbestself.co/services
About the Host
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She created the Triple Threat Tool during her own recovery journey and now teaches women how to boss around their ED thoughts instead of being bossed by them.
If this tool empowered you, please share it with someone who needs to learn how to control their ED thoughts. Your support helps more women discover they don't have to be held hostage by every thought that pops into their head.
*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.

Aug 8, 2025 • 22min
EP 232: The Small Life Your ED Wants vs. The Abundant Life You Deserve ~ Here's How You Settle for More
Are you tired of living small? Of missing out on life because your mind is consumed with food thoughts, calorie calculations, and body obsession? In this expansion-focused episode, Lindsey paints a vivid picture of what your life looks like when you stop settling for the crumbs of existence and start feasting on the fullness of freedom. If you've been thinking this eating disorder life is just "how things are" for you, prepare to have your world expanded as Lindsey shows you what abundant recovery actually looks like.
Key Takeaways
You've been settling for surviving when you were made for thriving
When you focus on less, you get more of less; when you focus on more, you get more
Sometimes you have to make peace with what is to grab onto what's waiting
The abundant life is waiting for you on the other side of food thoughts
"So what?" is the question that changes everything about weight gain fears
Main Topics Covered
💔 What You've Been Settling For (The Small Life)
Saying no to dinner with friends because you can't control the menu
Missing conversations because you're calculating calories in your head
Choosing the gym over your daughter's soccer game because you "have to" work out
Canceling date nights because restaurants feel too scary
Living in sweatpants because nothing else feels "safe"
Spending vacations obsessing over food instead of making memories
✨ What MORE Looks Like (Lindsey's Personal Examples)
More Presence:
Actually being THERE at dinner instead of calculating what everyone's eating
Laughing at husband's jokes and listening to boys' stories
Present in your own life instead of held hostage by food thoughts
More Energy:
Not exhausted from mental gymnastics of restriction and over-exercise
Energy to play with kids and show up fully in business
Living FOR something instead of managing against something
More Purpose:
When your brain isn't consumed 24/7, you discover what you're passionate about
Remembering what brings you joy beyond food and body control
More Authentic Relationships:
Ordering what you actually want at dinner
Traveling without packing your entire kitchen
Being fully present because you're not monitoring every bite
🧠 The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
From Scarcity to Abundance Thinking:
ED Focus: Less food, less calories, less space, less needs
Recovery Focus: More nourishment, more rest, more joy, more presence
Maya Angelou Quote: "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."
😰 The Fear That Keeps You Small
The Weight Gain Terror + The "So What?" Breakthrough:
What are you really afraid of if you gain weight?
"So what if you gain weight? So what if people have opinions?"
"I'd rather be 20 pounds heavier and present at my son's birthday party than be the 'perfect' weight and miss the joy"
"I'd rather wear a size 8 and go on adventures than fit in tiny clothes and live a tiny life"
🚀 Expansion Thoughts for Daily Life
1. Expand Your Food Choices
Instead of: "I can only eat these 5 safe foods"
Expansion: "I'm exploring what my body actually craves and enjoys"
2. Expand Your Social Life
Instead of: "I can't go out to eat because I won't know the calories"
Expansion: "I'm choosing connection over control"
3. Expand Your Self-Talk
Instead of: "I need to exercise to earn this food"
Expansion: "I'm nourishing my body because I deserve to feel good"
4. Expand Your Identity
Instead of: "I'm the girl who always orders salad"
Expansion: "I'm the woman who chooses what sounds good to her"
Powerful Quotes from This Episode
"That's not living. That's surviving."
"Sometimes we have to make peace with what is so that we can grab onto what's waiting for us."
"When we focus on less, we get more of less. When we focus on more, we get more."
"So what if you gain weight? I'd rather be 20 pounds heavier and actually present."
"Your life - your REAL life - is waiting for you on the other side of these food and body thoughts."
Scripture Reference
John 10:10: "I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly." - Not restricted, controlled, or conditional life, but ABUNDANT life.
The Two Ways Happiness Comes
Change your circumstances (choose recovery, expand your life)
Change the way you think about your circumstances (reframe fears, focus on abundance)
The Three Steps to Start Settling for More
Step 1: Notice Where You're Playing Small
Catch yourself choosing the eating disorder option over the life option
Are you skipping work happy hours? Avoiding family barbecues?
Step 2: Ask "What Would More Look Like?"
Before automatically choosing restriction, ask:
"If I were living in abundance instead of scarcity, what would I choose?"
Step 3: Take One Expansion Action Daily
Order the sandwich instead of the salad
Say yes to the invitation
Take the rest day your body is asking for
The Vision of Your Future Self
One year from now:
Your first thought isn't about food or your body
You're planning weekend trips excited about adventure, not anxious about restaurants
You're fully present for every moment because your mind isn't consumed
You're living in abundance instead of scarcity
Signs You're Ready for More
You're tired of living in the corner of your own life
You're exhausted from the mental chatter consuming your days
You want to show up fully present for your family and friends
You're ready to discover who you are beyond food and body thoughts
You want energy for purpose beyond managing your eating disorder
What Lindsey's Clients Experience
They don't just recover - they fall in love with their lives
They discover energy they forgot they had
They show up as the women they were always meant to be
They expand from small, controlled lives into abundant, joyful presence
Action Steps This Week
Notice every time you choose the ED option over the life option
Ask "What would more look like?" before making food/social decisions
Take one expansion action daily (order what sounds good, say yes to plans, rest when needed)
Apply to work with Lindsey at herbestself.co to make the shift from settling to expanding
Ready to Stop Settling for Less?
If everything in your heart is saying "YES, I want more energy, more presence, more LIFE" - go to www.herbestself.co right now and fill out an application to work with Lindsey.
You can keep trying to figure this out alone, or you can let Lindsey show you exactly how to expand into the abundant life waiting for you.
Your eating disorder wants you to settle for less. But you were made for more.
Connect with Lindsey
Website: www.herbestself.co
Private Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com
Client Applications: www.herbestself.co/services
About the Host
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She's lived on both sides of the choice between settling for less and claiming more - and now helps women expand from small, controlled lives into abundant, joyful freedom.
If this episode expanded your vision of what's possible, please share it with someone who needs to stop settling for less. Your support helps more women discover the abundant life waiting beyond their eating disorder.
*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.

Aug 5, 2025 • 17min
EP 231.5: Standing in Agreement ~ How to Breakup with the Lies That Keep You Stuck in Eating Disorder Behaviors **Must Listen Fav!**
Ready to break the lies that have kept you trapped in disordered eating? In this fire-filled episode, Lindsey delivers one golden nugget that could change everything: it's time to evaluate your agreement. The direction of your life is based on agreements you've made along the way - and if you're still stuck, you're standing in agreement with lies that no longer serve you. Learn how to fall out of agreement with false beliefs and make the most powerful commitment you'll ever make: putting yourself first and choosing recovery.
Key Takeaways
The direction of your life is based on agreements you've made along the way
You must fall out of agreement with lies that keep you trapped
No one's coming to save you - this agreement is yours to make
The goal of life is living in agreement with who you were made to be
You must give yourself permission to succeed instead of searching for evidence of failure
Main Topics Covered
🤝 What an Agreement Actually Is
Definition: A meeting of the mind, acceptance and action of future commitment
The most powerful commitment: putting yourself first
A transaction of trust and faith from where you are to where you want to be
The difference between silent self-agreements and shared commitments
💔 The Problem with Eating Disorders and Agreements
You're not living in agreement with who you are - you're believing lies about who you need to be
The division between heart (wanting freedom) and mind (feeling unable to give up control)
Living at war with yourself instead of in alignment
How lies about perfection, size, and worth create false agreements
🚫 Lies You Need to Fall Out of Agreement With
"You're not good enough"
"You have to be perfect"
"You have to be the smallest"
"You're going to gain all this weight and hate your life"
"You're just not ever going to change"
✨ The Power of Making THE Agreement
Choosing to stand in agreement in both heart and mind
Rebuking the division between what you want and what you believe is possible
The courage required to step forward with hope and trust
Making the choice to follow through no matter what it takes
🔥 The Reality Check Section
"No one's coming to save you" - hard truth about personal responsibility
No one will give you a permission slip to freedom
This life is yours and yours alone
When you accept 100% responsibility, you gain your power back
⚔️ The Fighting Questions
Lindsey challenges you to ask:
Are you fighting FOR yourself or AGAINST yourself?
Are you fighting FOR recovery or against it?
Are you fighting FOR your future or against it?
Are you standing in your truth or believing the enemy's lies?
Which side are you agreeing with?
🙏 The Biblical Foundation
Matthew 18:19: "If two of you agree here on Earth about anything you ask for, it will be done"
Lindsey stands in agreement with listeners (1 + 1 = 2)
The enemy wants to kill, steal, and destroy - but you can stand against it
Your obligation to stand no matter what opposition comes
Powerful Quotes from This Episode
"Life is too short, sister, to spend it at war with you."
"The goal of this life is living in agreement with who you are."
"No one's coming to save you. No one has got a life vest for you."
"You must give yourself permission to succeed instead of searching for evidence of why you're going to fail."
"It is my duty. It is my destiny. It is in my design to become the woman I was created to be."
The Agreement Declarations
Declaration #1: "Even though I don't know what it's like yet to break free from this disordered relationship that I have with food and myself, I can rebuke the lies that I've been believing. Today I deeply choose to love and accept and honor myself and my body. Today I choose to stand in agreement."
Declaration #2: "It is my duty. It is my destiny. It is in my design to become the woman I was created to be. I break the agreement of lies that I've been believing for so long. I break them because I'm free to be me. This is my time and today is my day to honor me."
Journal Prompts for Your Agreement
"What lies am I believing that I need to fall out of agreement with?"
"What must I give up in order to heal my life?"
"Who am I standing in agreement with?"
"What do I truly want for my future self?"
"What evidence am I searching for that I'll fail, and how can I redirect this?"
The Agreement Process
Step 1: Identify what you truly want (or start with what you no longer want) Step 2: List the lies and beliefs that are keeping you trapped Step 3: Fall out of agreement with these false beliefs Step 4: Make your personal treaty with your future self Step 5: Stand in agreement daily, even when opposition comes
Signs You Need to Make This Agreement
You feel divided between wanting freedom and feeling unable to change
You're searching for evidence of why recovery won't work for you
You're still believing lies about your worth, body, or ability to heal
You're waiting for someone else to give you permission to recover
You're fighting against yourself instead of for yourself
What Happens When You Make the Agreement
You stop giving your power away to the eating disorder voice
You gain the courage to take action aligned with your values
You break the chains of false beliefs that have controlled your life
You start living in alignment with who you were created to be
Your best days become ahead of you, not behind you
Action Steps
Get out a journal and write down your personal agreement
Identify which lies you need to fall out of agreement with
Share your commitment in the Her Best Self Society Facebook community
Apply for coaching support at herbestself.co to help you honor your agreement daily
Ready to Make Your Agreement?
If you're making a personal commitment today to step into your very best self, share it in the Her Best Self Society Facebook community at www.herbestselfsociety.com.
Need support honoring your agreement? Fill out a client application at www.herbestself.co and jump on a call to see if coaching can help you take daily actions that serve your agreement and push you forward.
Connect with Lindsey
Website: www.herbestself.co
Private Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com
Client Applications: www.herbestself.co/services
About the Host
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She made her own life-changing agreement years ago and now helps women break free from the lies that keep them trapped in disordered eating patterns.
If this episode fired you up and you're ready to make your agreement, please leave a rating and review! Your support helps more women discover they have the power to break the chains of false 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.

Aug 1, 2025 • 20min
EP 231: When Recovery from Disordered Eating Feels Like Swimming Against the Current ~ Finding Hope in the Hard Season🌊
Feeling exhausted from fighting the same eating disorder thoughts every single day? Tired of trying to navigate recovery alone while swimming against what feels like an impossible current? In this hope-filled episode, Lindsey uses powerful ocean metaphors to help you understand why recovery feels so hard and why you don't have to do it alone. If you're in the thick of the hard season and desperately want to stop carrying this burden by yourself, this episode will speak directly to your heart and give you the one step you need to finally say yes to support.
Key Takeaways
Recovery feels like swimming against the current because you're fighting it alone
You're not broken - you're a seashell in the making, getting stronger through the storms
You're not actually in control right now - your eating disorder is
Putting yourself first isn't selfish - it's putting on your oxygen mask
The hardest thing isn't doing recovery perfectly - it's admitting you can't do it alone
Main Topics Covered
🌊 The Ocean Current Metaphor
Why recovery feels like swimming against an impossible current
The eating disorder voice as the force pushing you backward
How every woman who found freedom had to swim this same current
The difference between fighting the waves and learning to ride them
🐚 The Seashell Wisdom
How seashells become beautiful through pressure and storms
Every hard day in recovery is forming another layer of strength
You're not broken in the storm - you're becoming a treasure
The process of becoming beautiful requires surviving the tumbling
😨 The Fear That Keeps You Swimming in Circles
The illusion of control that your eating disorder provides
Why holding onto your ED is actually keeping you drowning
Fear of weight gain, losing control, and trusting the process
Reality check: You're not in control right now anyway
🙏 What Stepping Into Faith Actually Looks Like
Faith as taking one stroke toward shore instead of treading water
Practical faith actions in recovery (meal plans, rest, support)
Trusting the process instead of controlling the outcome
💪 The Hard Things You're Trying to Carry Alone
The exhaustion of managing everything by yourself
Why "I should be stronger" thinking keeps you stuck
The difference between being strong and being wise
Even the strongest swimmers need a lifeguard
✨ What Putting Yourself First Really Means
Why "putting yourself first" feels selfish but isn't
The oxygen tank analogy
Setting boundaries that support your recovery
You can't pour from an empty cup
🌟 The Ripple Effect of Your Recovery
How your healing impacts everyone around you
Becoming a lighthouse for other women in the storm
Modeling freedom for daughters, friends, and coworkers
Your recovery story creates ripples of hope
Powerful Quotes from This Episode
"You think holding onto your eating disorder is keeping you safe, but it's actually keeping you drowning."
"You're not broken because you're in the storm right now. You're in the process of becoming the treasure."
"The hardest thing isn't doing recovery perfectly. The hardest thing is admitting you can't do it alone."
"You don't have to figure out how to become a beautiful seashell while you're still in the middle of the storm."
"The current is strong, but you are stronger."
The Reality Check
What feels like control vs. What's actually happening:
You think you're controlling your food → Your ED is controlling when/what/how much you eat
You think you're managing your body → Your ED is dictating your clothes, activities, social events
You think you're staying safe → Your ED is keeping you drowning in the same spot
Signs You're Swimming in Circles
Waking up fighting the same thoughts every day
Trying to manage recovery completely alone
Exhausted from "being stronger" all the time
Making the same promises to yourself that you can't keep
Feeling like you're treading water instead of moving toward freedom
The One Step That Changes Everything
Stop swimming in circles and reach out your hand for help.
Not tomorrow. Not next week. TODAY.
Because when you reach out for support:
The current doesn't disappear, but you stop fighting it alone
You learn to ride the waves instead of being crushed by them
You get a guide who knows the way to freedom
What Professional Support Looks Like
Having a guide who's already made it to the shore
Learning to work with the current instead of fighting against it
Getting a map for territory you've been trying to navigate alone
Having someone protect you while you're forming your strength (like the seashell in deeper water)
Action Step
Go to herbestself.co and fill out an application to partner with Lindsey in your recovery journey.
This is your moment to:
Stop doing the hard things alone
Say yes to the support you deserve
Take one brave step toward freedom
Let someone help you swim to shore
Ready to Stop Swimming Alone?
You don't have to earn support. You don't have to be perfect first. You just have to be brave enough to reach out your hand.
Connect with Lindsey
Website: www.herbestself.co
Private Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com
Client Applications: www.herbestself.co
About the Host
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She's been where you are - swimming against the recovery current alone - and now helps women find their way to the freedom shore through guided support and proven strategies.
If this episode spoke to your heart, please share it with a friend who needs this message. Your support helps more women find the hope and guidance they need to stop swimming alone.
* 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.

Jul 29, 2025 • 19min
EP 230: Stop Making Yourself the Exception! Why >60% of Women Recover from Eating Disorders + The ONE Question to Help You Do the Same
Ready for some tough love, sis? If you've been walking around asking "Why me? Why do I have to struggle with this eating disorder? Why do I even bother trying to recover?" - this episode is your wake-up call. Lindsey delivers the reality check you need to stop playing victim in your own recovery story and start asking the question that changes everything: WHY NOT YOU? With 60-70% of women recovering from eating disorders, it's time to stop making yourself the exception and start making yourself the example.
Key Takeaways
You are the author of your own story - stop writing yourself as the victim
60-70% of women with eating disorders make a full recovery
Your past thinking is driving your current reality - change your thoughts, change your story
You're not too broken, too far gone, or too different to recover
Recovery Warriors ask "Why NOT me?" instead of "Why me?"
Main Topics Covered
🎭 The Story You're Telling Yourself
How you've become the main character in a story you hate
Why victim questions keep you stuck in the disorder cycle
The difference between facts and the meaning you assign to facts
How your current identity as "Woman with Eating Disorder" drives your thoughts
📊 The Recovery Statistics That Should Wake You Up
60-70% of people with eating disorders make full recovery
80% recovery rates with proper treatment (Journal of Clinical Medicine)
85% of people who complete treatment maintain long-term recovery
People who believe in recovery are 3x more likely to achieve it
🚫 Stop Making Yourself the Exception
Why "my eating disorder is different" keeps you stuck
How victim identity protects you from scary recovery work
The uncomfortable truth about avoiding weight gain fears
Why playing small feels safer than playing powerful
⚡ The Identity Shift from Victim to Recovery Warrior
Changing your default brain setting from ED thoughts to recovery thoughts
How Recovery Warriors think vs. how victims think
The power of deciding your recovery in advance
New identity statement: "I am a Recovery Warrior"
🔄 The "Why NOT You" Reframe
Old Questions → New Questions:
"Why me?" → "Why NOT me?"
"Why can't I be normal?" → "Why NOT me to have complete food freedom?"
"Why do I even bother?" → "Why NOT me to inspire others with my recovery?"
"What if I'm too broken?" → "Why NOT me to be fully recovered by next year?"
Powerful Quotes from This Episode
"You are literally writing yourself as the victim in your own life story, and then getting mad that you're playing the victim role."
"Your past and current thinking is driving your entire life. How's that working for you, sis?"
"Stop making yourself special in all the wrong ways."
"You are one decision away from changing your entire life trajectory."
"You are not a victim of your eating disorder. You are a Recovery Warrior."
Scripture References
1 Corinthians 10:13: "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind."
Romans 8:37: "We are more than conquerors."
The Come-to-Jesus Reality Check
You have been playing small in your own life
You're not too broken, too far gone, or the exception
The women who recover aren't special - they just decided to stop being the victim
You are one decision away from changing everything
Recovery is not just possible for you - it's PROBABLE
Your New Power Statement
"I am not a victim of my eating disorder. I am a Recovery Warrior who is actively choosing healing over hiding, growth over staying small, and freedom over fear. If 60-70% of women recover, then I choose to be in that majority. Why? Because WHY NOT ME?"
Homework & Action Steps
Write down: "I am a Recovery Warrior, and recovery is my new identity"
Memorize and repeat the Power Statement daily
Replace every "Why me?" with "WHY NOT ME?"
Decide in advance that you WILL recover (not hope, not maybe - WILL)
Apply to work with Lindsey at herbestself.co
Signs This Episode is For You
You've been struggling with ED thoughts for years but are ready for real support
Your biggest fear about recovery is weight gain
You catch yourself asking "Why me?" or "Why do I even bother?"
You feel like you might be "too far gone" or "too broken"
You're tired of being the victim in your own life story
The Direct Challenge
Stop asking: "Why me? Why can't I recover? Why do I even bother?" Start declaring: "Why NOT me? Why NOT full recovery? Why NOT complete food freedom?"
Ready to Stop Playing Victim?
If this episode hit you right in the heart and you're ready to shift from "Why me?" to "WHY NOT ME?" - it's time to take action.
Head to www.herbestself.co right now and fill out a client application to work with Lindsey personally. Stop doing this alone and let her help you rewrite your story from victim to Recovery Warrior.
Connect with Lindsey
Website: www.herbestself.co
Private Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com
Client Applications: www.herbestself.co
About the Host
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She specializes in helping women stop making themselves the exception and start making themselves the example in eating disorder recovery.
If this episode fired you up and shifted your mindset, please leave a rating and review! Your support helps more women discover they're not victims - they're Recovery Warriors waiting to rise.

Jul 25, 2025 • 19min
EP 229.5: How to Shift Your Identity from Weight Loss Obsessed & Chronic Dieter to Recovery Queen👑
Ready to make the hardest shift in eating disorder recovery? In this powerful episode, Lindsey tackles the most challenging aspect of healing: letting go of weight loss goals completely. If you're a high achiever who's built your identity around being "weight conscious," this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about recovery. Learn why you can't truly recover while still wanting to lose weight and get practical steps to shift your primary goal from weight loss to recovery freedom.
Key Takeaways
You cannot recover while still holding onto weight loss as a goal
Recovery requires complete surrender and a total shift in perspective
Weight loss goals keep you stuck in eating disorder behaviors
Your identity isn't based on a number - it's based on who you choose to become
Action before belief: You must act differently before you feel differently
Main Topics Covered
🔄 The Identity Shift That Changes Everything
Why high achievers struggle to let go of weight loss goals
The difference between false self (diet culture) vs. true self (recovery)
How "thin = win" mentality keeps you trapped
Moving from weight loss as primary mission to recovery as primary goal
💔 Why Weight Loss Goals Sabotage Recovery
The programming of diet culture: "You can't trust yourself with food"
How before/after photos and diet products reinforce harmful beliefs
Why "maintenance mode" is still diet culture thinking
The slippery slope of counting macros, calories, and measuring
🧠 The Three-Step Process to Surrender Weight Loss
Step 1: Self-Compassion
Recognizing you've been programmed by diet culture
Understanding you're not like other people - and that's okay
Giving yourself grace for past beliefs about weight
Step 2: Acceptance
Accepting that weight loss may be okay for some, but not for you
Understanding your eating disorder history changes the rules
Believing you can never diet again - and that's your strength
Step 3: Strategic Planning
Making concrete changes to support your new mindset
Discarding clothes that don't fit your natural body
Setting boundaries with diet culture influences
🚫 What Has to Go (The Boundary List)
Stop following diet culture social media accounts
Eliminate body checking behaviors
Remove scales, step trackers, and calorie counting apps
Distance yourself from people who talk about restricting calories
Stop contributing to wellness culture that harms women
✅ What to Focus on Instead
Health and happiness as primary goals
Nourishing your body to function at its highest level
Getting your body to its natural state through adequate nutrition
Building trust between you and your body
Surrounding yourself with supportive recovery community
Powerful Quotes from This Episode
"You have to shift perspective of your goal... recovery requires complete surrender."
"Weight loss isn't good at all costs and weight gain isn't bad."
"When you give trust to your body, your body learns to trust you."
"It's okay for them, but not for me."
"Your identity is not based on a number, a metric, a step count, or a calorie."
Expert Quote Featured
Dr. Maria Rego, President of the National Eating Disorder Association: "When you no longer value the eating disorder, you don't buy in to the idea that you should be engaging in weight loss or unhealthy eating patterns."
The Reality Check Questions
Do you identify as someone who is super weight conscious constantly?
Are you only allowing yourself to recover up to a certain weight?
Are you terrified of gaining over your "maintenance zone"?
Why is it okay for others to eat freely but not you?
Journal Prompts for This Week
"What am I so scared of when I think about not trying to lose weight?"
"Where have I not been giving myself compassion and grace?"
"What beliefs about weight loss am I holding onto that aren't serving me?"
"How would my life change if I made health and happiness my primary goals?"
"What boundaries do I need to set to support my recovery mindset?"
Action Steps to Take This Week
Choose ONE and go all in:
Unfollow all diet culture social media accounts
Throw away your scale
Donate clothes that don't fit your natural body size
Stop tracking calories, macros, or steps
Have an honest conversation with someone about your recovery needs
Join a supportive recovery community
The Mindset Reframes
Old Thinking → New Thinking
"I need to lose weight" → "My body needs nourishment to function"
"Weight gain is bad" → "Weight restoration is healing"
"I can't trust myself with food" → "I'm learning to trust my body's wisdom"
"I need rules around food" → "Rules have kept me trapped"
"Thin = successful" → "Healthy and happy = successful"
Signs You're Ready for This Shift
You're tired of the constant mental chatter about weight
You recognize that weight loss goals keep you stuck
You're willing to challenge beliefs that no longer serve you
You want freedom more than you want to be thin
You're ready to take action even when it feels scary
Community Support
Join other women on the same journey in the Her Best Self Society Facebook community - a safe space where women celebrate recovery wins, not weight loss victories.
Connect with Lindsey
Website: www.herbestself.co
Private Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com
Client Applications: www.herbestself.co
About the Host
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. After surrendering her own weight loss obsession and finding true freedom in recovery, she now helps high-achieving women shift their identity from weight loss warrior to recovery queen.
If this episode challenged you to think differently about your goals, please leave a rating and review! Your support helps more women break free from the weight loss trap that's keeping them stuck in their eating disorders.

Jul 22, 2025 • 24min
EP 229: Why Your Husband’s Workout & BFF's Lunch Choice Has Nothing to Do With Your Recovery (+ 3 Strategies to Break Free From Comparison)
Struggling with watching your husband grab a banana and head out for his 5-mile run while you're sitting with your full breakfast? Feeling guilty about eating meals when your friend skips lunch because she's "too busy"? This episode tackles the comparison trap that's keeping you stuck in eating disorder recovery. Lindsey gets raw and real about why other people's food and exercise choices have absolutely nothing to do with your healing journey.
Key Takeaways
Other people's food and exercise choices have nothing to do with your recovery
You're not comparing apples to apples - you're comparing apples to pineapples
Comparison is literally increasing your risk of ED relapse
Your recovery is not up for a vote
Stop giving mental energy to other people's plates and start celebrating your own healing
🧠 The Hidden Truth About Why You Compare
The science behind your comparison brain (Social Comparison Theory)
How your ED voice hijacks normal brain processes
Why comparison feels logical but leads you away from healing
The difference between recovering and "normal" relationships with food
🔍 The Three Comparison Traps
Exercise Comparison: "Why does he get to run when I need rest?"
Food Comparison: "She only ate half her meal and I finished mine"
Body Comparison: "They look amazing and barely work out"
⚡ The Real Cost of Comparison
2020 study: Social comparison = strongest predictor of ED relapse
How comparison steals your present moment
Why shame keeps you stuck in the disorder cycle
The difference between shame vs. grace in recovery
🛠️ Practical Tools to Break Free
Tool #1: The Reality Check Questions
"Am I comparing my recovery to someone's normal?"
"What would I tell my best friend thinking this?"
"Is this thought moving me toward or away from healing?"
Tool #2: The Information Gathering Technique
Get curious instead of assuming
Remember you don't see the full picture
Challenge your assumptions about "normal"
Tool #3: The Redirect and Refocus
Name it: "I'm comparing again"
Redirect: "My recovery is about MY healing"
Refocus: "What does MY body need right now?"
Powerful Quotes from This Episode
"You're not comparing apples to apples - you're comparing apples to trauma recovery."
"Your recovery is not a democracy. It's not up for a vote."
"Comparison is the thief of joy, but it's also the thief of recovery progress."
"The most rebellious thing you can do against your eating disorder is to stop caring what everyone else is doing."
Scripture References
Proverbs 14:12: "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."
Isaiah 43:19: "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"
Research & Studies Mentioned
2019 Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology: Limiting social comparison reduced depression/anxiety in one week
2020 International Journal of Eating Disorders: Social comparison as strongest predictor of ED relapse
Dr. Leon Festinger's Social Comparison Theory
Journal Prompts
"When I compare myself to others, what am I really afraid of?"
"What lies is my eating disorder voice telling me when I compare?"
"If I stopped caring about what others ate or exercised, what would change?"
"What would I do differently if I truly believed my recovery was worth prioritizing?"
"How is comparison serving my eating disorder rather than my healing?"
New Identity Statement
"I am not my husband. I am not my friend. I am not social media. I am a woman in recovery, and my healing journey is sacred. Other people's choices have nothing to do with my recovery needs. I choose progress over comparison, healing over hiding, and my recovery over everyone else's opinion."
The Opposite Action Challenge
This Week's Homework:
Compare to your PAST self, not others
When you catch comparison: Thank your brain → Remind yourself comparison doesn't help → Take one recovery action → Celebrate that action
Practice the new identity statement daily
What Recovery Really Looks Like
Your meal plan matters more than what's on anyone else's plate
Rest days are as important as workout days
Your healing journey takes priority over fitting in
Doing what YOUR body needs, regardless of others
Connect with Lindsey
Website: www.herbestself.co
Private Facebook Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com
Client Application: Client Application
About the Host
Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. After finding freedom from her own eating disorder, she now helps women break free from obsessive food thoughts and comparison traps to live their best lives in recovery.
If this episode called you out (in the best way), please leave a rating and review! Your support helps more women break free from the comparison trap that's keeping them stuck.
* 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.

Jul 18, 2025 • 14min
EP 228.5: How to Give Yourself Permission to REST When Exercise Controls Your Life (+ The REST Method) **Must Listen Fav!**
If you exercise too much but can't stop, if rest days fill you with anxiety, if you've convinced yourself that constant movement equals worthiness—this episode is your permission slip to finally rest. Lindsey shares her personal journey from exercise addiction to freedom, revealing the powerful 4-letter word and method that saved her life: REST.
You'll discover why your brain equates rest with laziness, learn the REST acronym that breaks the compulsive exercise cycle, and understand why rest isn't a reward for work—it's part of the recovery work itself.
What You'll Learn
✨ Why exercise addiction is common in eating disorders (and how to recognize it)
✨ The false beliefs that keep you trapped in compulsive exercise patterns
✨ How "dedicated" becomes destructive (and when to be concerned)
✨ The REST method: A practical 4-step approach to breaking exercise addiction
✨ Why rest days anxiety is normal in recovery (and how to manage it)
✨ Biblical perspective on rest and recovery (Matthew 11:28)
Exercise Addiction Warning Signs
Do you recognize yourself in these patterns?
Exercising every single day, multiple times per day
Eating while standing to "burn more calories"
Doing random exercises throughout the day (crunches, etc.)
Believing rest makes you lazy or weak
Feeling anxious or guilty about missing workouts
Exercising even when injured or exhausted
Viewing movement solely through a calorie-burning lens
Isolating from friends/activities that involve sitting
The REST Method Breakdown
R - RELAX
Surrender and give up control
Pause, pray, stop, step away
Let go of the bondage to constant movement
Practice: Try stopping your workout 1 minute earlier each day
E - EVALUATE
Get in tune with your feelings and emotions
Reframe emotions with facts
Challenge thoughts: "Will I really 'blow up' if I don't go to the gym?"
Ask: "Am I actually going to heal my disordered relationship with exercise?"
S - SET AN INTENTION
Define what your best self means to you
Plan and pre-decide your actions
Ask: "What's one thing I can do to step in her direction?"
Focus on who you want to become, not what you want to avoid
T - TAKE ACTION
Put that step in motion and practice
The hardest part: actually doing what you've been thinking about
Don't wait for your eating disorder to give permission
Remember: The action here IS resting
Key Mindset Shifts
Rest Isn't Laziness—It's Living
"You aren't lazy, you're living. You're allowed rest."
Rest Is Part of Recovery Work
"Resting isn't a reward for work. It's part of the work. It's part of the recovery work."
Your Body Needs Repair
"If you don't rest, you can't repair. If you don't rest, you can't restore. If you don't rest, you can't reflect."
Cultural Lies vs. Recovery Truth
Culture says: Hustle and go, go, go
Recovery truth: Two rest days in a row is exactly what you need to heal
The Deeper Issue: Fear of Self
Why Rest Feels Impossible
Fear of sitting with yourself
Not knowing who you are without constant motion
Anxiety about having more time to think about food
Fear of "losing control" around food when home longer
The Weekend Challenge
Weekends felt harder because more time at home
More food available = more food thoughts
Fear of "going off the rails"
Solution: Learning to sit with discomfort
Biblical Foundation for Rest
Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all you who feel weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
God himself rested after creation
Rest is divinely designed, not humanly weak
Weariness and burden are invitations to rest
Rest is both physical and spiritual restoration
Practical Steps to Implement This Week
Start Small
One Minute Method: Stop your workout 1 minute earlier each day
Sitting Practice: Sit for 5 minutes without doing anything productive
Weekend Rest: Allow yourself one full rest day this weekend
Challenge the Thoughts
When you think "I'm being lazy": Remind yourself "I'm healing"
When you feel guilty: Remember "Rest is part of recovery work"
When you fear weight gain: Focus on "My body needs repair"
Find Your Rest Activities
Rest isn't just napping—it's anything that makes your nervous system feel safe:
Yoga or gentle stretching
Meditation or prayer
Reading for pleasure
Warm baths
Nature walks (for joy, not calorie burn)
Professional Support Recommendations
Lindsey emphasizes the importance of working with qualified professionals:
Clinicians: For DBT therapy and emotion management
Dietitians: For nutrition guidance during recovery
Coaches: For lived experience and practical support
"The best thing you can do is give yourself permission and work with someone who has lived experience."
Recovery Encouragement
You're Not Alone
Exercise addiction is common in eating disorders
Your struggle with rest is valid and normal
Recovery is possible, even from severe exercise addiction
Permission Granted
You have permission to rest
You deserve to discover who you are without constant motion
Your worth isn't determined by calories burned
The Promise
"If I can have an addiction with exercise, if I can completely break the chains of that bondage, I know that's God's plan in your life too."
Ready for Professional Support?
If this episode resonated and you're ready to break free from exercise addiction, you don't have to do this alone.
Next Steps:
Email the team: info@lindseynichol.com
Join the private community: www.herbestselfsociety.com
Fill out a client application: www.herbestself.co
Remember: You deserve freedom from the chains of compulsive exercise. Rest isn't your enemy—it's your healing.
Share This Episode
If this episode gave you permission to rest: ✨ Leave a review about your exercise addiction recovery journey
✨ Share with a friend who needs permission to rest
✨ Tag us on social with your rest day victories using #PermissionToRest
"Grant yourself permission to rest this week. Grant yourself love and compassion and grace. The world is not gonna crumple and fall apart if you don't get in your exercise this week."
Your rest day starts now.
xo, lindsey
Coach with Me ->Client Application
* 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.

Jul 15, 2025 • 21min
EP 228: The Recovery Mindset Shift That Ends All-or-Nothing Food & Body Thinking Forever + The 3 Step Framework to Implement it Just for You!
If you're trapped in the exhausting cycle of all-or-nothing thinking around food and recovery, this episode will revolutionize your entire approach. Fresh back from vacation, Lindsey shares the powerful "Both/And Recovery" strategy that finally breaks you free from black-and-white extremes and helps you find the beautiful gray area where real healing happens.
You'll discover why perfectionist recovery keeps you stuck, learn specific Both/And reframes for common recovery struggles, and walk away with a tangible 3-step practice to implement this week. This isn't about being perfect at recovery—it's about being human while healing.
What You'll Learn
✨ Why all-or-nothing thinking keeps you trapped in recovery cycles
✨ The revolutionary Both/And approach that changes everything
✨ Specific reframes for "good vs. bad" food thinking
✨ How to hold space for fear AND commitment simultaneously
✨ Why the "gray area" is where your freedom actually lives
✨ A practical 3-step method to implement Both/And thinking this week
Key Takeaways
The All-or-Nothing Prison
Your brain categorizes everything as perfect or disaster, on-track or off-track, good foods or bad foods. This binary thinking keeps you swinging between extremes and never experiencing the freedom you crave. The space between extremes isn't the danger zone—it's where all the magic happens.
The Both/And Revolution
You can hold two seemingly opposite truths simultaneously, and this is where real healing occurs. Recovery isn't about choosing sides—it's about embracing complexity and being beautifully, imperfectly human.
Why This Changes Everything
The Both/And approach removes the pressure that keeps you stuck. When you stop trying to be perfect at recovery, you actually start recovering. Recovery isn't about eliminating difficult thoughts—it's about learning to hold space for all of it.
Powerful Both/And Recovery Examples
Fear & Courage
Instead of: "I have to be brave to start recovery"
Both/And: "I can be both scared of recovery AND committed to it"
Restriction & Nourishment
Instead of: "I either restrict or I'm out of control"
Both/And: "I can both want to restrict AND choose to nourish myself"
Body Image Struggles
Instead of: "I have to love my body all the time"
Both/And: "I can both love my body AND have days when I struggle with it"
Food Morality
Instead of: "Foods are either good or bad"
Both/And: "I can be both 'good' at eating AND have chaotic food days"
Recovery Process
Instead of: "I'm either perfect at recovery or failing"
Both/And: "I can be both in recovery AND not perfect at it"
Weight & Health
Instead of: "I'm either fat or skinny"
Both/And: "I can both be my natural weight AND not love every inch every day"
Structure & Flexibility
Instead of: "I need rigid routine or I'm lost"
Both/And: "I can both crave routine AND need flexibility"
Your Both/And Recovery Practice (This Week)
Step 1: Notice Your All-or-Nothing Thoughts
Catch yourself thinking in extremes about food, body, or recovery. Examples:
"I ruined the day"
"I'm either on track or off track"
"I have to be perfect at this"
Step 2: Practice the Both/And Reframe
Transform extreme thoughts with "both/and" language:
"I both had a challenging food day AND I can nourish myself at my next meal"
"I both struggled today AND I'm still committed to my healing"
Step 3: Choose Your Next Right Action
From this Both/And space, take one small step toward recovery:
Eat your next planned meal
Call a friend for support
Practice self-compassion instead of self-criticism
Revolutionary Quotes to Remember
"The gray area you've been afraid of? That's not the danger zone—that's where your freedom lives."
"Recovery isn't about eliminating all the difficult thoughts and feelings. Recovery is about learning to hold space for all of it—the fear AND the courage, the struggle AND the strength."
"The moment you stop trying to be perfect at recovery is the moment you actually start recovering."
"You can both feel uncertain about this approach AND try it anyway. You can both be scared of letting go of control AND take one small step toward freedom."
"Your recovery doesn't have to be perfect to be powerful. Your healing doesn't have to be linear to be real."
Personal Story: Post-Vacation Recovery Evolution
Lindsey shares her transformation from post-vacation restriction panic to flexible re-entry into routine. Learn how the Both/And approach allows you to both crave structure AND ease back into real life without rigidity—a perfect metaphor for recovery itself.
The Science Behind Both/And Thinking
Why All-or-Nothing Thinking Develops
Eating disorders thrive on binary thinking
Perfectionism creates impossible standards
Black-and-white thoughts feel "safer" but create more suffering
How Both/And Thinking Heals
Reduces perfectionist pressure
Allows for human complexity
Creates space for growth and mistakes
Normalizes the recovery process
Ready to Live the Both/And Approach?
If this episode resonated but you're unsure how to implement Both/And thinking in your daily recovery, you don't have to figure it out alone.
Take Your Recovery to the Next Level:
In Lindsey's one-on-one coaching, you'll dive deep into applying the Both/And approach to your specific struggles—trigger foods, difficult emotions, body image challenges, all of it. Because knowing about this approach and actually living it are two different things.
Next Steps: Fill out a client application at www.herbestself.co to work together on finding your gray area, your Both/And space, where your real life and real recovery can finally coexist.
Remember: You can both be exactly where you are right now AND be on your way to somewhere beautiful.
Connect With Lindsey
🎙️ Website: www.herbestself.co
📱 Instagram: @thelindseynichol
💌 Email: info@lindseynichol.com
👥 Private Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com
Share This Episode
If the Both/And approach shifted something for you:
✨ Leave a review sharing how this reframe changed your perspective
✨ Share with a friend who's stuck in all-or-nothing recovery thinking
Remember: You really can move from perfection to purpose, from black-and-white to beautiful gray, from all-or-nothing to Both/And.
Your beautifully imperfect recovery journey starts now.
xo, lindsey
Ready for Recovery Coaching?
Lindsey offers personalized recovery coaching for women ready to do the work. If you're in the "messy middle" and feel stuck despite listening to inspirational content, working with someone who's walked the path could be your game changer.
Next Steps:
Visit www.herbestself.co
Fill out the client application
See if you're a good fit for coaching
If not the right match, Lindsey will connect you with other qualified coaches on her team or additional resources to support you along your journey to freedom
* While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

Jul 11, 2025 • 16min
EP 227: The Real Reason You Save Food & Calories for Later + 7 Steps to Break This ED Pattern Now🙌
On this MUST listen episode I share a listener question that will probably resonate with you: "I want to nourish my body more, but I save my calories until the end of the day. Why do I do this? Is this part of my eating disorder or just who I am?"
If you find yourself waiting to eat certain foods until later, saving up calories for dinner, or only allowing treats at specific times, this episode is for you. Lindsey breaks down the psychology behind this behavior and gives you 7 concrete steps to break free from the scarcity mindset that's keeping you stuck.
What You'll Learn
The real reason you save calories (hint: it's not about hunger)
Why this is classic eating disorder behavior rooted in scarcity mindset
The difference between scarcity and abundance thinking with food
7 practical steps to start eating earlier and honoring your body
How to challenge the rules you've created around "worthy" foods
The "Best First Rule" - why you should tackle the hardest thing first
Key Concepts Explained
Scarcity Mindset vs. Abundance Mindset
Scarcity: Living from lack, believing you don't deserve abundance
Abundance: Allowing food in and out like energy/currency
The Truth: You were created to have all things abundantly
Why You Save Calories
Classic eating disorder tactic based on scarcity
Underlying belief that you don't deserve good things now
Fear of overeating if you have something earlier
Coping mechanism that turned sour
7 Steps to Stop Saving Calories
1. Honor Your Mornings
Make a new rule: "Why wait for later what I can nourish now?"
Question where your restrictions came from
Pre-decide the night before to challenge morning rules
2. Eat Consciously Every 1-2 Hours
Start with every 2 hours if needed
Eat even when not hungry to create consistent patterns
Break the "save up for later" cycle
3. Address Negative Emotions
Ask "why" repeatedly to get to root fears
Challenge illogical thoughts ("Will toast really make me gain weight?")
Lean into uncomfortable feelings to change them
4. Honor Yourself - Act Now
If you're dreaming of food freedom, act on it NOW
Don't procrastinate on things you want
Apply the "hardest thing first" principle
5. Remove All Rules Mentally
Ask: "If all foods were zero calories and my rules didn't exist, what would I choose?"
Give yourself permission to want things
Make that choice without guilt
6. Switch Up Meal Times
Try "breakfast for dinner" or eating 2 hours earlier
Make it a game with small, achievable goals
Focus on one goal at a time
7. Daily Reflection
Journal each evening about restriction patterns
Identify when unpleasant emotions came up
Look for opportunities to do the opposite
Powerful Episode Quotes
"Stop fooling yourself into thinking that you aren't worthy. This is a classic eating disorder tactic based on a scarcity mindset."
"The way to experience life is living life in abundance. We were made to have all things abundantly."
"No amount of food can fill an emotional void. And no amount of food restriction can fill it either."
"You are deserving of the now. You are deserving of a now life."
"Put the salad later in the day. Start with the hard thing first."
The Best First Rule
Core Concept: Put the thing that will help you become your best self FIRST in your day. Don't save the challenging foods for later - tackle them first thing in the morning.
Mindset Shifts
Old Thinking: "I need to save calories for later when I really want them" New Thinking: "I deserve abundance now, not later"
Old Thinking: "I'll overeat if I have this earlier"
New Thinking: "Food is energy that flows in and out naturally"
Old Thinking: "I'm not allowed to have carbs in the morning" New Thinking: "Who made this rule? I'm making a new one."
Resources Mentioned
Private Facebook Community: www.herbestselfesociety.com
Submit Questions: info@lindseynichol.com for Coaching Over Coffee episodes
One-on-One Coaching: www.herbestself.co (currently accepting waitlist applications)
Share the Revolution
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xo,
lindsey
Coach with Me ->Client Application
* 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.