Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol | Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast — Less Food Noise. More Life.

EP 274: Nobody Cares About Your Body ~ 9 Brutal Recovery Truths That Will Set You Free✨

I'm about to tell you something that might sting: Nobody cares about your body. But stick with me, because that truth is going to set you free.
We spend SO much energy terrified of what people will think if we gain weight, if we eat normally, if we stop restricting. We're scared of judgment. But here's the raw truth: People are way too busy worrying about their own bodies to spend time judging yours.
Today I'm sharing 9 brutal recovery truths that no one will tell you—but I absolutely will. Because I'm tired of watching women stay stuck settling for "good enough," when full freedom is absolutely possible.
These aren't feel-good platitudes. These are boss-babe-energy truths that will wake you up and change everything.
The 9 Raw Truths:
Your health is your wealth
Nobody cares about your body 2b. You will be judged no matter what—at least be judged for something meaningful
Consistency matters more than perfection
Recovery takes months or years—not weeks or days
Your comfort zone and "settling" will destroy your dreams of freedom
No one is coming to save you
You can't pray yourself away from ED behaviors—you must pray AND act
Time never comes back
You cannot recover from an eating disorder alone.
THE 9 BRUTAL TRUTHS BREAKDOWN
Truth #1: Your health is your wealth. You can fake your health to the world for a while, but malnourishment catches up with you. Your bones will tell the story. Your hormones will tell the story. You can lie to everyone else, but your body keeps the receipts. When you look back in 10-30 years, your health is what will matter most—not the number on the scale.
Truth #2: Nobody cares about your body. Everyone is way too worried about their own insecurities to spend time analyzing yours. The person at the grocery store? Worried about their own body. Your coworker? Stressed about their own appearance. The people who matter don't care what size you are. And the people who care what size you are don't matter.
Truth #2b: You will be judged no matter what—at least be judged for something meaningful versus your pant size. Would you rather be judged for playing small, for restricting your life, for being the woman always "on a diet"? Or judged for being bold, for showing up fully, for living a life that actually matters? People will have opinions regardless. Make sure you're living a life worth having opinions about.
Truth #3: Consistency matters more than perfection. Boss babes understand this in business but forget it in recovery. You can take random action, but it's what you do consistently that leads to true freedom. Recovery isn't built on perfect days—it's built on showing up day after day, even when it sucks.
Truth #4: Recovery takes months or years—not weeks or days. Trying to rush recovery is like trying to rush building a business empire. You can't shortcut the process and expect lasting results. The women who understand this is an investment in their future are the ones running companies and living their dreams while others are still counting calories.
Truth #5: Your comfort zone and "settling" will destroy your dreams of freedom. Quasi-recovery isn't boss babe energy—it's small energy. It's staying in the kiddie pool when you were meant to swim in the ocean. Settling for quasi-recovery is like building a business to 50K and stopping because you're "comfortable." Your eating disorder is betting on you settling.
Truth #6: No one is coming to save you. Your parents can't fix this. Your partner can't love the eating disorder away. Your therapist can't want recovery more than you do. This is your life. Your recovery. Your empire to build. That's overwhelming but also the most empowering truth—you have ALL the power to change everything.
Truth #7: You can't pray yourself or "try" to get yourself away from ED behaviors. Faith is powerful. Prayer is essential. But you must pray AND act like the boss babe God created you to be. God gave you a brain, body, and free will for a reason. Use them. Trying is just failing with intention. Stop trying. Start doing.
Truth #8: Time never comes back. Every day you spend restricting is gone forever. Every opportunity missed because you're obsessed with food. Every relationship you half-show up to because you're mentally calculating calories. Boss babes understand time is the most valuable currency. Stop spending yours on something that will never pay dividends.
THE FINAL TRUTH TO SET YOU FREE:
#9: You cannot build an empire alone, and recover from an eating disorder is the exact same.
Eating disorders thrive in isolation. Every successful woman has a team, support, someone who won't let them quit when things get hard. The women who recover are the ones who stop trying to figure it all out alone and invest in themselves.
KEY QUOTES
💛 "Nobody cares about your body. People are way too busy worrying about their own bodies to spend time judging yours."
💛 "You can fake your health to the world, but your body keeps the receipts."
💛 "The people who matter don't care what size you are. The people who care what size you are don't matter."
💛 "People will have opinions regardless. Make sure you're living a life worth having opinions about."
💛 "Quasi-recovery isn't boss babe energy—it's small energy."
💛 "You can't shortcut the process and expect lasting results."
💛 "No one is coming to save you. This is your empire to build."
💛 "Trying is just failing with intention. Stop trying. Start doing."
💛 "Time never comes back. Stop spending yours on something that will never pay dividends."
READY TO STOP SETTLING?
If you're tired of playing small, if you're done wasting time in quasi-recovery, if you want someone who won't let you quit on yourself—I'm here.
I help women stop wasting years in quasi-recovery. I create personalized roadmaps to freedom and provide the accountability you need to stop settling and start truly living.
The women who transform their lives are the ones who invest in themselves like the boss babes they are. They get support. They stop playing small. They claim their full power.
👉 www.herbestself.co Fill out my client application and say yes to your future self today!
Nobody is coming to save you. 
Your future self is waiting. What's it going to be?
Connect with Lindsey:
🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms
Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:
💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week!
Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now.
Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

EP 273.5: Can't Stop Staring in the Mirror? Body Dysmorphia, Body Obsession & How to Break Free **Must Listen Fav!**

Do you spend way too much time checking yourself in the mirror? Fixating on flaws that nobody else seems to notice? Canceling plans because you feel like you look "off" that day? You're not alone, and this isn't about vanity—this is about a real struggle that deserves understanding.
Today we're diving into Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and how it shows up in eating disorder recovery. The statistics are eye-opening: while only 1 in 50 people in the general population experience BDD, 25-40% of people with eating disorders also struggle with body dysmorphic disorder.
In this episode, you'll discover:
What Body Dysmorphic Disorder actually is (beyond occasional insecurity)
The shocking connection between eating disorders and BDD
Real client story: How BDD stole years of living from a successful VP
6 practical tools to break free from obsessive body thoughts
Why "your body is an instrument, not an ornament"
How to practice body neutrality when body positivity feels impossible
The difference between healthy awareness and destructive obsession
This goes beyond the mirror—it's about reclaiming the mental energy that's been stolen from you and learning to live present in your own life.
THE EYE-OPENING STATISTICS
1 in 50 people in general population experience Body Dysmorphic Disorder
25-40% of people with eating disorders also struggle with BDD
This means: If you're struggling with disordered eating, there's a much higher chance you're also dealing with body dysmorphic disorder.
WHAT IS BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER?
BDD is classified in the DSM-5 under Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders. It's when thoughts about your appearance become all-consuming—when they start stealing your joy and limiting your life.
This isn't about vanity. This is about genuine struggle that deserves compassion and understanding.
Common signs include:
Spending hours checking your appearance in mirrors
Constantly comparing yourself to others (especially on social media)
Avoiding social settings because you're convinced everyone is staring
Taking dozens of photos from different angles to "capture what you really look like"
Canceling plans when you feel you look "off"
Fixating on specific body parts (face, stomach, skin, weight)
CLIENT STORY: ELLA'S BREAKTHROUGH
Ella was a VP at her company—successful, married, two kids. From the outside, everything looked perfect. But inside, she was crumbling.
Ella spent hours fixating on what she perceived as facial asymmetry and "hating her stomach." She would:
Cancel plans if her appearance didn't feel right
Take dozens of selfies from different angles
Hibernate in loose clothing when her stomach wasn't "flat enough"
Miss out on living because she was trapped in the obsession
The truth: When I looked at Ella, I saw an amazingly beautiful and confident woman. The things she fixated on weren't visible to me or anyone else in her life.
Six months later, Ella shared: "For the first time in years, I went to my daughter's birthday party and I didn't think about my appearance. I was just there. I was present. I laughed, and I played and I connected. This is what living feels like."
6 TOOLS TO BREAK FREE FROM BODY OBSESSION
1. Practice Awareness
Notice when you're engaging in checking behaviors
Observe with compassion: "I notice I'm having thoughts right now"
Technique: Set a timer when getting ready—when it goes off, walk away from the mirror no matter what
2. Challenge the Distortion
Question absolute thoughts: "Everyone notices this about me" or "I look disgusting"
Exercise: Write how you'd respond if your best friend shared the same concerns
Remember: "Our minds distort our mirrors"
3. Reduce Comparison (Eliminate If Possible)
Studies show increased social media correlates with worse BDD symptoms
Action: Go on a social media detox or unfollow triggering accounts
Replace scrolling time with something that feeds your soul
4. Redirect Your Focus
Create a list of activities that fully engage your mind
Have this list ready BEFORE the thoughts hit
Examples: Reading, puzzles, nature walks, calling a friend
5. Practice Body Neutrality
Focus on what your body can DO rather than how it looks
"Can your legs carry you through the day? Can your arms hug people you love?"
Remember: Your body is an instrument, not an ornament
6. Seek Help and Support
BDD responds well to treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Working with specialists in body image issues makes an enormous difference
You don't have to heal from this alone
THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR BODY
Your body was never meant to be your life's work. It was meant to champion you in doing your life's purpose and your life's work.
You only have one precious life. You deserve to:
Be present and laugh without wondering how your face looks
Eat cake without worrying about your stomach afterward
Connect deeply without background noise of how others view you
Live without the mental prison of appearance obsession
KEY QUOTES
💛 "This isn't about vanity. This is about genuine struggle that deserves compassion and understanding."
💛 "Our minds distort our mirrors."
💛 "Your body is an instrument, not an ornament."
💛 "You don't have to love yourself right now—but you can practice neutrality."
💛 "Your body was never meant to be your life's work. It was meant to champion you in doing your life's purpose."
💛 "Small, consistent actions lead to the biggest transformations."
READY TO BREAK FREE FROM THE MENTAL PRISON OF BODY OBSESSION?
If you're tired of missing out on living because you're trapped in thoughts about your appearance—I'm here to help.
🌟 The Recovery Collective - Join our supportive group coaching community where you'll connect with other women on the same journey toward food and body freedom. Get weekly group calls, exclusive content, and a sisterhood that truly gets it. → www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 
🌟 1:1 Personalized Coaching - Ready for personalized, one-on-one support? Let's work together in my signature coaching container where I'll be your guide, accountability partner, and biggest cheerleader as you heal your relationship with food and body. → www.herbestsel.co (fill out a client application)
You don't have to spend another day trapped in the mirror. You don't have to miss another birthday party, dinner out, or moment of connection because you're obsessing over your appearance.
Healing is possible. Freedom is waiting. And you're worth it.
Connect with Lindsey:
🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms
Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:
💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week!
Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now.
Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

EP 273: 20 Minutes in the Peanut Butter Aisle ~ How One Decision Changed My Recovery (& Can Change Yours Too)

Today sis, let's time travel! I want to take you into the grocery store with me during my recovery. On this particular trip (actually most every trip to the store), I would stand in the peanut butter aisle...yes, for 20 minutes—staring at jars, reading labels, comparing calories. And I was exhausted with my own mess.
Peanut butter was a total fear food. I'd tell people "I didn't like it" when in fact, I grew up on PB&J sandwiches and adored the taste pre-ED. But during ED, I just didn't trust myself around it.
This day however, I got so tired of my usual ED pattern that I assigned myself a task: walk in, choose a jar, take it home, and make something with it.
That one decision changed everything.
You are one decision away from a completely different life. And it starts with giving yourself permission.
In today's podcast episode you'll discover:
How one grocery store decision became my recovery breakthrough
Why every decision is actually an act of permission
The connection between indecision and staying stuck
How to pre-decide your way to freedom
What permissions you might be withholding from yourself
Why peanut butter now reminds me of freedom
The ripple effect one brave choice creates
THE POWER OF ONE DECISION
You are one decision away from a completely different life. Not ten decisions. Not a perfect plan. Not waiting until you feel ready.
That day, I wasn't any less scared of peanut butter than before. But I decided I was the boss of me. I got to decide how I wanted to be defined. And I no longer wanted to be scared of peanut butter.
Every decision is actually an act of permission. When I decided to buy that peanut butter, I gave myself permission to:
Trust myself around a fear food
Stop analyzing and start choosing
Act differently than I had been acting
Take up space in my own life
WHY WE AVOID THE DECISION
Standing in that aisle for 20 minutes wasn't really about comparing labels. It was about avoiding the decision entirely.
As long as I was analyzing, I didn't have to choose. As long as I was researching, I didn't have to act. As long as I was stuck in indecision, I didn't have to face my fear.
But indecision is actually a decision—it's the decision to stay exactly where you are.
THE PRACTICE OF PRE-DECIDING
What made that trip different: I pre-decided. Instead of hoping I'd feel brave, I decided ahead of time what I was going to do.
Pre-deciding removes the option to get stuck in analysis paralysis. It removes the option to spend 20 minutes staring at labels. It removes the option to leave empty-handed.
What could you pre-decide today?
That you're going to eat lunch, no matter how anxious you feel
That you're going to order what sounds good, not what has fewest calories
That you're going to call a therapist or coach
THE RIPPLE EFFECT
That peanut butter decision was a turning point because it taught me: If I could decide and DO with peanut butter, I could do that with anything that scared me.
One act of permission opened the door to others:
Permission to eat other fear foods
Permission to trust my body
Permission to be imperfect in recovery
Permission to choose freedom over control
Permission creates momentum. One granted permission leads to another, and another.
KEY QUOTES
💛 "You are one decision away from a completely different life."
💛 "I wasn't any less scared than the day before, but I decided I was the boss of me."
💛 "Every decision is actually an act of permission."
💛 "Indecision is actually a decision—it's the decision to stay exactly where you are."
💛 "The decision you're avoiding is usually the exact decision that will set you free."
💛 "Pre-deciding is an act of self-trust."
💛 "Don't wait to feel brave. Decide first, then act."
💛 "Granting yourself permission is not selfish—it's an act of love."
💛 "You don't need anyone else's permission to live your life. You just need your own."
💛 "Permission granted. Decision made. Life changed."
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Identify one decision you've been avoiding. One permission you've been withholding from yourself.
Then pre-decide. Decide right now, before you're face-to-face with the fear, what you're going to do.
Don't wait to feel brave. Don't wait to feel ready. Decide first, then act.
READY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE?
If you're ready to have someone in your corner who's been exactly where you are:
👉 www.herbestself.co - Fill out a client application
You are one decision away from a completely different life. One permission away from the freedom you're craving.
💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVE
My group coaching community where women come together to heal, let go of perfectionism, and do the deep work of recovery. You'll have access to me, monthly coaching calls, and a sisterhood that gets you.
www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective
💛 Take the Recovery Spirit Animal Quiz - Get insight into practical steps for your recovery based on your answers: Free Recovery Tools & Support | Quizzes, Journals, & Community for Eating Disorder Healing — Her Best Self Co. | Eating Disorder Recovery Coach for Women
💛 Join Her Best Self Society - Our private Facebook community at www.herbestselfsociety.com 
Connect with Lindsey:
🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms
Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:
💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week!
Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now.
Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

EP 272: There's No Such Thing as a Perfect Weight⚖️(Your Perfect Weight Is Actually Perfect Freedom)

How much mental and emotional energy do you spend thinking about your weight? And here's the follow-up question: Is it worth it? Is all that energy actually improving your life, making you happier, or making you worth more?
Today I'm offering a completely different perspective: What if your perfect weight isn't a number at all, but rather a state of being? A way of moving through this world where food and your body just don't dominate your thoughts.
If you get nothing else from this episode, write this down: Your perfect weight is perfect freedom.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why there's no such thing as a perfect weight (and what to focus on instead)
How to redefine "perfect weight" as perfect freedom
Real-life examples of what perfect freedom looks like
The science behind why fighting your natural weight range backfires
Why restriction creates the food obsessions you're trying to escape
How to use your mental energy for relationships, work, and dreams instead of weight monitoring
Starting points for moving toward weight-inclusive health
The truth: Your worth isn't tied to your size
Your perfect weight is when you can: ✅ Enjoy dinner with friends without calculating calories✅ Skip a workout because you're tired (without guilt)✅ Be fully present on date night instead of scanning menus✅ Go on vacation without needing a "detox" afterward✅ Nourish your body with variety—free from restriction
THE CORE MESSAGE
Your perfect weight is perfect freedom.
Instead of focusing on a perfect number, focus on finding perfect trust within yourself and your body.
We've been conditioned to believe that constant vigilance around food and exercise is the only path to health. But what if that very vigilance itself is what's unhealthy?
WHAT PERFECT FREEDOM LOOKS LIKE
Your perfect weight is:
Enjoying an evening out with friends without guilt as an uninvited guest
Laughing over shared appetizers and ordering what sounds good
Driving home thinking about conversations, not calories consumed
Listening to your body and skipping workouts when tired
Understanding that rest is just as important as movement
Being fully present during date night—looking into your partner's eyes instead of secretly scanning menu calorie counts
Coming home from vacation with memories of experiences, not regrets about what you ate
THE SCIENCE BEHIND FREEDOM
Our bodies are incredibly diverse. Research increasingly shows that health can exist at many different sizes.
Each of us has a genetically influenced weight range where our body functions best—I call this the "freedom point" (others call it set point).
Fighting against this natural range requires constant effort and often results in harmful weight cycling.
The truth about BMI: It was never designed to be an individual health marker. It was created as a population-level statistical tool, and its creator explicitly warned against using it for individual health evaluation.
Health is about:
Sustainable habits
Mental wellbeing
Social connections
Physical markers like blood pressure and cholesterol
Many of which improve through healthy behaviors regardless of weight changes
WHY RESTRICTION BACKFIRES
Your body and brain are wired to resist famine. When you severely restrict food groups or calories, your body fights back.
This is where obsessive food thoughts come from—not lack of willpower. This is biology.
The surprise: Food obsessions actually diminish when you start eating enough for your body, including previously forbidden foods. The rebellious urge to binge fades when no foods are labeled as "bad" or "good."
REDEFINING YOUR RELATIONSHIP
How would you eat if you knew your weight would never change?
What would you accomplish if you weren't constantly monitoring your appearance or planning your next diet?
Your perfect weight means:
Days not consumed by food or body thoughts
Using mental energy for relationships, work, passions, dreams
Vacation doesn't end with detox or start with restriction
Enjoying local cuisines without anxiety
Coming home with memories, not regrets
STARTING POINTS FOR FREEDOM
1. Work with weight-inclusive practitioners
Dietitians specializing in intuitive eating
Therapists who understand body image
Coaches trained to focus on here and now without scale measurements
2. Curate your media consumption
Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about your body
Unfollow accounts promoting restrictive eating
Do a social media detox if it's not helping you make pro-recovery choices
3. Practice real self-compassion
The path isn't linear—there will be ups and downs
Treat yourself with kindness rather than judgment
This makes the journey manageable and rewarding
4. Ground yourself in truth
Your worth isn't tied to your size
You deserve respect, love, and dignity at any weight
Your body is a vessel carrying you through this precious life
It deserves appreciation for what it does, not criticism for how it looks
THE ULTIMATE TRUTH
Your perfect weight isn't a destination you achieve once and check off a to-do list.
It's an ongoing relationship with your body that evolves over time.
There will be days you feel completely at peace with your body and food. There will be days old thought patterns creep back in. That's totally normal.
What matters is the overall direction: moving toward more freedom, more self-compassion, and being less preoccupied with controlling your body.
KEY QUOTES
💛 "Your perfect weight is perfect freedom."
💛 "How much mental and emotional energy do you spend thinking about your weight? Is it worth it?"
💛 "What if your perfect weight isn't a number at all, but rather a state of being?"
💛 "The more vigilant you are around food and exercise, the more unhealthy that vigilance itself becomes."
💛 "Your food obsessions aren't from lack of willpower—this is biology."
💛 "How would you eat if you knew your weight would never change?"
💛 "Your body is just a vessel that carries you through this precious life and deserves appreciation for what it does, not constant criticism for how it looks."
READY TO FIND YOUR PERFECT FREEDOM?
If you're done trying to control every single thing around food and body, if you're ready to make a commitment to change this part of your life—I'm here.
Stop listening to that nagging voice telling you that you're lazy, not good enough, or that you'll always be this way.
👉 www.herbestself.co - Fill out a client application to partner together in your healing journey
💛 Take the Recovery Spirit Animal Quiz - Get insight into practical steps for your recovery based on your answers: Free Recovery Tools & Support | Quizzes, Journals, & Community for Eating Disorder Healing — Her Best Self Co. | Eating Disorder Recovery Coach for Women
💛 Join Her Best Self Society - Our private Facebook community at www.herbestselfsociety.com 
Connect with Lindsey:
🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms
Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:
💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week!
Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now.
Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

EP 271.5: It's Not About the Food ~ Understanding Eating Disorders, Who They Really Affect & How to Heal

Hey girl, welcome back to the Her Best Self Podcast. This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week and Lindsey is getting real with you about the truth behind eating disorders — the statistics that will stop you in your tracks, the signs that are easy to miss, and the hope that recovery is absolutely possible for you.
Whether you are personally in the thick of your own battle with food and your body, loving someone who is struggling, or simply wanting to understand eating disorders on a deeper level, this episode is for you.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
In this powerful episode, Lindsey pulls back the curtain on the most misunderstood mental illness and shares what the research actually says, who eating disorders really affect, and what you can do today to take the next step toward freedom.
Lindsey covers the real mortality rate of eating disorders and why early intervention changes everything, the truth about who develops eating disorders and why the stereotype is dead wrong, the most common signs to watch for in yourself or someone you love, how to approach a loved one who is struggling without pushing them further away, and why recovery is not only possible but waiting for you on the other side.
Key Stats From This Episode
Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any mental illness, surpassed only by opioid addiction. Someone dies every 52 minutes as a direct result of an eating disorder. About 30 million Americans will struggle with an eating disorder in their lifetime. Less than 6% of people with eating disorders are classified as underweight. Only about one third of people with eating disorders will ever receive treatment.
Lindsey's Personal Message to You
If your eating disorder is telling you that you need it to survive, that you're not sick enough for help, or that you'll never recover — those are lies. Every single one of them. Lindsey has been where you are and she is living proof that freedom is real, that it is possible, and that life on the other side is better than you can imagine.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Join the Her Best Self Society — Free Private Facebook Community You were never meant to do this alone. The Her Best Self Society is Lindsey's free private Facebook community where women just like you are finding support, encouragement, and a safe place to heal together. No judgment. No pressure. Just real women walking the road to recovery side by side. Come hang out with us at www.hersbestselfsociety.com. 
Work With Lindsey 1:1 If you are ready to stop white-knuckling recovery on your own and finally get the personalized support, tools, and coaching you deserve, Lindsey would love to walk alongside you. Her 1:1 coaching is designed specifically for women who are ready to break free from disordered eating and reclaim their life, their joy, and their identity beyond the eating disorder. To learn more about working with Lindsey directly, visit www.herbestself.co or send her a DM on Instagram at @thelindseynichol.
Come to our every other week support group! You can find more details at www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective.
Resources Mentioned
National Eating Disorder Association — www.nationaleatingdisorders.org 
Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness — www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com 
Her Best Self Society Private Facebook Community — www.hersbestselfsociety.com 
Loved This Episode?
If this episode spoke to your heart, please take 30 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Your review helps more women find this show and find their way to freedom. And share this episode with a friend or someone you love who needs to hear it today. The more we talk openly about eating disorders, the more we break the stigma keeping so many women suffering in silence.
______________________
Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

EP 271: Is Your Career Feeding Your Eating Disorder? High Performance Culture & Why 73% of Professional Women Struggle

When people hear "eating disorder," they picture a young stick-figure girl in ballet class. But what I see every day? CEOs with anorexia. Lawyers binge eating in office bathrooms. Doctors struggling in silence with exercise compulsion. Corporate executives who haven't eaten lunch in six months because they're "too busy."
73% of women in corporate and professional environments report engaging in at least one disordered eating behavior. And if you're a high-performing woman who feels trapped but can't connect the dots—this episode is for you.
Because your workplace might be feeding your eating disorder. And it's time we talked about it.
You'll discover:
The chilling parallels between corporate culture and eating disorder logic
How "dedication" and "discipline" can actually be disordered eating in disguise
Why corporate wellness programs trigger eating disorders instead of preventing them
The toxic beliefs high-performer culture promotes that fuel disordered eating
Signs everyone misses in successful women who are struggling
How to audit your workplace culture for ED-triggering behaviors
Why your traits might be symptoms—not personality flaws
How to redefine success to include your wellbeing
The truth: You can be successful AND recovered. Recovery doesn't mean giving up your ambition—it means reclaiming it.
THE CHILLING PARALLELS
Corporate Culture Says:
"I have to earn my lunch—I haven't been productive enough yet"
"I can't take a break—everyone's counting on me"
"If I rest, I'm falling behind"
Eating Disorder Logic Says:
"I have to earn my food—I haven't burned enough calories yet"
"I can't eat—I have to stay in control"
"If I eat, I'm losing control"
It's the same framework: Your worth is conditional. Your value is based on performance. And this mindset gets you promoted—while secretly destroying your relationship with food and your body.
TOXIC BELIEFS THAT FEED BOTH
"Results over rest" - Your body becomes just a vehicle for performance"Discipline equals success" - Until discipline becomes rigid food rules"Mind over matter" - Glorifying disconnection from your body's signals"Optimize everything" - Your body becomes a project to control and perfect"Hustle culture" - Normalizing deprivation of food, rest, and pleasure
For someone who's perfectionistic and already anxious, these messages are gasoline on a fire.
SIGNS EVERYONE MISSES
✅ First one in, last one out—always "on," can't rest✅ Skipping meals because you're "too busy" (praised as dedication)✅ Rigid food rules disguised as "wellness" ("I don't eat carbs," "only clean foods")✅ Over-exercising every day, even when sick or injured✅ Talking about your body transactionally ("I earned this meal," "I have to burn this off")✅ Avoiding work social events that involve food✅ Exhausted but won't slow down
Most of these behaviors are celebrated in high-performer culture—so you don't realize you need help.
YOUR WORKPLACE CULTURE AUDIT
Ask yourself:
Am I praised for skipping meals or working through lunch?
Does my company tie wellness to competition or performance metrics?
Do I feel pressure to track, optimize, or perform my health?
Are boundaries seen as weakness in my workplace?
Do I feel like I have to "earn" rest, food, or self-care?
Then ask:
Am I using work stress as an excuse to control my food?
Do I restrict when work gets overwhelming?
Do I "earn" meals based on productivity?
Am I exercising compulsively to manage work anxiety?
If you answered yes to any of these—you're not alone. And you're not crazy.
THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR "TRAITS"
Those traits you think define you? They might not be who you ARE. They might be symptoms.
Symptoms of working in an environment that rewards disordered behaviors. Symptoms of impossible standards that tell you your worth is tied to your output.
You are not broken. You're responding exactly how anyone would respond to these systems.
REDEFINING SUCCESS
True high performance: ✅ Rest is part of the strategy - not a sign of weakness✅ Nourishment is non-negotiable - your brain needs fuel to perform✅ Boundaries are a strength - saying no, delegating, protecting your energy✅ Worth isn't tied to output - you're valuable because you exist✅ Success includes wellbeing - how you feel matters as much as results
Recovery doesn't take away your drive. It redirects it. You stop using discipline to destroy yourself and start using it to build the life you actually want.
KEY QUOTES
💛 "73% of women in corporate environments report engaging in at least one disordered eating behavior."
💛 "The same traits that make you exceptional at your job—perfectionism, discipline, control—those are the EXACT traits that eating disorders exploit."
💛 "When wellness is tied to productivity, competition, or external validation, it's not wellness anymore. It's just another way to perform."
💛 "Those traits you think define you? They might not be who you ARE. They might be symptoms."
💛 "Recovery doesn't mean giving up your ambition. It means reclaiming it."
💛 "You can be successful AND recovered. Your brain works better when nourished. Your work improves when you're not obsessing over food 24/7."
READY TO BREAK FREE FROM THE PATTERNS KEEPING YOU STUCK?
If you're tired of feeling trapped, if you want to redefine what success looks like for YOU—I'm here.
👉 www.herbestself.co - Fill out a client application
Asking for help isn't weakness. It's wisdom. It's courage. It's leadership.
You deserve to perform at your best—not your most depleted.
Connect with Lindsey:
🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms
Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:
💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week!
Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now.
Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.
 
 

EP 270: Why You Don't Trust Yourself to Recover (& How to Build That Self-Trust Back)

If you're ready for recovery but freeze when it comes time to actually invest in yourself and commit to the work—this episode is for you.
The real reason you're not taking action isn't because you don't want freedom. It's not because you can't afford it. It's not because you don't believe recovery is possible.
It's because you don't trust yourself to actually do it.
You don't trust yourself to follow through, to succeed, to recover. And after years of the eating disorder systematically destroying your self-trust, plus being burned by therapy or treatment programs that didn't work—of course you don't trust yourself.
But that lack of trust? It's not your fault. And it's not permanent.
In this episode, I break down why high-performing women especially struggle with self-trust in recovery, how past "failed" attempts were actually preparing you for the right approach, and how to rebuild that trust through partnership rather than trying to do it alone.
You'll discover:
Why the eating disorder has systematically destroyed your self-trust
How being a high performer makes recovery feel impossible when your usual strategies don't work
Why therapy/treatment programs may have failed before (and why this time IS different)
The difference between coaching and transformation through partnership
How to build self-trust through small, kept promises
Why you don't need perfect self-trust to start—just willingness
How to overcome the "I need to talk to my husband" and investment objections
Why waiting for the "perfect time" keeps you stuck while the ED steals your life
The truth: You ARE trustworthy. You ARE capable. You ARE ready. Even if you don't feel like it yet.
WHY YOU DON'T TRUST YOURSELF
The eating disorder has spent YEARS:
Convincing you to break promises to yourself
Making you set goals you couldn't keep
Forcing you to start recovery attempts you couldn't finish
Sabotaging commitments your disorder wouldn't let you honor
Plus, you've been burned before:
Therapy that was lovely but left you feeling stuck
Treatment programs with skills you couldn't maintain in real life
"Recovery" approaches that felt like diet culture in disguise
Systems and people who didn't truly GET where you are
And as a high performer:
You're used to succeeding at everything you put your mind to
When recovery feels like the one thing you can't figure out, it shakes your entire identity
Your usual strategies (perfectionism, control, pushing through) actually keep you stuck in EDs
Recovery requires surrender, trust, and support—the opposite of what got you success elsewhere
The truth: The problem wasn't YOU. The problem was you hadn't found the RIGHT approach yet.
WHY THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT
This isn't therapy. This isn't treatment. This isn't coaching.
This is transformation through partnership.
When we work together: ✅ I've been exactly where you are—I know what it feels like to not trust yourself✅ I'm not coaching you from a textbook—I'm partnering with you from experience✅ I hold hope for you when you can't hold it for yourself✅ I see your strength when all you can see is struggle✅ I trust you to recover until you can trust yourself✅ You don't have to rebuild trust alone—we build it together
The difference: I know the voice of freedom, and I know how to help you hear it again.
REBUILDING SELF-TRUST
What self-trust really means: Self-trust isn't about never failing or being perfect. Self-trust is showing up for yourself even when it's hard, imperfect, and uncertain.
How we build it together:
Start with micro-commitments ("I trust myself to eat breakfast tomorrow")
Acknowledge every kept promise ("I said I'd eat breakfast and I did—I'm trustworthy")
Focus on promises that actually matter (the ones that move you toward freedom, not more rules)
Partner through the process (you're not doing it alone)
The secret: You don't have to trust yourself to recover perfectly. You just have to trust yourself to start.
THE FEAR BEHIND THE FEAR
You're not just afraid of failing again—you're afraid of succeeding.
Because the eating disorder has been your:
Identity
Coping mechanism
Source of control
Way to feel special, disciplined, "together"
Excuse for not fully living
Recovery means facing: "Who am I without this?"
The truth: Who you are without the eating disorder is who you were ALWAYS meant to be. The ED buried the best parts of you—it didn't create them.
KEY QUOTES
💛 "That lack of trust? It's not your fault. And it's not permanent."
💛 "The eating disorder has spent YEARS systematically destroying your self-trust. Of course you don't trust yourself."
💛 "The problem wasn't YOU. The problem was you hadn't found the RIGHT approach yet."
💛 "This isn't coaching. This is transformation through partnership."
💛 "I will trust you to recover until you can trust yourself."
💛 "Self-trust is showing up for yourself even when it's hard, imperfect, and uncertain."
💛 "You don't have to trust yourself to recover perfectly. You just have to trust yourself to start."
💛 "Who you are without the eating disorder is who you were ALWAYS meant to be."
💛 "The women who recover aren't the ones who never stumble. They're the ones who keep showing up."
💛 "Recovery doesn't require perfect self-trust. It requires perfect willingness to try. With support."
💛 "How many more months are you going to spend 'thinking about it' while the eating disorder continues to steal your life?"
💛 "You ARE trustworthy. You ARE capable. You ARE ready. Even if you don't feel like it yet."
THE WAKE-UP CALL
What's riskier?
Trusting yourself to try recovery with someone who's been exactly where you are?
Or staying where you are, letting the ED continue stealing your time, energy, relationships, and LIFE?
The eating disorder has NEVER kept its promises to you. It promised control and gave chaos. It promised perfection and gave obsession. It promised happiness and stole your joy.
You've been trusting the WRONG voice for too long.
READY TO BUILD TRUST THROUGH PARTNERSHIP?
If you're tired of trying to figure this out alone...If you're ready for support that actually understands where you are...If you want someone who's been exactly where you are and knows the way forward...
👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application
What I promise: I will trust you to recover until you can trust yourself. I'll hold that belief when you can't. I'll see your strength when all you see is struggle.
This is partnership that creates actual transformation—not just another attempt.
Trust yourself enough to take the next step. You don't have to take it alone.
Connect with Lindsey:
🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms
Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:
💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week!
Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now.
Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.
 
 

EP 269.5: What Are Your NOW Needs? Maslow's Hierarchy & How to Honor Yourself in ED Recovery **Must Listen Fav!**

If your goal is to "recover from your eating disorder," what happens when you get there? Then what?
Here's the problem: When you set the goal to recover, you're setting a goal with a finish line. But recovery isn't a destination. It's a journey of BECOMING.
In this episode, I'm challenging you to shift your focus from what you want to change to who you need to become to achieve freedom. And it starts with understanding your NOW needs.
Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, I break down why you can't move forward in recovery if your basic needs aren't even being met—and what to do about it RIGHT NOW.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why setting a goal to "recover" sabotages your success
What recovery will make OF you (not just what it will give you)
The problem: You're reinforcing a belief that you can't find freedom
Maslow's Hierarchy explained: Basic needs → Psychological needs → Self-fulfillment
Why you can't function without basic needs met (food, water, sleep, safety, stability)
How the eating disorder hijacks your brain and keeps you from meeting essential needs
Why low self-esteem and broken relationships stem from unmet BASIC needs
The shift: Stop focusing on what you want to change, start focusing on who you want to BECOME
One challenge: Do one thing every day you don't want to do
How to validate your feelings, own your needs, and grant yourself permission
The truth: No one is going to recover FOR you—you have to do something about it
The wake-up call: You decide where your time goes. And if you don't decide, the world will decide for you.
MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS & ED RECOVERY
The 5-Tier Model:
1. BASIC/SURVIVAL NEEDS (Foundation)Food, water, air, sleep, shelter, clothing, safety, stability, predictability
The problem: When your brain has been hijacked by an eating disorder, you're not even getting these basic needs met. Without nourishment, you literally can't function.
2. PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS (Built on Basic Needs)Social connections, relationships, self-esteem, confidence, intimate connection, friendships, accomplishments, independence, self-respect
The truth: If your basic needs aren't met, your psychological needs WON'T be met. This is why you have low self-esteem. This is why relationships feel broken.
3. SELF-FULFILLMENT NEEDS (Top of Pyramid)Problem-solving, growth, exploration, creativity, purpose, meaning
The reality: You can't get here if you're not nourishing your body. Without basic needs met, self-fulfillment is impossible.
THE SHIFT: FROM RECOVERING TO BECOMING
Stop asking: "How do I recover from this eating disorder?"
Start asking:
Who do I need to BECOME to gain freedom?
What does freedom look like to me?
What are my NOW needs?
What can I do TODAY to honor where I want to go TOMORROW?
The truth: Your past and current distorted identity has created your current reality. It sabotages your success. This false identity creates negative habits that lead to negative outcomes—and reinforces the cycle.
The problem isn't that you can't do it. The problem is you're consistently staying in the cycle that reinforces the belief that you CAN'T.
YOUR NOW NEEDS: THE CHALLENGE
This week, do ONE thing every day that you don't want to do.
Then ask yourself:
How am I currently meeting my needs today?
What needs do I need met RIGHT NOW?
Are my BASIC needs even being met?
Remember: Without nourishment, you can't even begin to move into love, belonging, self-esteem, or purpose.
THE 4 STEPS TO HONOR YOUR NOW NEEDS
STEP 1: VALIDATE YOUR FEELINGS & OWN YOUR NEEDS
Admit and identify a NOW need:
Do I need to eat breakfast earlier?
Do I need two more hours of sleep?
Do I need to feel safe and protected? How will I create that?
Set the goal of WHO you're becoming in the process.
STEP 2: GRANT YOURSELF PERMISSION & SET PRIORITIES
Give yourself permission to put yourself FIRST.
Permission + Priorities = Power
We give grace and compassion to everyone else, but struggle to do the same for ourselves. Today, WEAR permission. Rock it out.
STEP 3: REFLECT, PRAY, JOURNAL, THINK
Don't overthink. Just think.
Ask yourself:
What are my NOW needs?
What do I need to feel satisfied, purposeful, joyful, happy?
What do I have to do RIGHT NOW from a basic need standpoint to step into what I ultimately want for my life?
STEP 4: DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
No one is going to recover FOR you. No one is going to:
Gain the weight for you
Sit in your head for you
Be at the finish line for you
You have to do something different.
Because the truth is: You can listen to this show on repeat, but if you don't DO something about it, you're going to sit here stuck.
THE TRUTH ABOUT RECOVERY
When I actually recovered from my eating disorder, I didn't recognize my old self. I didn't even know who she was. I was fully transformed.
Recovery isn't about checking a box. You still wake up. You still look at yourself in the mirror. You're still learning, growing, doing, BECOMING.
Change your focus: From what you're trying to achieve → To WHO you need to be to achieve it.
KEY QUOTES
💛 "If you set the goal to recover, you're setting a goal with a finish line. I want you to set the goal of what recovery will make OF you."
💛 "This journey is about BECOMING. And becoming requires DOING."
💛 "The problem isn't that you can't do it. The problem is you're consistently staying in the cycle that reinforces the belief that you can't."
💛 "Without nourishment, you can't even begin to move into the next level of needs like love and belonging."
💛 "You decide where your time goes. And if you don't decide, the world will decide for you."
💛 "No one was going to recover for me. No one was going to be at the finish line. No one was going to gain the weight for me. No one was going to sit in my own head but me."
💛 "If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If not, you'll just find another excuse." - Jim Rohn
💛 "Stop focusing on what you want to change. Start focusing on who you want to BECOME."
💛 "Your purpose on this planet is not to be worried about your body. Your purpose is to show up authentically YOU. But in order to become her, you must start doing something differently."
THE ONE QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF
"What am I doing right now TODAY that my future self is going to love me for?"
If you want to be recovered, you have to DO something to get there.
WHAT ARE YOUR NOW NEEDS?
Identify ONE need right now:
Accountability?
Community?
A really good meal?
Permission to rest?
Setting boundaries?
Surrendering?
What is the ONE thing you need right now in your heart, in your life?
Then DO something about it.
READY TO MEET YOUR NOW NEEDS WITH SUPPORT?
💛 HER BEST SELF SOCIETY
Join our private Facebook community for support, accountability, and connection.
👉 www.herbestselfsociety.com 
💛 1:1 RECOVERY COACHING
If your NOW need is support and accountability to finally move forward—let's partner together.
👉 www.herbestself.co  - Fill out a client application
Your purpose on this planet is NOT to be worried about your body, the scale, or the label. Your purpose is to show up authentically YOU.
But in order to become her, you must start doing something differently.
Connect with Lindsey:
🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms
Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:
💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week!
Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now.
Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.
 
 

EP 269: 💜Eating Disorder Awareness 2026💜 ~ Ozempic, Social Media & Rising Trends Every Woman Should Know

February is Eating Disorder Awareness Month. And if you're stuck in quasi-recovery, telling yourself "I'm fine," avoiding help because you're ashamed—this is your wake-up call.
I'm sharing 2026 statistics you haven't heard, alarming trends getting WORSE, and the truth about Ozempic, social media, and eating disorders.
Because sis, you are not a statistic. At least not a negative one.
But you need to hear this.
What you'll learn:
Why eating disorders increased 15% since 2020 (28.8 million Americans affected)
The shocking truth: Every 52 minutes someone dies, only 10% get treatment
Midlife crisis: 42% increase in hospitalizations for women 45-65
Ozempic danger: 300% prescription increase, 40% of users have ED histories, 45% relapse when stopping
Social media impact: 3+ hours/day = 60% higher ED risk
Post-pandemic fallout: 25-30% global increase still climbing
My story: When I refused to be a negative statistic
3-question self-assessment to know if you need help NOW
The wake-up call: Every day you wait, you're missing out on life.
KEY STATISTICS
📊 28.8 million Americans will have an ED in their lifetime (15% increase since 2020)📊 Every 52 minutes someone dies from an eating disorder📊 Only 10% receive treatment (women 40+ wait 6-8 years longer)📊 42% increase in midlife ED hospitalizations (women 45-65)📊 60% higher ED risk with 3+ hours daily social media use📊 300% increase in Ozempic/GLP-1 prescriptions (60-70% for weight loss, not diabetes)📊 40% increase in ED patients requesting weight loss drugs📊 45% relapse rate when stopping GLP-1s (rapid weight regain triggers ED)📊 25-30% global increase in EDs since 2020 (still climbing)
THE 5 ALARMING TRENDS
1. MIDLIFE EATING DISORDERS EXPLODING42% increase in hospitalizations for women 45-65. If you're over 40 thinking "I'm too old for this"—you're wrong.
2. SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDING THE CRISIS3+ hours/day = 60% higher risk. #Ozempic has 1.3 billion views. You're being fed anti-aging, menopause weight loss, restriction disguised as wellness.
3. OZEMPIC NORMALIZING DISORDERED EATING12 million Americans using GLP-1s. 30% of ED treatment centers treating patients whose ED was triggered by these drugs. These suppress appetite, reinforce that hunger is the enemy, bypass actual healing.
Ask yourself: Am I healing my relationship with my body? Or medicalizing my eating disorder?
4. DIET CULTURE AS "WELLNESS"Orthorexia rising. Gluten-free, intermittent fasting, cleanses—these are eating disorders in disguise. If you have rigid food rules and anxiety around "unclean" foods, that's disordered eating.
5. POST-PANDEMIC CRISIS CONTINUESSix years later, anxiety up, depression up, eating disorders up. If your ED got worse during the pandemic and you've been saying "later"—later is NOW.
LINDSEY'S STORY
Years ago, someone told me most people with eating disorders don't fully recover. That I'd probably struggle forever. That the odds were against me.
Something inside me snapped. I got angry—not at them, but at the eating disorder.
So I decided: I'm not going to be that statistic. I refuse.
I stopped avoiding, denying, pretending. I got help. I did the work. I recovered.
I'm NOT a negative statistic. I'm a RECOVERY statistic.
And you can be too.
3-QUESTION SELF-ASSESSMENT
Answer honestly:
Am I engaging in unhealthy behaviors but telling myself they're "not that bad"? (Skipping meals, restricting, overexercising, weighing obsessively, purging, binging, using appetite suppressants)
Am I avoiding help because I'm ashamed, scared, or in denial? ("I'll deal with it later," "I can handle it alone," "It's not serious enough")
Is my relationship with food/body stealing my joy, energy, presence, LIFE? (Missing moments, obsessing, sacrificing relationships, constant anxiety)
If you said YES to even ONE: You need support!
THE ONE THING YOU CAN DO TODAY
Share this episode with someone who needs it
Do the self-assessment - be honest
If you need help—REACH OUT
Don't wait 6-8 more years. Don't become another statistic. Don't waste the second half of your life.
You deserve recovery. You deserve freedom. You deserve to LIVE.
WORK WITH LINDSEY
💛 THE RECOVERY COLLECTIVEGroup coaching for women in midlife ready to break free. Monthly calls, sisterhood, access to me.
www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective 
💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHINGDeep work to reclaim your life. Limited spots available.
www.herbestself.co 
 
KEY QUOTES
💛 "You are not a statistic. At least not a negative one."💛 "Every 52 minutes, someone loses their life to this illness."💛 "If you're waiting for it to get bad enough, you're already in danger."💛 "Ask yourself: Am I healing my relationship with my body? Or am I just medicalizing my eating disorder?"💛 "I'm NOT a negative statistic. I'm a RECOVERY statistic. And you can be too."💛 "Every day you wait, you're missing the second half of your life."
Connect with Lindsey:
🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms
Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:
💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week!
Remember, beautiful: Your worthy of support and love. 
Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.
 
 

EP 268.5: If I Was Trapped in My Eating Disorder Right Now, Here's Exactly What I'd Do ~ The No BS Relapse Recovery Roadmap

The opposite of quitting is recommitting. And sometimes that means you need a spelled-out roadmap to help you define what steps you can take to recommit to recovery.
Today's episode is different. I'm not speaking in theoretical terms or giving advice I wouldn't follow myself. I'm sharing exactly what I would do if I was trapped in an eating disorder right now. The actual steps. The concrete path forward. The golden nugget roadmap I would follow myself.
Whether you're experiencing a relapse, stuck in your recovery, or wish you could go back and tell your younger self what to do—this episode is your clear, actionable guide.
In this episode, you'll discover:
The 6-step roadmap I'd follow if I was trapped in an eating disorder today
Why relapse is normal and doesn't mean you've failed
Step 1: Recognition and acceptance—how to get out of denial faster
Step 2: Immediate outreach—breaking the isolation that keeps you stuck
Step 3: Implementing structure—what to do RIGHT NOW to support yourself
Step 4: Investigating triggers—what's really driving this beneath the surface
Step 5: Developing a crisis response plan—how to create lasting recovery
Step 6: Reconnecting with your WHY—the values your ED is violating
What I wish I could tell my younger self 15+ years ago
Why recovery isn't about perfection—it's about progress
How to recommit to your best self starting TODAY
If you're in the trenches, if you've relapsed, if you're struggling—this roadmap is for you. Not theory. Just honest, practical steps.
THE 6-STEP RECOVERY ROADMAP
STEP 1: RECOGNITION AND ACCEPTANCE
The hardest step: Admitting where you are is no longer where you want to be.
If I was relapsing today, I know I'd experience a strong pull toward denial. I might tell myself:
"I'm just being more careful about what I eat"
"I'm having a few bad days"
"I can handle this on my own"
What I'd do instead: ✅ Name what's happening - Get out of denial faster✅ Ask myself: Am I skipping meals? Preoccupied with food thoughts? Anxious around mealtimes? Weighing myself?✅ Practice self-compassion - Not excusing the behavior, but acknowledging eating disorders are complex illnesses, not personal failures✅ Say to myself: "This is really hard. I don't have to do this alone."
This step creates the foundation to move forward in ACTION instead of sitting in denial.
STEP 2: IMMEDIATE OUTREACH
Eating disorders thrive in isolation. My counter-attack would be CONNECTION.
What I'd do:
✅ Contact someone I trust - In my case, my mom. I'd say: "I'm struggling with my thoughts and behaviors. I need support."
✅ Get professional help immediately
If I had a treatment team: Contact them and say "I'm experiencing relapse. I need an appointment ASAP."
If I didn't: Call primary care doctor, get a referral, look into local ED treatment centers
✅ Get accountability - Schedule meals, keep appointments with myself, check in with someone
Key truth: Don't wait until things get "bad enough." Early intervention makes a tremendous difference.
Breaking isolation doesn't mean everyone needs to know. It means strategically connecting with people who can provide support.
STEP 3: IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE
What I'd put in place immediately:
✅ Regular eating patterns - Have a plan ready, no reinventing the wheel during vulnerable times. Use the same meals daily to reduce decision fatigue.
✅ Clean up social media & entertainment
Unfollow accounts that trigger comparison or food obsession
Avoid shows glorifying thinness or dieting
Curate recovery-supportive content
Join communities like Her Best Self Society (HerBestSelfSociety.com)
✅ Set clear boundaries with exercise - Temporarily pause formalized exercise, focus on gentle movement (This requires support—I couldn't do this alone)
✅ Document thoughts & feelings - Not to be perfect, but to increase awareness of patterns and triggers. Rebuild trust with body and mind.
Structure = support. Not rigidity, but safety.
STEP 4: INVESTIGATING TRIGGERS
Eating disorders aren't just about food or weight. What's really happening beneath the surface?
Questions I'd ask myself:
❓ What changes in my life have happened recently? (Transition, loss, increased responsibility, relationship change)❓ What emotions am I struggling to manage?❓ What am I trying to numb, distract from, or control?❓ What needs aren't being met right now?❓ What external pressures am I responding to?❓ What beliefs am I believing about my worth, body, or identity?
The truth: Eating disorders flare during periods of change and loss of control. Understanding triggers helps you heal beyond just the behaviors—you learn to process emotions in healthier ways.
STEP 5: DEVELOPING A CRISIS RESPONSE PLAN
Lasting recovery requires more than just putting out fires.
What I'd create:
✅ Coping strategies - Tools to use when urges arise✅ Relapse prevention plan - Document early warning signs, high-risk situations, actions to take✅ Support system - Who to call, when, and why
The sustainable plan is about building a life where:
The eating disorder becomes less necessary and less powerful
Recovery feels like moving TOWARD something meaningful
Not just running away from illness
Work with someone to determine exactly what support you need and put that planning in place.
STEP 6: RECONNECTING WITH YOUR WHY
The most important step: Remember what the eating disorder is stealing from you.
What I'd do:
✅ Identify the values my ED violatesThe ED promises control, safety, worth. But it actually undermines: freedom, joy, creativity, authenticity, relationships, purpose.
✅ Compile a list: What has this ED taken from me?
Holidays ruined
Relationships lost
Moments with loved ones missed
Energy wasted
Dreams on hold
Future opportunities destroyed
✅ Ask: What present moments is it stealing RIGHT NOW? What future opportunities will be destroyed if I don't fix this?
✅ Dream beyond the disorder - What do I want my life to look like? Who is my BEST self?
If I could go back 15+ years and tell my younger self:
"You're gonna go through this godawful period, but on the other side is MAGICAL. You'll experience things you never would've allowed—wonderful relationships, contributions to the world, PURPOSE. Start dreaming NOW of the vision beyond this disorder."
KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE
💛 "The opposite of quitting is recommitting. And sometimes that means you need a spelled-out roadmap."
💛 "If you're experiencing a relapse, this is very normal. It doesn't mean you failed. It simply means you're human."
💛 "Eating disorders thrive in isolation. My counter-attack would be CONNECTION."
💛 "Don't wait until things get 'bad enough.' Early intervention makes a tremendous difference."
💛 "Eating disorders aren't just about food or weight. What's really happening beneath the surface?"
💛 "The sustainable plan is about building a life where the eating disorder becomes less necessary and less powerful."
💛 "What has this eating disorder taken from me? What present moments is it stealing? What future opportunities will be destroyed if I don't fix this?"
💛 "Recovery isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about progress, not perfection. Every compassionate moment with yourself is a victory."
💛 "Recovery isn't a destination you reach once and for all. These are skills you're learning."
💛 "You haven't failed. You've simply encountered another opportunity to practice compassion and recommit to the path toward freedom."
💛 "Whether this is your first day in recovery or your thousandth, whether you're thriving or struggling, you're worthy of support, compassion, and a life free from these constraints."
💛 "Recovery isn't just possible—with the right support and recommitment, it's inevitable."
THE TRUTH ABOUT RELAPSE
Relapse is NORMAL. It's part of recovery.
✅ It doesn't mean you've failed✅ It means you're human✅ It's another opportunity to practice compassion and recommit✅ Reaching out for support is courage, not weakness
If you're in a relapse right now, you're not alone.
WHAT I WISH I COULD TELL MY YOUNGER SELF
If I could go back 15+ years:
"Friend, you're gonna have to go through this godawful period of your life, but on the other side is going to be MAGICAL. It's going to be so good. You'll experience things you never would've allowed—wonderful relationships, contributions to the world, PURPOSE."
"Start dreaming RIGHT NOW of the vision you want beyond the eating disorder."
"Ask yourself: What has this disorder taken from me? What is it stealing from my present? What future will be destroyed if I don't fix this?"
READY TO TAKE ACTION? WORK WITH LINDSEY
If you're struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder that's been around for decades, and you're tired and fed up—I want to help you.
I feel called to help as many women as possible get to the other side and recover from this devastating illness.
Here's your personal invitation: Let's take this up a notch.
💛 1:1 PERSONALIZED COACHING
This is where my gift shines. I'm able to get you RESULTS. We work together on tiny wins that lead to massive overcoming and triumph.
I'm opening the doors to take on a few additional clients. If you've been on the fence about working with a recovery coach—now's the time.
Don't wait. Commit to your future self.
👉 Head to www.herbestself.co and fill out a client application
We'll get on the phone together and talk about what you need to navigate next steps in your recovery journey.
💛 HER BEST SELF SOCIETY
Join our private Facebook community where you'll be with like-minded individuals focused on recovery, not thinness.
👉 www.herbestselfsociety.com 
EATING DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH CHALLENGE
If you're in a relapse or currently struggling: REACH OUT.
Don't wait another year. Don't wait another decade. The perfect time is NOW.
+Share this episode with a woman who needs to hear this.
Connect with Lindsey:
🌟 Website: www.herbestself.co 🌟 Instagram: @thelindseynichol 🌟 Free FB Community: www.herbestselfsociety.com 🌟Client Application: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms
Love this episode? Here's how you can support the show:
💕 Share it with a woman who might need to hear this message 💕 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other women find the show 💕 Screenshot and tag @thelindseynichol if any of these steps help you this week!
Remember, beautiful: Your worth is not measured by how perfectly you do recovery. Healing isn't linear, progress over perfection always, and you are exactly where you need to be right now.
Her Best Self with Lindsey Nichol is a podcast for women in eating disorder recovery who are ready to break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and diet culture to live authentically and wholeheartedly.
*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.