Recovery isn't one-size-fits-all, and neither are you! Just like animals in the wild, each of us has a unique way of navigating challenges and finding strength. In today's episode, I share how discovering my spirit animal (hello, turtle energy!) transformed my approach to recovery and gave me the hope I desperately needed.

Take the FREE Recovery Spirit Animal Quiz at www.herbestself.co/resources to discover whether you're a fierce lion pushing through obstacles, a steady turtle taking life one step at a time, or another powerful animal guide. Your results will reveal personalized insights about your recovery style and help you stop second-guessing your journey.

Ready to find the hope, peace, and freedom you've been searching for? Your spirit animal is waiting to guide you home to yourself.

xo,

lindsey

Coach with Me -＞Client Application

______

Email me directly -> lindsey@herbestself.co

______

Join the free FB community -> www.herbestselfsociety.com

______ Need a helping hand guiding you girl!? You don’t have to do this alone! Step 1: Go all IN! Decide to commit to yourself & your future! Do it scared girlfriend. Just do it!

Step 2: Apply for limited 1:1 & let’s work together -> Client Application

Step 3: Leverage the FB community for support & stay tuned for all the resources up & coming to help serve you! YOU TOTALLY GOT THIS!

* While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

In this powerful episode of Her Best SELF podcast, Lindsey shares why the messy, difficult moments in eating disorder recovery aren't signs of failure—they're actually where the deepest healing happens. If you've been beating yourself up for struggling, if recovery feels impossibly hard, or if you're wondering why you're not "further along," this episode offers the permission and compassion you need to keep going.

What You'll Discover:

• Why the myth of "perfect recovery" sets us up for unnecessary shame
• The three dimensions where it's normal to struggle: body, mind, and soul
• How to distinguish between normal recovery challenges and actual setbacks
• Practical tools for embracing difficult moments without giving up
• Why self-compassion accelerates healing more than perfectionism ever could

Featured Quotes: "Recovery isn't about becoming perfect. It's about reclaiming your voice in a world that tried to silence you with impossible standards." - Geneen Roth

Key Moments:

• [00:03:45] Lindsey shares a personal breakthrough moment from her anorexia recovery
• [00:06:30] The science behind why recovery feels chaotic (and why that's normal!)
• [00:09:15] Understanding the body, mind, and soul dimensions of healing
• [00:12:00] Five practical strategies for embracing "not okay" moments
• [00:14:00] How to know you're still making progress even when it doesn't feel like it

Practical Tools Mentioned:

• Creating a personal "comfort menu" for difficult moments
• The "pause and breathe" technique for interrupting shame spirals
• Documentation practices to recognize non-scale victories
• Community-building strategies for authentic recovery support

Listener Action Step: The next time you feel like you're failing at recovery because it feels so hard, place a hand on your heart and say: "This is really hard right now, and that's okay. I'm doing my best." Notice how giving yourself permission to struggle actually creates space for healing.

Ready for personalized recovery support? Lindsey's Freedom Formula Experience offers 1:1 coaching designed to help you break free from food rules through healing body, mind, and soul. Limited spots available each month – learn more and apply at www.herbestself.co

xo,

lindsey

______

Coach with Me -＞Client Application

______

Email me directly -> lindsey@herbestself.co

______

Join the free FB community -> www.herbestselfsociety.com

______ Need a helping hand guiding you girl!? You don’t have to do this alone! Step 1: Go all IN! Decide to commit to yourself & your future! Do it scared girlfriend. Just do it!

Step 2: Apply for limited 1:1 & let’s work together -> Client Application

Step 3: Leverage the FB community for support & stay tuned for all the resources up & coming to help serve you! YOU TOTALLY GOT THIS!

* While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

Sister,

I literally cannot wait to share with you the 5 "D's"....

What am I talking about?

The 5 "D's" are what I believe are the BIGGEST challenges you will ever face as you navigate freedom from food & that 'crazy thinking' controlling your every day.

~

In today's replay, I discuss these 5 pitfalls, so that you can recognize where you may be stuck in them...not to shame game you, but to push you to overcome!

Let's rewind for a minute as I take you back to my own struggle with disordered eating...

I was lost. Exhausted. Constantly thinking about what I could eat next & when I could eat it. I was miserable. & I spent years in the same wonky cycle trying to convince myself that everything was fine & I was fine....I was far from fine.

Fast Forward to my "ah-ha"....I hated life & I craved a better way. But in the process of creating more for myself I came across these 5 biggest challenges.

The only way out girl, was through. & the same goes for you. But the good news is, if you are in the "doldrums" right now, maybe not sure where to turn to next because your mind is constantly filled with thoughts around food & your body, then today's podcast episode will speak straight to your soul.

But before you go listen, here is a quote to help you hold on to hope today:

"Remember not to dig up in doubt what you planted in faith." You deserve more sis!

~

Ready to escape the 5 biggest challenges? Don't worry girl, I got you!

Listen in to discover what these 5 pitfalls are & let me show you the way out to find the true & real you...the BEST you yet!

xo,

lindsey

Find All the Things -＞ wwww.herbestself.co

______

Coach with Me -＞Client Application

______

Email me directly -> info@lindseynichol.com

______

Join the free FB community -> www.herbestselfsociety.com

______ Need a helping hand guiding you girl!? You don’t have to do this alone! Step 1: Go all IN! Decide to commit to yourself & your future! Do it scared girlfriend. Just do it!

Step 2: Apply for limited 1:1 & let’s work together -> Client Application

Step 3: Leverage the FB community for support & stay tuned for all the resources up & coming to help serve you! YOU TOTALLY GOT THIS!

* While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

In this powerful episode of Her Best SELF podcast, we dismantle the widely misused BMI scale and reveal why this outdated measurement has no place in your recovery journey. Learn the problematic origins of BMI, the scientific evidence against its validity, and discover more meaningful ways to understand health and healing while navigating eating disorder recovery.

What You'll Learn:

• The surprising origin story of BMI (it wasn't created by health professionals!)
• Scientific studies proving BMI is an inaccurate measure of individual health
• Why BMI disproportionately harms certain populations and body types
• Better alternatives for understanding your body's health during recovery
• Practical tips for responding when healthcare providers focus on BMI
• How releasing attachment to numbers supports lasting recovery

Research Mentioned:

• International Journal of Obesity study on metabolic health markers
• Journal of the American Medical Association research on BMI and mortality rates
• University of Pennsylvania research on ethnic differences in body composition

Quotes from the Episode: "Your body is not a math problem to be solved. Your worth is not determined by where you fall on a chart created for 19th-century population statistics."

"True health is about how your body functions, not how you measure against an arbitrary mathematical formula."

Recovery Action Step: The next time someone tries to reduce your health to a BMI number, remember the science backing why this measurement is fundamentally flawed. Practice responding with confidence about your commitment to more meaningful health markers in your recovery.

I hope you enjoy today's show!

xo,

lindsey

Find All the Things -＞ wwww.herbestself.co

______

Coach with Me -＞Client Application

______

Email me directly -> info@lindseynichol.com

______

Join the free FB community -> www.herbestselfsociety.com

______ Need a helping hand guiding you girl!? You don’t have to do this alone! Step 1: Go all IN! Decide to commit to yourself & your future! Do it scared girlfriend. Just do it!

Step 2: Apply for limited 1:1 & let’s work together -> Client Application

Step 3: Leverage the FB community for support & stay tuned for all the resources up & coming to help serve you! YOU TOTALLY GOT THIS!

* 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.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Well behaved women rarely make history".

Sis, it's time you make history!

It's time to lay down those nagging thoughts about food that are controlling your life once & for all.

In today’s of the podcast, I share with you many of the food rules I struggled with in my own personal path to freedom. I share how you can identify the rules no longer serving you that are keeping you stuck. & I discuss how you can introduce food exposures to challenge your current rules living you trapped.

~

Each time you make a new scary choice to go agaisnt one of your food rules, your brain becomes less terrified & more accepting. This is HUGE in recovery!

Rules are meant to keep us safe, but disordered rules actually generate harm.

You are meant for MORE.

You are meant to live a life without chains of food rules.

Let me show you the way!

~

Ready to break those rules? share today's episode with someone you love!

& remember that you are made for a life FREE from the chains of disordered eating.

xo,

lindsey

Find All the Things -＞ wwww.herbestself.co

______

Coach with Me -＞Client Application

______

Email me directly -> info@lindseynichol.com

______

Join the free FB community -> www.herbestselfsociety.com

______ Need a helping hand guiding you girl!? You don’t have to do this alone! Step 1: Go all IN! Decide to commit to yourself & your future! Do it scared girlfriend. Just do it!

Step 2: Apply for limited 1:1 & let’s work together -> Client Application

Step 3: Leverage the FB community for support & stay tuned for all the resources up & coming to help serve you! YOU TOTALLY GOT THIS!

* While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

In this heartfelt episode, we tackle the complicated emotions that arise when someone says "you look healthy" during eating disorder recovery. Drawing from personal experience, Lindsey provides compassionate guidance and practical strategies to process these well-intentioned comments without letting them derail your recovery journey.

In This Episode:

• [00:00] Introduction: Why "you look healthy" can feel triggering in recovery
• [02:15] The powerful quote that reframes what "healthy" truly means
• [04:30] Understanding our emotional reaction to appearance comments
• [06:45] Strategy #1: The Pause and Reframe
• [08:30] Strategy #2: The Curiosity Approach
• [10:15] Strategy #3: The Gratitude Pivot
• [12:00] Strategy #4: The Feeling Validation
• [13:45] Strategy #5: The Recovery Identity Reminder
• [15:30] The reality of progress: It's not linear, but it is possible
• [17:00] This week's challenge: Creating your personal definition of health
• [18:30] Closing thoughts and resources

Key Takeaways:

• "Healthy" isn't a code word for weight gain—it encompasses mental clarity, emotional presence, and overall vitality
• Learning to separate appearance comments from your self-worth is a crucial recovery skill
• Practical techniques like curiosity, reframing, and validation can help manage triggering moments
• Recovery progress isn't about never feeling triggered—it's about developing new response patterns
• Your authentic self-returning is what people are often really noticing and celebrating

xo,

lindsey

Find All the Things -＞ wwww.herbestself.co

______

Coach with Me -＞Client Application

______

Email me directly -> info@lindseynichol.com

______

Join the free FB community -> www.herbestselfsociety.com

______ Need a helping hand guiding you girl!? You don’t have to do this alone! Step 1: Go all IN! Decide to commit to yourself & your future! Do it scared girlfriend. Just do it!

Step 2: Apply for limited 1:1 & let’s work together -> Client Application

Step 3: Leverage the FB community for support & stay tuned for all the resources up & coming to help serve you! YOU TOTALLY GOT THIS!

* While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

In this deeply personal episode, Lindsey explores how shadow work can help those struggling with eating disorders, particularly anorexia and restrictive eating patterns. This episode provides a guided assignment for listeners to explore the deeper emotional roots of their disordered eating, designed to be completed in a quiet, private space. Through 11 powerful questions, Lindsey invites you to shine light on the shadows that may be manifesting through your relationship with food and your body.

• Lindsey's personal story about living with anorexia and the hidden emotional pain it masked
• Introduction to shadow work as a complementary practice to professional eating disorder treatment
• 11 reflective questions to help identify the deeper wounds and needs behind disordered eating
• Guidance on approaching this work with self-compassion and patience

1. What is the biggest lie I tell myself constantly?
2. What is the story I tell myself about this lie?
3. When am I the hardest on myself and why?
4. When have I felt rejected, betrayed, or broken?
5. What would I say to the person that hurt me?
6. What makes me feel the most jealous? What do I wish I had that I don't?
7. What traits do/did my parents have that I hope I don't have?
8. What are my toxic traits? How do I push those on others?
9. When I think about my future, what am I most afraid of?
10. When was the last time that I forgave myself?
11. What does happiness mean to me?

• Journaling supplies (recommended for completing the shadow work assignment)
• Finding a quiet, private space like a park bench for reflection

This episode is meant to complement, not replace, professional treatment for eating disorders. If you're struggling with an eating disorder, please reach out to a healthcare professional for support.

Resources Mentioned:

• www.herbestself.co - Work with Lindsey one-on-one
• www.herbestselfsociety.com - Join our supportive community

xo,

lindsey

Find All the Things -＞ wwww.herbestself.co

______

Coach with Me -＞Client Application

______

Email me directly -> info@lindseynichol.com

______

Join the free FB community -> www.herbestselfsociety.com

______ Need a helping hand guiding you girl!? You don’t have to do this alone! Step 1: Go all IN! Decide to commit to yourself & your future! Do it scared girlfriend. Just do it!

Step 2: Apply for limited 1:1 & let’s work together -> Client Application

Step 3: Leverage the FB community for support & stay tuned for all the resources up & coming to help serve you! YOU TOTALLY GOT THIS!

* 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.