Her Best Self ~ Eating Disorder Recovery, Anorexia, Bulimia & Food Freedom Podcast By Lindsey Nichol - Certified Health Coach ED Recovery Coach ED Intuitive Therapy Certified cover art

Her Best Self ~ Eating Disorder Recovery, Anorexia, Bulimia & Food Freedom

Her Best Self ~ Eating Disorder Recovery, Anorexia, Bulimia & Food Freedom

By: Lindsey Nichol - Certified Health Coach ED Recovery Coach ED Intuitive Therapy Certified
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Her Best Self is THE eating disorder recovery podcast for women who are exhausted, stuck, and ready to finally break free.

Hosted by Lindsey Nichol, former figure skater and recovering perfectionist turned eating disorder recovery coach—this show is for women who've tried therapy, treatment programs, and going at it alone, but are still trapped in food obsession, body anxiety, and the mental prison of disordered eating.

If you can't stop thinking about food, if you've been struggling for 10, 20, or 30+ years, if you're tired of wasting your life on this disorder, and if you're ready for someone who's BEEN where you are—this podcast will help you find freedom.

Twice per week, you'll get real talk about: anorexia recovery, bulimia recovery, binge eating recovery, orthorexia, restrictive eating, compulsive exercise, food anxiety, body dysmorphia, perfectionism, people-pleasing, quasi-recovery, eating disorder relapse, and faith-based recovery for women ready to reclaim their lives.

This show is for women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond who are DONE—done with obsessing, done with restricting, done with the constant mental chatter about food and body. Whether you've been in treatment before, tried therapy that didn't work, or feel like you can't do this alone—Lindsey gets it because she's lived it.

You'll learn how to: stop obsessing over food and your body, break free from restriction-binge cycles, overcome perfectionism and people-pleasing, build body trust and food freedom, find support when you're exhausted from fighting this alone, and finally live the life you're missing while stuck in this disorder.

New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Apply to work with Lindsey 1:1 or learn more about her services and free resources at www.herbestself.co. Join The Recovery Collective ~ the recovery support group that gets the struggle and wants to see you win at recovery at www.herbestself.co/recoverycollective.
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**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 2026 Lindsey Nichol LLC

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Episodes
  • EP 277.5: Stop Focusing on How Far You Have to Go in Recovery (Focus on This Instead) **Must Listen Fav!**

    EP 277.5: Stop Focusing on How Far You Have to Go in Recovery (Focus on This Instead) **Must Listen Fav!**
    Mar 31 2026
    Are you constantly measuring yourself against where you think you "should" be in recovery? Always focused on how far you still have to go instead of how far you've come? You're living in "the gap"—and it's stealing your joy and progress. Today I'm sharing one of my biggest recovery regrets and the powerful mindset shift that changes everything: Gap vs Gain thinking. This concept from Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan's book "The Gap and The Gain" transformed how I view progress, and it will transform yours too. In this episode, you'll discover: The difference between gap thinking and gain thinkingWhy focusing on your ideal future state keeps you stuckMy biggest regret from my recovery journey (and how to avoid it)How to measure your progress backwards instead of forwardsWhy you're missing the blessings in your messThe one question that changes everything: "What's better today than yesterday?"How to start celebrating small wins instead of dismissing them Ready to stop living in the gap and start living in the gain? GAP VS GAIN EXPLAINED Living in the GAP: Constantly measuring yourself against an ideal or "perfect" versionFocusing on the distance between where you are and where you "should" beCreates persistent feelings of falling shortAlways focused on what you LACK Living in the GAIN: Measuring yourself backwards—looking at how far you've traveled from where you startedFocusing on progress, growth, and what you've accomplishedCreates satisfaction and momentumFocused on what you HAVE SIGNS YOU'RE LIVING IN THE GAP ❌ Focusing on how your body doesn't yet look how you want it to ❌ Obsessing over meals you still struggle with instead of celebrating ones you've conquered ❌ Comparing your progress to others who seem to be moving faster ❌ Fixating on still having food thoughts instead of noticing they're less frequent ❌ Constantly thinking about where you're "not yet" ❌ Feeling like you'll never be enough, never do enough SIGNS YOU'RE LIVING IN THE GAIN ✅ Celebrating foods that once scared you but don't anymore ✅ Noticing decreased time thinking about food compared to 6 months ago ✅ Recognizing mental energy you've reclaimed in areas of your life ✅ Acknowledging small daily victories ✅ Measuring backwards from where you started MY BIGGEST RECOVERY REGRET "I was so focused on what I lacked, that I lost what I had. When you focus on what you have, you actually gain what you lack." I spent so much time thinking about the ideal—a constant moving target—thinking about where I wasn't yet, and how high the mountain seemed to continue to get. I was so fixated on needing to "arrive" that I almost missed the blessings in the mess. My biggest mistake: Not being present in the specific moments because I was too busy looking for the next milestone. If I knew then what I know now: I would have lived every day like recovery was inevitable for me—not optional, just a matter of time. I would have enjoyed the process instead of just trying to get through it. THE POWER OF MEASURING BACKWARDS When you're in the gap: You have an unhealthy attachment to something you feel you NEED When you're in the gain: You focus on what you WANT and feel grateful for the journey The shift from "need" to "want" changes everything: Need comes from internal dissatisfaction that can't be resolved unless you choose to surrender it. Want allows gratitude for where you've been and excitement for where you're going. ACTIONABLE TIPS TO LIVE IN THE GAIN 1. Journal and Identify Your Personal Gains Ask yourself: Am I constantly chasing what I haven't yet experienced, or am I acknowledging how far I've come? 2. Practice Present Moment Gratitude Ask: "What's better today than it was before?" instead of "What's still not working?" 3. Start Sessions with Wins Always identify your wins FIRST, then address challenges 4. Measure Progress Backwards Look at where you are now compared to 6 months ago, not compared to where you want to be 5. Search for Daily Evidence Your mind will start searching for evidence of what's better today when you train it to look THE LIFE-CHANGING QUESTION "If you knew that your dream of recovery freedom was 100% already granted—if God came down and said this is already done for you—what would you do differently tomorrow?" This question shifts you from gap thinking (needing to get somewhere) to gain thinking (being grateful for the journey while knowing the destination is secured). KEY QUOTES 💛 "I was so focused on what I lacked, that I lost what I had. When you focus on what you have, you actually gain what you lack." 💛 "My biggest regret was almost missing the blessings in the mess." 💛 "The person who fails the most will win, because to keep failing, you have to be good enough to keep playing." 💛 "If recovery was inevitable for me, I could choose how I wanted to be in that day." 💛 "What's better today than it was before?" 💛 "Those tiny little wins add up to freaking milestones, ...
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    18 mins
  • EP 277: Why Counting Macros & Following Food Rules Is Destroying You + DO This 1 Thing Today to Break Free

    EP 277: Why Counting Macros & Following Food Rules Is Destroying You + DO This 1 Thing Today to Break Free
    Mar 27 2026
    Are you following "healthy" food rules religiously? Counting every macro? Never eating past 7pm? Walking exactly 10,000 steps? What if I told you these rules aren't keeping you healthy—they're actually keeping you sick? Today I'm exposing the "Holy Food Rules Bible" we've all been handed by diet culture and fake wellness experts. These arbitrary commandments have become our gospel truth, but they're lies disguised as health advice. In this episode, you'll discover: Why the food rules you think are healthy are actually harmfulThe truth behind popular rules (10K steps was literally a marketing campaign!)How macro counting increases anxiety and disordered eating by 73%Why following rigid rules disconnects you from your body's wisdomThe psychological damage these rules createHow to replace diet culture commandments with body trustThe ONE thing you can do today to start breaking free Ready to throw out the rule book and trust your body instead? THE "HOLY FOOD RULES BIBLE" EXPOSED These aren't truths—they're marketing lies that have become sacred commandments: ❌ "No eating past 7pm" → Your body doesn't have a magic clock ❌ "10,000 steps daily" → Came from 1960s Japanese marketing, not science ❌ "Count your macros" → Your body doesn't care about perfect ratios ❌ "Fast intermittently" → Can disrupt women's hormones and trigger restriction cycles ❌ "Cycle your carbs" → Just restriction in disguise ❌ "High protein, low carb/fat" → Your body needs ALL macronutrients These rules create morality around food, disconnect you from body wisdom, and increase anxiety by 400%. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE Following rigid food rules: Creates "good" vs "bad" morality around eatingDisconnects you from hunger, fullness, and cravingsIncreases ruminating thoughts about food by 400%Sets you up for failure and shame cyclesKeeps you trapped in external validation instead of body trust CLIENT TRANSFORMATION "For years, I was trapped by strict rules, 'fear foods,' and compulsive exercise. I followed every rule religiously, thinking they were keeping me healthy. But I wasn't healthy—I was anxious, obsessed, and missing out on life. Working with Lindsey, I learned to question every single rule and replace them with body wisdom. Now I eat when I'm hungry, move because it feels good, and I'm finally present for the people I love." REPLACE RULES WITH BODY WISDOM Instead of rigid commandments, try these principles: ✅ "No eating past 7pm" → "I eat when my body needs nourishment" ✅ "10,000 steps daily" → "I move my body in ways that feel good" ✅ "Count every macro" → "I nourish my body with variety and abundance" ✅ "Fast for 16 hours" → "I honor my hunger whenever it shows up" ✅ "Never eat the same thing twice" → "I eat what sounds good and satisfying" Principles give you freedom. Rules give you prison. THE ONE THING TO DO TODAY Write down every food rule you're currently following. Every commandment from your personal "Holy Food Rules Bible." Then pick ONE rule to abandon this week. Replace it with body wisdom and trust. Start small. Question everything. Your body already knows what it needs. KEY QUOTES 💛 "Just because someone has abs doesn't mean they understand what YOUR body needs." 💛 "Rules create the very chaos they promise to prevent." 💛 "Food becomes a moral issue instead of basic human nourishment." 💛 "True control comes from trust—trust in your body's innate wisdom." 💛 "Principles give you freedom. Rules give you prison." 💛 "Your body already knows what it needs." READY TO BREAK FREE FROM FOOD RULES? If you're tired of following arbitrary commandments and want to learn body trust instead: 👉 www.herbestself.co & fill out a client application Stop worshipping at the altar of diet culture. Start trusting the wisdom you were born with. 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 ...
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    17 mins
  • EP 276.5: How Childhood Praise Contributes to Adult Eating Disorders ~ 7 Steps to Break the Good Girl Cycle **Must Listen Fav!**

    EP 276.5: How Childhood Praise Contributes to Adult Eating Disorders ~ 7 Steps to Break the Good Girl Cycle **Must Listen Fav!**
    Mar 24 2026
    Do you find yourself constantly trying to be perfect, avoiding conflict, and putting everyone else's needs before your own? If you grew up hearing "you're such a good girl," this episode will blow your mind. Today we're diving into Good Girl Syndrome—a pattern that affects so many women but often goes unrecognized. The connection between people-pleasing, perfectionism, and disordered eating is surprisingly direct, and understanding this link could be the key to your freedom. In this episode, you'll discover: What Good Girl Syndrome is and how it develops from childhoodThe direct connection between people-pleasing and eating disordersHow food becomes another moral issue when you're stuck in "good girl" patterns7 practical ways to break free from this cycleWhy your self-worth shouldn't be tied to external validationHow to redefine success on your own terms If you've ever felt like you can't say no, constantly apologize, or use food as a reward system for being "good," this episode is for you. WHAT IS GOOD GIRL SYNDROME? Good Girl Syndrome describes a pattern where you consistently put everyone else's expectations ahead of your own. You avoid conflict, strive for perfectionism, and prioritize others' needs above yourself. From a young age, girls are praised for: Being helpful and quietBeing accommodatingPutting others first This praise creates a pattern where self-worth becomes tied to external validation and meeting others' expectations. Common behaviors include: ✅ Difficulty saying no ✅ Excessively apologizing ✅ Fear of disappointing others ✅ Striving for perfection in work, appearance, and behavior ✅ Constantly suppressing your own needs and feelings ✅ Seeking external validation ✅ Avoiding conflict at all costs ✅ Taking on excessive responsibilities While these traits seem admirable, they create unsustainable standards that lead to chronic stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. HOW GOOD GIRL SYNDROME FUELS EATING DISORDERS When your self-worth is tied to validation and meeting impossible standards, your body becomes another arena for control and perfection. The pursuit of the "perfect body" feels like another checkbox on an endless list of ways to be "good enough." Here's how it manifests: 🔹 Food becomes a moral issue - Certain foods are "good" or "clean" while others are "bad" or forbidden 🔹 Restriction becomes discipline - Another way to prove you're "good" and in control 🔹 Black and white thinking - You're either succeeding or failing; food is either perfectly healthy or completely off-limits 🔹 Food as reward system - "I was so good today so I can eat this" or "I wasn't productive so I don't deserve dinner" 🔹 Body perfectionism - Your body becomes another project to perfect; any flaw feels like moral failure 🔹 Ignoring hunger cues - Just as you ignore your needs in other areas, you override physical hunger to maintain control 🔹 Restriction as self-punishment - When you can't meet impossible standards, restricting becomes a way to regain control 🔹 Compensatory behaviors - Exercising to "earn" food or make up for "bad" eating follows the same pattern of trying to be good enough THE CULTURAL REINFORCEMENT Our society praises women for self-sacrifice while pushing impossible beauty standards. Magazine covers celebrate celebrities who "got their body back" weeks after giving birth. Social media wellness influencers present restrictive eating as self-care rather than self-control. These messages create the perfect storm where being a "good woman" means both perfect achievement AND perfect appearance. The diet industry thrives on this, selling the idea that controlling your body is a moral virtue—that being thin means you're disciplined and put together. 7 WAYS TO BREAK THE GOOD GIRL CYCLE 1. Recognize the Pattern Notice when you're falling into "good girl" categories: Saying yes when you want to say noIgnoring your own needs regularlyCategorizing foods as good and bad 2. Challenge Black and White Thinking Live in the gray areas where food isn't good or bad—it's just food. Food is a basic right that you don't have to earn. 3. Practice Boundaries Start small by saying no in minor ways. Notice the discomfort and remind yourself that others' disappointment isn't your responsibility. 4. Work on Self-Compassion Talk to yourself the way you'd talk to a friend. Would you tell them they don't deserve to eat because they made a mistake? 5. Connect with Your Body's Signals Practice mindful eating and create intention around eating. Choose based on preference rather than routine or "shoulds." 6. Redefine Success Create your own definition of success that isn't based solely on achievement, appearance, or others' approval. 7. Invest in Support Remember: 60% of women recover from eating disorders, but only a third get support. Don't try to do this alone. KEY QUOTES 💛 "From a young age, girls are praised for being helpful, quiet, and ...
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    18 mins
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