• EP 254:🖤Black Friday Special🖤~ Finding Gratitude in ED Recovery (Even When It's Hard) + The 3 Things I'm Most Thankful for Right Now
    Nov 28 2025
    Hey girlfriend, happy day after Thanksgiving. Maybe yesterday was really hard for you. Maybe you broke a boundary. Maybe you're beating yourself up right now. Maybe you barely survived Thanksgiving dinner and you're exhausted. You made it through. You're here. And today, we're going to talk about gratitude anyway. In this special mini episode, host Lindsey Nichol gets vulnerable about a season when she couldn't feel grateful for anything - when she was so trapped in her eating disorder that gratitude felt impossible. She shares what she's genuinely, deeply thankful for this season, and invites you to find your own gratitude too - even in the mess, even in the middle of the struggle. Because here's the truth: Gratitude doesn't require perfection. It doesn't require having it all together. It doesn't require that yesterday went well. Gratitude just requires being willing to look for the light, even in the hard. Plus: A special Black Friday opportunity to invest in yourself and your recovery (because the best investment you'll ever make is in your own healing). This is a quick dose of hope, vulnerability, and possibility for the day after Thanksgiving. You survived yesterday. Now let's find the gratitude together. In This Mini Episode, You'll Hear: If Yesterday Was Hard Maybe you broke a boundary at Thanksgiving dinnerMaybe you're beating yourself up todayMaybe you barely survived and you're exhaustedYou made it through - and that mattersToday we're talking about gratitude anyway When Gratitude Felt Impossible Lindsey's vulnerable truth: there was a season she couldn't FEEL gratitudeNot that she wasn't grateful - she literally couldn't access the feelingTrapped in the eating disorder, consumed, numb, disconnectedSitting at Thanksgiving tables saying generic things but not feeling itJust surviving, just getting through, counting and calculatingIf that's where you are today - Lindsey sees you, she's been youRecovery gave her gratitude back - the ability to not just say it but FEEL itThat's possible for you too What Lindsey Is Thankful For This Season: #1: Her Clients and Listeners (YOU) This community of women fighting for their freedomDoing the hard things, showing up even when it's scaryWomen in one-on-one coaching keeping promises to themselvesWomen in Recovery Collective supporting each otherMessages saying "this episode came at the exact right time"You inspire her every single dayYou remind her why she does this workYou remind her that recovery is possibleThank you for trusting her with your stories #2: Recovery Is a Journey That it's not linearConstantly evolving, growing, teachingUsed to think recovery meant "fixed" - arriving at perfectionBut recovery taught her it's not about arriving, it's the JOURNEYLearning and growing and evolvingBecoming more of who she's meant to be, one choice at a timeGrateful she gets to keep learning and discoveringGrateful she gets to mess up and extend herself graceRecovery isn't a destination - it's a way of lifeChoosing yourself every day #3: Keeping Promises This might sound small, but it's everythingFor so long, she broke every promise to herselfEvery broken promise reinforced she couldn't trust herselfRecovery taught her that keeping promises builds self-trustProves to herself she's worthy of showing up forNow she keeps her promises - not perfectly, but consistentlyThat has changed everythingShe can look in the mirror and know when she says she'll do something, she does itThat's freedom. That's recovery. Your Gratitude Invitation What are YOU thankful for this season?It might feel hard, especially if yesterday was roughBut look for it anyway - gratitude doesn't require perfectionMaybe you're thankful you made it through Thanksgiving (even if messy)Maybe you're thankful for one person who showed up for youMaybe you're thankful you're still here, still fighting, still tryingMaybe you're thankful for your body (even if you don't love it) because it's carrying youMaybe you're thankful that recovery is possible, even if you're not there yetFind it. Write it down. Speak it out loud. Let yourself feel it.Gratitude is a practice - the more we practice, the more we can access it Black Friday Investment Opportunity Today is Black Friday - you're getting a million emails about salesBut Lindsey wants to offer something different: investing in YOURSELFThe best investment you'll ever make is in your own healingTwo special opportunities available today through Sunday Special Black Friday Offers (Through Sunday Only): Option 1: Recovery Collective - $47/month What You Get: Live group coaching calls every other week (one hour each)Texting chat community for support between callsConnection with other women who GET ITAccountability, tools, and strategies for your recovery journey This is for you if: You need community and supportYou want guidance but aren't ready for one-on-one yetYou're tired of doing this aloneYou want connection with women who understand Join here: ...
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    12 m
  • EP 253.5: When Your Family Doesn't Understand Your ED ~ How to Set Boundaries This Holiday Season
    Nov 25 2025
    Your family doesn't understand your eating disorder. They make comments about your food. They trigger you at every holiday gathering. You're walking on eggshells, feeling attacked, and wondering if recovery is even possible around them. Girlfriend, this episode is for you. Host Lindsey Nichol shares an incredibly vulnerable moment - her mom called crying after listening to the podcast for the first time, saying "I had no idea what I was doing during your recovery. I just knew I needed to help you." This emotional conversation revealed a profound truth: families don't understand because they're trying to understand while dealing with their own pain. In this powerful episode, Lindsey addresses both sides of the struggle - what to do when your family doesn't understand your eating disorder, AND what loved ones need to know about supporting someone in recovery. Because the truth is, hurt people hurt people. And your family's "attacks" might actually be their way of coping with fear, denial, and their own feelings of helplessness. Whether you're dreading Thanksgiving dinner, anxious about Christmas gatherings, or just trying to survive family events without being triggered - this episode gives you the boundaries, scripts, and strategies you need to protect your recovery while staying connected to the people you love. This is for you if you're struggling. This is for you if you're supporting someone. This is for all of us navigating the complexity of family, recovery, and the holidays. In This Episode, You'll Hear: Lindsey's Mom's Tearful Phone Call Her mom called crying after listening to the podcast for the first time"I had no idea what I was doing through your healing journey""I just knew you were my only child and I wasn't gonna have it"How she educated herself about eating disorders but still felt lost"Most of the time I had no idea what to do next"The growth that's happened over the years in their relationshipWhy this conversation was so powerful and needed The Truth About Family Not Understanding When your family doesn't understand, it can be paralyzingEven though Lindsey's mom didn't understand HOW to support her, she loved herThe message: Love doesn't always know how to show up correctlyThere is so much happening in your mind that family can't seeThe growth that happens over time as you work through recovery together Why This Matters for YOU You don't have to sit in this mess and let it become who you areThis is just a speed bump in your journeyIf you're a parent struggling with what to do next, you don't have to have it all figured outIt's important to get as educated as possible to support your loved oneThe importance of boundaries on BOTH sides during recovery The Reality: Your ED Affects Everyone This illness affects and hurts every person close to youYes, it's isolating, but it echoes to everyone around you like dominoesYou can be in your own feelings thinking it's not harming people, but it isIf you don't have energy, you're snapping at your kidsIf you aren't nourishing yourself, you're not giving your best to othersYou may be triggered by family comments, but they're dealing with their own emotions too Why Your Family Seems Unsupportive Everyone in your life has their own way of coping with what you're struggling withIf you're resisting recovery, your family might be resisting change tooThey may seem unsupportive or attacking, but this is THEIR way of handling and copingLindsey's mom was terrified and avoiding judgment from othersShe told NO ONE - not even immediate familyShe took it on as self-blame: "What did I do wrong as a parent?"Your illness is NOT isolated - it's impacting everyone, even if it feels isolating to you The Walking on Eggshells Reality Lindsey's mom felt like she was walking on eggshellsShe never knew if she'd trigger Lindsey or push her in the opposite directionShe never knew what mood Lindsey was in or what she'd eaten lastWhen she asked questions, it was to gain understandingBut Lindsey couldn't give that understanding because she was trying to figure it out herselfThere was positive intent 9 times out of 10Even anger or denial often comes from positive intent The Phases of Denial Lindsey was in denial of the disorderHer mom was ALSO in denial that this could happen to her childHer mom was angry - all those feelings were valid and realBeing in denial works in many ways on both sidesYou might not feel "sick enough" but that's not the pointEven loved ones go through phases of denial before they can help Hurt People Hurt People This is how pain gets passed on generation after generationLindsey doesn't want you to just break chains of EDShe wants you to break chains FOR your loved ones and yourselfMeet anger with kindness and understandingBe compassionate while honoring your pathThis is hard because we want to be left alone in the disorder Boundaries & Strategies You Can Set: Strategy #1: Use Your Voice Brené Brown says: "When we are busy pleasing and perfecting and ...
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    22 m
  • EP 253: Lights Off, Shirt On? Let's Talk About Sex! 5 Reasons Eating Disorders Block Intimacy + What Exactly to Do About It
    Nov 21 2025
    Okay girlfriend, we're going there. We're talking about the thing nobody talks about when it comes to eating disorders: sex, intimacy, and what's happening (or NOT happening) in your bedroom. If you've noticed your sex drive has disappeared, you're avoiding intimacy with your partner, you can't be present during sex because you're too busy worrying about what your body looks like, or your relationship is suffering and you don't know why - this episode is for you. Host Lindsey Nichol gets incredibly vulnerable about her own experience with blocked intimacy during her eating disorder - how she was physically shut down, emotionally unavailable, and performing instead of experiencing. She shares the research-backed reasons why eating disorders completely sabotage intimacy (spoiler: your body is literally in survival mode), and gives you practical tools to address it. This isn't just about emotional connection - we're talking about SEX. Physical intimacy. The bedroom. Your relationship with your spouse or partner. Because your eating disorder isn't just stealing your relationship with food and your body. It's stealing your relationship with your partner too. In this episode, you'll learn: The 5 reasons why intimacy gets completely blocked when you have an eating disorderWhy your libido has disappeared (hint: hormones, energy, survival mode)How body shame follows you into the bedroomWhy you can't experience pleasure when you're disconnected from your bodyHow to check your "intimacy temperature" and get honest about where you areExactly what to say to your partner about what's going onPractical steps to start reconnecting This is real talk. This is vulnerable. This is the conversation we need to have. So grab your favorite Tarjay journal and let's get into it. Content Note: This episode discusses sexual intimacy and eating disorders openly. Best listened to in a private space. In This Episode, You'll Hear: Lindsey's Vulnerable Truth What intimacy looked like when she was in the thick of her eating disorderBeing in a relationship while physically and emotionally shut downNot being present during sex - performing instead of experiencingConstantly worried about what her body looked like during intimacyAnxious thoughts: "Is my stomach flat enough? Can he feel certain parts? Should the lights be off? Should I keep my shirt on?"The realization: She wasn't experiencing intimacy, she was performing it The Research Nobody Talks About Women with eating disorders experience significantly higher rates of sexual dysfunctionLower libido, avoidance of intimacy, relationship dissatisfaction are commonWe suffer in silence, fake it, avoid it, make excusesAnd our relationships suffer while we pretend everything is fine The Question We're Answering Why is intimacy blocked when you struggle with an eating disorder? And what can you actually DO about it? The 5 Reasons Why Intimacy Gets Blocked: Reason #1: Your Body is Literally Shutting Down When you restrict food, your body goes into survival modeSex, reproduction, intimacy are NOT essential for survivalYour hormones tank: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone plummetYour libido disappears completelyYou lose your period (amenorrhea)Your energy is non-existentResearch shows women with anorexia and bulimia have significantly disrupted hormone levelsAll of these hormones impact sexual desire and functionIf you have zero sex drive, if intimacy feels like a chore, if you're exhausted - your body is saying "I don't have resources for this"Your body is trying to keep you alive, not reproduce Reason #2: You're Disconnected From Your Body When you spend every day hating, criticizing, punishing your body - you disconnectYou dissociate from physical sensationsThe problem: You can't experience pleasure in a body you're not connected toIntimacy requires being IN your body, feeling sensations, being presentBut when you're trapped in your head analyzing what you look like - you're performing, not experiencingResearch: Women with eating disorders report significantly higher body image concerns during sexual activityThis directly correlates with lower sexual satisfaction and avoidance behaviorsYou can't enjoy intimacy when you're worried about appearance the entire time Reason #3: The Shame is Paralyzing Body shame doesn't stay in the mirror - it follows you into the bedroomWhen you feel disgusting in your own skin, how are you supposed to let someone see it? Touch it?The shame is so heavy that many women avoid intimacy altogetherMaking excuses, shutting down, pulling awayBeing vulnerable and exposed when you feel shame about your body is terrifyingIntimacy requires vulnerability - shame blocks that completely Reason #4: You're Emotionally Unavailable When you're consumed by an eating disorder, there's no room for anything elseYour entire mental and emotional bandwidth is taken up by food thoughts, body checking, planning, restricting, compensatingYou don't have capacity to show up emotionally for...
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    21 m
  • EP 252.5: You Are Not Your Eating Disorder ~ Finding Your Worth & True Identity in Recovery **Must Listen Fav!**
    Nov 18 2025
    Girlfriend, if you're struggling with self-worth, feeling like you'll never measure up, or can't separate yourself from your eating disorder - this episode is for you. Host Lindsey Nichol shares an incredibly vulnerable and inspiring episode about finding worth from within and discovering your true identity beyond the eating disorder. After a powerful moment during yoga listening to Lauren Daigle's "You Say," Lindsey was reminded of a truth that changed everything: You are not your eating disorder. Your true, authentic self lives underneath all of that. In this encouraging episode, Lindsey walks you through: Why eating disorders consume our identity over timeHow to separate yourself from the disorderThe trap of measuring your worth by external things (weight, appearance, achievements, others' opinions)A beautiful self-compassion exercise you can do right now when you feel unworthyHow to cultivate self-acceptance and kindness toward yourselfThe difference between your false identity (the ED) and your true identity (who you really are) This isn't just inspiration - this is an invitation to remember who you are beyond the eating disorder. To find worth from within. To practice self-compassion on the hard days. And to stop settling for a false version of yourself. If you're having a down day or need encouragement, grab your favorite Tarjay journal and let's sit together. You are worthy just because you are. In This Episode, You'll Hear: The Yoga Moment: Lauren Daigle's "You Say" How Lindsey was practicing yoga with Christian musicWhen Lauren Daigle's song "You Say" came on and brought all the feelsThe powerful lyrics about fighting voices that say "I'm not enough"How the song speaks about finding worth and identityThe theme of surrender: laying failures and victories at God's feetWhy Lindsey encourages everyone (Christian or not) to listen to this song The Worth Trap: Measuring Yourself by External Things How people struggling with eating disorders tie worth to external factorsThe trap: worth measured by weight, appearance, achievements, what others thinkWhy this gives temporary relief but not lasting joyHow it leaves you feeling you'll never measure up or be enoughThe cycle of seeking external validation that never satisfies Identity Consumed: You Are Not Your Eating Disorder The truth: Eating disorders consume our identity over timeIn order to truly heal, we must separate ourselves from the disorderYour true, authentic, best self is NOT the voice on repeat in your mindThat voice saying you're not enough, you'll never measure up, you're weak - that's the ED, not youYour real self, your warrior self, your champion self lives underneathThe false identity vs. the true identity Finding Worth From Within (And Above) Your identity must be rooted in who you are at your coreYour journey to internal worth is filtered by false identity right nowYour true, authentic identity lives underneath all of thatYou're worthy just because you ARE - you cannot earn itFor those with faith: trusting that God has you right where you areFor everyone: your worth is inherent, not earned Creating Awareness: The Identity Shift How to become aware that you are not your eating disorderObserving the difference between your thoughts and the ED's thoughtsGetting in community with people who support and build you upListening to music that reminds you of truthInvesting in yourself and seeking support (coaching, therapy, community)The importance of separating yourself from the disorder voice The Self-Compassion Research Kristin Neff: world-leading expert on self-compassionResearch on self-compassion's impact on positive mental healthWhat self-compassion means: treating yourself with love and understandingEven when life is full of pain and failure, choosing kind words over criticismChoosing to stop judging yourself and start honoring yourselfLeaning into believing there is more for you Mindful Awareness Practice Eating disorders are framed around exaggerated, negative beliefsThe ability to observe negative thoughts with clarity and opennessLearning that feelings and thoughts aren't truths - they're just feelings and thoughtsIt's okay to not feel enough in this moment - that doesn't mean you aren't enoughThis moment doesn't define your foreverThe land of "not knowing what to do next" is temporary The Self-Compassion Exercise: Hand Over Heart A guided practice you can do right now (or come back to)Think of your biggest challenge - the thing you're most terrified ofPlace your hand over your heartFeel the warmth, the touch, the beatAcknowledge: You're human. You're here. You have purpose. You're worthy just becauseLet the heaviness of the challenge be there - don't fight itBreathe in, breathe out the heavinessTalk to yourself with compassion: "This is just a season"Validate the hard: "This moment is so hard. This day is so much. I'm scared"Let the feeling sit, then breathe it out - it's temporaryOffer kindness as you would to your best friend or ...
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    19 m
  • EP 252: "I Hate My Stomach, Now What?" Real Talk + 7 Tools for Your Food Freedom Journey🩷
    Nov 14 2025
    "Lindsey, I hate my stomach. I can't stop thinking about it. It's ruining my day, my mood, my recovery. What do I do?" If your stomach is your biggest trigger in recovery - if you can't stop looking at it, obsessing over whether it looks bigger, spiraling every time you see your reflection - this episode is for you, girlfriend. Host Lindsey Nichol gets real about stomach hate in recovery and shares something her client needed to hear today: "I may not love my stomach every day, but if I'm being honest? I didn't love my stomach every day when I was in the trenches of my eating disorder either." So here's the question: Which hard do you want? Hard #1: Hating your stomach while you're restricting, obsessing, body checking, over-exercising, and missing your life. Hard #2: Sometimes not loving your stomach, but being FREE. Living your life. Eating with family. Being present. Having energy. Both are hard. But only one leads to freedom. In this episode, Lindsey shares her own stomach struggles - how she used to search for evidence it was "blowing up," how it would send her into spirals of restriction and over-exercise, and what she does NOW on the days when she doesn't love her stomach. Plus, she gives you 7 practical tools you can use on your hardest days. This is real talk with practical help. No toxic positivity. No "just love yourself." Just honest truth and actionable tools for when your stomach triggers you. In This Episode, You'll Hear: Lindsey's Stomach Story: The Disorder Days How she was super conscious of her stomach feeling or looking biggerSearching for evidence it was "blowing up" - every mirror, reflection, windowThe spirals: restriction, over-exercise, mood switchesFeeling out of control and reacting - being short or avoidant with loved onesHow stomach hate controlled her entire day, every day The Truth Bomb: Choose Your Hard Hard #1: Hating your stomach while trapped in the eating disorderHard #2: Sometimes not loving your stomach but being FREEThe reality: Even at her lowest weight, Lindsey STILL didn't love her stomachThe question: What other options do you have?Why you have to choose which hard you want to live with Why the Stomach Specifically? Why the stomach is such an easy target for self-criticismHow society and social media have trained us to hate our stomachsWhy the stomach becomes the "safe" target instead of dealing with real feelingsThe truth: Restriction makes stomach issues WORSE (digestion, bloating)Reality check: Stomachs are SUPPOSED to change throughout the dayAren't stomachs supposed to be FULL? That's their job What Lindsey Does NOW on Hard Days Wears baggy clothes, not restrictive clothingAvoids opportunities to stare in the mirror and body checkReminds herself of the truth: stomachs are allowed to changeThinks about her little girl self who never cared about her stomachRemembers being pregnant and LOVING watching her stomach growAccepts that not loving her stomach doesn't mean she's failed The Shift That Changed Everything The realization: She was NEVER going to like her stomach at any size or weightHer stomach wasn't the problem - it was a tool for self-sabotageUsed stomach hate when feeling out of control or "not enough"The only way through was acceptance and perspective shiftUnderstanding that stomach hate is usually about something else entirely 7 Tools for Your Hardest Days Stop the Body Checking - Walk away from mirrors, put on baggy clothesAsk the Real Question - What am I really feeling? What am I avoiding?Function Over Form - Your stomach digests food, that's its jobRemember Your Little Girl Self - You didn't care about your stomach as a kidChoose Your Hard - Trapped and hating it OR free and sometimes not loving itWear Comfortable Clothes - Stop punishing yourself with restrictive clothingTalk Back to the Voice - "My stomach is allowed to change and that's okay" Key Takeaways: ✨ You didn't love your stomach in the disorder either - so what are you really choosing? ✨ There are two hards: choose yours - trapped with stomach hate OR free with occasional stomach discomfort ✨ Your stomach is not the problem - it's a symptom, a distraction from real feelings ✨ Restriction makes stomach issues WORSE - bloating, digestion problems increase with restriction ✨ Stomachs are supposed to change - throughout the day, after meals, when sitting vs standing ✨ The stomach is an easy target - easier to hate your stomach than deal with underlying fears ✨ You'll never be satisfied at any size - if stomach hate is really about control and self-sabotage ✨ Body checking makes it worse - the more you look, the more you spiral ✨ Function over form - your stomach's job is to digest food, not be flat 24/7 ✨ Little girl you didn't care - the goal isn't loving your stomach, it's living without it controlling you ✨ You don't have to love it to live - freedom doesn't require stomach love, just stomach acceptance Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "I may not love my ...
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    17 m
  • EP 251.5: Turn Your ED Worries into Freedom ~ The 3-Step Battleplan to Stop Wishing & Start Living
    Nov 11 2025
    Hey sis, here is hope. You can turn your worries and your wishes into your true realities, and you can surely find freedom from the debilitating disease of an eating disorder and disordered eating. In this powerful episode, host Lindsey Nichol speaks truth directly to your heart, spirit, and mind. If you're stuck in the same place year after year - same worries, same wishes, same Thanksgiving anxiety, same holiday struggles - this is your wake-up call. Lindsey reveals why your worries and anxieties can actually HELP you move forward (or keep you stuck in the safe zone), and why your wishes and dreams must become greater than your fears. She introduces her 3-step battle plan for turning wishes into reality: align with your biggest challenge, align with your greatest dream, and study your enemy - that nagging voice keeping you in the cycle. This isn't just another motivational episode. This is a strategic battle plan for warriors ready to stop wishing and start living. Because girlfriend, warriors don't go into battle without a shield, a sword, or a plan. And you're not meant to go alone. If you've been waiting for the "magic pill" to create peace in your life, this episode will show you that YOU have the power to transform everything - starting right now. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why Worries Can Help You (Or Keep You Stuck) Your worries and anxieties can nudge you toward the future you're dreaming ofThey can propel you forward on your journey to freedomBut they can also keep you stuck in the safe zone if you do nothing about themThe difference between productive worry and paralyzing worry Why Wishes Aren't Enough Wishes and dreams are great, but they can keep you stuck tooWithout action, wishes remain fantasies year after yearLife is hard, especially with an eating disorder - but wishes alone won't change thatYour wishes must become greater than your worries to create real change The Biggest Challenges Women Face in Recovery When Lindsey asks her one-on-one clients "What is your biggest challenge?" she hears: Fear of weight gainRecovery feels totally impossible"I want to eat the way I should, yet I don't"Anxiety around foodOver-exercising and calorie countingWorrying about how others see meStruggling to give up controlRigid routines and bad habits that are hard to breakEating differently than familyDecades of disordered relationship with food and bodyAlways relapsing when life happens The Greatest Wishes Women Have When Lindsey asks "What is your greatest wish?" she hears: I want to live life FREEI want to be healthier and betterI want to eat "normal" (whatever that is)I want to nourish my bodyI want to be happy and healthyI want to stop thinking about food constantlyI want to eat without fear of weight gainI want to go out to eat and enjoy it without looking at the menu beforehandI want flexibilityI want to be presentI want to LIVE The Bridge: Freedom IS Your Reality Freedom is possible no matter how you feel right nowFeelings aren't forever - they changeIf you feel stuck year after year, same holidays, same struggles - it's time to stop the madnessYou have to stop the nagging voice keeping you in the cycle The Hard Truth You Need to Hear YOU have the power to transform your life completely - you, no one elseIf you had the "magic pill of power" to create peace, would you take it?You have to stop loving the drama of the cycleYour wishes must become GREATER than your worriesThis only happens when you come PREPARED FOR THE BATTLEWarriors don't go into battle without a shield, sword, or teamYou need a PLAN and you need to EXECUTE The 3-Step Battle Plan to Turn Wishes Into Reality: Step 1: Get in Alignment with Your Biggest Challenge In order to defeat the enemy, you need a strategyWhat is your biggest worry? Your biggest challenge?You have to identify it clearly to fight it effectivelyBe specific - name the fear, the behavior, the thought pattern Step 2: Get in Alignment with Your Greatest Dream What is your biggest wish? Your greatest desire?Close your eyes - where do you see yourself in 1 year? 5 years?Your dream is achievable if you can imagine itThis becomes your "why" - what you're fighting FOR Step 3: Study Your Opponent (Your Enemy) How can you fight what you can't see?How can you put in your all when you can't define it?How can you go to battle if you don't know what you're up against?What is your reward when you conquer? Study the enemy like no other: What does that voice inside your head say to you?She's constantly bargaining, right?"You don't need that" / "You can eat later" / "It's too early for a meal"What is she trying to manipulate you with?When you can SEPARATE your thoughts from HER thoughts, you can build your plan of attack Key Takeaways: ✨ Worries can work FOR you or AGAINST you - they can propel you forward or keep you stuck ✨ Wishes without action keep you in the same place - year after year, holiday after holiday ✨ Feelings aren't forever - no matter how stuck you feel ...
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    14 m
  • EP 251: I Lied to My Treatment Team ~ Why A Relapse or Fall Doesn't Equal Failure + How to Get Back Up in Recovery
    Nov 7 2025
    Girlfriend, if you've fallen in your recovery - if you've had a setback, slipped back into old behaviors, or feel like you're not where you "should" be - this episode is for you. This morning, Lindsey was walking her 7-year-old son Blake to school when he fell hard while skipping in Crocs. Through his tears, he looked up and said, "I guess I shouldn't skip so fast to school." And in that moment, Lindsey realized something profound: Sometimes the fall is required. Not because we want to hurt, but because without the fall, we wouldn't learn any other way. In this vulnerable episode, Lindsey shares her own painful fall in recovery - when she was lying to her treatment team, telling everyone she was "doing the things" while secretly still restricting out of fear. Her results weren't matching her actions, and she felt defeated. But that fall? It became her turning point. Drawing from her figure skating background (landing her first double loop took countless falls), Lindsey reveals why falls aren't failures - they're required education. She addresses the shame that comes with relapsing, gives you permission to be right where you are, and shows you how to get back up without beating yourself up. If you've been too afraid to risk falling or too ashamed to get back up, this episode will change everything. In This Episode, You'll Hear: Blake's Fall: The Morning Walk to School How her 7-year-old fell hard while skipping in CrocsThe mama moment of dusting him off and helping him upHis profound realization: "I guess I shouldn't skip so fast"Why she knew he needed that fall to learnThe parallel to recovery that changed her perspective Lindsey's Recovery Fall: The Painful Truth When she was lying to her treatment team about doing "the things"The internal defeat of results not matching actionsOne side wanting weight gain, the other side feeling betrayed and terrifiedBeating herself up for not being "further along"The turning point: getting real and honest with herselfWhy that fall propelled her forward more than smooth sailing ever could The Figure Skating Metaphor: Landing the Double Loop Falling over and over trying to land her first double loop jumpHow each fall taught her something new (angle, timing, fear, adjustment)Why it became her favorite jump BECAUSE of the falls, not in spite of themThe parallel: recovery is learning a jump you've never done before The Shame of Falling in Recovery Why Blake was embarrassed when he fell (other kids watching, teacher saw)The truth: shame isn't about the fall, it's what you make it mean about youYour fall doesn't mean you're a failure, weak, or not worth the effortIt just means you're learningWhy Lindsey eventually saw her falls as necessaryHow falls are setups for breakthroughs, not just setbacks You Are Right Where You Need to Be Not where you want to be, but where you need to beYou can't skip ahead or bypass the lessonThe truth: you can't change what you won't acknowledgeYou can't heal what you won't feelYou can't grow without fallingThe fall isn't the end of your story - it's the beginning of your breakthrough Key Takeaways: ✨ Sometimes the fall is required - without it, we wouldn't learn any other way ✨ Falls aren't failures, they're required education - each one teaches you something ✨ Shame isn't about the fall - it's about what you're making the fall mean about you ✨ You are right where you need to be - not where you want to be, but exactly where you need to be to learn and grow ✨ You can't change what you won't acknowledge - getting honest is the first step to getting back up ✨ The fall is setup for your breakthrough - not a setback, but preparation for progress ✨ Recovery is learning a jump you've never done before - of course you're going to fall multiple times ✨ Staying stuck is its own kind of fall - it's just slower, more painful, and doesn't teach you anything ✨ You don't have to get up alone - reach out for help, let someone stoop down to your level Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "Sometimes the fall is required. Not because I want you to hurt, but because without the fall, we wouldn't learn any other way""I guess I shouldn't skip so fast to school" - Blake, age 7"I was telling everyone I was doing the things, but in reality I wasn't because I was scared""The results weren't matching my actions and I felt so defeated internally""One side of me wanted weight gain because I knew I needed it. The other side felt betrayed and terrified""That fall was my turning point. Once I got real and honest with myself, I could finally do something about it""I fell SO many times trying to land that double loop. It became my favorite jump not in spite of the falls, but BECAUSE of them""The falls weren't failures. The falls were required education""The shame isn't about the fall. The shame is about what you're making the fall mean about you""Your fall doesn't mean you're a failure. It just means you're learning""I eventually saw my falls as necessary. I ...
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    17 m
  • EP 250.5: Eating Disorder Treatment Options ~ What's Best for You? (6 Levels of Care Explained) **Must Listen Fav!**
    Nov 4 2025
    Girlfriend, maybe you've been struggling with disordered eating for decades and you don't want to put your life on hold to go into a full-blown treatment facility. Maybe you have kids at home, aging parents to care for, or a career you can't walk away from. Or maybe you don't even know what options are available, so you just stay stuck thinking you'll manage it all by yourself. Girl, you weren't meant to do this alone. In this episode, host Lindsey Nichol breaks down the 6 different levels of eating disorder treatment and care - from outpatient support to acute medical stabilization - so you can understand what's available and what might be best for YOUR unique situation and life circumstances. Lindsey shares her own treatment journey through IOP and day treatment, and why finding the right level of care that fits your life is so important. Whether you're a busy mom, working woman, caregiver, or someone who simply can't leave home for residential treatment, this episode will help you understand all your options - including recovery coaching as a personalized support option. You deserve a life free from the chains of disordered eating. And it starts with knowing what treatment options are out there. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The 6 Levels of Eating Disorder Treatment: Level 1: Outpatient Care What it is: Weekly sessions with a care team while living at homeWho it's for: Those deemed medically stable who need ongoing supportWhat's included: Dietitian, therapist, medical doctor, support groupsBest for: Maintaining school, work, family life while getting treatment Level 2: Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) What it is: Multiple sessions per week in specialized settingsWhere it happens: Treatment centers or hospitalsWhat's included: Group therapy, individual therapy, structured programmingLindsey's experience: This is where she spent the majority of her recovery Level 3: Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) / Day Treatment What it is: 5-6 days per week, 6-8 hours per dayStructure: More intensive than outpatient, includes meals and therapiesWhat happens: You return home in the eveningsLindsey's experience: Combined with IOP while in school - included therapies and support groups Level 4: Residential Treatment What it is: 24-hour care and supervision (inpatient experience)Who it's for: Those medically stable but requiring intensive supportWhere it happens: Medical hospitals, centers, or homelike facilitiesStructure: Full-time structured environment with comprehensive care Level 5: Inpatient Hospitalization What it is: Most appropriate for high-intensity medical/psychiatric needsStructure: 24-hour medical psychiatric facilityWho it's for: Those not responding to other treatments, experiencing self-harm, severe depression, or needing intensive medical oversight Level 6: Acute Medical Stabilization What it is: The highest level of critical care for eating disordersWho it's for: Those medically unstable due to severity or medical complicationsPrimary focus: Physical stabilization before moving to other treatment levels Plus: Recovery Coaching as a Treatment Option What it is: One-on-one virtual support for guided accountability and actionable recovery stepsWho it's for: Those who can't or won't go into residential but need supportHow it works: Weekly sessions focused on action, not diagnosisCan be layered: Works alongside therapy, dietitian, and medical care Key Takeaways: ✨ Treatment is personalized - what works for someone else may not work for you, and that's okay ✨ You don't have to choose residential - there are multiple levels of care that allow you to stay home ✨ Recovery is NOT black and white - you can get support at various levels based on your life circumstances ✨ You weren't meant to do this alone - even if you can't go to residential, you need SOME level of support ✨ Everyone's recovery is their own - your journey is unique and valid regardless of which level of care you choose ✨ Recovery coaching is a valid option - especially when layered with other care team members ✨ You owe you, sister - putting yourself first isn't selfish, it's necessary ✨ More options exist now - compared to years ago, there are so many more treatment options available Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "You deserve a life that's free from the chains of disordered eating""Maybe you don't even know what options are available for you, so you just stay here thinking you're gonna manage it all by yourself""Everyone's recovery is your recovery. Your journey is your journey""What's best for you might not be best for me. What worked for me might not work for someone else""You weren't meant to do life alone. You definitely weren't meant to do the hard things alone""You owe you, sister""It's not black and white. There's so many other options""What matters is that you're standing up for you""You are worth it. You deserve it""Everyone else in your life is gonna benefit when you can start putting you first" Important...
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