June 06, 2025

EP 221: Present Over Perfect ~ How Food Obsession Steals Your Life (& 4 Strategies to Get It Back)

19 minutes

In this powerful episode, Lindsey explores how eating disorders and food obsession act as "time thieves" and "energy vampires," stealing your presence from the moments and people that matter most. She shares the life-changing realization that when we don't sacrifice for what we ultimately want, we become the ultimate sacrifice - and our relationships pay the price.

Key Takeaways

🎯 The Real Cost of Food Obsession

Eating disorders aren't just about food - they're mental energy drains that steal your presence from your own life

The constant mental chatter about food planning, guilt, and rules exhausts you before your day even begins

Your pursuit of food perfection is sacrificing your ability to be fully present with the people you love

💡 The Sacrifice Revelation "If you don't sacrifice for what you ultimately want, then you become the ultimate sacrifice."

What you ultimately want: Connection, presence, energy for what matters, peace of mind

What's actually being sacrificed: Time with your spouse, conversations with your kids, your ability to be fully present in your own life

🔄 The Present Over Perfect Shift Your family doesn't need a perfect you - they need a present you. Stop waiting to be worthy of love when you "figure out" the food thing. You're worth loving right now, struggles and all.

4 Practical Strategies to Reclaim Your Presence

Strategy #1: The 3-Second Check-In

Throughout your day, pause and ask: "Where is my mind right now?"

If caught in food thoughts during important moments, simply notice without judgment

Ask: "What would it look like to be fully here right now?"

Strategy #2: The Energy Audit

Track for one day how often you catch yourself in food-related thoughts

Make a mark on your phone each time you're planning, worrying, calculating, or obsessing about food

Count them at day's end - this is how much life force is being redirected from what matters

Strategy #3: The Presence Practice

Choose one meal/snack daily to eat with complete presence

Put phone away, don't plan next meal, ignore calorie counting

Focus on taste, texture, satisfaction - practice being fully there

Strategy #4: The Connection Redirect

When spiraling into food thoughts, immediately reach out to someone you love

Text your teenager, call your spouse, hug your pet

Redirect mental energy toward connection instead of obsession

Real-Life Application: The Dinner Table Revolution

Make dinner time device-free AND food-rule-free for your mind:

No mental calorie counting or meal planning during family time

Ask about everyone's day and really listen

Share something about your day unrelated to food

Practice being completely present with your family

This Week's Homework

Choose one person in your life and commit to being fully present with them for at least 10 minutes every day:

Morning coffee with your spouse

After-school time with your child

Phone call with a friend or family member

No phone, no food thoughts, no mental planning - just you, fully there

Episode Quotes

"Every moment you spend obsessing about food is a moment you're not fully living your life."

"Your kids don't need a perfect mom. Your spouse doesn't need a perfect partner. They need YOU. Present, engaged, fully there YOU."

"You are not your thoughts about food. You are a woman with purpose, with love to give, with a life that's happening right now."

Resources & Next Steps

Join Our Community

Her Best Self Society - Our private community where women support each other in choosing present over perfect every day.

Stay Connected

Visit www.herbestself.co to join our email list and be the first to know about upcoming events and services.

Remember

Stop sacrificing your presence for the pursuit of perfection. Your people need you here. Your life needs you here. You deserve to be fully present for your own beautiful, imperfect, real life.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend who needs to hear this message. Together, we're choosing presence over perfection, one moment at a time.

xo,

lindsey

Coach with Me -＞Client Application

______

Email me directly -> [email protected]

______

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.

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By Lindsey Nichol - Certified Health Coach, Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, Food Freedom Coach, Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy Certified

9797 ratings

June 06, 2025

EP 221: Present Over Perfect ~ How Food Obsession Steals Your Life (& 4 Strategies to Get It Back)

19 minutes

Key Takeaways

🎯 The Real Cost of Food Obsession

Eating disorders aren't just about food - they're mental energy drains that steal your presence from your own life

The constant mental chatter about food planning, guilt, and rules exhausts you before your day even begins

Your pursuit of food perfection is sacrificing your ability to be fully present with the people you love

💡 The Sacrifice Revelation "If you don't sacrifice for what you ultimately want, then you become the ultimate sacrifice."

What you ultimately want: Connection, presence, energy for what matters, peace of mind

What's actually being sacrificed: Time with your spouse, conversations with your kids, your ability to be fully present in your own life

4 Practical Strategies to Reclaim Your Presence

Strategy #1: The 3-Second Check-In

Throughout your day, pause and ask: "Where is my mind right now?"

If caught in food thoughts during important moments, simply notice without judgment

Ask: "What would it look like to be fully here right now?"

Strategy #2: The Energy Audit

Track for one day how often you catch yourself in food-related thoughts

Make a mark on your phone each time you're planning, worrying, calculating, or obsessing about food

Count them at day's end - this is how much life force is being redirected from what matters

Strategy #3: The Presence Practice

Choose one meal/snack daily to eat with complete presence

Put phone away, don't plan next meal, ignore calorie counting

Focus on taste, texture, satisfaction - practice being fully there

Strategy #4: The Connection Redirect

When spiraling into food thoughts, immediately reach out to someone you love

Text your teenager, call your spouse, hug your pet

Redirect mental energy toward connection instead of obsession

Real-Life Application: The Dinner Table Revolution

Make dinner time device-free AND food-rule-free for your mind:

No mental calorie counting or meal planning during family time

Ask about everyone's day and really listen

Share something about your day unrelated to food

Practice being completely present with your family

This Week's Homework

Choose one person in your life and commit to being fully present with them for at least 10 minutes every day:

Morning coffee with your spouse

After-school time with your child

Phone call with a friend or family member

No phone, no food thoughts, no mental planning - just you, fully there

Episode Quotes

"Every moment you spend obsessing about food is a moment you're not fully living your life."

"Your kids don't need a perfect mom. Your spouse doesn't need a perfect partner. They need YOU. Present, engaged, fully there YOU."

"You are not your thoughts about food. You are a woman with purpose, with love to give, with a life that's happening right now."

Resources & Next Steps

Join Our Community

Her Best Self Society - Our private community where women support each other in choosing present over perfect every day.

Stay Connected

Visit www.herbestself.co to join our email list and be the first to know about upcoming events and services.

Remember

Stop sacrificing your presence for the pursuit of perfection. Your people need you here. Your life needs you here. You deserve to be fully present for your own beautiful, imperfect, real life.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend who needs to hear this message. Together, we're choosing presence over perfection, one moment at a time.

xo,

lindsey

Coach with Me -＞Client Application

______

Email me directly -> [email protected]

______

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!