223: Midlife, Anxiety, & Alcohol
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Release Date: 05/20/2025
225: Answering the Question, "Is it Healthy?"
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Is this healthy… or fat as sh*t?” Why That Might Be the Wrong Question Entirely. Have you ever paused mid-scroll, staring at some sort of ‘food hack’ on Instagram, and wondered, “Wait… is that actually good for me?” In this episode, I peel back the layers of that deceptively simple question and challenge the rigid good vs. bad food mindset that so many of us carry. Through a relatable Costco story, surprising examples (yes, even kale can be ‘unhealthy’ for some people), and a new framework called the “Three Food Buckets,” I help reframe how we think about food,...
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224: When We Ignore Our Own Boundaries
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Have you ever noticed how you can be completely on it in one area of your life, like nailing your eating habits and moving your body, while completely bulldozing your own rules in another? You know that getting enough sleep makes you feel amazing, yet you stay up for just ‘one more’ episode. Or you set a boundary around your phone use, only to immediately check Instagram the next morning. Why do we do this? This episode of The Total Health and Midlife Podcast dives into the deeper reasons why we override our own boundaries, and spoiler alert, it’s not about willpower. If you’ve...
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223: Midlife, Anxiety, & Alcohol
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
What if the very thing you use to unwind is actually keeping you stuck? Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with your heart racing and your mind spinning, wondering why you feel so anxious? Or maybe you notice a lingering unease throughout your day, a quiet hum of worry that you can’t quite place. Most of us chalk it up to stress, hormones, or just the realities of midlife. But what if there’s another hidden factor that’s fueling your anxiety, one that’s so ingrained in our daily habits that we rarely question it? In this episode, we’re peeling back the layers on...
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222: Learning to Trust Yourself with Dawn Ledet
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
What if the reason you’re struggling to follow through on your health goals isn’t a lack of willpower—but a lack of self-trust? In this episode of the Total Health and Midlife Podcast, I sit down with Self-trust Coach and author, Dawn Ledet to unpack why we often fall off track with our wellness intentions. Dawn reveals that missed goals aren’t a sign of self-sabotage or failure; they’re simply feedback. Instead of beating ourselves up, we can rewire our inner dialogue, build trust in our decisions, and finally create lasting consistency in our habits. Dawn introduces her...
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BONUS: Why You Overeat
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
You know those moments where you’re standing in the kitchen, not even hungry, just… eating? You’re not alone. And more importantly? There's nothing wrong with you. In this short and powerful bonus episode, I’m sharing what’s really behind the patterns of overeating so many midlife women struggle with, and why it’s not about the food at all. We’re talking about the invisible forces behind our choices, and the subtle ways we’ve been taught to use food to cope, distract, reward, and even just get through the day. I'll tell you what happened the night I ordered way too much Indian...
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221: Menopause, Sleep, Stress, & Recovery
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
We think that health is all about eating and exercising. But that’s not the whole story. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right,” eating well, exercising, and following all the health rules, but still not seeing the results you expect, this episode is for you. The truth is, diet and exercise are only part of the equation. What’s often missing? Stress, sleep, rest, and recovery. These are the overlooked pillars of true health, especially in midlife when your body starts playing by a whole new set of rules. In today’s episode, we dive deep into why...
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220: What to Expect in Maintenance
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Have you ever made progress with your health… and then, slowly, without realizing it, started letting the little things slide? In this episode, I dive deep into a universal experience in health journeys: the quiet backslide that happens after success. I call it the “cocky syndrome,” that phase where we get a little too confident, start cutting corners, and convince ourselves it’s just balance or moderation. But when the momentum starts slipping and we don’t feel as good as we used to, we’re left confused, frustrated, and often blaming ourselves. But here’s the real magic of...
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219: Graceful Mom with Kim Damon
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
What if the key to transformation isn’t about doing more but about being more? In this episode, I sit down with Kim Damon, a true expert in personal growth and transformation, to explore the deep shifts that lead to lasting change. Kim shares her journey of breaking through limitations, embracing authenticity, and stepping into a life of purpose. Her insights challenge the conventional approach to self-improvement, encouraging us to move beyond surface-level tactics and into profound, identity-based transformation. Throughout our conversation, Kim reveals the mindset shifts and...
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218: How to Get Back on Track
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Ever started strong with your health habits, only to fall off track and feel like a failure? What if I told you that relapse isn’t proof you’ve failed... it’s actually, part of the process? In this episode of the Total Health in Midlife podcast, I’m breaking down the biggest mindset shift that separates those who succeed from those who stay stuck. You’ll learn why slip-ups happen, how to stop them from turning into full-blown backslides, and the one question that will completely change how you handle setbacks. If you’ve ever thought you just need more willpower to stay consistent,...
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217: How Fitness Impacts Your Menopause Symptoms
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Are you struggling with hot flashes, brain fog, stubborn weight gain, or low energy? What if I told you that the solution isn’t about pushing harder, but training smarter? In this episode, I’m diving into how the right kind of exercise, especially strength training can help ease menopause symptoms, boost energy, and keep you feeling strong and capable as you age. And the best part? You don’t need long, grueling workouts to see results. For years, we were told that the key to fitness was spending hours sweating it out at the gym. But in midlife, that approach doesn’t just...
info_outlineWhat if the very thing you use to unwind is actually keeping you stuck? Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with your heart racing and your mind spinning, wondering why you feel so anxious? Or maybe you notice a lingering unease throughout your day, a quiet hum of worry that you can’t quite place.
Most of us chalk it up to stress, hormones, or just the realities of midlife. But what if there’s another hidden factor that’s fueling your anxiety, one that’s so ingrained in our daily habits that we rarely question it? In this episode, we’re peeling back the layers on alcohol and anxiety, exploring how that evening glass of wine or celebratory cocktail might not be helping you relax as much as you think.
You don’t have to quit drinking, but what if you just paid attention? I share my personal journey of re-evaluating my relationship with alcohol, not because I had to, but because I wanted to feel better. I unpack the science behind why alcohol disrupts sleep, triggers stress hormones, and fuels anxiety, especially for women in midlife.
From cultural conditioning to brain chemistry, I explore how alcohol can create a cycle that keeps us feeling on edge without us even realizing it. But this isn’t an all-or-nothing conversation. Instead of making a case for quitting, I offer an invitation to experiment, to notice, and to ask yourself, “Is alcohol actually making you feel the way you want to feel?”
The goal isn't to give up something you love… It's to figure out if it's truly adding to your life. Through my ‘Decide Ahead of Time’ framework, I walk you through the small, intentional shifts that can lead to big changes. I share how making mindful decisions around drinking, rather than following automatic habits, can help you regain control over your anxiety and sleep.
If you’ve ever wondered why you feel anxious for no apparent reason or why your sleep isn’t as restorative as it used to be, this episode is for you. It’s not about judgment or restriction, it’s about awareness and choice.
Tune in for practical strategies, eye-opening insights, and a new way to think about alcohol and your well-being.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://elizabethsherman.com/223