223: Midlife, Anxiety, & Alcohol
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Release Date: 05/20/2025
240: How to Start
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Why is it so hard to start something you already know you want to do? In this episode of Total Health in Midlife, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most frustrating patterns women face when trying to improve their health: knowing what to do… but not actually doing it. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in prep mode—endlessly planning, researching, tweaking your routine without ever taking action—this one’s for you. We’ll explore why planning feels safer than doing, how perfectionism keeps you spinning, and the powerful mindset shift that turns overwhelming change into...
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239: Healing at the Root with Judith Richey
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
When life looks good on the outside, but feels empty on the inside, what do you do? In this episode of the Total Health in Midlife podcast, I’m joined by transformational mentor Judith Richey for a candid conversation about what happens when we spend too many years saying yes to everyone but ourselves. From the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways we lose ourselves in midlife, to the physical and emotional toll of ignoring our own needs, Judith shares her personal experience of hitting rock bottom, and how she found her way back. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to reclaim your...
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238: Changing Seasons and Changing Habits
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Why do your healthy habits feel so easy in the summer… and so impossible by October? In this episode of Total Health in Midlife, I’m unpacking a surprisingly overlooked reason your motivation disappears when the seasons change—and what to do instead of blaming yourself. You’ll hear how weather, light, mood, and routine can quietly hijack your habits unless you plan for them, and how understanding your own seasonal patterns can help you feel more consistent, confident, and in control—all year long. Whether you're eating lighter and walking more right now, or already dreading the...
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237: Midlife, Martyrdom, and Me
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Have you ever eaten something you didn’t want—just because it was there, or because you didn’t want it to go to waste? In this episode of Total Health in Midlife, I’m sharing a deeply personal story about leftovers, silent resentment, and the invisible rules so many women live by without even realizing it. What started with a container of forgotten vegetables turned into an unexpected insight about worth, sacrifice, and why we often take the smaller portion—not just at the dinner table, but in life. If you’ve ever felt like you're always the one settling, always making do, always...
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236: The One Thing Diets Never Teach
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Why is it that you can crush your to-do list, manage your household, support your family, and absolutely rock your career— …but still feel powerless around a plate of cookies? If you’ve ever told yourself, “I know what to do—I just can’t seem to do it,” this episode of Total Health in Midlife is for you. In this episode, Elizabeth Sherman reveals the hidden reasons traditional diets don’t solve overeating—and how they may actually make things worse. You’ll learn why relying on willpower, rigid rules, and food guilt keeps you stuck, and what it really takes to build lasting,...
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235: "Food is Fuel" is a Lie
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
Food is fuel. It sounds so clean and logical, doesn’t it? Like if we could just stick to that belief, everything would fall into place. We’d stop craving sweets when we’re stressed. We’d stop emotionally eating after a hard day. We’d finally be “in control.” But here’s the truth no one talks about: food isn’t just fuel. It’s comfort, connection, culture, memory, and celebration. And trying to pretend otherwise? That’s often what keeps us stuck. In this episode of Total Health in Midlife, I’m sharing why the “food is fuel” narrative might be doing more harm than...
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234: Why You Eat at Night
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
You’ve been “good” all day. You ate the healthy lunch. You passed on the afternoon treat. You had a reasonable dinner. And then… it hits. That creeping, nagging feeling that something is missing. You’re not hungry—but the pantry is calling your name. If you’re stuck in the cycle of nighttime overeating and can’t figure out why your willpower disappears after dark, this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, we unpack the real reasons why evenings feel so hard—and why diets, discipline, and food rules won’t fix the problem. You’ll learn what your body and brain are...
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233: How to Eat Without Rules
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
If the idea of eating without food rules sounds exciting—but also kind of terrifying—you’re not alone. Many women in midlife love the concept of intuitive eating but have no idea how to actually do it. Especially after decades of dieting, perfectionism, and trying to “be good,” the idea of trusting your body can feel like standing on a tightrope without a net. In this episode of Total Health in Midlife, I break down what’s really keeping you stuck when it comes to food. We’ll talk about why diets train you to ignore your body, how shame keeps you on the all-or-nothing roller...
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232: Life After Divorce: Now What? with Valerie Simms
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
What happens when your marriage ends but the rest of your life is still waiting for you to show up? In this episode of Total Health in Midlife, I sit down with Valerie Simms, a divorce coach who blends financial expertise with emotional and spiritual support. Whether you're contemplating divorce, navigating it now, or still feeling stuck years later, this conversation will remind you that you're not broken—and you’re definitely not alone. Valerie shares what most people get wrong about divorce recovery, why your friends and family may not be the best place to turn for advice, and how to...
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231: Why Eating w/Others Feels So Hard
Total Health in Midlife with Elizabeth Sherman
You’ve committed to eating better. Maybe you’ve even started feeling more like yourself again—more energy, fewer cravings, pants that fit the way you want them to. But then you go to dinner with friends… and suddenly, you’re halfway through a basket of fries you didn’t even want, wondering how you got there. If you’ve ever felt like changing how you eat starts messing with your relationships, you are not alone. In fact, the pressure to eat a certain way around others is one of the biggest hidden reasons women struggle to stick with new habits. In this episode of Total Health in...
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