Why can't I stop eating at night even though I have great willpower during the day?

You're not losing willpower at 9:30 p.m. – your brain is exhausted and following a well-practiced habit loop.

Is nighttime eating always emotional eating, or can it be real hunger?

It can be both. Sometimes you are genuinely under-fueled... and other times it is for comfort.

What does it mean for health to be the "foundation" of my life?

It means your health habits are the base that supports everything else—your mood, decisions, productivity, energy, and emotional resilience. When the base is steady, everything else becomes easier.

How do I build a health routine that fits my real schedule?

Use flexible time blocks instead of rigid schedules, anchor habits to things you already do, and include Plan A, B, and C versions so your routine survives busy weeks.

What are the most important habits for women in midlife?

Focus on simple habits in three categories: food, movement, and energy. Choose habits that help you feel grounded and steady during real life.

How do I stay consistent when life gets busy?

Use 'good enough' versions of each habit—your Rescue Map—so you are never starting from zero. Choose the smallest version of your habit and keep going.

What's the first step to creating a flexible, sustainable health plan?

Start by tracking your natural energy rhythm for 2–3 days. Build your habits where they fit the easiest instead of forcing them into your hardest part of the day.

How do I get back on track after falling off my routine?

Don't start over. Start again. Choose a tiny version of your habit and resume from where you are rather than waiting for the perfect time.

How can I take care of my health without dieting?

Focus on nourishment rather than restriction. Prioritize protein and produce, movement for vitality, and small consistent habits rather than calorie counting or weight-loss rules.

Why are the holidays especially triggering for midlife women?

The holidays are triggering for midlife women because the season layers emotional labor, disrupted routines, nostalgia, family expectations, and social pressure on top of a nervous system that is already managing stress, hormone shifts, and decision fatigue.

How do I handle holiday food pushers without feeling rude?

Use warm, clear scripts such as: 'Everything looks wonderful—I am all set for now,' or 'I am pacing myself tonight so I can feel good tomorrow.' Kindness plus clarity preserves your boundaries and the relationship.

What causes me to lose my healthy habits during the holidays?

Stress, irregular schedules, poor sleep, travel, alcohol, emotional labor, and the belief that 'it is the holidays, I will fix it in January' all make habits harder to maintain. It is not a discipline issue—it is the environment.

How can I enjoy holiday food without going overboard?

Use the Worth It? tool: enjoy the foods you truly love and skip the filler items. This is discernment, not restriction. Combine that with bare minimum habits—water, sleep, protein, movement—to stay grounded.

What is the first step to staying grounded during holiday stress?

Decide how you want to feel tomorrow. When you set an intention for the morning-after, you make more aligned decisions in the moment—without dieting or restricting.

How do I recover after a holiday binge without dieting?

Hydrate, move gently, eat a normal balanced meal, and return to your bare minimum habits. Avoid overcorrecting or punishing yourself. Your body benefits more from rhythm than restriction.

What are simple habits I can keep during chaotic holiday weeks?

Choose three: drink water before coffee, eat a vegetable daily, take a 10-minute walk, have a protein-rich breakfast, or go to bed 30 minutes earlier. These small habits regulate energy and stress.

How do I stop using food to cope with holiday emotions?

Pause, name the emotion, and meet the underlying need—rest, connection, quiet, or space. Food is a coping mechanism, not a character flaw. When you attend to the real need, the urge softens.

How do I set boundaries with family around food or alcohol?

Use kind, concise scripts such as: 'That looks wonderful—I am all set,' or 'I am being intentional with alcohol this year.' Practice them ahead of time to reduce social pressure in the moment.

How do I stay consistent when traveling or hosting?

Anchor to your bare minimums: water, sleep, simple movement, and one grounding moment of choice. Perfection is unnecessary; rhythm is what keeps you steady.

Foods & Their Macronutrient Categories • Total Health by Elizabeth

Wow! That is such a fantastic title for this article. I’m glad you’re still with me…

I often have clients ask questions about “what is a protein?” or hearing that carbs are bad, not realizing the vast difference between the carbohydrates found in cookies versus the carbohydrates found in a tomato. This is a list of different types of foods, broken down into their MAIN category.

I say “main” category because inevitably I’ll get the question about beans and or cheese: “But Elizabeth, beans & cheese have protein in them, don’t they?” Yes, they do. Beans have protein in them, but they are an incomplete protein [more on that in another blog post]. And although cheese has protein in it, it really has more fat than protien, so I put cheese and nuts in the fats category.

And no. By all means, this is not a complete list. but it should get you there.

Proteins

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
Tuna (water packed)
Fish (salmon, seabass, halibut)
Shrimp
Extra Lean Ground Beef or Ground Round (92-96%)
Venison
Buffalo
Ostrich
Protein Powder
Egg Whites or Whole Eggs
Ribeye Steaks or Roast
Top Round Steaks or Roast (aka Stew Meat, London Broil, Stir Fry)
Top Sirloin (aka Sirloin Top Butt)
Beef Tenderloin (aka Filet, Filet Mignon)
Top Loin (NY Strip Steak)
Flank Steak (Sir Fry, Fajita)
Eye of Round (Cube Meat, Stew Meat, Bottom Round , 96% LeandGround Round)
Ground turkey, Turkey Breast Slices or cutlets (fresh meat, not deli cuts)
Soy Burgers
Low-fat cottage cheese

Slow Burning/Complex Carbs

Loosly translated, these are grains and vegetables that grow beneath the ground. Yes, there are exceptions. That’s why I said “Loosly”.

Oatmeal (Old Fashioned or Quick Oats)
Sweet Potatoes (Yams)
Beans (pinto, black, kidney)
Oat Bran Cereal
Rye Cereal
Grape Nuts
Brown Rice
Farina (Cream of Wheat)
Multigrain Hot Cereal
Whole wheat or Spinach Pasta
100% Stoneground Whole Wheat Bread

Fibrous Carbs

Loosly translated, these are vegetables that grow above the ground. Yes, there are exceptions, like peas that don’t fall into this category. That’s why I said “Loosly”.

Green Leafy Lettuce (Green Leaf, Red, Leaf, Romaine)
Broccoli
Asparagus
String Beans
Okra
Spinach
Bell Peppers
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Celery
Cucumber
Eggplant
Green or Red Pepper
Onions
Pumpkin
Garlic
Tomatoes
Zucchini

Fruit

Please don’t get all “avocados and tomatos are fruit too!” Yes, but they don’t generally raise your blood sugar.

Apples
Grapefruit
Peaches
Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Lemons or Limes

Healthy Fats

Natural Peanut Butter
Olive Oil or Safflower Oil
Nuts (peanuts, almonds)
Flaxseed Oil

Beverages

Crystal Light
Green Tea
Other Tea (without sugar)
Coffee (without sugar)

Condiments

Mayonnaise
Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
Reduced Sodium Teriyaki Sauce
Balsamic Vinegar
Salsa
Hot Peppers and Hot Sauce
Chili powder
Mrs. Dash
Steak Sauce
Sugar Free Maple Syrup
Chili Paste
Mustard
Extracts (vanilla, almond, etc )
Low Sodium beef or chicken broth
Plain or reduced sodium tomatoes sauce, puree, paste)
Stevia (natural sweetener)

Elizabeth Sherman

Elizabeth is a Master Certified Life and Health Coach with over 18 years of experience, dedicated to helping women in midlife thrive through holistic health and wellness. Her personal journey began with a desire to reduce her own breast cancer risk, which evolved into a mission to guide women through the complexities of midlife health, from hormonal changes to mental clarity and emotional resilience.

Elizabeth holds certifications from prestigious institutions such as The Life Coach School, Precision Nutrition, and the American Council on Exercise, as well as specialized training in Feminist Coaching and Women’s Hormonal Health. Her approach is deeply empathetic, blending her extensive knowledge with real-life experience to empower women in their 50s and 60s to build sustainable health habits that last a lifetime.

Recognized as a top voice in women’s health, Elizabeth speaks regularly on stages, podcasts, and webinars, inspiring women to embrace midlife with energy, confidence, and joy. Her passion is helping women regain control of their health, so they can fully engage in the things that matter most to them—whether that’s pursuing new passions, maintaining strong relationships, or simply feeling great in their own skin.