What do elephants and cancer have to do with my fat-loss journey?

In thinking about how the cancer had destroyed my mom’s body, it occurred to me that in order to avoid this disease, I needed to prepare my body so that it would be able to fight off any disease that it might encounter. Not only did I need to get down to a healthy weight, but I also needed to eat better quality of foods, become active, and well, become a responsible adult. Read More . . .

3 Tips for Eating & Weight Loss

Part 1 in the Runtex University Bucky & Bob Speaking Series My husband tells me that I eat more food than anyone that he knows. He’s probably right. I can eat large volume of food. I also remember as a kid going to an ice cream parlor with my sister. After I finished mine, I finished hers too. She looked at me & stated "Your stomach is a bottomless pit." Looking back, it’s really not a mystery to me that I ended up overweight, but also that I’ve devised a few really good strategies for being able to eat, not depriving myself & still being able to maintain my smaller size. 1) Don’t Drink Your Calories Have you seen the calorie counts on some of the Starbucks coffee drinks? A Venti Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino® Blended Crème has 670 Calories! That’s about a third of my calorie budget! Plus, in Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #123: How People Pleasing Impacts Your Health

In this episode, I dive deep into the concept of people-pleasing and its impact on our health and well-being. I explore the challenges faced by women in saying no and how this behavior stems from avoiding conflict and the need to control others’ emotional responses. Throughout the episode, I share personal experiences with people pleasing and how it can manifest in various aspects of life. I also discuss the importance of setting boundaries, practicing self-compassion, and seeking coaching and support to overcome this tendency. Join me as I break down the effects of people pleasing and the importance of prioritizing our own needs over accommodating others, especially for women in midlife. Don’t forget to prioritize your well-being and have an amazing week! Chapter Summaries: Exploring People Pleasing (0:00:07) People pleasing is the tendency to prioritize other people’s needs and desires over our own, often at the cost of our well-being. Read More . . .

Done with Dieting BONUS Episode: Feel Good Sisterhood Announcement

The Feel Good Sisterhood is a small group coaching program for women who want to lose weight but are done with dieting. The program takes all of my teachings, tools, and resources from my 1:1 coaching & puts them together in a sequential format. We will be addressing diet, physical activity, and other topics as they pertain to caring for ourselves and the person we desire to be in the future. The program will have 3 different aspects: weekly coaching calls, a community space for support and accountability between calls, as well as weekly teachings and resources to support your goals. Learn More about the Feel Good Sisterhood at https://elizabethsherman.com/groupcoaching Listen to the Full Episode: Featured on the Show: Full Episode Transcript: Hey everyone, welcome to today’s episode. So, I wanted to create a short episode about the feel good sisterhood because the program will be open for enrollment soon. Read More . . .

Done with Dieting Episode #7: What’s it mean to Listen to your Body

We’re told that we should listen to our body. What does that even mean? Nobody ever taught me that. Was I missing from school that day?  When I was on my quest to get my eating and desire for sweets under control, I was always amazed at people who could eat just one cookie. And so when I started talking to them about their eating habits, I learned that they paid attention to how food made them feel. It was something that I never thought about.  Sure! I knew when I was hungry & occasionally I knew when I had overeaten, but when I started actually paying attention to my body, I learned that my body gave me subtle cues  that were my body’s way of communicating with me about what it needed. Listening to your body is the first step in creating the awareness needed to decode the messages Read More . . .

Are plateaus your body’s braking system?

Losing weight is hard. But keeping it off seems to be even more difficult. When I started my weight loss journey, I was resolved to not become one of the statistics of folks who would regain their lost weight back. I had decided that I couldn’t afford to regain my lost weight. It was going to stick. That doesn’t mean that the road to my success was linear. I certainly had set backs, I did a lot of stupid things (and learned from them – you can read ALLLL about them here   In the 7 Mistakes I made during my weight loss journey & the fixes to prevent you from doing the same). I emptied my wallet to buy supplements; I scoured every magazine to find my magic bullet (there isn’t any). I was tenacious. And for about 10 years, it was what I was singularly focused on – my weight. It really Read More . . .

Products & Services

General Health & Mindset 8 Basic Habits Guide & Checklist Health & fitness advice can be confusing. Which techniques will help you lose weight safely? Which things should I be doing on a daily basis? Which habits are best for maintaining my health and mobility as I age? If you’ve ever gotten overwhelmed with all of the health advice, and just want to get back to basics, you need the 8 Basic Things that Healthy People Do. In this guide, I’ve boiled down all of the health advice to 8 simple, easy to do habits. If you make these habits, you will be certain that you’re becoming healthier by the day! Health is a continuum. It shouldn’t be complicated or difficult. With this guide and checklist, you’ll have a great foundation of health & weight loss AND you’ll be able to lean into your new lifestyle – which is a better, Read More . . .

Happily Ever After

I love the TV show "The Biggest Loser". I don't really know why I like watching it so much, but I do. I'm amazed at the contestants losing 3 to 20 lbs on a weekly basis. It's fantastic to see the contestants get smaller and smaller and smaller & then see what they looked like at the beginning of the show. I really couldn't care less about the drama – I TiVo it for that same reason – so that I can skip over the overly dramatic TV crap – that way, I can get through a 60 minute show in less than 40 minutes. Although I was never as heavy as the folks who are on that show, I can relate to their struggles & am completely jealous that I didn't have a team of doctors, dietitians and personal trainers at my disposal when I went through my weight Read More . . .

Total Health in Midlife Episode #221: Menopause, Sleep, Stress, & Recovery

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 prioritizing rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity for real, lasting health.   We live in a world that glorifies doing more, pushing harder, and ignoring the warning signs of burnout. But as women in midlife, we can’t afford to keep running on empty. When stress levels soar and sleep suffers, our bodies Read More . . .

Total Health in Midlife Episode #217: How Fitness Impacts Your Menopause Symptoms

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 stop working, it actually works against us. I’ll break down why traditional exercise methods often fail women over 40 and how stress from overtraining can make symptoms worse. Instead, I’ll share a more effective strategy: short, strength-based workouts that build muscle, protect bone density, and improve metabolism, all in just Read More . . .

Total Health in Midlife Episode #216: HEALED with Sarah Sparks

Midlife is a time of transformation, not crisis. If you’ve ever felt weighed down by emotions you can’t quite name or struggled with fatigue despite doing “all the right things,” you’re not alone.  In my conversation with Soul Alignment Coach Sarah Sparks, we explored the deep connection between emotional well-being and physical health. Sarah’s ‘HEALED’ process—a six-step journey designed to release emotional burdens and reconnect with your true self—offers a powerful way to find clarity, ease, and renewed energy.  One of the most powerful insights Sarah shared is that healing isn’t just about fixing what’s wrong; it’s about embracing who we truly are. So often, we fight against change, trying to push through discomfort instead of listening to what our emotions and bodies are telling us.  But what if midlife is an invitation to pause, realign, and step into a more authentic, peaceful version of ourselves? Through emotional release and Read More . . .

Total Health in Midlife Episode #215: Preparing for Plateau

What if I told you that hitting a plateau isn’t a sign of failure, but actually proof that your body is working exactly as it should? If you’ve ever felt stuck—doing everything “right” but seeing no progress—you’re not alone. Plateaus are a natural part of any weight loss journey, yet most people aren’t prepared for them. Instead of panicking or making drastic changes, what if you could anticipate them and navigate through them with confidence?   In this episode, we uncover why plateaus happen, what they really mean for your progress, and the most effective ways to push through without resorting to extremes. You’ll learn how to track progress beyond the scale, why your body adapts over time, and how to set yourself up for success ‘before’ a plateau even happens. Plus, I share a real-life client story of how she overcame a six-week stall by trusting the process—without cutting more Read More . . .

Total Health in Midlife Episode #210: Breaking Free from Debt & Enjoying Life with Germaine Foley

What’s the secret to building wealth without sacrificing the joys of life?  In this episode of Total Health in Midlife, I sit down with Germaine Foley, a Certified Life and Money Coach, to uncover the mindset shifts and actionable strategies that help women break free from financial stress. Germaine shares her deeply personal story of paying off over $200,000 in debt while still enjoying life’s luxuries, like travel and dining out. We dive into how aligning your spending with your values can create a more fulfilling and sustainable path to financial security. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a paycheck-to-paycheck cycle or overwhelmed by debt, Germaine’s “Do Both Method,” offers a fresh perspective. Together, we discuss how to create financial systems that allow for both saving and living, ensuring you don’t wait until retirement to enjoy life. Germaine’s warmth, honesty, and practical insights will leave you inspired to rethink your Read More . . .

Total Health in Midlife Episode #205: How Body Image Changes in Midlife

Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered when the reflection looking back at you changed? Maybe you thought by this point in your life, you’d have stopped caring about how you look. Instead, you find yourself navigating new challenges—not just about weight, but about the profound ways your body evolves in midlife. What if I told you that the struggles you’re feeling aren’t just about aging but about reclaiming a power that was never meant to be lost? In this episode of Total Health in Midlife, I dive into the untold story of women in midlife and their shifting body image. From unexpected changes in hair texture and skin to the surprise of needing reading glasses, these aren’t just physical transformations—they’re emotional markers of time, identity, and resilience. We’ll explore why these changes can feel so challenging and how societal narratives have shaped our perception of aging. But Read More . . .

Total Health in Midlife Episode #201: How to Stop Overeating Without Dieting

Are you tired of feeling like you’re constantly at war with food? Do you find yourself overeating, only to feel guilty afterward? In this episode, I reveal a simple but transformative approach to eating: learning how to ‘eat just enough.’ This practice has not only changed my life but has helped countless clients break free from the cycle of dieting and guilt. You’ll discover how to enjoy all your favorite foods while maintaining a healthy weight, without ever needing to diet again. And you will not feel restricted or deprived We’ll explore why traditional diets set you up for failure and why willpower alone isn’t the answer. I’ll introduce you to a powerful tool that helps you tune in to your body’s hunger signals, so you can stop relying on external rules about when or how much to eat. By learning to eat just enough, you can master the delicate Read More . . .

Total Health in Midlife Episode #200: Goals Are Just Guesses

Ever fail achieving a goal and then just want to forget about it? In this episode of the Total Health in Midlife podcast, I take the traditional approach to goal-setting and turn it on its head in favor of diving into what really matters: flexibility and authenticity. I opened up about my own journey—setting big, ambitious goals, only to realize that the real growth came when I allowed myself to change course. Let me challenge you to rethink how you’re setting goals. Are they truly in line with who you are today? We’ll explore the power of behavior-based goals—where daily actions, not just outcomes, take center stage. This shift can transform your sense of accomplishment, keeping you motivated and grounded in the present. I’ll share how releasing the pressure to achieve unrealistic expectations can lead to building sustainable habits and embracing change without the weight of guilt. After all, it’s Read More . . .

The Power of ‘Half-Assing’ Your Health: Why Perfection Isn’t Necessary for Progress

This article was written for and originally published on Sixty and Me Here Ever feel like you need to overhaul your entire life to get healthy? Have you ever found yourself putting off making changes because you can’t do it all perfectly? If this resonates, you’re not alone and many women just like you feel overwhelmed by health advice that seems to demand perfection. But what if I told you that you don’t need to be perfect to make real progress? In fact, embracing a ‘half-assed’ approach to your health might be the key to lasting change. Half-assing your health isn’t about lowering your standards. It’s about making consistent, manageable improvements that add up over time. Half-assing your health is about making progress, not striving for perfection. And it’s an approach that can lead to better health, more energy, and yes, even weight loss if that’s your goal. In this Read More . . .

Total Health in Midlife Episode #197: The Dangers of Diet Breaks

Are you stuck in the frustrating cycle of starting and stopping your health journey?  Tune in to my latest episode as I uncover the real reasons behind this common struggle and share actionable strategies to break free once and for all. I explore the pitfalls of the “taking a break” mentality and emphasize the importance of prioritizing health over weight loss.  Through inspiring stories, including that of my client Judy, I illustrate how embracing imperfect action and maintaining the bare minimum consistency can lead to lasting success. Learn how to shift your mindset from all-or-nothing to consistent, manageable actions, finding joy and balance in the process, so that healthy habits become a permanent, enjoyable part of your life. In this engaging discussion, I also tackle overcoming perfectionist thinking and adopting flexible approaches like B-minus habits. Discover how to nourish your body with delicious foods, engage in joyful movement, and create Read More . . .

Total Health in Midlife Episode #194: Longevity Secrets w/ Denise Stegall

Are you tired of feeling like your health is slipping away as you navigate midlife?  In this episode of Total Health in Midlife, I sit down with Denise Stegall, a three-time best-selling author and “Longevity Concierge,” to explore how you can create a healthier, more fulfilling life without resorting to restrictive diets or punishing workouts. Denise offers practical, real-life advice on eating nourishing food without feeling deprived, making personalized health decisions that work for your unique lifestyle, and embracing accountability without shame.  We also dive into how your mindset can unlock your health potential and the surprising impact social relationships have on your well-being. From the connection between oral health and Alzheimer’s to the importance of sleep and navigating social challenges, this episode is packed with eye-opening insights and actionable strategies to help you stop fighting your body and start working with it.  Tune in to discover how to feel Read More . . .

Total Health in Midlife Episode #189: How to Stop Overeating

What if I told you that your struggle with overeating has nothing to do with willpower? In this episode of the Total Health and Midlife Podcast, I dive deep into the real reasons behind overeating, unraveling the myth that it’s simply about being “good” with food. Through personal stories and expert insights, I reveal why diets often fail and why we keep falling into the same patterns, despite our best efforts. But this isn’t just another episode about dieting—I introduce a radically different approach that doesn’t involve giving up the foods you love. Instead, I challenge listeners to rethink their relationship with food, focusing on understanding and unlearning the habits that have been setting them up for failure. If you’re tired of the constant battle with food and looking for a sustainable way to change your eating habits without guilt or shame, this episode offers a breakthrough perspective that could Read More . . .