Nourish and Nurture: Creating Healthy Resilient People Before Crisis Hits

Nourish and Nurture Sarah Lacey

Nourish & Nurture is where mental health meets real-life habits, so you can build resilience before crisis hits. Hosted by Sarah Lacey, a Mental health Specialist, Nutritionist & Hormone Health coach working across the NHS and private healthcare and in some of the largest businesses in Northern Ireland and the UK. Expect practical tools for: ↳ Stress, anxiety, burnout and rust out ↳ Emotional eating & self-sabotage ↳ Sleep science & nervous system support ↳ Midlife health, hormones & confidence ↳ Simple nutrition for longevity & sustainable weight loss

  1. 3h ago

    Ep 119 You Are Not A Fixer-Upper

    You Are Not a Fixer-Upper | Midweek Mindset You can renovate a house while you're still living in it. But you can't spend every waking moment pulling up the floorboards and then wonder why it never feels like home. So why are you treating yourself like a project that's never quite finished? If you're the one holding the career, the household, the appointments, everyone else's emotions, and your own hormones and health all at once, and you've still somehow decided that the thing that needs fixing is you, this episode is for you. It's for the woman who apologises for herself before she's even sat down. The one whose to-do list wakes her at 3am. The one who's so busy improving her life that she's forgotten to actually live in it. In this short midweek reset, I unpack why self-criticism is friction, not fuel, and why no amount of better sleep, smarter nutrition or movement works if underneath it all you believe you're broken. You'll learn: Why the "invisible load" so many women carry quietly is the real reason you feel stretched thin, and what to do about itThe difference between growth that's built on self-respect and growth built on self-rejection, and why only one of them lastsFour small, doable shifts around sleep, movement, food and feelings that don't require you to overhaul your whole lifeThree practical action points to take into your week, including one sentence to write down and keep where you'll see it on the hard morningsThis isn't permission to do nothing. It's permission to do both: to keep growing and to like yourself exactly as you are, on the very same day. Press play, put the kettle on, and be kind to the person doing all the carrying. www.nourishandnurtu.re

    11 min

  2. Jun 2

    Ep 118 - The Weight Of Wanting To Be Happy

    Have you ever worked hard to lose weight, reached your goal, and still felt like it wasn't enough? Still picked yourself apart in the mirror? In this episode I tackle one of the most important and most overlooked truths in the world of weight, health, and wellbeing: that no number on the scales will make you feel good if you haven't done the inner work first. Drawing on over 23 years of clinical experience and a wealth of peer-reviewed research, I explore why body dissatisfaction doesn't automatically go away with weight loss, what is really happening when you self-sabotage, and why the foundation you build your habits on matters every bit as much as the habits themselves. In this episode you will discover: Why the "I'll be happy when I lose the weight" story is so convincing, and why the research tells us it rarely works that wayThe psychological concept of self-verification theory, and how your brain quietly organises your behaviour around the identity you already holdThe two very different reasons people self-sabotage (and why one of them has nothing to do with not wanting it enough)What the science says about body appreciation and body functionality, and how shifting from evaluating your body to respecting it changes everything downstreamWhy shame might get you started but values are what keep you going, backed by Self-Determination Theory researchA simple, three-step reset you can use the next time things go sideways (and they will, and that is completely fine)I also share why self-compassion is actually the evidence-based solution, with research consistently showing that how you speak to yourself after a lapse predicts your long-term outcomes far more powerfully than the lapse itself. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like their body was a problem to be solved. It is also for anyone who suspects, quietly, that there might be a completely different way to approach this. Because sustainable wellbeing is built from the inside out. And that is exactly where this conversation begins. RESEARCH REFERENCES Puhl, R.M. & Heuer, C.A. (2010). Obesity stigma: important considerations for public health. American Journal of Public Health, 100(6), 1019–1028. [Systematic review of 200+ studies on weight stigma and psychological outcomes.] Swann, W.B., Chang-Schneider, C., & McClarty, K. Self-verification theory. Psychological Science. [Foundational work from 1980s; reviewed extensively in subsequent literature.] Linardon, J., Wade, T.D., de la Piedad Garcia, X., & Brennan, L. (2017). The efficacy of CBT for eating disorders: meta-analysis across 79 RCTs. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85(11), 1080–1094. Carels, R.A. et al. (2014). Self-compassion as a mediator between perfectionism and wellbeing in weight management. Health Psychology, 33(11), 1291–1301. Byrne, S., Cooper, Z., & Fairburn, C. (2003). Weight maintenance and relapse in obesity. European Eating Disorders Review. Fredrickson, B.L. & Roberts, T.A. (1997). Objectification Theory. Psychology of Women Quarterly. Teixeira, P.J. et al. (2012). Exercise, physical activity, and self-determination theory. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Bacon, L. & Aphramor, L. (2011). Weight science: evaluating the evidence for a paradigm shift. Nutrition Journal, 10(9). Wing, R.R. & Phelan, S. (2005). Long-term weight loss maintenance. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 82(1 Suppl), 222S–225S. Marlatt, G.A. & Gordon, J.R. (Eds.) (1985). Relapse Prevention. Guilford Press. Confirmed by Witkiewitz & Marlatt (2004). American Psychologist, 59(4), 224–235. Erskine, J.A.K. & Georgiou, G.J. (2010). Effects of thought suppression on eating behaviour. Appetite. Dickson, J.M., Howlett, N., & Mansfield, L. (2011). Psychological flexibility and body image. Body Image. It's why I created my Nourish & Flourish programme - to help you do the inner work AND lose weight. If you want to learn more click here x

    18 min

  3. May 20

    Ep 117 The Collagen Con: What The Supplements Industry Won't Say Out Loud

    Your Body Is Digesting Collagen - Not Delivering It Collagen is one of the biggest selling supplements on the market right now, and if you're a woman in perimenopause or menopause, it's being marketed at you hard. Younger skin. Stronger nails. Thicker hair. Healthier joints. But what if the most fundamental claim behind every one of those promises is based on a misunderstanding of basic biology? In this episode, I'll cut through the noise with the evidence - including the inconvenient truth about who is funding most of the research - and makes the case for what genuinely supports your body's collagen production from the inside out. In this episode: Why collagen supplements are digested like any other protein, and why your body decides where those amino acids go, not the label on the tubThe four collagen myths the wellness industry doesn't want you to questionWhat the independent research actually shows - and why it looks very different from the industry-funded studiesThe cofactors your body cannot make collagen without, and why you're probably already getting it wrongA clear, practical food-first framework for supporting your skin, joints, nails, and bones through menopause and beyondIf you've ever stood in a health food shop wondering whether the collagen is worth it, this episode is your answer. x To find out more about how I support businesses and individuals check out www.nourishandnurtu.re 90 Day Holistic Health Upgrade (Weight loss, Mental Health, Mindset & Menopause coaching programme) https://www.emotionalregulationcoaching.com

    19 min

  4. May 1

    Ep 116 Your Mindset Is Messing With Your Hormones

    In this episode, I'm unpacking the real science behind food guilt — and why beating yourself up after eating isn't keeping you on track. It's actively working against you. You'll learn: Why food guilt triggers your HPA axis and spikes cortisol, increasing cravings, reducing satisfaction, and impairing the very self-regulation you're counting onHow chronic stress hormones amplify fat storage, particularly for women in perimenopause and menopauseThe truth about the "doughnut study" — how self-compassion after eating led to significantly less food intake later, not moreThe remarkable findings of the "milkshake study" — where the same 380-calorie drink produced measurably different ghrelin responses based purely on what participants believed they were drinkingFive practical CBT-informed steps I use with clients to start dismantling the stress-eat-guilt loop for goodThis isn't about being soft on yourself. It's about understanding that guilt is a stress response — and stress has a hormonal cost your body can't afford. Referenced research: Crum, A.J. et al. (2011) — Mind Over Milkshakes, Health PsychologySelf-compassion and eating behaviour research (doughnut study paradigm)If you'd like to connect you can find me at www.nourishandnurtu.re and on Instagram www.instagram.com/nourishandnurtu.re

    13 min

  5. Apr 15

    Ep 115 The Anti-Diet Diet

    Are you exhausted by being told to eat less — only to end up hungrier, more stressed, and back at square one? In this episode, Sarah cuts through the noise on fat loss, portion sizes, and why your body isn't broken — your approach might just be. You'll discover: Why eating more of the right foods can actually help you drop body fat — without deprivationThe science behind energy density and how it works with your hormones, not against themHow to recognise the difference between satisfied and stuffed — and why that one shift changes everythingWhy cooking with volume is the secret weapon for busy, stressed women who want to eat well without the mental loadThe zero-waste bonus that makes healthy eating practical, not perfect Whether you're navigating perimenopause, managing emotional eating, or just desperate to feel lighter and more energised without another restrictive diet — this episode is for you. Because sustainable fat loss shouldn't feel like punishment. And it doesn't have to. 📲 Come find Sarah on Instagram: @nourishandnurtu.re🌐 Ready to go deeper? Visit www.emotionalregulationcoaching.com

    11 min

  6. Apr 1

    Ep 114 De-bunking The Supplements Hype

    Are you spending a small fortune on supplements that aren't actually doing what they promised? In this episode, I through the noise on five of the biggest names in the wellness space right now and tell you what the science actually says. We're also talking about why burnt-out, perimenopausal women are the supplement industry's favourite customer, the marketing tactics designed to make you buy, and the simple food-first swaps that will do far more for your energy, gut, hormones, and mood than any powder or capsule. Plus — the small handful of supplements I recommend (if needed) in clinic, and what your monthly spend should actually look like. If you've got a shelf full of supplements and still feel exhausted, this one's for you.

    12 min

  7. Mar 18

    Ep113 Stop Fixing The Biscuit

    What if emotional eating isn't the problem — it's the signal? In this episode, I'm reframing one of wellness culture's most misunderstood topics. Drawing on over 23 years of clinical experience, I explore why depleted, caregiving, sleep-deprived women reach for food — and why the answer isn't another coping strategy list. In this episode: Why emotional eating is a normal, human, and often intelligent responseThe biology of cortisol, dopamine, and appetite under chronic stressBurnout, rustout, and the invisible load of caregivingWhen emotional eating genuinely needs attention — and when it doesn'tThe compassionate reframe that changes everything

    19 min

  8. Mar 4

    Ep 112 Stop Dieting Start Adding

    If you've spent years trying to eat less, cut back, and restrict your way to better health — this episode is your permission slip to stop. In this week's episode, I explore why healthy eating in midlife is far less about what you take away, and everything about what you add in. Drawing on CBT, positive psychology, and the latest nutrition research, I unpack why restriction is working against your perimenopausal body — and what to do instead. In this episode you'll learn: Why almost 3 in 4 UK adults aren't eating enough fruit and veg — and why that reframes the whole conversationThe psychological reason restriction makes you think about food more, not lessHow cortisol and fluctuating oestrogen make a restrictive approach especially damaging in midlifeThe additive mindset — what it is, why it works, and how it creates sustainable changeFive practical, no-faff ways to add more nourishment to your day (even on your busiest ones)Why this approach supports weight loss as well as maintenanceHow small repeated actions shift your identity — so healthy eating stops feeling like a battle and starts feeling like youDrop a Like and Comment if you found this episode helpful. Sarah x

    15 min
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About

Nourish & Nurture is where mental health meets real-life habits, so you can build resilience before crisis hits. Hosted by Sarah Lacey, a Mental health Specialist, Nutritionist & Hormone Health coach working across the NHS and private healthcare and in some of the largest businesses in Northern Ireland and the UK. Expect practical tools for: ↳ Stress, anxiety, burnout and rust out ↳ Emotional eating & self-sabotage ↳ Sleep science & nervous system support ↳ Midlife health, hormones & confidence ↳ Simple nutrition for longevity & sustainable weight loss

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