Why does weight loss feel so hard, especially for smart, capable women who already know what they “should” be doing?

In this episode of Blueprint Breakers, Amy sits down with certified life coach and author Lizzie Merritt to explore the deeper psychological and nervous system patterns behind emotional eating, stress, motivation, and midlife weight struggles.

Lizzie shares insights from her new book, LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss, including why shame and perfectionism keep women stuck, how nervous system safety impacts our choices, and why curiosity is far more effective than willpower.

This conversation also explores:

Why motivation disappears under stress
The connection between fight-or-flight and food
Emotional eating and nervous system regulation
The LIGHT framework for sustainable change
Why tiny steps matter more than perfection
Midlife burnout and self-compassion
Thoughts on GLP-1 medications
Reframing “failure” as data and learning

This is an empowering, compassionate conversation for women who are tired of blaming themselves and ready for a healthier, more sustainable approach.

About Lizzie Merritt

Lizzie Merritt is a certified life coach who helps people stop blaming themselves for why weight loss has felt so hard.

She is the author of You Are a Miracle and LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss, where she combines humor, compassion, and practical brain science to help readers lose weight without turning their lives upside down.

Lizzie is a military spouse, Marvel movie nerd, and enthusiastic crier at cheesy commercials. She believes curiosity works better than willpower and will always choose science over shame.

Connect with Lizzie: https://confidentbody.coach/

About Amy A. Palmer

As host and facilitator for the Blueprint Breaker podcast, Amy is dedicated to expanding and amplifying the voices of women over 45 who are living a “non-traditional” lifestyle. She believes there is more than one way to do life and we all deserve to be seen, heard, understood and represented.

After a lifelong struggle with feeling “outside” the societal norm and longing to live up to perceived expectations, pardon Amy’s French as she says fuck the blueprint! She has found peace, acceptance, and joy as she embarks on the next era of her life as a digital nomadic entrepreneur.

Amy was formerly a senior corporate executive, a nationally recognized sales and operations expert, an award-winning actress, a resident of 13 different US cities, and a prize-winning DC blogger. Amy has a vast network of friends and colleagues with whom she enjoys travel and adventures and a close family including six niblings (nieces & nephews), the loves of her life!

Connect with Amy: amypalmer.bio