Making lifestyle changes with MS is one thing. Making them stick is another. In this episode of Living Well with MS, we speak with pharmacist-turned-health coach Dr Amy Behimer about why healthy habits can feel so difficult, especially when fatigue, stress and unpredictable symptoms get in the way. Drawing on her own experience of living with primary progressive MS, Amy shares a compassionate, evidence-informed approach to building habits that feel realistic, flexible and supportive in daily life.

Together, we explore the role of mindset in behaviour change, how to avoid all-or-nothing thinking, why perfectionism can backfire, and how to create routines that work on both good days and bad. If you feel overwhelmed by lifestyle change, this episode offers practical encouragement to help you start small and keep going.

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio.

02:25 Amy’s MS journey and why habits became her focus
05:05 The six areas that shape health with MS
09:46 Why healthy habits are harder than they seem
13:38 Building habits when fatigue and symptoms are unpredictable
16:03 How mindset and emotions shape behaviour change
18:29 The real secret to living well with MS
22:25 Why perfectionism makes healthy habits harder to sustain
25:25 Can self-talk affect day-to-day energy and symptoms?
29:18 Creating flexible routines for good days and bad
30:53 Common habit traps and how to avoid them
33:10 Redefining health when you cannot control your diagnosis
34:58 Where to start when lifestyle change feels overwhelming
37:57 A simple daily practice to make change easier

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Healthy habits for MS: realistic strategies that actually stick | S8E11