Unlearning Shame and Reclaiming Confidence with Coach Alyssa Booth

“Bodies change. Worth does not.”
That quote from Alyssa Booth hit us hard—and it’s exactly why this conversation needed to be our very first blog post.

On Episode 13 of the No Expiration Date podcast, we sat down with Alyssa Booth, a therapist and empowerment coach who helps women untangle decades of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and body shame. We got real about everything—from yo-yo dieting and scale obsession to what it actually means to accept your body in midlife.

💬 Here’s what we talked about:

🧠 Disordered eating vs. eating disorders
Alyssa explained the difference between full-blown clinical eating disorders and disordered eating patterns—which many of us don’t even realize we’ve adopted. Skipping meals to “earn” a pizza, obsessively counting macros, or feeling guilt after indulging are all signs of disordered eating, and unfortunately, they’ve been normalized in our culture.

👀 Body checking (yes, that daily weigh-in counts)
If you pinch your stomach, avoid certain outfits, or step on the scale to decide how to feel about yourself—you're body checking. Alyssa talked about how this behavior creates a disconnect between how we feel and how we think we should look. Spoiler: the scale shouldn’t determine your self-worth.

⚖️ Midlife changes nobody warned us about
Hello, hormone shifts! Fat starts settling in new places, your skin changes, and gravity starts showing off. Alyssa reminded us that these changes are normal—but the shame we feel about them? That’s learned. It’s time we unlearn it.

👧 How diet culture hijacked our childhoods
So many of us inherited food fear from family, media, or even childhood comments we still remember. Alyssa talked about how even well-meaning parents can pass down harmful messaging—and how we can break the cycle.

💉 Botox, filters, and the pressure to “age backward”
Whether it’s comparing ourselves to celebrities or influencers with flawless filters, women are expected to look younger but not try too hard. Alyssa gave us permission to do what makes us feel good—while checking the motivation behind it.

🎯 Our biggest takeaways:

💬 Acceptance doesn't mean giving up—it means tuning in.
Loving your body doesn’t mean you stop caring—it means you stop punishing. It’s about making choices from a place of self-respect, not self-rejection.

💬 Stop fighting your body.
Instead of trying to “fix” your body, Alyssa urges us to listen to it. Maybe it needs rest, water, movement—or grace. You don’t need to biohack your way to peace.

💬 It’s okay to love your nails and your natural self.
Want to dye your hair or get Botox? Go for it! The point is to choose it because it feels good to you, not because you're trying to meet unrealistic standards.

🛑 One small step Alyssa recommends:

Stop weighing yourself for a week.
See what emotions come up. Track your thoughts in a journal. What does the scale really control in your life? This tiny act can help you reconnect with your body in a more meaningful way.

💡 Journal Prompt from Alyssa:

“If I reduce myself to how my body looks… what am I missing out on?”
Is your body image keeping you from joy, relationships, or fully showing up in life? This question can help you uncover what’s really at stake.

🔗 Links & Resources:

🎧 Listen to the full episode
📲 Follow Alyssa on Instagram: @alyssabooth_lpc
🌐 Visit her website: heyalissabooth.com

Final Thought:
This episode was full of laughter, truth bombs, and “OMG, same!” moments. If you’ve ever skipped a pool party, planned your whole day around the scale, or felt ashamed after eating something “bad”—you are not alone. There is a gentler, freer way to live in your body.

Midlife isn’t a breakdown—it’s a breakthrough.
And around here, there’s No Expiration Date on healing, growth, or loving the skin you’re in.