18. Why Perfectionism Keeps You Stuck (and What to Do Instead)

When perfectionism shows up, it doesn’t just raise your standards, it tries to protect you from vulnerability, judgment, and uncomfortable emotions. In this episode, Aimee shares how quickly the brain can turn “not perfect” into “this will be a failure.”

You’ll learn why intellectualizing often doesn’t calm perfectionism, how perfectionism becomes a safety strategy that fuels procrastination and all-or-nothing habits, and what it looks like in exercise, nutrition, and body image.

In this episode, Aimee covers:

• Why perfectionism is about fear of being seen as imperfect, and why you can’t control other people’s thoughts
• Perfectionism vs. high standards (self-compassion is the difference)
• Perfectionism is procrastination in a different font, and how “it doesn’t count” keeps you stuck
• The risks of perfectionism with eating
• A self-compassion practice for when your inner critic spikes

Learning to turn toward the messy emotions underneath your perfectionism can help you be as content as possibly while doing the difficult work of fat loss, muscle building, or just accepting that your body is inherently good exactly as it is.

If your own perfectionism is getting in the way of taking positive care of your body, 1:1 coaching support may be exactly what you need.

1:1 coaching inquiries: framenutrition.co

IG: @coachaimeer

As always, Aimee loves to hear your thoughts about the episode!