Good enough is best—how Michelle Dwyer helps women break free from perfectionism and embrace whole-life wellness
Written by Heather Anderson
Good enough is best. This guiding mantra resonates strongly with Michelle Dwyer, a holistic health coach and certified nutrition consultant. For Michelle, this isn’t just about meeting expectations—it’s about breaking free from the rigid chains of perfectionism. Her approach empowers people, especially women, to nurture their well-being holistically, recognizing that the journey to optimal health doesn’t require an impossible standard of perfection but rather joyful, manageable steps.
Michelle’s own health journey paved the way for her coaching path. After battling her own health crisis that mainstream doctors couldn’t resolve, she found healing through holistic and naturopathic practices. The transformative power of that experience inspired her to become a guide for others, offering a deeply supportive space where her clients can focus on personal, sustainable health transformations.
In our conversation, Michelle shared her insights on overcoming the diet culture trap, transforming lives through her group program, and helping women in perimenopause navigate this life-changing phase with grace and vitality.
Good enough is best—what does that mean for you?
As a recovering perfectionist, one of my favorite guiding mottos is good enough is best. And it’s not good enough is good enough—it’s good enough is best. It reminds us that perfectionism doesn’t exist, and honestly, if it did, it would be boring. We all just need to focus on showing up the best way we can on any given day and trust that our good enough is actually the best for that day.
“What I like to remind people is that food is complex. It’s not just fuel—it’s emotional, cultural, social, and sometimes even political.”
That really resonates with me. Let’s jump into your work. What inspired you to become a holistic health coach?
There are two key parts of my story. First, I had my own health challenge that really led me into this work. I was an educator, teaching high school English, and while I loved teaching, I was burning out. Then I got very sick with a chronic cough and fatigue that lasted for months, and my doctors had no answers. I found a naturopathic doctor who helped me heal, and on the other side of that journey, I felt better than I had in years. This experience showed me firsthand the power of holistic health.
The second part of the story was the moment I saw an ad that read, Do you want to transform people’s lives through holistic nutrition? I was like, I do! I knew instantly that this was my path, and I dove right in, enrolling in a holistic nutrition program and transitioning out of teaching into the work I do today.
That’s such a powerful pivot! How do you describe what you do now?
I’m a holistic health coach and certified nutrition consultant. What that means is that I help people get to the root cause of their health issues by taking a whole-person approach. I might help someone with practical nutrition advice, looking at their diet or lab results to make specific recommendations. But the holistic part comes in where we go beyond just food to look at the whole picture—stress, sleep, exercise, mindset—and how those all impact their well-being.
A lot of the work I do involves helping people move away from rigid, perfectionist thinking, especially around food and body image. I see a lot of clients who struggle with all-or-nothing mindsets—they’re either on a super strict diet or feel completely out of control. My job is to help them find balance and sustainability in their choices, whether it's with food, movement, or self-care.
You mentioned your group program, Whole Life Nourishment. Can you tell us more about that?
Whole Life Nourishment is my signature group program where I guide people through a holistic transformation of their health and well-being. We look at nutrition, of course, but also dive into sleep, stress, movement, and mindset. It’s really about nourishing every aspect of your life, not just your body.
What I love about the group format is the synergy and community that forms. People support each other, share wins, and hold each other accountable. It creates a much deeper connection than working one-on-one sometimes. It’s also a more accessible way for people to work with me if the one-on-one coaching isn’t within their budget.
I love that holistic approach! What kinds of clients do you typically work with?
A lot of my clients come to me because they’re dealing with digestive issues, sugar cravings, stress, or feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Many women I work with are also navigating perimenopause or menopause, and the hormonal changes that come with that can be a huge challenge.
I help them find balance through food, lifestyle changes, and mindset work. It’s about looking at the bigger picture, not just managing symptoms. I often say, let’s stop focusing on restriction and deprivation and start focusing on what actually nourishes you. That’s the mindset I bring to my coaching practice.
Can you share a recent transformation story that really inspired you?
Absolutely. I recently worked with a client whose goal was to bring more joy into her cooking and move away from processed foods. She was feeling stuck in a cycle of frozen meals and takeout because she was so busy. We started small—her first goal was just to sit down and eat one meal at the table per week.
Fast forward to a few months later, and she’s cooking with her family, trying new recipes, and feels so much more energized and connected to her food. It’s those kinds of shifts, where a small habit turns into a new way of life, that really inspire me. She didn’t just change her diet; she transformed her relationship with food and how she nourishes herself and her family.
I know a lot of women struggle with emotional eating, and I’m curious—how do you help clients with that?
Emotional eating is a big one, and I see it a lot in my practice. What I like to remind people is that food is complex. It’s not just fuel—it’s emotional, cultural, social, and sometimes even political. So first, I encourage clients to bring all of that to the table. Let’s talk about the emotional connection to food, but also about the practical side—like are you eating regularly throughout the day? Because if you’re skipping meals and then binging at night, that’s often more of a physiological issue than an emotional one.
We work on getting the body feeling stable first, with consistent meals, plenty of protein, and nutrient-dense foods. Once the body is supported, it’s easier to see when emotions are playing a role, and we can start addressing those patterns from a place of self-compassion rather than judgment.
You mentioned your focus on supporting perimenopausal women. How does that fit into your work?
Perimenopause and menopause are big parts of the work I do because they affect so many aspects of health—hormones, digestion, sleep, mood, and even how we respond to stress. I’m actually in perimenopause myself, so I’m living this experience right alongside my clients.
I help women navigate this transition by focusing on hormone balance, stress management, and nutrition that supports their changing bodies. Perimenopause is a journey, and it’s not just about surviving it—it’s about thriving through it. I’m passionate about helping women feel empowered during this time and supporting them as they embrace this new phase of life.
Ready to experience your own transformation?
If you’re interested in working with Michelle one-on-one or through her group program, Whole Life Nourishment, you can connect with her on her website her website.
Learn more about:
Michelle’s one-on-one holistic health coaching sessions
Her Whole Life Nourishment group program
You can also find her on The M List, The Mamahood’s searchable database of mom-recommended resources, or connect and collaborate with Michelle inside of The Club membership for women founders.