Pacing 101— Stop the Boom-Bust Cycle Before It Stops You

Dear Body, I’m listening

"No one's handing out a gold star for the most depleted woman in the room… Rest now, rest every day, build that in. The rest is the healing aspect." —Donna Piper

Tired of feeling great one day, then totally wiped out the next? Maybe it’s not about trying harder but about finding a pace that actually works for you.

Donna’s been there—pushing through, crashing hard, and wondering what she was doing wrong. Now she’s all about helping folks with chronic stuff find a better way, using real-life tips and a lot of honesty. Her big message: pacing isn’t giving up, it’s how you start feeling like yourself again.

Want to break out of the boom-bust cycle for good? Hit play for straight talk on energy budgets, the Visible app, post-exertion crashes, and why rest is actually part of the workout plan. You’ll get real stories, smart tips, and a little nudge to be kinder to yourself.

Connect with Donna:

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper

Episode Highlights:

02:49 The Importance of Pacing

07:11 Learning to Pace

16:43 The Science Behind Pacing

18:37 Myths and Realities of Pacing

23:47 Practical Tips for Pacing

27:04 Support and Resources

Resources:

🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you!

Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to [email protected], and you just might hear your answer on the show.

💰Discount

Visible Get $20 off: https://join.makevisible.com/73784699c7db3e

🎙️Podcast

Ground Control for Bendy Bodies: How to Move Without Pain (Finally!) with Dr. Melissa Koehl: https://www.donnapiper.com/podcasts/dear-body-i-m-listening/episodes/2149069513

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Feel like your body’s running on empty? You’re not alone. Check out this week’s episode for real-life pacing tips, energy tracking, and honest talk about chronic illness.

#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #ChronicIllness #Pacing #EnergyManagement #RestIsHealing

Quotes:

27:06 "You're not lazy, you're not weak, you're not broken, you're simply learning a new rhythm, one that will actually sustain you." —Donna Piper

04:37 "Energy isn't a gift card you have to use up in one go— it's a budget. When you are dealing with an invisible illness, you have a budget. Some days you've got a hundred bucks, and some days you've got twenty, and some days you're in overdraft. I realized I had a choice: spend smarter or keep going broke." —Donna Piper

10:16 "Pushing through was costing me way more than just sore muscles. It was costing me days of my life." —Donna Piper

10:32 "Learning to listen instead of push is what gave me back a sense of control and confidence." —Donna Piper

12:08 "Women need more spaces where modifying isn't shameful, pacing isn't optional— rest is built into the program, not treated like a weakness." —Donna Piper

13:49 "No system gets sick alone and no system heals alone." —Donna Piper

15:02 "Pacing is essentially a nervous system rehab. It tells your cells you're safe." —Donna Piper

23:08 "Rest is part of the training, saying ‘no’ is a part of the workout, and stopping early before the crash is the bravest thing you can do." —Donna Piper

23:30 "No one's handing out a gold star for the most depleted woman in the room… Rest now, rest every day, build that in. The rest is the healing aspect." —Donna Piper

28:58 "Rest isn't quitting. It's healing. Sometimes the bravest thing you could do is stop before you crash." —Donna Piper

Meet Your Host:

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.