My Eating Wasn’t Perfect! Now What?!?!
YOUR FITNESS JOURNEY DOES NOT
NEED TO BE PERFECT: HERE’S WHY
OK, so you've established your fitness goal.
You're motivated.
You've even food prepped for the week.
IT'S GO TIME … game on!!!
WHEN FITNESS MOTIVATION COMES CRASHING DOWN
You're on fire for the next few days, weeks, or even months. You are working out consistently, maybe on your own or with a personal trainer. And your nutrition is on point!
Then, something happens ...
Maybe it’s a party … travel …a holiday … or even a high stress day at work.
Whatever it is, it’s knocked you off your game - and the fire inside that seemed so strong is now extinguished.
You’ve now begun to miss workouts and your eating is ‘off.'
No point in continuing right? Why would there be … everything is seemingly ruined because you weren’t ‘PERFECT.'
IS YOUR FITNESS GOAL REALLY ABOUT PERFECTION THOUGH?
Hold on buckaroo. It's okay. Everything is NOT lost. The world isn’t ending. You've just had a little hiccup - and yes, you can still hit your goal.
As a registered dietitian, I go through this scenario often with clients. It’s a tough spot that has the potential to send an individual spiraling.
OR, better case scenario, it can be a realization that our fitness journey is never a straight line.
What I like to do here is quickly put things back in perspective with a couple of simple questions:
Am I trying to reach perfection with my fitness goal?
Or am I simply trying to make smart, long-term changes that will transform how I look, feel and move?
We all do it. We put a goal out there and then put that goal up on a pedestal.
By doing this, we get myopic about it, and anything less than perfection is a failure.
Therefore, if we make a mistake, we feel all is lost. It's demotivating. Trying to achieve perfection is the last thing I want you to do.
CHANGING YOUR MINDSET AROUND YOUR FITNESS GOAL
Let's take a step back. Yes, have your goal, but change your mindset and approach to it.
Think of your goal as a moment in time. Not the end all, be all. It's simply a step in the process of getting healthier (stronger, leaner, more mobile and flexible).
I want you to imagine your goal as a by-product of a greater process.
Develop a process of nutrition and a process of consistent activity, and the eventual result will be that goal you had once put up on a pedestal.
NUTRITION AND FITNESS AS A ‘PRACTICE'
We use the term "practice" when referring to yoga, meditation, and pilates. I'd like you to think of nutrition and fitness in the same vein. It takes education and time. Don’t get discouraged.
Develop, and then perform, a process of small, consistent actions daily. No matter how small. Then, when you're ready, layer in other small, consistent actions onto the foundation you've built.
Before you know it, you'll be on your way to feeling better, looking better, and healthier.
The bigger picture is this...trying to be perfect is a futile conquest. Life happens and perfection is never going to happen in the long term.
But, if you can focus on the process and progress, you will have room for error because one meal, one day, or one missed workout does not hamper the long-term benefit.
Give yourself some grace if you do go off track, or go out to dinner, or don't feel like a workout out that day, and make the next meal or day a fresh start.
You're just sticking with the process (not focusing on the moment in time of your goal).
Remember this, PROGRESS > PERFECTION.
EAT WITH A PURPOSE … BE WELL.
Jaime Rothermich RD CSSD LD PPSCxKB CSCS
@functionalelements
If you need a kickstart to get your fitness, nutrition and recovery program properly synched, we can help. It's what we do. Check out our 14-day 360° to get you motivated, educated and aligned with the very best Functional Elements Training & Nutrition has to offer over a period of just 14 days.
