One of the most challenging parts of health is feeling like you have to start all over again from the beginning. This happens to all of us at different times for different reasons. Life can present unexpected challenges when we least expect it, and while sometimes we are able to maintain our habits well, other times we are not. 

I’ve been working on improving my hormonal health and blood sugar balance for a few years now. My coach that I’ve been working with for the last two years has helped me find the right supplements to take and has adjusted my nutrition plan to support my needs. The plan has increased in complexity as time has gone on, which I was easily able to handle earlier this year. 

This summer, I dealt with prolonged, unexpected stress when two of my dogs were diagnosed with different forms of cancer and both passed away within the same week. This made it very difficult to stick to my plan, and honestly any of my healthy habits at all. 

The grief hit me hard. I felt like a beginner again, unable to remember how to eat in ways that will support my body. It felt like everything I had implemented over the last two years had gone out the window. I couldn’t figure out where to start, and began to feel like a failure, unable to just pick back up where I left off. 

I believed I needed to dive back into my complex plan. I felt like if I went back to the beginning, all of the work I had put in would have been for nothing. Thankfully, this wasn’t the truth. As much as I resisted, deep down I knew that the best way to support myself at that time would be to focus on the basics. 

When it comes to working on our health, our progress will never be perfectly linear. Even when you see someone else and it looks like their path has been straight, know that it hasn’t. There are periods where the path is pretty straight and smooth, and others where it feels like everything gets flipped upside down. This is true for everyone. You are not alone, and I know I am not either. 

Knowing this helped me move back into the basics. I wasn’t a failure for needing to make my plan simpler again. Focusing on simplicity allowed me to actually take action and make progress, rather than feeling overwhelmed and wishing I was doing what needed to be done. It reconnected me to the foundation of my nutrition, which is what allowed me to go through that difficult time without too many symptoms in the first place. It reminded me of what is truly most important, with everything else being a bonus on top.

We all experience tough times and all have moments where we feel like a failure. Remember that our thoughts and feelings aren’t always the truth. It’s okay to have times when you slow down and simplify your health. This is what will allow us to heal and continue moving forward.