When Nutrition Goes Off The Rails

When I would go off the rails nutritionally — especially after coming back from a vacation — I’d often spend 6 or 7 days trying to get back on track. That post-vacation week always felt like quicksand.

Physically, I felt sluggish, weaker, and my sleep was terrible. But what made it worse wasn’t the food itself — it was the mental spiral that followed.

I’d wake up saying, “Alright, back at it tomorrow!” Then tomorrow came, and nothing changed. I couldn’t seem to pull it together, and the harder I pushed, the worse I felt.

The Turning Point: Grace Over Guilt

Everything shifted when I started giving myself grace.

Instead of punishing myself for being “off,” I’d simply think, “It’s okay — I’ll reel it in.” That small mindset change transformed everything.

Over time, what used to take 6–7 days of frustration began shrinking — to four days, then two, and eventually just one off-day here and there.

It didn’t happen overnight. It took about five years of consistent practice — practice in mindset, nutrition, and patience.

Nutrition as a Practice

At Functional Elements, located in Saint Louis, MO, we teach that nutrition is a practice, not a pass-fail test.

Just like yoga, Pilates, or meditation, it’s something you improve through repetition and awareness. You don’t show up perfect every day — you show up to get a little better at listening to your body and finding balance.

You won’t do a 180° overnight, and that’s okay. Progress happens when you create a processyou can repeat — meals built around protein, hydration, movement, and better sleep.

That process becomes your foundation, and it’s what helps you recover faster each time life throws you off track.

The Takeaway

You’re not aiming for perfection — you’re building progress.

When the weekend, vacation, or holiday gets you off course, remember that nutrition is a lifelong practice. Each reset builds confidence, consistency, and self-trust.

At Functional Elements in Saint Louis, MO, our goal is to help you simplify that process — so that getting “back on track” never feels like punishment, but simply part of your rhythm.

Grace over guilt. Process over perfection. Progress over time.

GIVE YOUR BODY WHAT IT NEEDS, WHEN IT NEEDS IT! 

Jaime Rothermich, CSSD, LD, PPSC*KB, CSCS
Functional Elements Training & Nutrition
TRAIN FOR LIFE
(c) 314.518.4875
functionalelements@gmail.com
http://www.functionalelements.net

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