You’ve made lots of changes and you’re finally started to see progress! You’re feeling better and eating in a way that feels good for your body. Your pants fit a little looser, and you’re sleeping through the night again. You’re doing it!
And then—life happens.
A birthday dinner. A summer vacation. A house remodel and, suddenly, you’re off track. And instead of getting back to it, days turn into weeks…and sometimes even months.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and you’re not doing anything wrong. But this is a common mistake. One that’s holding you back from achieving the transformation you want.
Here’s the good news: there’s a better way to navigate these detours. You can absolutely enjoy your life and stay on track with your health and wellness goals. In this post, you’ll learn what’s going wrong, what to do differently and how to get long-term, sustainable results.
Let’s dig in.
The One Mistake Keeping You Stuck
Let’s be honest. You finally start to work on your health and it’s going great, then something happens. And that’s okay! The mistake isn’t that life interrupts our routines—it’s that when our routines are interrupted, we don’t have a plan to bounce back. We fall into the trap of thinking we must “start over” instead of just continuing.
Here’s how this gets in your way:
You don’t give new habits a real chance to work.
If you’re only sticking to a diet or movement plan for a couple of weeks at a time, you’re not at it long enough to see what it can really do for you. It’s like planting a garden, watering it for a few days, and then deciding nothing’s growing. You just haven’t given it the time it needs.
You let your feelings choose your actions
It could be a few days or a few weeks, but inevitably you will hit that point where you simply don’t want to “fill in the blank.” It could be meal prep, exercise or going to bed on time instead of Netflix binging. Whatever it is, you begin to feel deprived and want to revert to your old ways because that felt good. It’s completely normal, but choosing the old ways will keep you at your old stage of health.
You feel ashamed for not finishing what you started.
This one hurts. I’ve seen so many women who start off strong. They’re motivated, they’re feeling good and they’re getting results. But then something happens—a vacation, a family emergency—and they feel like they “messed up.” Instead of picking back up, they go quiet. They stop coming to sessions. And the great progress we were making together slips away.
Let’s be clear: there’s no shame in hitting a bump. The problem isn’t the event—it’s not having a plan for what happens after.
So, what can we do instead?
Planning, Not Perfection
I teach my clients that health isn’t about being perfect. It’s about having a plan that works with your real life.
Here are five strategies to help you stay on course, even when things get busy or unpredictable:
1. Plan for the event—don’t just wing it.
If you have a planned event—a vacation, a wedding, a work happy hour—keep doing what’s working right up until that point. Get your sleep. Stay hydrated. Stick with your go-to meals. Then enjoy the event! You’re not “cheating.” You’re living your life, and you planned for it.
2. Have a plan for what happens after.
This one’s a game changer. Going on a trip? Make a grocery list for when you return, or, better yet, schedule a grocery delivery. Assume you’ll be too tired to cook and prep a few healthy frozen meals before you leave. This is ideal if you have a scheduled surgery, for you or a loved one. A little planning means you’ll be back in your routine within days—instead of weeks.
3. If the event was unplanned, get back to basics the next day.
Best friend calls that she’s in town? Unexpected travel? No problem. The very next day, aim for progress, not perfection. Hydrate. Eat healthy protein and veggies. Prioritize sleep. Avoid inflammatory foods (dairy, gluten, sugar) if you can. Even if you’re only doing 50% of what you were before—it’s still a step forward.
4. Don’t overthink it.
A big trap I see is the “I blew it, so I’ll start again next week” mindset. If it’s Monday and the weekend got off track, don’t wait until next Monday to restart, but jump in with your next choice. Let your healthy habits be your normal. Let the events be the exception.
5. Stick to the basics.
After a deviation, don’t try to overhaul everything at once. You don’t need to start a new detox, exercise routine or extreme diet. Get back to your foundations: water, movement, sleep and nutrient-rich food. This will get you feeling good again—fast.
I walk my clients through these exact steps in our coaching work. Together, we build a plan that fits their real life, not some unrealistic ideal. And we don’t just plan for the good days—we plan for the curveballs, too.
A Real-Life Example of What This Looks Like
One of my clients was doing great—losing weight, sleeping better, and had much more energy. Then she had a month full of travel: a high school reunion, a wedding and two birthdays. Before we worked together, these events would have completely derailed her progress. But this time, we planned ahead.
She completely enjoyed herself at the events, but had her meals prepped for when she returned home. She took her supplements about 50% of the time while on the road. She prioritized her sleep whenever she could.
She didn’t spiral. She didn’t “start over.” She just kept going. And the result? She stayed consistent, kept her energy up, didn’t gain additional weight and felt proud of how she handled it all.
“What if I already ‘messed up’ and it’s been weeks since I was on track?”
That’s okay. The great thing about your health is that your next choice is always a chance to begin again. You don’t need to punish yourself or wait for the “perfect time.” You just need to do it.
Let’s Recap…
If you’ve struggled to stay consistent with your health goals, it’s not because you’re lazy or lack willpower. It’s because you haven’t had a plan for the events, the surprises and the detours.
But now you do.
You’ve got five strategies to help you stay on track. And when you use them, your progress won’t vanish. You’ll stay connected to your goals and, more importantly, you’ll trust yourself more. You’ll see what’s possible by not giving up when life gets bumpy.
Ready for Real Support?
If you’re tired of starting over and want help building habits that last—let’s talk.
I offer a free 20-minute consultation call where we’ll talk about your health goals, what’s been getting in your way, and how I can support you in building a plan that works for your body and your life.
👉 [Click here to schedule your free consultation call now.]
You don’t have to do this alone. We’re here to help you keep going, even when life gets busy.