There was one day last week where everything just went off track. Food wise, it was not great. Two sandwiches, a couple of pasties, some plant based ribs, all ultra processed and none of it really what my body needed. No colour, no freshness, no balance. It was the kind of day where I knew better, but still did not do better. And I felt it later. Sluggish, heavy, that strange feeling of being full but undernourished.
But here is the truth. I am not beating myself up over it.
Why It Went Wrong
It was not about willpower or weakness. The real reason that day went the way it did was because I just did not plan well. I had a busy day with work, I was jumping between tasks, and I simply did not make time to eat properly. On top of that, I was teaching Body Combat later that evening, which is always an awkward time when it comes to meals. I misjudged when to eat something earlier in the afternoon and pushed through when I should have paused. That meant I ate much later than usual and worse, I scuffed a sandwich 1 hour before teaching.
To make things worse, I forgot to pack my homemade protein bars. They are my go to for stopping the post workout hunger crash. That small slip meant I was starving by the time I got home and I reached for the easiest option. The truth is I just did not prioritise. I did not take the time to prep or think ahead. That is on me.
No Guilt, Just Plan Better
In the past, one day like that would have knocked me off track. That all or nothing mindset would creep in and suddenly one bad day becomes a bad week. Not anymore. Now I see it as just one moment in time. One day in a week where I have been mostly consistent. I still trained. I still moved my body. I still made good choices across the rest of the week. So instead of guilt, I focused on the reset: Water, nutrition, fitness.
More focus. No drama. Just back to what works for me!
The lesson is not just about forgiving yourself when things go off track. That matters. But so does the reflection. You have to look at what went wrong and ask what you can do next time. Plan and prepare for the days that you know will be busy. Think ahead before your energy dips and your schedule gets hectic. A few bad days in a month is completely normal. What matters is what you are doing most of the time. Consistency always beats perfection. It is the habit of coming back that builds progress.
If you had a similar day, take a breath. It does not define your journey. You are still showing up. You are still making progress. You are allowed to start again. One day is just one day!