Recreating Healthy Habits That Actually Stick (After Falling Off the Wagon… Again)

For the longest time, fitness was part of who I was.

The gym was my stress relief. Hiking with Rosie filled my cup. Meal prepping made me feel organized and in control. Movement wasn’t just about weight loss for me — it was about feeling strong, capable, and mentally clear.

And then life changed.

Over the last year and a half, I really started focusing on my mental health. After struggling quietly for a long time, I made the decision to start taking Lexapro. Honestly, it helped me in ways I desperately needed at the time. It slowed down the constant anxiety in my head and gave me room to breathe again.

But somewhere along the way, I also lost myself a little.

Not overnight.

Not dramatically.

Just slowly.

I fell out of love with almost everything that once made me feel like me.

The gym started feeling impossible.

Healthy habits disappeared.

Motivation vanished.

I stopped caring about movement, nutrition, routines — all of it.

And if I’m being honest, I think part of me thought I’d magically “snap out of it” eventually.

But instead, over the course of a year, I gained over 50 pounds.

That was hard to admit to myself.

Not just because of the weight gain, but because I felt disconnected from the version of me that used to feel energized, adventurous, and confident. I didn’t recognize myself physically, mentally, or emotionally anymore.

And that’s the thing people don’t talk about enough: sometimes your mental health journey helps save you while simultaneously making you feel like you’ve lost parts of yourself too.

Choosing a Different Path

Eventually, I realized I needed to make some changes again — not because I hated myself, but because I missed myself.

After working closely with my doctor, we made the decision to come off the medication and start exploring different outlets to support my mental health in a way that felt more aligned with who I am now.

That process was not something I took lightly, and it’s definitely not something I’d recommend anyone do without medical guidance. Mental health is incredibly personal, and what works for one person may not work for another.

For me, though, I knew I wanted to reconnect with the things that once made me feel grounded:

• movement

• getting outdoors

• hiking with Rosie

• strength training

• creating routines again

• prioritizing sleep

• eating foods that fuel me instead of comfort me

• spending more time doing things that genuinely make me happy

  
  

I’m still healing.

I’m still learning.

But I finally feel like I’m participating in my own life again instead of just getting through it.

The Shame Spiral Doesn’t Help

When you gain weight quickly after once being “on track,” there’s a weird shame that comes with it.

You avoid photos.

You avoid mirrors.

You avoid seeing people you haven’t seen in awhile because you’re worried they’ll notice.

You keep saying you’ll restart Monday.

I lived in that cycle longer than I want to admit, but eventually I realized something important, hating myself was not going to heal me. Punishing myself with extreme diets wasn’t going to work either because I’d already been mentally exhausted for so long. I didn’t need another all-or-nothing approach. I needed support.

This Time, I’m Doing Things Differently

Now, I’m finally getting back on track — but this time with a completely different mindset.

I still want to feel healthy.

I still want to feel strong.

I still want to feel confident in my own skin again.

But now I’m approaching my health journey with more compassion instead of punishment.

Along with rebuilding healthy habits, I’ve also decided to include a GLP-1 medication as part of my journey. For me, this wasn’t about “taking the easy way out.” It was about finally admitting that I needed help. And honestly? There should be no shame in that.

Some people need therapy.

Some people need antidepressants.

Some people need additional medical support with weight loss and appetite regulation.

None of that makes someone lazy or weak. If anything, asking for help is one of the hardest things a person can do.

Relearning the Basics

One thing I’ve learned during this season is that getting back on track isn’t glamorous.

It’s not some huge overnight transformation.

It’s the small things:

• Going for a walk even when I don’t feel like it

• Adding more protein into my meals

• Drinking water again

• Getting back into the gym without trying to “make up for lost time”

• Moving my body because I deserve to feel good, not because I’m punishing myself

Some days still feel hard.

There are days I miss the old version of me.

There are days I feel frustrated that I have to rebuild habits that once came naturally.

But there are also days where I feel hopeful again.

And honestly, that feeling is worth everything.

Healthy Habits Need to Fit Your Real Life

One of the biggest mistakes I used to make was thinking healthy habits only counted if they were perfect.

If I missed workouts, I’d quit.

If I ate off track, I’d spiral.

If life got stressful, everything collapsed.

Now I’m learning that consistency matters more than intensity.

Healthy habits that actually stick are usually the boring ones:

• daily walks

• simple meals

• realistic workouts

• better sleep

• hydration

• small choices repeated over and over again
  

Not perfection.

Not punishment.

Not extremes.

Just rebuilding trust with yourself one step at a time.

If you’re reading this while feeling like you’ve completely lost your way, I want you to know something:

You are not starting over from scratch.

Life changes us.

Mental health changes us.

Medication changes us.

Stress changes us.

And sometimes surviving a hard season means your fitness goals temporarily take a backseat. That doesn’t mean you failed.

For me, this new chapter looks different than previous ones. It includes healing my mental health, rebuilding my confidence, reconnecting with movement, and yes — using tools like a GLP-1 to help support my goals while continuing to work closely with my doctor throughout the process.

And for the first time in a long time, I’m not chasing perfection anymore.

I’m chasing feeling like myself again.

Love,

Liz 💕