Functional Medicine, Physical Activity

Falling Off Track, Getting Into A Rut And Laziness

Here’s How I Got Back On The Healthy Routine Path

Setting routines is difficult — establishing the time to work out, meal preparation and sticking with our Modifiable Lifestyle Factors (like diet, exercise and gut health) can all be challenging.

But what about when we finally establish those routines, and it all goes “you-know-where” in a handbasket?

It can happen to anybody. About 3 weeks ago, I got lazy. No other word for it — just plain lazy. The slide started when I stopped packaging my supplements. But I was able to stick with my routine of drinking a shake around noon to break my intermittent fast, probably because I get hungry at that point.

It became normal for me to put my pill-form supplements into small, sealable plastic bags so I can take them anywhere. But I just stopped putting them into packets, and therefore I neglected to take them. Even though I started to notice a change in digestion and how my GI system was working, I simply did not package them — for three weeks! I occasionally took a few supplements when I felt I needed the digestive enzymes or the acid for my stomach, but even that did not convince me to get back into a routine.

Then, I stopped working out, stopped stretching, everything. Even when my chronic shoulder injury that I worked so hard to heal became painful, I still was not motivated. And through this all, I started eating worse. Crackers, some bread, chocolate, peanut butter.

In short, I was a mess!

I am writing this on Monday afternoon. I finally forced myself to go to my basement to work out. I did some stretches to restart. A couple of days earlier, I packaged my pills, then worked out the following day. And on Monday, I was able to do my full routine. Now, I am back on my supplements and I tossed out the peanut butter jar (well, it was empty anyway!).

It’s easy to get off track and so hard to get back on it. Just one small change in my routine — that I did not want to pack my pills — derailed the whole train. I became grouchy (grouchier, depending on who you ask). I tried to continue with yard work, etc., but I felt so stiff that it was less enjoyable. I could feel every bad change that was happening. Maybe it’s the summer weather. Regardless, I have spoken to a few of my patients recently who related to me a similar experience.

I believe the truth of the matter is that just one small variation can lead us to stop our good habits, and it takes some willpower, or chatting with your friendly Functional Medicine doctor, to get back on track. Maybe a break every now and then is not a bad thing. When I returned to my routine, I noticed significant differences in how I felt and how my body was functioning very quickly, so I have reinforced my knowledge that I was on the right track.

If you notice the same experiences in your own routine, simply try to put back the easiest thing. Recheck your weight, resume your exercise (even if it’s at a lower level than before), take the walk, get your supplements in order (reorder those you have run out of!) and slowly get back into it.

Over the years, I have spoken to my many patients about how I “sneak up” on working out. When I’m in a rut, the idea of facing an hour-long workout seems insurmountable. So, I do just fifteen minutes, and then a little more the next day, and a little more until I’m back in full swing. I usually recommend this method for patients who are just starting to work out. Don’t go crazy on the first or second day. “Sneak up” on it, and I know you will have better success sticking with it. There are many articles in our Learning Center about getting physically active, so be sure to click on this one and others to give you some ideas.

Whatever “trick” you can use to get back into the swing of things, do it and then restart. I have often found these breaks allow me to remotivate and really focus on problem areas, like throwing out the Jif! Beat yourself up a little, not too much, and step back into your path to a healthier, happier you.

By the way, for those of you who don’t want to package your own pills, we may have an option for your supplements to be prepackaged to make life a little easier. Talk to us about this option.