Reader Question: When sickness knocks you off course? How do you avoid spiraling into eating all day?

Travelling with 3 children (including teenagers) is a deep dive into the unknown. Similarly to illnesses, it reminded me how important it is to have your own pillars of resilience to fall back on.

How to handle it when life throws you curve balls

Reader Q: What do I do when injury or illness knocks me completely off course — especially if I’ve had great habits in the past but now need to eat at odd times due to medication, and I’m less active than usual? How can I avoid spiralling into eating all day long?

Oh, I feel this one deeply — especially coming off the back of five weeks travelling with teenagers and a one-year-old, followed by a gastro bug that’s left me with nausea and lingering fatigue I just can’t seem to shake.

When life throws a curveball — injury, illness, or unexpected change — you’re left with three tools to lean on:

Your mindset. Your knowledge. And (most importantly) your resilience.

So, for this Reader Question: When sickness knocks you off course? How do you avoid spiralling into eating all day? What do you do?

1. Resilience first

When your world feels upside down, your nervous system often reacts like you’re being chased by a tiger. But you’re not. It’s discomfort, not danger. Whether it’s a body that won’t cooperate, a diagnosis, or even just relentless fatigue, resilience looks like breathing through it, staying grounded, and knowing it will pass.I've learned this from Covid, childbirth, and every rough patch in between.

2. Mindset second

I always try to maintain a mindset that honours the long game. Not for abs by Friday — but to love my body when I’m 70. That approach gives you so much more freedom in the short term.

• Walk instead of run.

• Lift instead of jump.

Make better choices where you can — not perfectly, but consciously. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s protecting your body while you weather the storm.

3. And finally: knowledge

When you understand how food and movement interact with healing, hormones and hunger, you’re better equipped to ride it out — without losing your footing.

A few things that help:

• Always start the day with protein — it supports repair, regulates appetite, and gives you far more satiety than carbs or fat.

• If you’re moving less, keep an eye on total carbs and fat. Not obsessively — just consciously.

• Choose the salad instead of the fries — or if you’re already doing that, ditch the sugary dressing.

• Swap inflammatory snacks (crackers, bars, packaged stuff) for real food — eggs, veg, leftovers, broth, protein smoothies.

  
  

The truth is, it’s the simple things that make the difference. But without the knowledge, even the most resilient and determined person can feel stuck.

So be kind to yourself. Support your body. And remind yourself that just because you’re off track doesn’t mean you can’t find your way back.

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