Navigating Grief While Staying on Track

Hey friend,

This week, I want to switch things up and talk about something that hits all of us at some point—grief. Whether it’s losing a loved one, the end of a relationship, or even a job loss, life doesn’t pause just because we’re on a weight loss journey. And let’s be real, when life comes at us hard, it’s so easy to fall back into old habits—especially when it comes to food.

We all handle grief differently. Some of us lose our appetite completely, while others turn to food for comfort—savory, sweet, or whatever’s within reach. And guess what? None of these responses are “wrong.” They’re just how we cope. But what they all have in common is that they can throw us off track. Because in those heavy moments, when life feels overwhelming, the last thing we care about is eating healthy or sticking to a fitness plan.

I wish I had a perfect solution for this, but I don’t. What I do know is that even in the middle of grief, we still have to take care of ourselves. No matter what or who we’ve lost, we are still here. And that means we have to keep choosing to show up for ourselves, even when it’s hard.

If you’re someone who stops eating when you’re grieving, try to set reminders to eat—your body still needs fuel. If you’re on medication, especially for something like diabetes, please don’t skip it just because you’re not eating much. Stress can affect your blood sugar even if your diet changes. Keep checking your blood sugar and taking your medication.

If you’re the person who eats everything in sight, don’t beat yourself up—but try to set some limits. Use smaller plates, portion things out, and give yourself time between meals. Even setting a timer for when you’ll eat again can help keep things in check.

And if you have friends or family bringing you food (which is such a beautiful thing when you’re going through loss), eat it. Accept the love and care behind it. Just pace yourself and don’t feel like you have to eat everything at once.

The best thing we can do for ourselves is to plan ahead while we’re in a good place. Have a “bare minimum” plan for the tough times—something easy to grab, quick to make, and nourishing. When the hard days hit, you won’t have to think about it.

I know none of this is easy. But even in grief, we matter. And taking care of ourselves is one of the best ways to honor the life we still have.

Be kind to yourself, always.