Diaries of a Meal Planner: Why I Started This Journey (And Why Perfect Isn't the Point)

Welcome to my corner of the internet where real life meets fitness goals, and where "perfect" nutrition plans collide with the beautiful chaos of motherhood.

The 5 AM Reality Check

It's 5:17 AM, and I'm staring at my phone screen, scrolling through perfectly curated Instagram feeds of fitness influencers with their mason jar salads and color-coordinated workout gear. Meanwhile, I'm holding a cold cup of coffee from yesterday and there's a Goldfish cracker stuck to my shirt.

Sound familiar?

Hi, I'm Zaida, and I'm a certified fitness nutrition specialist who sometimes eats dinner standing over the kitchen sink while my kids argue about who gets the last string cheese. I'm the meal planner who occasionally orders pizza on the same day I posted about meal prep Sunday. And you know what? That's exactly why I needed to start writing these diaries.

The Gap Between Expert and Human

Here's what I've learned after years of helping women transform their bodies and minds: the biggest barrier isn't knowledge, it's the gap between what we know we "should" do and what actually fits into our real, messy, beautiful lives.

I can create the perfect macro-balanced meal plan (and I do, it's literally my job). But I also know what it's like to have that plan go completely sideways when your toddler decides Tuesday is "only eat crackers" day, or when you realize at 4 PM that you forgot to defrost dinner. Again.

Why These Diaries Matter

I started "Diaries of a Meal Planner" because I was tired of the fitness industry's obsession with perfection. Tired of seeing women give up on their health goals because they couldn't live up to unrealistic standards. Tired of the all-or-nothing mentality that makes us feel like failures when life gets in the way.

These diaries are for the mom who wants to feel strong and confident but also needs strategies that work when the baby didn't sleep, when work runs late, when the grocery store was out of the organic spinach you planned your whole week around.

This is where I'll share:

- Real talk about real challenges - Like why I keep protein bars in my car and what I actually eat when meal prep fails

- Practical wins that add up - Small changes that create big results without requiring a complete life overhaul

- The science behind the struggle - Why your body responds the way it does to stress, sleep deprivation, and hormonal changes

- Honest victories and failures - Because both teach us something valuable

My CrossFit years...

Progress Over Perfection

Last week, I had a client text me in tears because she ate fast food three times and missed two workouts. She was ready to quit. But here's what I told her (and what I remind myself daily): perfection isn't the goal, progress is.

That same week, she:

- Chose grilled chicken over fried twice

- Did a 10-minute home workout when she couldn't make it to the gym

- Packed healthy snacks for her kids (and herself)

- Drank more water than she had in months

Those aren't failures, those are wins. Real, meaningful wins that add up to lasting change.

What You Can Expect

In these diaries, I won't pretend to have it all figured out. I'll share the strategies that work, the ones that don't, and everything I'm learning along the way. You'll get practical nutrition tips that actually fit into a busy mom's life, workout ideas for when you have 15 minutes (or 5), and honest conversations about the mental game of staying healthy while raising humans.

Most importantly, you'll find a community where "good enough" is celebrated, where progress matters more than perfection, and where your health goals can coexist with your real life.

Your Turn

So here's my question for you: What's one small win you've had this week? Maybe you chose the salad over fries, took the stairs instead of the elevator, or did five push-ups while your coffee brewed. Share it with me, because every victory, no matter how small, deserves to be celebrated.

Welcome to the diaries. Let's figure this out together.

With love (and probably some crumbs on my keyboard),

Zaida