On Life Being Lived: Sports Nutrition, Rest & Recovery
September 30, 2026
I attended a film showing recently called Adapted about handicapped individuals overcoming their disabilities to get out there and still do the things in life that light them up. Afterwards a group of us grabbed drinks with a few of the individuals who directed and starred in the film.
In chatting with their director, we got on the topic of being in nature as a form of healing and quite frankly just feeling alive. Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing as the Japanese refer to it could be a good word to describe this concept. Yet, the conclusion was made that while immersion in nature is certainly an essential human element, the community you surround yourself with add a whole other layer to it.
Shortly after the showing, a friend and her partner who went out that evening with us tragically passed away in a biking accident. They were in their early 30s and were hit by a drunk driver. The ripple from it in our community has been astounding and has really put into perspective how special and fragile life can be.
It all makes me so grateful for the daily opportunity I get to explore so many amazing people be it in my community or as clients in my nutrition practice.
To witness the relentless pursuit of surfing within a family. A search that has led them to build a ramp covering the majority of their back yard and live exceptionally minimally. They have traveled thousands of miles with their 3 kids on their sailboat traversing from one surf break to the next on the worlds smallest budget.
The drive, discipline, sacrifice and excitement seen first hand of a sprint canoe athlete in pursuit of going to the Olympics. Grueling training camps at altitude, battles with German athletes on the waters in Florida, and still showing up to work his day job.The unfolding of an challenging and exciting track season for two D1 collegiate pole vaulters with different outcomes in their season "performances"... yet are still the best of friends. 🙂
To the 35 different personalities of the college students who attended the Spring Human Nutrition course I taught at Westmont College. Where each student showed up every Tuesday and Thursday to the best of their abilities, be they excited and happy to learn and share or tired and stressed from exams or life. Sorry if my class was exceptionally hard hope you learned a lot!
Every day, each of these human examples are eating, sleeping and exploring their unique avenues of life. So many different threads and paths...yet no one right way to go about it all.
It is fascinating to see not only the education that individuals show to up to the table and classroom with but how they learn and interpret information they are provided with.
Amidst the variety of individuals I've supported and educated, a common goal has reined true - the simple desire to enjoy life to its fullest capacity. Both physically and cognitively being able to show up and embrace the beauty and challenges that add so much texture to... "life".
Athleticism, or ones physical and cognitive capacity, is a beautiful thing. Be it in competing at a level that pushes you out of your comfort zone, keeping up with the young ones or to feel the unbridled freedom of surfing a 8 foot buttery smooth waves.
To enjoy the yang of one's fullest physical expression, one must tend to the yin. The practice of nourishment, rest, and stillness (which not uncommonly is a challenging one for active folks). To even out the ebb and flow of the journey, the practice of restoration must be as robust as the practice of challenging oneself.
The simplicity of navigating life at a pace that allows one to hand select what nourishes the body, chat with the farmers who planted and harvested your food, to set the table, and fully be aware of the flavors and textures that slowly become who you are with each bite. This is a form of nourishment you cannot gather from the data showcased in your phone and must be practice in the places you call "home".
Extra credit if you've read this far - your focus is far superior than most!!You must have ate your blueberries and walnuts this morning 🙂 Thanks for reading!
Eleanor Baker MS, RD, CSSD
Hello! My name is Eleanor and I am a Registered Dietitian (RD) and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD), founder of Elevated Nutrition and Wellness and the Sports Nutrition Consultant for UC Santa Barbara Athletics. Since 2016, I have helped athletes and active individuals fuel smarter, recover faster, and heal through simple and sustainable nutrition and lifestyle interventions. I combine my clinical expertise with a personalized, high-performance approach to help clients achieve lasting results so they can live happier and healthier lifestyles.