How has prioritising your health changed your life?

[CeriMumsnet]

Whether it’s been about getting more active, changing your diet, exploring medication, or simply carving out time for yourself - we want to hear how putting your health first has benefitted you.

Maybe it’s the physical benefits like better sleep and energy levels? Perhaps it’s boosted your confidence or sense of wellbeing? Or maybe it’s even had a positive impact on your relationships or career?

However big or small we’d love to hear the ways your life has changed for the better since you made your health a priority. Share by 19 November for your chance to win a £100 VEX voucher (T&Cs).

WLI's (before the price rise - I've stopped them now) but the good habits I started with these have lasted, feeling good in my clothes has given the impetus to stay with the protein, high fibre and lots of water in my diet.
Loosing 3 stone on 6 months has change my life beyond recognition.

Mounjaro - I have always struggled with my weight, worn baggy clothes, and had no confidence.
I went with a company who offered support AND understanding why I overate, and had a problem with food.
I have lost 4 stone and am now a happy size 10, it is 100% worth the money if you put the effort in to batch book, understand food, and exercise.

I’ve been working from home since lockdown and faced up to the fact that I had gradually stopped moving very much! Walking uphill and upstairs had become an effort and I’d progressively put on weight. I started swimming at least twice a week and cut out bread, nightly crisps and wine and biscuits/sweets to focus on protein and healthy meals. I now feel much better and healthier and cravings for sugar have gradually disappeared over time. Maintaining the self discipline to be consistent was the hardest part but it’s been worth it.

I have cut carbs a lot - upped protein, upped salad and veg, make sure I only drink alcohol on Friday and Saturday night ( a bottle of wine in total) and put in 1 dance excercise class a week - have lost 2 stone since April - 5 weeks initially on mounjaro and then pure willpower - I do feel a lot better although still 2 stone to go

I’ve cut out alcohol completely. I go to bed much earlier. I read more.

Reducing my hours and using the time for a gym trip has been good for my mental wellbeing.

Prioritising my health has completely changed almost every aspect of my life

I'm happier, have loads more energy, my debilitating anxiety is under control, my insomnia is manageable and my mental health is vastly improved. I'm more productive and have more confidence in making decisions and stepping out of my comfort zone. I read more, listen to music and go to events, gigs, see friends more.

T2 diabetes diagnosis in March 2023 completely changed my life. Family history of multiple diabetes related deaths.

I changed my whole life the day after diagnosis. My diet was quite healthy but carb heavy - I practically eliminated them straight away. Portion size was way too big so addressed this. I also ate far too much fruit so reduced this to 3 portions a day.

Did extensive research (ask me anything about T2 diabetes!) and with support of excellent GP, a plan was put in place. I took Metformin for 8 months which made me extremely sick but I stuck with it. We agreed I would aim to lose 1kg per month - slow and steady. I was also put on a 12 month diabetes remission programme (Oviva - I highly recommend). I was given my BMR and advised I need to be in 250+ calorie deficit to consistently lose weight.

I've lost 31 kg to date.
HbA1c levels are well within non diabetic range.

I adopted a dog and have gone from average 500 steps per day to around 5k steps per day. I suffer from anxiety and agoraphobia. I now go out every day to take the dog out for long walks - he's completely changed my life. I recently joined a gym and try to got at least 3 times per week incl pilates, box fit, yoga and general gym sessions. I'm hoping to start swimming too.

I should have done this years ago but never really cared/worried much about my weight as my health was always pretty good - no diabetes, normal cholesterol, good BP etc. The diagnosis was a massive wake up call. The exercise and being outdoors has vastly improved my MH and for the first time ever in my life - and I really mean ever - I sleep at least 5 hours every night and regularly manage 8 hrs. I've been an insomniac my whole life!

My weight loss has only just hit a plateau after 30 months. I have another 10 kg to lose. I'm considering Mounjaro and will dsicuss with GP in a few weeks. I have difficulty (mental, not physical) taking any medication so this may be a step too far. It was offered about 15 months ago. I did one injection and that was it as the mental anxiety was not worth it.

I wish I could have told myself years ago that prioritising me would have a massive positive impact not only on myself but those around me and would also improve my work life, social life and mental health

Becoming more active in the last 3 years which coincided with us getting a dog. This in turn has made us appreciate the area around us for dogs. We also parkrun. There is nothing better than walking when it’s quiet, just as the sun is rising and all you can hear are the birds.

Well done lovely !! It was pre diabetic, , high cholesterol, carrying far too much weight ( 96 kg) and long covid nerve issues that triggered it for me -

Thank you!

You too. 2 st in 6 months is amazing. It's so stupid ( can't think of a better word as it fits perfectly) that many people have to wait until their mortality is thrust in their face to take action. It hasn't even been that difficult. It really helped that the focus wasn't really weight loss for me but getting into diabetes remission. It sort of took the pressure off even though I Had to weighbin daily for 12 weeks , then weekly for 6 months and now monthly.

By the time I reach my goal, I will have lost a 17 year old me in weight. I didn't even think I was that fat but when I see photos, I almost don't recognise myself.

I didn't / don't drink alcohol. No fizzy drinks. No junk food. No processes food. Not a fan of sweet things so no cakes, biscuits etc. The occasional piece of dark chocolate. I told my self I was fine the way I was but I was completely addicted to crap simple carbs - pasta or rice every day. I ate far too much fruit.

I do also think there's a lot of misinformation out there.

I'm on a high fat, high protein, very low carb diet now and the 1 kg loss per month has been easy so far. It's only the last 2 months I haven't lost any weight, hence considering Mounjaro.

You'll lose the other 2st in no time

I was told I was prediabetic too, and that was a big wake up call for me. I stopped eating sugar and cut down on carbs as much as possible. Went from 12.5 stone to 9 .5 stone over a year.

That was 6 years ago. I now weigh 10 1/2 stone (and stick at that) and walk between 6k and 12k steps a day. It's hard to stay low carb year after year, but I keep trying. My Dad had type 2 diabetes and a lot of health problems in his latter years, and I would prefer not to!

Food swaps, oat milk smoothies with a dose of protein powder, drinking more water, focussing on vegetarian meals as much as possible. I have lost weight (over time 28 ibs) and feel better and my digestive health is much better as constipation was a problem for me.

I joined a new mums keep fit group, I was already overweight, and this really helped, not only with toning my waist and legs, I got a whole new friendship group which really helped with my mental health, and getting my out of the house a couple of hours a week -which was in hindsight a saviour.

Walking at least a mile every day rain or shine helps both physical and mental health. I've recently started yoga and been surprised how much I've enjoyed it, still not very good at it though!

@MadMadaMim yep I’m similar - I do drink but not really to excess but I’ve always eaten well, like cooking and very little junk food , takeaways or sweet stuff - problem was I was simply eating too much of it portion wise- nice home made pastas, stuff on rice( full sachet) , cheese and ham toasties etc , cappuccinos - switched to americanos with oat milk, John west lunch pots ( under 300 cals) lots of Greek yoghurt with berries and Longley farm cottage cheese with chives, I will have 3 large chunky fish fingers or battered fish and stick it with salad, switched to cauliflower rice and mixed in home made curries - cut down to 1 Yorkshire pudding, not 2 etc - it hasn’t been fast and at points I’ve lost nothing for 3 weeks, but I’ve also got no saggy skin or extra lines etc - I’ve also got in the habit of weighing every 5 days or so, I hadn’t weighed for 8 years and was horrified when I did. I think the most important thing is changing ingrained habits - to be honest OP I wasn’t losing any differently or quicker with mounjaro but it did give me a quick boost on habit changing as I simply couldn’t eat as much and got into habit of lots of water - if your habits have changed and you have lost considerable amounts I think you might find it somewhat disappointing - and for me I hated the constant feeling of morning sickness/indigestion - I can see for people who have a problem with controlling snacking or really need to change habits it totally has its place

Buying a quick and easy cook book and using ingredients to cook from scratch - we got into a really bad habit - when we had little time to eat processed and ready meals - my blood pressure and cholesterol were really high, and as my dad and uncles had had heart attacks in their 40's I knew it was time for a change.
I batch cook a Bolognese with heaps of veg on a Sunday, and we eat this during the week with pasta air fried vegetables, and in a lasagne.
My BP and cholesterol has reduced to normal now

Pretty much same here. Massively more healthy on everying in my blood test, on the back of losing 30kg. Feel and look better than I have in decades.

Watching more carefully what I eat. So more veg, less red/processed meat, less 'junk' food, more home cooked food.

I got a fitness tracker and it holds me accountable to working out with intensity at least 5 times a week. Love it!

I also got a fitness watch thing as it was on offer. I didn't think it would be but it's very motivating. I track my walks, steps, fitness classes, gym sessions etc. it also sends me little reminders if I've sat at my desk for too long to get up and mive- which I do.

Getting a ninja smoothie maker for the morning and making a protein banana smoothie with sugar free oat milk for breakfast - as part of my WLI change this has been the gadget which I will use long after the weight is under control and the WIL's have finished.

Getting myself a gym membership and going to classes several times a week has done amazing things for my mood. I very rarely feel stressed or frustrated with myself, work or family now. I am no angel and still like a drink and a big plate of pasta, but regular exercise means that I'm mentally and physically much stronger. I feel like I entered my 40s the way I want to continue.

Having therapy for my past, and to come to terms with it, and being able to compartmentalise it, leaving behind the bottle of wine a night and comfort foot (partly) I am a better and happier person.

Swapping to decaffeinated coffee, and moving to herbal teas - love the sleep and turmeric tea especially, I now sleep much better, and feel better too.

Also my earphones to listen to a podcast whilst on the treadmill, or if the weather is good enough a brisk walk outdoors. I just feel the day wash away, and it really helps with sleep as I am not overthinking as much about the day once I get into bed.