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).

Its early days but I am resting and relaxing more. Its made me look forward to days off more as rather than run around all day I have a small fragment of time to enjoy.

Diagnosed with Ovarian cancer high grade stage 3 C in 2016, recurred on bowel 2017, 2 major operations and 12 rounds of chemotherapy. 7 years on maintenance therapy which has made me high risk for a fatal leukaemia . I retired from my demanding job as a Matron in an Intensive care unit. I changed my diet radically, no meat, very little dairy, tons of green veg. I stopped smoking , drink very little alcohol. I go to the gym, have a personal trainer, I swim 3 times a week.
I meet friends for lunches, have regular Thai massages. Everything I do I have my health and well being in mind.
It will be 10 years in March since diagnosis and whilst it’s not been easy , despite all the odds I’m still here and really enjoy life. I’m positive that everything I have done since my diagnosis has kept me alive.

Making food swaps no red meat, cooking from scratch and organic when I can afford. I no longer eat processed meats such as bacon and sausages, my DF died young from bowel cancer and I want to give myself the best chance of history not repeating its self.

@K90 well done to you - hope you are here and kicking for many years to come

I quit drinking at the beginning of last year - I have lost 4 & a half stone, sleep better, have less pain & am so much calmer. Best thing I ever did for my health.

Thanks everyone who's shared how your life changed after prioritising your health - some really positive and inspiring stories here!

Please keep your thoughts and experiences coming - you have til 19 November to be in with a chance of winning the £100 voucher.

We'd love to know what's been the best or most surprising way your life has changed since prioritising your health? And if you could go back and give your younger self one piece of health advice or encouragement, what would it be?

I quit my nightly g and t's - a bottle a week I was going through.
I used to get terrible heartburn, but thought that the chill with my nightly drinkies was worth it.
I stopped 4 years ago - and feel so much better all round. I know it was a habit I needed to break. I was scared of the health consequences.
I now also focus on my diet and some exercise.

The one piece of advice I’d give my younger self above everything else is to look after my teeth. It took me two years of long journeys and multiple appointments in my 40s, not to mention the close to £15k to sort out. I feel I can face the world with confidence when I smile and wrinkles etc aren’t important.

I did prioritise my health - healthy diet, exercise, outdoor time etc, although just saw it as part of life, rather than priority. I packed a lot in, so unhealthy habit was not enough sleep. I now spend most of my time in bed and my (lack of) health rules my life. Biggest difference to my health would have been more sensible policies around living with covid.

Trying to change my diet focussing of low/no fat, low sugar, whole foods and natural proteins, I need to change my diet for long term health goals lowering my BP and Cholesterol and trying to cut out alcohol - list 30 pounds - slow and steady - peri does not help with the losses but I feel and look much better.

Habit stacking little things that add up. Having a wee? Having a glass of water from the bathroom tap straight after. Nearing lunchtime when wfh? 15 mins of vigorous exercise beforehand. Finished dinner? Do my teeth so I'm not tempted to eat anything else. They are small, easily incorporated, but I finish most days knowing I did 'something' good, so I feel mentally better too.

I had therapy - paid private as I had so many hangups about my miserable and childhood where I witnessed DV .Therapy helped me turn my pain into purpose — it’s taught me to heal, to grow, and to believe I deserve the peace I never had as a child.

I have recently been paying attention to allowing myself to invest in myself. Therapy, massages, dental hygienist and chiropody are now things I see as everyday expenses.
Aside from the obvious benefits, it has done me the world of good to realise I am worth these things.

I always struggled with my smile as I was very self conscious about my crooked teeth- then this went on to insecurities.
I paid for invisilign - and after 6 months of the attachments and painful eating, I now have a smile I love - this had made me happier - I smile more, am more confident, don't get me wrong it's a long slow process with lots of dental visits and cost is high - but totally worth it.

I was constantly tired and stressed. I worked long hours, sat at a desk all day, and relied on fast food because I didn’t have the energy to cook. My sleep was terrible, and I felt like I was just getting through each day rather than living it.
Everything changed after a routine checkup showed that my blood pressure was high. It was a wake-up call. I decided to start putting my health first — not in a drastic way, but with small steps. I began walking for 20 minutes each morning, preparing simple meals at home, and cutting back on soda and takeout.
Over time, those little habits added up. I started strength training a few times a week, made sure I got enough sleep, and practiced journaling to manage my stress. Within a few months, I noticed I had more energy, better focus, and a lighter mood. My blood pressure improved, and I felt proud of myself for sticking with it.

Prioritising my health has completely changed my energy and mindset. I started going for a short walk every morning and swapping my endless cups of coffee for more water. It sounds small, but it’s made a huge difference — I feel calmer, sleep better, and actually look forward to life knowing I have more energy - I guess my mood is a lot better too.

I got a dog, having her means that I must get out walking and spending time outside and find new places to take her. The walking is great for me and it all helps my mental health.

More energy since I started eating better. Less sugar and a greater variety of veg, herbs, nuts etc.

I'm not naturally active - I am at my happiest curled up with a good book - but as I hit 40 - the pounds have piled on & I have realised that in order to combat this (& feel better generally!) - I need to fight my every instinct & get myself moving!! I have started attended a training session x2 weekly at 6.30 (not a natural morning person either, so that's two ticks in the 'out of comfort zone' box!) - it's still early days, but I'm definitely noticing a shift. I'm grazing less during the day & sleep has improved at night too.
Now I just have to keep the momentum going!

Reducing alcohol - from easily half bottle or more of wine a night to only one glass when out for a meal.

Reduced acid reflux, waking at 3am, headaches, aching joints, worrying about what id said. Getting up in the morning feeling dreadful.

Starting weight and resistance training in my late 40's. I never knew how important it is until I bought a book about peri-menopause. I've always been fairly fit but now I feel stronger and I know how to hold myself if I'm doing hard DIY work, for example, to protect my joints and bones by making muscles take the strain.

Also, having a scare this year led to a complete change of diet overnight, to avoid certain foods. I wouldn't wish the fear I'd felt on anyone, but the dietery changes have been tranformational on my health, mental wellbeing (no anguish about wanting a food anymore, if it's on the "avoid" list then that's the end of it) and sleep.

If I could advise my younger self, I would say ignore the 90's womens magazine articles about swimming being the best because it's non-weight bearing: it's weight bearing exercise that will make you stronger!

Could we ask who is sponsoring this thread, @CeriMumsnet , and how they are hoping to benefit from it?

Actually, I see that if you click on the 'sponsored threads' topic it says, unobtrusively, 'created with Zava'. If you click on the word Zava, you get an opportunity to "Request weight loss injections and tablets from £79 with code: MUMS20".

It would seem more transparent if the name of the sponsor was present in the OP. EDIT: I've just spotted the special small-print lettering above the thread that mentions Zava. I thought it was very odd not to have this info present. Still, it seems less than transparent to relegate it to its place outside of the OP.

Regular walks, medication and cbt are all helping me at the moment!

I listen to my body and when I feel tired - rather than plough through the fatigue and get the jobs done - I will go to bed, and do them tomorrow - I have had to many days when I have woken up tired, and gone to bed exhausted and often got ill and the dark bags under my eyes aged me terribly - now I try to get a least 8 hours a night (often broken) but feel and look much better now.