I used to feel sick. A lot. I spent a couple years commuting from Dallas to Fort Worth. At high traffic times, when I usually drove, it took me around an hour. I frequently called in sick or tried to work from home because my stomach was so upset in the mornings that the drive sounded awful. It happened so often that I started to wonder if I was a hypochondriac. Yeah, it was bad. I was miserable. 

I was starting to get more interested in health at this time and was even looking into masters programs for nutrition. I was trying new things and starting to limit some of the foods I thought were causing my issues but I was resistant in a lot of ways too.

I realized I had no idea what I was even putting into my body. I had grown up looking at nutrition labels a little but even that was confusing to me because I didn’t know what was important to focus on… fat content? grams of sugar? carbs? carbs minus fiber? We’ve been bombarded with so much marketing that makes it confusing. I’m not saying nutrition facts aren’t informative but if it makes it too confusing, it’s not helpful to anyone.

So I simplified. I decided to start first with the ingredient list. What was in the food seemed a more important metric to know. I challenge you to start doing the same as well. Especially the packaged foods you eat most frequently. Just start to become aware of what you are putting in your body. Get curious about what’s in your food. Start getting used to reading the ingredients in the products you buy. You don’t even have to make changes at this point– obviously, you can if it inspires you to do so.

Awareness is the first step towards change. I know that our health is an accumulation of choices made over time. It’s the habits you stick with that positively impact your mind and body. Also, your ability to build mental resilience.

If you are reluctant to do this, ask yourself why? Are you meeting your health goals? Maybe there is some deeper work to deal with so you can make positive shifts. If this is you, feel free to sign up for the waitlist for my one on one coaching. Those shifts are my expertise.

I started this weekly series of actionable health tips on Instagram but due to some life changes, social media isn’t at the top of my priority list. I would like to share them with you here so you can get more aligned in your health. These tips are easily adoptable and can get you one step closer to your health goals.