5 Things I'm doing to Prioritize my Health

Although I’ve chased being thin pretty much my entire life, turning 40 has significantly shifted the way I view my health. Do I want to lose weight? Sure. Is that my only focus? Heck no. So on this journey of taking care of myself I wanted to share 5 things I’m doing to prioritize my health.

Before I jump in I need to go back to where some of this started.. I remember being told I was fat for the first time when I was 6 years old. I knew I stood head and shoulders above all the other girls and was far from petite, heck, I was the same size as my sister who was 3 years older than me. But that was the first time someone called me fat. (Y’all, when I tell you that to THIS DAY people regularly tell me I’m fat I’m not even lying. It’s a normal part of my life and I guess I should feel blessed that people feel comfortable being honest with me. But also, they can just shut the hell up.)

I started my first diet when I was 7 having literally no clue what I was doing.
I drank Slim Fast all through high school.
I joined Weight Watchers at 18.
I worked out 7 days a week 2 hours a day through my senior year of college so I could be thin for my wedding. I was just exhausted.
I’ve done low carb, keto, L.A. Weightloss, the cabbage soup diet, more detoxes than I can count… you name it. I’ve done it.

The problem was that this was all in the pursuit of being thin and not taking care of my health. I’ve always wanted to feel good and have energy, but I think I’m at a point in my life where I’m going to do good things for my body even if it doesn’t lead to “skinny”.

What I know is this:
God didn’t make a mistake when He made me who I am. Chunky thighs and all.
AND
Taking care of myself makes me a better wife, mother, friend, and boudoir photographer.

So in my pursuit to feel better and be a better human being, here are 5 things I’m doing daily to prioritize my health.

Walking. I walk almost every single day, and even when I don’t go for a walk I make sure I’m getting at least 8,000 steps a day but always shooting for over 10,000. I’ve heard the science behind the 10,000 steps is actually made-up but even still, it’s a great goal for me to have daily. Plus, I love getting the chance to be outside and in the quiet to listen to my favorite music or talk to my friends on Marco Polo (guilty pleasure that I LOVE).
Water. I drink a gallon of water every day. It obviously keeps me hydrated but it also prevents me from snacking when I’m not hungry and I’m more apt to not reach for a glass of wine at the end of the day. And shoutout to my Basic – B Stanley cup!
Protein. This one is still a struggle for me as I try really hard to consume 130 grams of protein each day. I’ve found that when I do that recovery from working out is easier and I feel fuller. I’m rarely hungry when I stay on top of my protein goals.
Day off of work during the week. As a business owner this was a tough step to take. I need a day during the week that I can do all my chores and focus on something other than Andrea Murphy Photography. I do all my laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc on one day during the week. Saturdays are for kids sports and activities and Sunday is for God and family. I enjoy getting to be present with my people over the weekend because I’ve completed the chores during the week. My mental health is so much better when I commit to doing this. I fully acknowledge that this is a privilege of owning your own business.
Viewing food differently. I’m simply not going to live my life without french fries and tacos. I ain’t doin’ it. I’m learning what life looks like where I can eat the pizza crust and not just the toppings (recovering Keto-holic here), but balancing that with fueling my body with foods that I know won’t make me feel blah. This one is TOUGH for me and honestly a daily struggle, but that’s to be expected when you’re relearning 35 years of trend dieting habits.

So will doing these things make me skinny? Maybe not, and that’s okay. However, I can say that I’ve made these a priority for the last 10 months and I can see a difference in my world. I want to hug that little girl on the playground being told she was fat (and maybe punch that other kid in the face) and remind her she’s in the body God intended for her. Not being fat isn’t the goal, being a healthy and whole person is the goal, and this mindset shift to who I am choosing to be has created a space where I can nurture not just my body but also myself.