what I’d do differently if I were starting my health journey today

Chatting about what I’d do differently if I were starting my health journey today.

Hi hi! And hello from San Diego! I’m here for some mastermind adventures and getting quality time with my bestie Betsy, which is the best combo.

For today’s post, I wanted to talk about something I’ve been reflecting lately: what I’d do differently if I were starting my health journey today.

what I’d do differently if I were starting my health journey today

I’ve had a few major transition points with my health over the years:

– In college, when I first decided I wanted to “get healthy.” I tried everything: different eating styles, workouts, routines. Some worked… some very much did not.

– A few years into marriage, when I stopped taking birth control and realized how much it had been masking symptoms and quietly depleting me. I needed daily naps and lived on multiple cups of coffee just to function.

– During fertility struggles, when I made big shifts in exercise and nutrition and found functional medicine (which was very much considered hocus pocus back in 2009, let me tell you).

– Postpartum, while dealing with intense postpartum depression and anxiety.

– Later, when eye issues and autoimmune symptoms started showing up.

And now… here I am.

Am I perfect? Absolutely not

But I feel better now than I did in college… and it definitely didn’t happen overnight. It took time, mistakes, certifications, experience, and a lot of learning about nuance and personalization.

If I were starting over today, here’s what I would do first:

I would stop under-eating

I under-ate for years and couldn’t figure out why my hair was falling out, my energy was nonexistent, and my body felt stuck. I wasn’t eating enough protein, fiber, or overall calories, and my body was constantly trying to survive instead of thrive.

I’d regulate my nervous system before chasing protocols

I was in fight-or-flight from about age six until… honestly, just a couple of years ago. I didn’t realize how deeply my nervous system was affecting everything: hormones, digestion, immunity, sleep. It’s taken therapy, supplements, habits, and a lot of awareness to come out of that state. I still remind myself multiple times a day: “This is not an emergency.” Most of us wildly underestimate how much our nervous system drives our health.

I’d test sooner

If you’re not testing, you’re guessing…. and guessing gets expensive. I wasted money on powders and supplements I didn’t need because I didn’t have data. Testing allows you to personalize your plan instead of following whatever is trending or loudest online.

I’d DIY less and ask for support sooner

I DIYed my fitness and nutrition for a long time, especially early on. Looking back, I didn’t need to reinvent the wheel. Learning from a practitioner with experience would have saved me years of trial and error.

This is exactly the clarity I help my 1:1 clients get: faster, without the burnout, confusion, or wasted time.

If you’re early in your journey (or feeling stuck after trying “everything”), know this: you’re not behind, you’re not broken, and you don’t have to do it alone.

So, tell me, friends: what did you have to learn the hard way? What do you think has made the biggest impact in your health journey and daily routine?

xo

Gina