Let’s talk health, ‘yeah right, why would I want to do that?’

I hear you. I know that talking about your health or at least how to improve it, especially when you’ve tried 101 things in the past is often the last thing that you want to do. But here’s the thing. Let’s at least try. Let’s talk health before things overheat or we get to boiling point.

Talking or at least considering our health is something that we have to do. It’s what’s going to help us to continue living good quality, healthy and long lives.

The truth is that although we’re living longer, we’re actually living longer with poorer health. There are even terms such as ‘expansion of morbidity’ to describe this or ‘compression of morbidity’ to describe living a longer period of good health, followed by a shorter (or compressed) period of ill-health towards the end of our lives. Either way, neither is preferable when you want to do things, to live.

You may want to travel, or to continue doing the activities that you love or simply to extend the time that you get to play with your kids or grandkids. We need to talk about health and do something about it because the statistics show that ill health at younger and younger ages is a real thing. If you’re not convinced, read my story. I was a ‘healthy’ youngish person who was diagnosed with cancer and then chronic fatigue syndrome.

The thing with ill health is that particularly when it’s over a sustained period, it robs you of so much. For me it was definitely confidence, but it’s also finances, career progression but importantly time. Time that’s taken away from all of the things you love doing or want to do. This isn’t only me, this is what I’ve heard and hear every day in my work from so many others.

In the UK, heart disease affects 7.6 million people (BHF). Breast, prostate and lung cancers 2.5 million (Cancer Research UK).  Stroke affects 100,000 and across the ages (Stroke Association). 12.7 million people have asthma, COPD and respiratory conditions. 4.9 million people have diabetes and 13.6 million people are at risk of getting diabetes (Diabetes UK). We know that 35 million in the UK are overweight and the figures for children is increasing with 10.1% of 4- and 5-year olds and 14.3% of 10-11-year olds being overweight.

I also hear about women struggling with hormonal and menopausal symptoms and the increase in poor mental health and an inability to cope.

Life is tough, it really can be at times. One thing that I’ve found, particularly when it comes to addressing something challenging like being healthy and well is to find a kind, caring and supportive community. One which will hold you accountable but somewhere that you can also learn, set goals and develop. Oh, and somewhere that it’s a lot of fun to hang out in. Finding those kinds of places are rarer than rare.

That’s in effect why I’m running Let’s Talk Health.

How did Let’s Talk Health Start?

Let’s Talk Health started in my head a couple of years ago when I was receiving comments from people in my newsletter community. They found the information that I provided useful and wanted more of it. At the same time, I was running different groups and found that I enjoyed it, especially the community aspect as much as the client’s did.

Following that I worked on a public health project interviewing members of the public about their experience of healthcare. This is in no way knocking those who provide primary healthcare, but the experiences were not always good. People wanted to simply be listened to, to have an opportunity to state their case, to ask questions and get concrete answers. Answers that they could do something with.

What is Let’s Talk Health?

The more I thought about these things, the more I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great to have a health community where people could get together to learn, support one another and have fun’. A community that was centred around health, but in a non-preachy or complicated way. Instead in a way that allowed people to set their own goals and have support around achieving their outcomes.

Maybe it’s a lofty ambition, but in the absence of affordable healthcare for many, Let’s Talk Health is somewhere that people can get the support to do the best that they can towards their own health. This doesn’t ignore the advice of health and medical professionals. Instead it encourages people to do what they can to maintain and sustain their health, and where necessary also get support from healthcare professionals so that they live their best possible life.

I’m interested, is there anything I can do on my own now?

YES, absolutely. There’s so much that you can do

1) I know this sounds like an oxymoron, but try to be at ease. I meet so many people that get excited about getting fit and healthy, but it takes time and as we’ve said it, it can be really tough. So instead of pushing really hard, being annoyed and frustrated look at this through the lens of something kind that you’re doing for yourself.

2) Set a tiny little goal. Instead of thinking about your end goal of say, doing 5k or losing x amount or being able to swim freestyle on holiday, think about the smallest thing that will help you to get there. It could be visiting your doctor and discussing your medication and how that could help, or maybe it’s buying some form of sport clothing, or maybe it’s simply planning a route, or the healthy meals you’d like to consider.

3) Get community. Even if you don’t join Let’s Talk Health, find those who will support you. It takes time and consistent effort (which isn’t always easy) to achieve those goals and doing it on your own or feeling as if you’re the only one who’s not doing so well can be really demoralising. Find someone (or more than one person) who’s in your corner to champion you on.

What will I get with Let’s Talk Health?

♥  2 Free initial sessions.

♥  1 ½ hour bi-monthly Zoom sessions with a simple no-nonsense educational followed by 30 minutes Q&A.

♥  45-minute educational sessions with topics ranging from; digestive health, stress and sleep support, reducing tiredness and fatigue, hormonal issues, stubborn weight gain, headaches, self-care, supporting mood fluctuations, healthy eating, self-care and much more.

♥  Support from me; a BSc qualified Nutritionist and Stress Management Trainer and other industry Health Professionals.

♥  A members-only facilitated Facebook group with the opportunity to be involved in exciting support challenges.

♥  A structured environment for goal setting and accountability and an opportunity for you to gain confidence, share and celebrate with like-minded others.

♥  2 annual ½ day in-personal sessions.

♥  A no tie in membership.

Where can I find out more?

Simply sign up here and more details will be sent to you.