Lifestyle Modifications
Forming Healthier Habits
When you are diagnosed with a uterine condition, your life will automatically change.
Let those changes be positive.
At Uterine Care Collaborative, we want to make sure you are empowered and in control of as many of those changes as possible. You are not a victim, and you can still lead a healthy life in spite of your diagnosis.
Don’t think of lifestyle changes as difficult. Just think of them as different. It may take you some time to adjust to new habits, but small steps toward supporting your uterine and overall health can have lasting impact on you and your loved ones.
Moving Your Body
We’re not going to tell you to “just lose weight.”
That’s not our MO. Many Black women have been to the doctor for various issues and been advised to lose weight as an end-all-be-all solution to everything. In some cases, weight loss may help, but it is certainly not an overnight process and it doesn’t necessarily treat the issue at hand.
What we have found is that it is more important to form better and more consistent fitness habits. Leading an active lifestyle looks different for everyone, but the most important thing is to move your body.
Take a walk. Enroll in a fitness class like yoga, pilates, or cycling. Do pelvic floor exercises. Go for a swim.
It may take some trial and error, but find the movement(s) you enjoy most and do them often.
Practicing Mindfulness & Self Care
Get your mind right. You’ve been diagnosed with a physical condition, but don’t neglect your mental and emotional well-being. When your mind is clear and your heart is at peace, you can better navigate the challenges associated with your uterine condition. Here are some suggestions for incorporating mindfulness and self-care into your daily routine:
Meditation: Find a quiet space and focus on your breath.
Journaling: Write it out. How your body feels. Your mind. Anything.
Spend Time in Nature: Connect with the present moment outdoors.
Prioritize Rest: You can do it all, but you don’t have to. Get some sleep.
Indulge in Hobbies: Find activities you enjoy and actually do them.
Seek Professional Help: Consider therapy or counseling. There’s nothing wrong with a professional helping you unravel your condition and your life.
Forming Healthier Food Habits
Black people have a historically rich relationship with food. During slavery, our diet was often leftovers and scraps. As a form of survival, enslaved people developed soul food—a most creative act of resistance and now a symbol of communal pride and cultural identity. We love soul food.
Food remains a central part of Black culture, but many of us have to unlearn some traditions can directly relate to health complications. It’s not about cutting all the food you love out of your of your diet, because we aren’t going to do that, and we would never tell you to stop eating anything—only your doctor can advise that.
What we can encourage you to do is to reclaim your body and your relationship with food. Maybe this means relearning how to shop for groceries. Maybe it means learning portion control—reimagining some of your favorite meals in healthier ways.
The most important thing is to find modifications that work for you, that are sustainable, and that keep your body and your uterus happy.