Food For Your Soul: Dawn McGee
Knowing how to advocate for your health means standing firm, whether it’s in a doctor’s office, around the holiday table, or within your own family.
Ways To Unapologetically Advocate For Your Health
No matter how long you have been working on your healthy lifestyle, it can still be uncomfortable to voice your needs.
The truth is, there will always be some people who just don’t get it. You may have experienced this: You choose your options at Thanksgiving dinner mindfully, picking out the options that will nourish your body, only to be dismissed as “high maintenance.”
You’re on vacation, and you carve out time in your morning for exercise. You tell your family that you want to maintain your strength, and they call you “dramatic.” After all, it’s only one week.
You’re at your workplace holiday party, and someone offers you a drink. You explain that you are taking a break from alcohol, avoiding the side effects that don’t feel good. They put on the pressure to “loosen up” and just have some fun.
You visit your doctor, tell them about a symptom you have noticed, and they brush it off as the normal “effects of aging.”
To the people dismissing you, these moments may feel small. They may even believe they are doing you a favor. But you are allowed to set boundaries. You are allowed to advocate for your health, unapologetically.
So here are a few ways that you can be your own advocate as you navigate your personal health journey.
1: How to Advocate for Your Health by Learning to Say No with Confidence
Setting boundaries is uncomfortable, especially at first. Learning to say “no” and stand by it won’t come naturally to most of us, but it is a necessary first step toward advocating for yourself.
Remember: Each time you say “no,” it will get a little bit easier. And you can do it with love. It’s okay to say, “I appreciate that you are trying to include me in the festivities, but I am participating in a way that feels good to me.”
2: Be Direct About What You Need—No Apologies, No Sugarcoating
When you’re advocating for yourself–whether to a healthcare professional or someone in your personal life–don’t beat around the bush. Pause to gather your thoughts, and speak clearly.
It’s important to say exactly what you mean. The goal is to communicate what you are feeling and thinking. Tell them, specifically, what you need.
For instance, if your family is planning a holiday gathering, and you have specific dietary needs, you could say, “I am so excited to celebrate with you all. As part of the lifestyle changes I’ve made this year, I am limiting my sodium intake. Would some of you be open to cutting back the salt while cooking to allow everyone to decide how much to add to their portion?”
Start to ask for what you need. It’s all part of the process of becoming your own advocate!
3: Advocating Is Easier When You’re Not Doing It Alone
You don’t have to do it all on your own!
Sometimes the hardest part of advocating for your health is feeling like you’re alone in the fight. Having someone in your corner during tough conversations will always make it easier to stand your ground.
Find someone in your life who can be trusted to back you up. For some, that person is a spouse. For others, a sibling or friend. It doesn’t matter what their relationship to you is, as long as you feel confident that they will step in to provide support when you need it.
Your Health Deserves A Voice, And You’re Allowed To Use It
Advocating for yourself takes practice, but with time, you will become more comfortable doing so.
If you’re still in a season of overwhelm, check out these strategies to maintain wellness during stressful times before stepping into the next chapter of your health journey. And when you’re ready for support, I would love to cheer you on.
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About The Author:
Dawn McGee is a Nutrition Evangelist and Lazy Cook. She is super passionate about putting the fun back into being healthy and does that by teaching women how to eat to serve their body, brain, and soul so that they can get off the sidelines and back to doing all of the things that bring them joy. She works with women who are ready to make their health a priority and just need someone to help them get started and guide them through the process.
Dawn has been coaching clients in person, online, in groups, and in a 1:1 capacity for more than a dozen years. Prior to becoming a nutrition and fitness coach, she spent over 25 years in the high-tech industry, so she truly understands the life of busy professional women.
Are you a fellow professional in the fitness or wellness industry? Did you know that Dawn spent 35+ years honing her skills in sales, marketing, and business strategy–and 20+ years in the Wellness industry? Now she is using what she knows to support entrepreneurs like you. If you’re ready to move into the next phase of your business journey, schedule a complimentary call with Dawn here or email her at
