The definition of the word healthy is so misunderstood by many people.

Some individuals believe that if you’re eating in portions, or eating what they perceive as healthy food, and going to the gym regularly that they are living a “healthy” life. This is not always true.

True health involves all layers of your life. From the way you think to the way you even interact with others. Health is not just ones caloric intake or the weight of food, but your outlook on life, including your outlook on food!

Ask yourself:

• Do I include moderation in my lifestyle? Counting natural foods and “bad” foods as well, without feeling guilt or pride?

• Do I go to the gym because I like how it makes me feel? Or do I go to punish myself for “unhealthy” foods I ate in the previous days?

• Do I count calories not knowing the depths of calorie counting and the risks? Do I watch the scale, obsessing over the loss or gain of every few pounds?

• Is my perspective of health or healthy options even correct? Am I truly nourished while following these guidelines? Are they true or made up in my head?

• OR simply, are they even improving my quality of life right now?

• Am I mentally okay? Am I happy? Do I know how to be happy?

• What kind of person am I to others and to the world around me? Do I go out of my way to make people feel happy, or sad?

These are just some questions you may ask yourself in order to find out if you are on route to a healthy lifestyle.

One subject to really consider is the importance of moderation. How negatively the stress of eating a type of food could actually impact your health and specifically your digestion process in that moment.

It’s encouraged to strive for healthier options but please know, it’s unrealistic to eliminate all things that could possibly be unnatural. No solid habits are built overnight and even after developing them there should be some flexibility. It is mentally unhealthy to have such critical feelings during intake. This lack of freedom and need to control and obsess over small things robs us from enjoying, experiencing and LIVING LIFE like we are meant to!

The gym or exercise to say the least is something that should make you feel GOOD! If you feel unhappy about it, try doing something lighter to start or an activity you actually enjoy. Attempt a new movement, go with friends, or ask for help!

The risks to calorie counting and self-weighing was another question I mentioned. Putting up uneducated outlines and boundaries on the food you eat can lead to detrimental images and feelings towards meals. I would advise you to always talk to an educated professional before starting any diet. Even if there is a lot of good things to say about it or some health professionals themselves are raving about it. Remember, what works for one person does not always work for another individual. The specifics of their diet and what worked for them may also not be clearly outlined. Even though your answer guru may secretly be web MD lol!

Let me tell you a quick story to highlight the risks of searching your answers online rather than speaking directly to a professional. A customer of a local health food store had searched up something good for undereye bags. Using web MD they found that the treatment mentioned the use of oregano oil. (If you know anything about oregano oil it can be extremely hot and even poisonous at the wrong dosage. I would NEVER recommend using it near or on the eyes) By luck I had asked what they were planning to use the oregano oil for. After telling me for under eye treatment I requested to see where they found that information. They proceeded to show me the article and there it was… the advertisement that had popped up in-between the article was promoting oregano oil but had NOTHING to do with the article or under eye solution. Thankfully the customers eyes were spared. Imagine what could have gone brutally wrong if the consumer was not questioned or they were not shopping at a store who had educated people working there. What a scenario that truly proved the dangers of searching for information on your own without any background in the subject.

It’s easy to misconstrued key information about foods, diets or natural products when it is not tailored to you and all of your needs, level of knowledge, and understanding.

Some folks begin following trends and may even find it has made them lose a few pounds. BUT they will tell me they are tired or unhappy. This is a good way to know if you’re eating habits are not serving you well. After all, why do we eat? To FUEL our body!

I would like you to look at this same scenario in terms of an automobile. If the gas we are fueling our car with is causing our car to run badly, would you not improve the quality of gas? Or will you continue to drive it in low operating condition? In the long term, possibly damaging other car parts in the process. NO WAY! So why would you do it to your body? Doesn’t make sense right? I don’t think so either. So let’s improve our quality of fuel to something that gives us the energy supply we require to properly function for the day ahead. It’s always important to reflect on how we feel. After all it’s our body’s best way of communicating with us.

Speaking of feelings. Health is not only about how you eat or physical activity, but the way you carry yourself through life. Do you know how to be happy? It starts from within. It truly does.

The type of person you are to the world around you, your decision making, your relationships… they all pertain to your health and wellbeing. You cannot say you are healthy if you are showing unkindness to yourself or others. Great health requires peace and love in life. That is the interesting thing about health, there are many layers to it. We all are on a journey to continuously improving it. There is no finish line and there will always be bumps in the road.

THAT is our ultimate goal, to work on who we are in all aspects in life, striving for a better version of ourselves each day no matter the hurdles.

Cheers to a “healthier” self tomorrow!

Ash xx