I never was one to uphold resolutions for the New Year. I could not instantly change a habit and expect to continue it for one year. And when I enrolled in college, I found it nearly impossible to maintain new habits in the wake of stress. Papers, projects and tests equated to Chipotle, YoPo and energy drinks. Yikes!
I did, however, always challenge myself to alter something about my eating habits over the summer. It started out as a little competition between my sister and me: who can stick to her “food challenge” for three months? Fast forward to 2013, and we have turned our summer challenge into a yearly tradition. Every summer, we encourage ourselves to broaden our pallets, reduce our sugar intake or whatever comes to mind. It’s because of this challenge that I have been able to make lifelong changes to my eating habits. I also attribute this challenge for helping me maintain my good health and figure in college. With summer rapidly approaching, I’ve been on the hunt for a new way to push my health envelope. I’ve scoured all the social media platforms and found women embarking on similar health journeys. These women are amazing, and how selfish would it be of me to keep them to myself? Here are list of inspirational health gurus that you should follow on Instagram!
Francheska of Hey Fran Hey
Francheska is definitely my inspiration for this summer’s challenge! Founder of Hey Fran Hey, Francheska is a vegetarian making the green lifestyle appear easy. She is a complete naturalista encouraging men and women to live naturally for a younger, healthier self. Everything that enters her body comes from the freshest produce – including kale, ginger, and almond milk. Try blending those three into a smoothie. Her Instagram posts are a mixed bag of treats. They offer recipes for great wraps and smoothies, plenty of do-it-yourself beauty projects and glimpses into her personal life. Though the highlight of her posts are the monthly challenges. Francheska urges her followers to challenge themselves to try different workout routines or recipes for a month. With the challenge instructions, she makes taking on a new habit seem effortless. She also promises to do them with her followers. With Francheska, you are never alone – which makes listening to her advice that much easier. Or, you can just look at her figure courtesy of a healthy living! You can find all of her health and beauty tips on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.
My Nguyen of MyHealthyDish_
Wouldn’t you love to see romantic pictures like this on your newsfeed everyday? Okay, romance is not your thing – but there are definitely other reasons to follow My Nguyen on Instagram. She makes eating healthfully a lively occasion. Oozing with vibrancy and fun, her account – MyHealthyDish_ – offers healthy recipes that are both delicious and simple. Her posts flood your news feed with different dishes for any meal of the day. From the late-night snack to the stress-nibblers, My has you covered. The best thing about this account is its emphasis on bodily happiness. My does not post diet conscious recipes. Like Francheska, she encourages women to eat cleanly. Her emphasis on health, not size, is key. All recipes are meant to make your body feel energized and at its best. When your body is happy, your waistline will be too! Be sure to follow her on Instagram, or you can find more tips on her website.
Massy of Mankofit
Do not let her model-esque, athletic body intimidate you. Massy of Mankofit is just like us, and her Instagram is full of amazing fitness photos and tips. Massy is different from Francheska and My in that she focuses heavily on exercising your body. But like the other two women, she stresses that physical appearance should not be at the forefront. Your ability is the key to your health. Massy posts photos and challenges that encourage her followers to improve themselves. Go a little further in your workout to improve flexibility and strength, and your body will thank you later! This is the message her posts relay. I wouldn’t mind seeing such inspiration throughout my summer challenge. I’m sure it will help you with challenge too!
All photos were courtesy of the Instagram accounts.