I used to hate the idea of “being healthy.” I thought it meant lots of boring salads, working out, and not being able to enjoy the foods I love. Recently, however, I realized that this is simply not the case. Being healthy does mean eating clean and keeping your body fit, but it also means keeping your mind clear and happy. There is so much more to health than just your body.
Personally, I have been experimenting and trying to find what I like. I have tried to wake up early in the morning and work out, I have tried eating salads; in fact I have probably tried every fad diet out there. Did I see changes? Yes. But there was one problem—I did not enjoy doing those things. I am not a morning person, nor do I appreciate restricting myself on what I eat. I love food, and salads just don’t cut it for me.
I had to experiment, but I realized that my love for food made me love experimenting with new, healthy, recipes. It was so much fun to try new things, and still get to do the thing I loved most. Not to mention, my cooking skills improved greatly. Additionally, I stopped “overeating.” I ate slowly so my body could process when my stomach was full and I did not eat too much. This helped combat any grogginess I used to feel after eating a big meal.
I also found workouts I loved. As a dancer, I certainly do not enjoy doing plank jacks and mountain climbers. However, I love other moves which still work the same muscles! Youtube is a great resource for this. There are so many fitness instructors and so many kinds of things you can do. They have dance workouts, HIIT workouts, and even yoga workouts. You just need to find what you love.
Being healthy looks different for everyone. Some people prefer to go hard in the gym, while others choose to peacefully meditate and do yoga in their homes. You just need to find what you love and find a peaceful acceptance of you and your life. Once you reach this, the healthy glow-up will follow on its own!