How To Live A Healthy Lifestyle

It seems as though everyone is striving to have a “healthy lifestyle”. I feel as though people think this is drinking green smoothies, doing yoga, going for runs, and being in incredible shape. But what is it really? In 1946, the World Health Organization defined it as, “A complete state of mental, physical and social well-being not merely the absence of disease”. This is pretty different from what society is saying a healthy lifestyle is. In my opinion, a healthy lifestyle is one where you feed your body in ways that make you happy, moving your body in ways that make you feel good, and doing things that make you feel fulfilled.

There are 5 fairly easy steps to live a “healthy lifestyle”. This is going to look different for every single person. It is so easy to compare our lives to others but remember that only you know what is best for you.

Eat foods that fuel you.

Whether you have allergies, or you’re picky, or whatever the case may be, eat foods that fuel you. Try to get a variety of different foods into your diet, and eat things that you enjoy. Living a healthy lifestyle is not about cutting out food groups, or cutting out macros, nothing like that. If you like pizza, eat pizza. If you like ice cream, eat ice cream. If you’re lactose intolerant try and steer clear of dairy and find alternatives that you can actually enjoy. Eat everything in moderation. I can tell you that probably every week, if not every other week,I have pizza or chicken strips. I’m still meeting my goals, I haven’t gone off track, I have been able to stay in my calories and my protein, and I’m enjoying everything.

The only diet you can be on for fat loss/muscle gain/maintenance is one that you can stick to. If you love carbs, don’t try keto just because you think it’ll work. If you love different fats, don’t cut them out completely. I used to lower my carbs because I thought they made me retain water which is very incorrect. As long as you're sufficiently hydrated nothing is going to significantly make you retain water. Just eat what makes you feel good and what fuels your body.

Get movement in daily

When I say get movement in daily, I don’t mean workout for an hour everyday. I mean move your body in a way that makes you happy. Don’t go to the gym and do 3 hours worth of cardio if you hate running. Go out and go for a walk. Do some yoga. Stretch even. Do anything that gets your body moving in a way that you enjoy.

If you haven’t found a way of moving that makes you feel good I suggest that you try different things! Maybe you’ll like paddle boarding, surfing, biking, or hiking! You never know what you’re going to end up enjoying. My favorite way to clear my head is by taking my dog for a walk. I love seeing my dog be so excited as well as being able to connect with nature and, when it’s sunny, get some sun! Another activity I love is kayaking. There’s something so relaxing about floating on the water and paddling wherever your heart desires. Caution though, your arms might be sore the next day!

Whatever makes you happy, do it as often as you can. In this way you’ll get the exercise your body needs while also taking care of your mental health.

Drink enough water

Hydration is something that I neglected for years. Ever since starting to drink water more often I can tell a huge difference in my energy and my endurance during workouts. Water is such a major part of life and our bodies need it! Drinking enough water helps increase energy and brain function, helps joints and muscle function correctly, and helps maximize physical performance. There are many other benefits including helping your skin, and naturally cleansing your body,

If drinking water isn’t your thing, one way I started drinking more was using a water flavoring. I also started drinking at least one glass of water every day. As time went on I would increase my goal for water. I now drink roughly 80-144 oz of water per day. My goal is a whole gallon per day or 128 oz.

Prioritize protein

No matter what your goals are, whether it’s losing fat, gaining muscle, or maintaining your weight, always prioritize protein. Protein helps build lean muscle and when you have any of these goals it’s important to keep and continue to build lean muscle to reach your goals. An easy way to hit your protein goals are to have a protein source at each meal, use high quality protein shakes, and protein bars.

I am trying to work on getting more natural protein into my diet but while I’m working on that I’m glad I have my protein powder to help boost my intake when I’m on the go. They are super beneficial when you have a very active lifestyle or when you aren’t the best cook. I usually have protein bars and shakes in my desk at work as well as having a scoop of protein in my oatmeal in the morning. Since I started hitting my protein requirements I can tell that I am getting so much stronger, especially with my post workout protein shakes. It’s crazy how much your life can change with little changes!

Put yourself first

This one is probably the hardest one of all. Especially if you are a people pleaser. You have to make sure that you keep your goals in mind, make sure that what is best for you is what you are doing. Not what’s best for your significant other. Now, I’m not telling you to not think about them. Just remember to prioritize yourself. Make a list of your goals, and don’t let anything stop you. If you want to relax one day a week, do whatever you can to make that happen. Even if its a bath a couple of times a week, or even once a week. Maybe you want to meditate everyday, make time for it! If you need more sleep, come up with a schedule that gets you into bed earlier and up at a good time.

PUT YOURSELF FIRST.

I’m still struggling with this one, but it’s gotten easier having someone by my side that makes me take time for myself and someone that models taking time for themselves.

Healthy lifestyles look different to anyone, but when you’re doing things that work for your body and make you feel good you’ll be on your way!