Healthy Lifestyle

What does it really mean?

The word “healthy” means different things to different people. It could totally mean one thing to one person and then something completely different to another. Regardless of who you are, I want to make one point very clear: being healthy does not have a single set of rules you have to live by! 

But there are some principles you can adopt to create a healthy mindset, which will give you a great foundation for being healthy.

If you’ve ever been a bit overwhelmed or thought to yourself, “What does health mean?”, then this blog is for you. Now is the time to think about how you feel and what you want to achieve. Set some goals for yourself about how you want to feel in the future, and focus on improving your health.

Keep reading to find out what being healthy means to me — and different things to try so you can be healthy in a way that suits you and your lifestyle.

What does it mean to be healthy?

Being healthy doesn’t mean following a strict diet or exercise routines, it means finding out what works best for you, your lifestyle and making choices that can help energize you. It also means fueling yourself with the right nutrition. Being healthy means making choices that leave you feeling fit, strong and confident. I love the saying: “a healthy lifestyle looks different on everybody”. 

We all have different things going on in our lives, so it’s important to make choices that relate to your lifestyle and will help you have a positive and healthy life, rather than trying to adopt habits that don’t connect with you, your lifestyle, or your health and fitness goals. 

Here are my top tips for kickstarting a healthy lifestyle — try them to find out what works for you!

1. Get active  

Being healthy means getting active in some way every day. While it is important to make time for exercise, simply trying to be more active in some way each day is a good place to start if you want to live a healthier lifestyle. 

It could be a walk around the block, making an effort to walk more places throughout your day, or doing a yoga session — the activity itself isn’t as important as the fact that you’re moving your body every day. 

When you’re ready to start working out, make a schedule and try to stick to it. You don’t need to be working out all day, every day. 

I do strength training three times a week and — that’s it! 

I love working out at home using LES MILLS on Demand. Try it free here.

Being healthy is about finding something that you love doing, that suits your lifestyle and committing to it at least a few times a week. Just move your body!!

2. Make food choices that suit you and your lifestyle

Healthy eating can be simple! If you find that you are generally too busy to cook during the week, meal prep can help you to have healthy meals on hand. 

It doesn’t have to be restrictive either — limiting yourself to a small range of foods is not an enjoyable or sustainable way to live.

It is possible to eat healthy with a wide variety of foods from your local supermarket. 

There are SO many delicious meals you can make with simple fresh fruits, veggies and lean proteins that are easily accessible and packed with nutrients. You can find lots of examples of this in my recipes! 

3. Educate yourself about food and fitness

If you are new to health and fitness, it can be an overwhelming amount of information about being healthy — and many misconceptions too! While educating yourself is important, styles of eating or diet fads can gain popularity without any evidence that they work, or are beneficial to your health. 

The reality is that quick-fix diets don’t work in the long term! They promote an all-or-nothing approach to eating that is difficult to sustain for any length of time. Indulge in certain foods sometimes, doesn’t make you unhealthy! I believe that a healthy lifestyle means eating ALL food types, in moderation. 

Learn more about wholesome foods and why they are good for you, rather than focusing on diets or restrictions, and you will soon understand how to make healthier choices for your body and lifestyle. 

4. Don’t forget what’s important

Being healthy doesn’t require new gym clothes, huge amounts of time, or lots of equipment. You can start to be more active by walking more, and my LES MILLS on Demand is designed to fit into a busy schedule —

When you’re starting out, there are lots of ways you can improvise so you’ll have everything you’ll need to complete a workout. 

It’s also important to remember the ultimate goal is to change how you FEEL. Your health and fitness journey is unique, so try not to get caught up in comparing yourself to others. 

Finding a supportive community who believes in you and your fitness goals is also SO important. Look to other people for support and inspiration — the Innovative Health & Fitness Community is a place where you’ll find others who share your interests and goals.

Measure your health by how you feel: are you feeling stronger, fitter and more energized after working out regularly and eating wholesome foods? Then you’re on the right track.

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5. Live a balanced life

The key to a happy and healthy life is to never deprive yourself and feel like you’re missing out on the things you enjoy. It’s all about balance!

Being healthy is easier if you’re educated about the choices you’re making. It also means taking a balanced, sustainable approach to food — eating wholesome, nutrient-rich meals, while also occasionally eating the foods you enjoy that might not fit into that category.

Remember, your mindset is the most important thing — and so is your happiness. If you want to achieve something, there is nothing stopping you from pursuing it. You’ve got this!

Developing positive habits and breaking bad habits can take time. Even on days you only manage a few small changes, you should acknowledge that you’ve done something positive for your health!

Being healthy is about being happy

Being healthy can involve some trial and error when finding out what makes you feel like you’re achieving your health and fitness goals.

However, it doesn’t have to be complicated either. 

Being healthy is ultimately about finding balance in your life, and understanding what works for you — whether you’re a student, a mom or busy at work. It’s also about knowing that putting time and effort into being healthy can be really rewarding too. 

Making your health a priority can be as simple as staying active, making time for regular exercise and eating a wide variety of wholesome foods — but even small changes have the power to transform the way you feel about yourself, and I believe everyone deserves to feel healthy, happy and confident! 

What does being healthy mean to you? Let me know in the comments below!