How to be REALLY Healthy (the truth)

So many people are the image of health now-a-days. Or so it seems?

I find different fitspos every time I'm on social media. I scroll through pictures and all I think is "wow I wish I looked like this person".

I get inspired, so then I want to learn what they do to obtain their physique. When in reality, there is no healthy way I could get my body to look exactly like theirs. 

I may try and run my weight off at the gym, but I'm never going to have skinny legs or a small butt. Even if I do what feels like a million crunches, I still have the extra pouch where I store my cookies (New Girl fans way?)

Through this constant conflict I have, I find myself complaining about my body and how I'm not in the best shape. When in reality, I workout (almost) everyday, eat (fairly) good, and I take care of myself (98% of the time). 

Through this all, even the points where I mess up, I'm simply HUMAN. Not one of those fitspos has a perfect diet, workout, or routine everyday. Yet I find myself believing that they do and I get mad at myself for not being a flawless robot.

I want to share with you all my criteria of true health. As a person who has always struggled with my body image and how I view myself, it has taken me YEARS to accept these facts and follow them to become truly healthy. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

What is Healthy?

1. Doing what makes you happy and what is best for your health (working out and eating ice cream makes me happy, so I do both!)

2. Not defining your own/others' health by weight, measurements, body types, body fat, or unrealistic comparisons. This may sound cheesy, but God made us all different and that is such a beautiful thing we shouldn't take for granted. We should not strive to look like Kim K. Genesis 1:27

3. What does define health- digestive health, mental health, physical feeling of health, & internal health. All of these exceed importance over your waist measurements. 

4. How to stay healthy-eat whole and natural foods, hydrate over anything (get a reusable water bottle), choose activity over convenience (take the stairs, walk anywhere you can, take a bike for further excursions), plan to make food at home, pack your meals before you eat them, be stingy with your taste buds (don't eat food you don't like). 

5. Additional ways of how I stay healthy- 

Vegan life: has helped me to eat more things I used to not like (veggies) and has decreased my cravings for unhealthy food.

Intermittent fasting: This has not only helped my stomach's health and happiness, but my work initiative and productivity while I am fasting in the morning. As well helps me to portion control and eat only as much as I am hungry for.

Working out once a day with a planned workout: crucial for people like me who get easily distracted at the gym, setting out a time to go is super beneficial too.

Feeding myself food I would feed others: this is if you are chef of the family, make food that you know is good for others and tastes yummy! Thus you'll eat that healthy food to.

Finding the healthiest option on the menu and sticking to it: This is difficult to do, but I do this by finding the low calorie area of the menu (salads or other plates) and just choosing between plates offered there. I try to avoid looking at other options that are not so healthy because I know they will tempt me. I then just order as soon as I can so I stick to a plate and don't change my mind. I also always order water right away and don't even look at the drink menu, because I like eating my calories, not drinking them. 

Hope this blog post and thoughts help a bit with any struggles you may be having regarding dieting, food, and just acquiring a healthy life. Have a blessed day and thank you for reading! 
Love, Amanda