What does it mean to be "healthy"?

After journaling a couple of nights ago, I decided to get some thoughts out of my head and onto my social media, where I received soo much support from friends and family, and encouragement to keep writing, and here we are with my own website/personal blog. So with that, I decided my first blog post should consist of what I wrote on my Facebook page today (click here to go directly to my Facebook page!).

*Another LONG Sunday rant*: Many people make a New Years resolution to be more "healthy", but what does HEALTHY mean? Are you trying to get chiseled abs and a thigh gap so you feel like you fit in more with societies standards? Do you feel like you need to go run for 60 minutes every day because of the guilt of too much dessert last night makes you feel like you broke your "lose the last 10lbs by summer" resolution? STOP right there. Being heathy means something different to everyone, but you don't need six pack abs and 12% body fat to be healthy. Trust me, I've been there. I've been 9% body fat and had a thigh gap, and you know what? I was tired, I was constantly cold, I had to use a space heater on my feet at work in JULY, I was miserable waking up in the morning and waiting for each and every meal I could eat that day. Was I a happier person after losing 24lbs? I can tell you that the quality of my life did not improve, it didn't change WHO I was, it didn't give me the gratification I expected after achieving my "goal body". Yes I loved feeling lean, I loved fitting into clothes sizes that I never even imagine I could wear again. But I was NOT any happier.

The point of this is NOT to bash fitness competitors because I am one myself and YES I plan to compete again in the future because I love bodybuilding. My point is if you want to make the decision to live a healthier lifestyle and/you're currently a competitor in your offseason, don't make it solely about aesthetics. Make it a lifestyle choice to physically BE HEALTHIER. Nourish your body with the foods it needs to survive. Competition show prep is one thing and there's a time and place to have a strict diet and nutrition plan, but for every day life, don't starve yourself for a six pack or run on the treadmill until you've exhausted yourself to the point of hating exercise just because you want to burn calories. It breaks my heart seeing eating disorders affecting girls as young at SIX YEARS OLD. Why are we killing ourselves to fit into society's standards?? Why are there 16 and 17 year old girls suffering from amenorrhea and possibly preventing themselves from future motherhood because they ...want to feel "beautiful". Beauty does not mean feeling tired constant, being cold year round, curling up in a bawl and crying because you ate too much pie with your family on holidays and now you've lost all hope of being as thin as a Victoria's Secret model. Ps, one meal does not ruin your body.

This year, in 2016, let's make a change to shut down the standards of what a "typical" woman should look like. God gave you this body to SERVE others, you are on the earth to give love, spread good faith, and be a servant to those around you. If you are exhausting yourself to the point of unhappiness in the gym and around food, then I ask you to PLEASE step back and reevaluate your decisions and the way you view yourself. You ARE beautiful, you ARE unique, and you are only given one body, so don't abuse it. EAT TO LIVE, don't live to eat.

If you want to go to the gym. fuel your workouts with good food, go get your heart rate up and do it for your HEALTH. Do some cardio and lower your cholesterol if that's something you need to work on, for example. Cardio shouldn't just be viewed as a way to burn calories because you "ate too much"!!! Please increase self love and help those around you see their beauty as well. This world is SO focused on looks and it has created some of the most dangerous mental disorders we could ever imagine. I tried vlogging my fitness journey and lifestyle, but have decided I'm more of a writer and that's my niche so I'm sticking to blogging instead." xoxo

I sincerely hope that if you are struggling and/or just needing some encouragement that you ARE beautiful inside and out, and you found this helpful, please let me know! I want to be the reason for positive change in someone else's life. I would love to connect with you and learn more about you! Also, feel free to reach out to me on any of my social media pages, linked on the top right-hand corner of my blog :) Thank you for taking the time to read this; it is truly appreciated!