Health is Individual
When it comes to health and defining health, society has a lot to say. With the rise of trends like “What I Eat In a Day” and “My Fitness Routine” to “My Health Journey,” I feel as though health has been comparitive when it is really individual. As a woman in the modelling industry, I am constantly met with comparison, moulds, and ideas of what my health “should” look like. So what is health really? is it the state of being free from illness or injury? a person's mental or physical condition?
your good health; noun: your health; plural noun: your healths; exclamation: your health
To me, Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. 'absence of disease' or 'physical fitness'. It could be defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. It is when I began to focus on balance and what truly helps me align my mental health with my physical health, that I believe I truly became my version of healthy.
As the phrase goes, “If you have good health, you have everything.”
Many people don’t appreciate their health until they aren’t well. By then, the poor eating, missed sleep, and lack of exercise catches up and then you can’t do much of anything until you recover. Sometimes a reminder of how important health is can be helpful in motivating individuals to healthier behaviours. I had this harsh wake up call when I developed a severe eating disorder and dismissed the true essence of health for pure vanity. I was so focused on a superficial goal that I forgot to be holistic and intuitive with my body’s needs and power.
“Time and health are two precious assets that we don't recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.”
There are five main aspects of personal health: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual.
health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
So what does health mean to you?
I thought it would be useful for me to define what health means to me. Through the ups and downs of developing as a woman, I have definetely had a f****d up relationship with my health. I have been obsessive, confused, and even indecisive at times but now, I choose to be Intuitive.
[more intuitive; most intuitive] 1. : having the ability to know or understand things without any proof or evidence: Intuitive health is a holistic approach to healing and listening to your body. I often slow down to ask my body what it needs and utilize this state to access consciousness to receive intuitive information about my energetic body and current situation. Within this, I may use meditation, mindfulness, positive self-talk, and maybe even some healthy exercise to release some endorphins.
I have found that asking my body what it needs is my best tool for achieving individual health. Now, I do like to balance this with a little bit of research as I resort to being an analytical person so I seldom look at superfoods, remedies, or movements that remedy the way I am feeling. For example, I was lacking energy and clarity for a bit so I figured I would consult a naturopath about some solutions I could facilitate into my everyday routine. Through this conversation, she suggested I add MCT oil or Lion’s Mane to my coffee. I began to do this every day and it helped! It was easy to do and fit seamlessly into my life… and honestly, I kind of like the taste.
I wake up in the morning and crave my coffee with this combo, some coconut milk and a nice thick bowl of oatmeal. Now this is where the individuality kicks in. Many people do not wake up hungry in the morning and may not be able to eat such a dense meal first thing. I, however, wake up super hungry and need fuel for my workouts or days of shooting. So depending on the day, I may do a low-impact pilates/yoga session and then fuel my body. If I am doing something more high-intensity or lifting weights, my body tells me I need the fuel and energy before my workout. I add protein powder, some micronutrients, and a lot of delicious healthy fats with my Greek yogurt and peanut butter. I top it off with some Maca powder for hormonal health and get on with my blessed day 🤍
I want to note, that although I do not live a restrictive lifestyle, I do live a very intentional one. If I have the choice to do so, I try to fill my body with foods that have some type of healing property, nutrient profile, or purpose. I wake up and have my sea-moss, fill my mornings with fruits, fibre, and protein. I like the way my body feels when I fuel it and give it the things it needs. I do supplement some vitamins and minerals but prefer to include them in my diet if possible. This may vary depending on if you are vegan, lactose intolerant, etc.
How I Move
My relationship with my body, gym, and movement has been up and down. I have gone from falling in love with a sport, being addicted to aesthetics, overworking, and resting, to now - what I live and breathe - Intuitive movement.
Intuitive Movement is all about flexibility. This includes ridding yourself of any strict rules about exercise and also getting rid of diet tools like apps, scales, social media accounts and fitness watches that dictate how you should be moving.
At first, it was difficult for me to set aside my preexisting notions of fitness and goals surrounding vanity. As I tested myself to lean into what my body craved rather than what I saw in the mirror, I began to feel stronger and more capable. I replaced aesthetic goals with capability goals. I began to speak to myself as a warrior rather than a weak girl needing to be built, shaped, and fixed. It was no longer “growing a big booty and carved abs” to having “strong glutes and core.” If my legs felt sore, I hit lower body. If I felt as though I was overworked, I leaned into yoga and self-loving movements like pilates and barre. If I really needed to blow off steam, I boxed, ran, or even indulged in a HIIT workout. And if I truly, felt depleted, I took rest.
Rest is a part of your workout routine. Rest days are an important part of exercise for all levels of fitness. A person should take a rest day every 7–10 days or as needed to help the body and mind recover. A rest day can be an active day that incorporates gentle exercises such as walking or yoga. Alternatively, a person may opt for a full day of relaxation. As I incorporated this, I saw more progress and felt more power. We put our bodies through so much exhaustion and it is only natural that it needs rest to recover and come back stronger. One of the most detrimental things you can do is deprive your body of rest.
rest is essential for muscle growth. Exercise creates microscopic tears in your muscle tissue. But during rest, cells called fibroblasts repair it. This helps the tissue heal and grow, resulting in stronger muscles.
FOOD IS FUEL.
So find what works for YOU
Stop focusing on others, their “What I Eat In a Day” and lifestyle and listen to YOUR body. We have been conditioned to mimic social media posts and tips while we neglect our unique needs. It won’t be easy but it requires trial and error. Sometimes what works for you won’t work for someone else and vice versa.
Ways to figure it out:
Whatever it is, the way you treat yourself can make all the difference.
Try new activities.
Give yourself a month to try different exercises and note the ones you love most. Many boutique fitness gyms offer trial memberships, or you can use an app like ClassPass to bounce around (it's not only limited to gyms; you can try activities like indoor rock climbing, too).
Choose activities you enjoy. Sticking with your workouts can be easier if you incorporate activities that you enjoy.
Pick a time of day that works best for you.
Understand that setbacks can and will happen.
Choose to work out as a lifetime commitment.
Eat fibre-rich food.
Choose portions and balance your plate.
Ditch the alcohol.
Keep drinking water/fluid throughout the day.
our body needs time to adapt to the new routine you're introducing. If you try to keep up with a more experienced exerciser, you'll likely feel tired and sore for days, which makes it hard to exercise consistently. You'll also put yourself at risk of injury.
Flexibility. A flexible plan uses a variety of foods and lifestyles.
Balance. Your plan should include the right amount of nutrients and movement.
Likeability. A plan should include foods you like and workouts that you enjoy for longevity.
Activity.
BALANCE. If you wanna go out, go out. If you wanna eat a slice of cake, f***** do it. If you need rest. TAKE IT.
