May 31, 2023
Healthy Is Not A Specific Size
I battled with weight for so long.
I gained weight from pregnancy and then weight before pregnancy, then lost weight after pregnancy. I was always chasing something. I thought I was chasing a healthy lifestyle but what I was really chasing is the societal pressure to look a certain way.
At one point it was all about being skinny. Because somewhere along the way I thought being skinny was classified as being healthy. Then it was after pregnancy doing all the things to have my abs look a certain way. Let me try this cream and that cream so that my zebra stripes don’t show. Again, somewhere along the way, I adopted this thought process that for me to truly be classified as FIT and healthy it had to look a certain way. I had to show up with this 8-pack ab, chiseled arms, and well-defined legs to be considered fit. Now don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with having goals. But what are your goals based on? Are your fitness goals based on what society considers healthy and fit or are your goals based on what you want to achieve for yourself?
You see it took me not just going through life but growing through life for me to realize that healthy looks like encompassing wellness. Wellness is more than just a size; it is a whole being. It is being emotionally, occupational, physically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually well.
It is still a battle at times. I am continually reminding myself of this and being mindful of when I am putting others first and when I am being mean to myself.
It’s time to love your body and love the skin you’re in. It’s time to put away the societal pressures of looking a certain way. It’s time truly tap into overall wellness. What does that mean?
Let me break it down
Emotional Wellness: This is when you feel enthusiastic and positive about yourself and life.
Occupational Wellness: The personal satisfaction and enrichment in life that you get through work.
Physical Wellness: It encompasses healthy eating and exercise (moving your body)
Social Wellness: Acting in improving our society and environment through your contribution and acts.
Intellectual Wellness: Expanding your knowledge and skills while sharing your amazing gifts with others.
Spiritually Wellness: The divine search for meaning and purpose. Living a life filled with purpose and enact being.
Why is it so important to encompass these 6 dimensions of wellness:
This is what it truly means to be healthy. What we fail to realize is oftentimes that we can work on our physical wellness and be emotionally wrecked. And guess what eventually the emotional wreck will cause your physical wellness to go downhill.
So, what am I saying?
Stop chasing “THE LOOK” and really start introspection of yourself. Am I doing these things to please society or look the way society wants me to look or Am I truly working on my optimal health?
Why?
Because Healthy is not a SIZE it is a way of living, a way of being, and a way of how you show up in the world.
With Love,
Felicia
By: Felicia. R. Hall @feliciarhall
Felicia is an educator and motivator at heart. Felicia is a Certified Athletic Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Run & Fitness Coach, RYT 200 Yoga Instructor, Educator, and a doctoral candidate. She is a small-town girl who loves running, nature, and helping others become the best version of themselves.