Happy Thursday! Let’s talk about something that’s been on my mind a lot lately—the overwhelming and often confusing flood of fitness information we encounter online. If you’ve ever felt swamped by mixed messages about health and fitness, you’re not alone. Here’s my take on cutting through the noise and finding a balanced approach to living well.

Leading a balanced lifestyle, not “healthy”

First of all, let’s change the wording here. Instead of thinking about whether you are or not “healthy”, ask yourself if your diet, your lifestyle, your exercise, your social/alone time is BALANCED. This way we can start to rewrite this narrative of “what is healthy?” and focus on what is meaningful in our lives to make sure we stay balanced.

I’d say I live a relatively healthy lifestyle, but it’s also balanced. And guess what? You don’t need to compete in marathons or Hyrox competitions to be deemed a fitness enthusiast or even “healthy.” The fitness industry often pushes extreme standards, but being healthy is about more than achieving these benchmarks.

The internet is full of advice, tips, and trends. It’s easy to feel like you have to conform to these ideals to be healthy. But don’t give in to what you see online. Fitness and wellness look different for everyone. Move your body in a way that feels good for you, and this may change from day to day. Some days, it might mean a vigorous workout; other days, a gentle walk or some stretching; and some days complete rest (these are my favourite days, and I try and incorporate one a week.)

When it comes to food, eat what makes you feel good. Aim for a nutrient-dense diet most of the time, but don’t deprive yourself of the good stuff. Remember, there is no such thing as “bad” food. Our brains have been so manipulated into what health and fitness should look like that many of us have forgotten what it actually is: BALANCE.

I don’t eat perfectly every day. In fact, it’s my birthday this weekend, and I guarantee I won’t be eating “clean”! And that’s okay. I’m proud of how I live and how I teach others to live—free from scales and genuinely enjoying the concept of fitness and food.

I hope my content looks a little different from what you typically see in the fitness industry. I don’t encourage over-exercising, disordered eating, or, heaven forbid, eating disorders. I go to the pub on weekends with friends or my boyfriend, enjoy pizza most weeks, and eat chocolate, cake, and bread. I love pasta. And guess what? My weight doesn’t change drastically because of this.

I do these things because they keep my life entertaining and fun. A life locked into constantly thinking about food and exercise is not fun. It drains you completely. And I don’t want to live that way – been there done that!

Finding Peace with Food and Your Body

At this point in your journey, I hope you’re on your way to finding peace with food and making amends with your body. Sadly, many of us struggle with disordered eating habits or over-exercising, finding it incredibly hard to fight the incessant need to exercise, even when our bodies are screaming no. But we can change that. With my help and experience, we can push past this together.

We see so many mixed messages about what a “healthy lifestyle” or what “fitness” looks like. First of all, what do you think it looks like? What do you wish it looked like? What would you change? When you have this idea in your mind (and I hope it looks like balance rather than an obsession with exercise and food), we can move on to make this happen.

We are told one day that we need carbs in our diet for balance, then the next day that they are bad for you. We hear that fruit is good for us for fibre and natural sugars, then that they have too much sugar and are bad for you. See where I’m going with this?

Advice on diets and exercise regimes changes almost daily. The “ideal body type” not long ago was curvy and “healthy.” Now, for some completely stupid reason, celebrities are promoting a super thin body, and taking Ozempic. I’m not here to judge anyone’s choices, but it’s frustrating when societal standards keep shifting. How can we move forward with this? What advice should we be listening to?

Embracing Balance

I believe I have a very rounded approach. People can choose how they want to live, eat the way they want, and exercise the way they want. But I hope I come across as a guiding hand, telling you that everything in life, especially this, is about balance.

Ignore the new fitness trends if they don’t appeal to you. You don’t have to jump on the bandwagon just to “fit in.” If fitness to you means going for walks every morning and not even touching the gym, that’s perfectly fine. If you prefer to sweat it out in the gym because it helps you de-stress after a long day, that’s great too.

My point here is to ignore what you see online and do what makes you happy. When it comes to food, I know it’s a touchy subject, but there’s too much fake news about which foods are good or bad for you or whether you should be intermittent fasting or not. Listen to your body and find a diet and lifestyle that works for you.

In conclusion, let’s stop being manipulated by the confusing bombardment of fitness information online. Embrace balance, enjoy your life, and find what makes you happy. Together, we can push past the noise and create a healthier, happier way of living.

Navigating the Overload: Making Sense of Fitness Information Online