What is "Healthy?"

I have one question for you guys:

What does "healthy" mean to you?

Does it mean avoiding junk food completely and making SURE you NEVER miss a workout?

Is it more about 80/20/listening to your body? (80% good-for-you, 20% good-for-the-soul)

Healthy is, and technically SHOULD be, different for everyone... Because everyone is different.

No person has the same body, the same exact needs, cravings and wants, as another.

Personally, I'm more towards the second choice. I feel like a healthy lifestyle is a non-restrictive lifestyle. It's a lifestyle where if you want to eat carbs at night, you eat carbs at night. Where if you want to have that gigantic cinnamon bun covered in frosting for breakfast, you fully ENJOY that cinnamon bun covered in frosting for breakfast. It's not a lifestyle where you void off any foods in your life, unless for health reasons. (P.S. What is up with this new gluten-free "trend"?! If gluten doesn't effect your health... don't go gluten-free. Be grateful you can even have it!)

Food of any kind should not carry guilt alongside of it. Whether it's a bowl of oatmeal or a bowl of Doritos, neither one of those should EVER make you feel "guilty" about eating them. Unless you eat this bowl of Doritos for breakfast everyday, it will not effect you negatively (unless you're allergic obviously!). It will not make you fat. It will not make you a disgrace. It's not a "slip-up". It's a part of life. Yes, eating what you truly want IS a large part of a normal life.

If you truthfully don't like cookies, don't eat them for dessert. But, if you LOVE pasta night and try to fulfill that craving with a salad instead... Girl, that ain't gon' work! Just eat the bowl of pasta! Don't feel guilty. Feel HAPPY that you fulfilled that TRUE craving! Because, in reality, THAT is healthy living. Listening to YOUR body. Not listening to diet fads, or what you hear what works for others. Only YOUR body knows what IT wants.

A balanced, moderation-filled diet is not the only importance to a truthfully healthy lifestyle, though. Another great importance is your exercise. Working out for you, on your time. Doing what you love, when you want to. When you can. Resting when your body needs/wants rest. Not feeling "forced" to burn a certain amount (this is TOTALLY something I personally struggle with), not feeling like you NEED to workout or you can't eat for the day. Not feeling like you need to cancel date nights, days out with friends, family outings, etc. just so you can workout. Because, think about it... What will you more likely look back on? That one workout, or that one night out with good company? (...I think we both know the real answer to this one!)

In conclusion,

Life cannot be enjoyed if you surround yourself with numbers, or obsessive thoughts and actions.

If anything, take from this post the courage to give up any restrictive mentality you are living with.

Especially if you have been living like this for months on end, it won't be easy. It WILL take time. It WILL take effort. It WILL be hard. But that's when you have to prove you are strongest. That's when you try your hardest, from this moment on, to truly listen to your body.

If you hate running, but love lifting, don't run. Lift.

If you hate lifting, but love HIIT, don't lift. Interval train.

If you hate broccoli, but love spinach, you know which green to choose.

If you hate cookies, but love brownies, treat yourself to a brownie.

It's that easy. Life is too short, too beautiful, to be lived negatively or forcefully.

If you feel guilty, you are doing something wrong. Use your power to change that something.

Only ever do what works for you.

Live for you.

How Marvelous is YOUR Monday?

Hello, lovelies!
I've got some somewhat exciting news...

I'm joining in on the "Marvelous in My Monday" fun! 

Not only is it hosted by one of my favorites, Katie @ Healthy Diva Eats, but it's also an amazing message. Positivity has brought such great things to my life, and I'm happy to share some in the beginning of the week when EVERYONE needs it most!

So, without anymore procrastination...

1.

This past Friday, we celebrated the 12th year since my little sister's birth! It was a lovely day for her, and I'm so happy she's happy. She's autistic, and her and my mom are my best friends. 

We went to Friendly's for her birthday dinner, and I got some honey barbecue breaded chicken strip sandwich with fries. It was good, but nothing too special... The appetizer was the most exciting part, actually! ("Loaded" waffle fries -- cheese, bacon... Could you ask for any better?!) Next time I go out to eat, I want it to be something to write home about! 

2.
A few days ago, I decided to suck up the fact if I want to go to prom with a guy not from my school, I have to ask HIM!

... And he said yes!  Who said guys have to always make the first move?
He also said he wants to go as dates, which made it even better! 
(Btw, he's not as tool-ish as he sounds... I promise! Haha. He's actually probably the sweetest guy I've ever met, and my mom can back me up on that! I met him before I started working at Rite Aid, since that's where he works/worked, and he was always SO talkative and nice! Now that I actually work there, we're close and I love it! I'm so excited for prom now, and I'm not one to go to school dances!)

3.
I also got a new whey protein powder this weekend...

This is my new babe. We are in love.
100 calories + 24g protein per scoop... and it actually tastes like cookies and cream.
*Drools*

4.

I then created some cookies and cream protein cake with said whey.
Along with the fluffiest version of my peanut butter fudge black bean brownies, and some cinnamon-almond swirl protein cake. I love baking. Especially nutritious baking. Both cakes inspired by my recent favorite -- ffcoconut-cinnamon swirl cake!

5.
Along with my whey, I also got a few more goodies!

- Target floral jeans for $6.88 on sale (originally $22.99!)
- PB2
- Gum
- and, of course, even more yogurt... I go through at least 2 of those containers a WEEK!

And... that's about it for my first MIIM!! Yay! Today was a lovely day, and I'm excited for the rest of the week because I'm going to STAY POSITIVE! And I hope you're all gonna do the same! 

A Promise to Myself

Hello, my little lovebugs.

Recently, we purchased a new scale. Not that we weigh ourselves often, but our old scale was getting pretty old, and this new one was only $14.99 and claimed to measure body fat percentage, bone mass, and even your daily caloric needs.

Well, after a few days of having it, I decided to try it out. The result surprised me.
{Either our old scale was extremely inaccurate, or our new scale is just showing how cheap it was.}

I felt disgusted... I talked to my mom about it, and her response was something you would consider "tough love." Even though I'm at the middle/higher end of a "healthy weight" for my height, she threatened to get me into "rehab" because of my "obsession". I never thought she would actually consider that, but she wasn't joking.

She made some valid points, though. The scale says I've gained x amount of weight and that I weight x amount of pounds, but 1. I workout and burn calories like crazy... normally about 400-600 calories, plus school and work, burned 5 days a week. And 2. absolutely everything I own still fits me 100% fine... from my jeans to my dang underwear. (I don't even feel like I LOOK different.) So, if I really gained x amount of weight/more-so fat in such a short period of time, how would these two things be possible?

The answer could be one of two things. Either I've gained {mostly} muscle (which would be fantastic), or the scale IS really as worthless as it is said to be...
(Can 'all of the above' be an option?)

So, anyways, onto the real point of this post!

This post is a new promise to myself.

A promise only I can fulfill on my own. A promise to love myself no matter what I weigh.

{My newest tattoo! I got it on January 31st, 2013. It's on my inner right forearm, and the reasoning behind it is here}

A promise to not let a number control my life.

{That's more like it!}

A promise that I will not weigh myself obsessively. The next time I will step on that scale won't be until I KNOW I'm comfortable with it again. I'm not gonna force myself anymore. If that time happens to be summer, then so be it.

A promise that I will not fall back into old, restrictive habits. I will enjoy life, nourish my body, and exercise as I please. If I have to miss a day, that's okay, too. No more skipping out on social outings because I HAVE to workout. That's not living now, is it?

Also, to end on an even more positive note, I finally feel like I'm growing a booty! That's a plus, right?! I don't mean a flabby, fat booty like my past self, or a flabby, bony booty for my last year self, but a firm, actual booty! {Too much information? More like not enough information.} (Just kidding!)

Life's too Short...

Life's too short... for meal plans.

{Stop worrying about food. Live unexpectedly and spontaneously instead.}

Life's too short... to let the little things go unrecognized.

{Appreciate breathing, living, loving, and learning everyday.}

Life's too short... to go a day without being yourself.

{You're the only you on this planet. Prove it!}

Life's too short... to hold onto things you cannot change.

{Hold your head up instead.}

Life's too short... to let a number define and consume you.

{It doesn't matter if it makes you miserable. Only you can define yourself.}

Life's too short... to be unhappy.

{You have so many reasons to be otherwise. Happiness is a choice, and it's always there. Let it be!}

"Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account daily with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day-to-day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course? Each of us has such a bank. Its name is time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost, whatever of this you failed to invest to a good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no over draft. Each day opens a new account for you. Each night burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no drawing "against" tomorrow. You must live in the present on TODAY'S deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success. The clock is running. Make the most of today."

Happy Friday, all! Be appreciative. Be aware. Be happy. Be you. I hope this helps at least one person.
- This post was inspired by Amanda @ Running With Spoons and the beautiful Ashley. All pictures are from WeHeartIt.

Sunday Motivation: Prove Them Wrong

You're always gonna be blessed with the people who try to bring you down... try to tell you that you can't do something. I say 'blessed', because it's true! Without those people, who would be your motivators? In every aspect in life, prove the disbelievers wrong. The bullies, the haters, the negative Nancys, and the miserable Melvins... Prove them all wrong.

When you think you can do something, that means you CAN do it. If you push yourself hard enough, and you tell yourself that you can, you will... With no doubt about it.

Have a mess up? Learn from it. Get back up, and learn from the experience. Recovering from an eating disorder? Have people doubting you can do it? Prove to those people who think you're never gonna recover wrong. Let the haters be your motivators and nothing more. Feel like giving up? Don't. Why? Because there are people who are waiting for you to give up. There are people who would kill to see you fall. Prove 'em wrong. Every single one of them.

Live freely, stay positive, and most importantly; keep pushing. The moment someone tells you that you can't do something, that's a sign you must prove them wrong.

10 Positive Reminders On A Weekend

1. It's okay to mess up.

It's impossible to be perfect, and some people aren't very accepting of that! If you never have slip-ups or down moments, how will you ever acknowledge the good moments? You wouldn't be able to tell them apart! Messing up is a part of life you can never avoid... Accept, and move on!

2. The scale truthfully cannot tell you anything informational.

Scales are something that have become a little too popular nowadays. A scale cannot tell you enough information to prove that you are not a truthfully beautiful, talented, and strong person with a lot of love to give. (That's all that REALLY matters, too!)  Not to mention that scales also fluctuate, meaning you may weigh 130 lbs on an average day, but after drinking 32 oz of water, you may be 132 lbs. They're one of the biggest liars you'll come across in your lifetime! Don't fall for the trap! It's not worth it!!

3. Failure is just a chance and motivation to do better next time.

Fall seven times, get back up eight times. You cannot let one failure get you down. Failures are just mistakes, aka they're a learning experience! Take something positive from every failure and mistake you've ever made, and take it as motivation to do twice as good next time!

4. You DESERVE to be happy.

Let's be realistic here; we ALL have things to be unhappy about. And that's the thing; if we all have things to be unhappy about, that's proof you're not alone! Plus, if we all have things to be unhappy about, how come so many of us are still happy? Well, that's because with the things to be unhappy about, comes things we should to be happy about! First and foremost; you're alive and you're breathing on your own. Some people don't even have that much. You should appreciate just those two simple things. Plus, you have a computer or phone if you're currently reading this... LOTS of people don't have those things! Appreciate more and expect less. Appreciate the little things. Appreciate every person you have in your life, even if that's just  your mom or grandma or your step dad. Ignore anything that's trying to get you down. You'll be a lot happier in the end, and you'll embrace that happiness you truthfully deserve. Put your happiness before anything else. Make it your #1 priority, always!

5. Bad days are necessary in order to appreciate and acknowledge the good days.

This kind of goes hand-in-hand with #1; if you never have bad days (or even moments), how would you ever recognize good days and good moments? You wouldn't be so appreciative of those times, those moments, or those days. Good always follows bad.

6. Less talking, more listening.

Try to talk less and listen more. You'll be surprised how much more you'll learn, even about your friends or family. Ask more questions and listen to their answers.

7. Do what you enjoy and that's it.

You prefer being home than partying? That's perfectly okay. You prefer partying than being home? That's fine, too. Do what you enjoy and what you love and that's that. We all prefer different things, and that's what makes us so unique and different. Don't do what other people want you to do if you don't want to do it. You'll end up miserable rather than happy.

8. There is power in positivity!

With positivity comes the power to do anything you put your mind to! Be THAT person who is always happy. Be THAT person to brighten everyone's day with your beautiful smile. Make Monday's a fun day, and bake cupcakes and eat 10 for lunch! Do whatever you want, but always remember the power that comes with being optimistic and positive.

9. Enjoy the little things; for one day you may look back and realize those were the big things.

The best things in life aren't really things. They're moments, people, days. They're bigger and better than things. Enjoy every moment you have to enjoy. One day, you'll look back at your life, and realize those moments are the moments you need to forever savor.

10. Everything WILL be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end!

Having a bad day? It'll end. Having a fight with somebody who means the world to you? It's not the end, it's okay. Things will get better, and that's a promise. Things got better for me, and things WILL get better for you. Truthfully, only YOU can determine how good or bad your day is gonna be. Nobody else can control that. It's also completely up to YOU to determine YOUR ending. Make it a happy one!

You, are 1/7,000,000,000 of the world. If you were gone, and the world was a puzzle, it would be missing a piece. You are worth more than you'll ever be able to understand. You have a purpose, whether you believe it or not. You are more than just another human, you are special and you are you. Be happy with the you that you are, and just be.

Have a happy, relaxing weekend, beautifuls! I hope this helps or inspires at least one person.
Do, eat, and be something you love.

Giving and Gaining

A few days ago, I was in the car with my mom and my little sister. On our way home from the store, we saw the same homeless guy that we see {at least} once a week in the same spot. It looked like it was about to rain, so he was lounging on the main street corner underneath an umbrella with his stuff. He seemed content. Not unhappy.

We passed him, and he waved and smiled at us... Like he always does. He doesn't ignore people passing. He smiles at them. (You would think living that type of lifestyle wouldn't result in a smile on your face.) But, after we saw that, we immediately turned around. On our way back, again, we passed him... This time, I offered him $2. He acceptably and happily took it, and then he thanked us. By giving him those $2, instead of losing something (money), I felt like I gained something. I felt incredibly good and grateful for what I have, and my heart felt warm. My mom's did, too. She also told me that every time she sees him, she wants to give him something. Anything. Food, drinks, clothes, money... Even $0.50 could make a difference when living that type of lifestyle, you know? She told me, even if she only had $1 left, she would give it to him and feel good about herself. I agreed.

Seeing people like that, who don't even seem to be miserable, totally give me a more accepting and different perspective on life. It makes me realize how much more appreciative I should be. (Not that I'm not already! I promise I am! Haha.) Yeah, we all have our problems... But are they really as bad as we make them seem? Everything is only as bad as you make it out to be.

Don't ever take anything (or anyone) for granted... Not even that $1 you have in your wallet. Be happy you even HAVE that $1! Don't let little things get you down so easily anymore. Remember all the little things that you can be happy about in the long-run.

(Source.)

Imagine living in his shoes... Would you be as smiley and nice as he was?