Living a healthy and fit lifestyle is a life that I know that I will always live. The importance of living a balanced lifestyle is crucial. Not only do you feel fresh and alive, but you are also avoiding any potential health problems that could arise by not exercising and failing to eat a balanced diet. I was fortunate enough to learn this early on in my life and now that I have this knowledge, I will always stick to it.

I was about 14 years old when I first started working out and eating healthier. I was a cheerleader for three years prior, so that was my main exercise routine. Once I quit cheer, I realized that I needed to stay fit and get my exercise in. That is when I joined a gym! My dad helped me out a lot by showing me his workout routines and what exercises to do. After that, I fell in love! I have been working out ever since.

Working out, staying fit, and being healthy is something that is not a chore to me. It is something that my body allows me to do and that is something that I am extremely grateful for.

However, there came a point when I was not happy with myself. I used to be obsessed with losing weight and looking a certain way. It would drive me crazy and I would dwell on it. I would often try different diets. They worked, but I would eventually gain the weight right back. I learned that diets are quick fixes and if you do not continue eating that way, then you will lose all of your progress. Recently, I have decided not to diet, but to just eat healthy foods.

I still eat my favorite foods and go out for happy hour now and then, but I don’t completely restrict myself. That was the source of my problem, I would completely restrict myself from eating certain foods and it would make me go crazy. That is my biggest takeaway from this process. I am not restricting myself by not being able to eat that or not letting myself go out just because I don’t want temptation. I watch what I eat and have my favorite things in moderation. Moderation is key!

Now that I am following this rule, I feel so much happier. Even though I’m not eating to look like a super model, I am happy with myself. I'm probably the happiest that I’ve ever been. The more that I stressed and dwelled on looking a certain way, the unhappier and more frustrated that I became. Now, I’m not worried about eating donuts or cookies every once in a while. I work out hard four to five times per week and keep myself healthy due to the choices that I make. Life is short and I’m not going to spend it trying to look like someone else. My main goal is to be the happiest and healthiest me.