What is the definition of health?

What is health? This is an interesting question. Health has always been important to me. It has been a top value for me and my family and to be honest it puts me at odds with the majority of the population. People can’t understand why I would workout daily and eat healthy foods. It makes no sense to them when we have access to all this glorious food and we don’t need to lift a finger to do anything. So, why would you put all this effort in when you don’t have to? It’s a fair question in this day and age but it’s a complicated and simple answer at the same time.

If I am being honest my foray into health started because I wanted to look good, it was very superficial. After a time, it turned into a more holistic approach towards overall health. Why? I learned more about the implication’s health has on your overall life in general. I also saw the positive effect it had on my life so why wouldn’t I pursue it more? 

I have often said most people go through life never feeling great but feeling “less shitty”. They just know what it feels like to not feel bad but not vibrant. Once you have a period of time of feeling good and energetic going back to feeling like crap all the time just isn’t an option. 

I don’t think there is one definition of health. I think it can mean different things to different people. Having said that there are obviously certain principles that will apply to being healthy. Certain things need to be part of a healthy lifestyle such as:

• Quality sleep
• Working out
• Eating healthy foods (this triggers people)
• Mindfulness
• Daily movement
• Supplementation
• And much more 

The point here is there is no perfect definition of health. It is different for everyone. For example, hard core cross fitters are healthy but to some it’s too extreme. Some people only do Yoga and eat a vegan diet, that can be healthy. Some people eat a carnivore diet and workout hard daily. That can be healthy but is completely at odds with the Yoga and Vegan person. I think you see my point. We get lost when people start accusing one side of not being healthy and only their way is the right way. I am not a fan of a vegan diet or yoga but I would take that over the standard American diet and typical sedentary lifestyle any day of the week. There is no question that would be healthier. At the same time, it might not be the best way to go for a particular individual but you need to at least try and find out.

One way to find out if what you are doing is working is how you feel. Do you feel good? Energetic? Happy? Is your blood work coming back good? If so, you are most likely on the right path. If not, you are on the wrong plan for you. It may work for someone else but not you and that is okay, find something that does work for you. 

The takeaway is, health is up to the individual. Having said that, you can’t delude yourself into thinking your healthy eating anything you want and walking 15 minutes 3 times per week. One thing we have done even at the federal level is consistently lowering the bar for what is healthy. The result? We are in worse shape than ever as a country.

Don’t lower the bar for yourself, instead level up. 

Always level up.

Don’t take the easy way out, it never ends well.