Living a healthy lifestyle isn't just about exercise, it's about valuing your body no matter what condition it's in. Many people believe that having a healthy lifestyle is just eating healthy and exercising, but there is much more to it. To be actively healthy you must also listen to your mental, social, and physical needs. When you attune to your body and listen to it, that is the best way to start living a healthy lifestyle. One of the most important things I do to stay healthy is to listen to what my brain is trying to tell me. I have a complicated past with health and fitness. I have never looked like the skinny people that you see in the media. When I was younger I did not understand why I looked the way I did. That combined with outside pressure to lose weight and to look different made me have a very unhealthy relationship with food and exercise. I have since been able to mostly overcome that, but I do have some days where I fall back into those old habits. On those days the best thing I can do for myself is to relax, not excise, eat what I want, and not worry about if I am living the "perfect" lifestyle. Just like everything in life, you need to be healthy in moderation because if you do not, it can consume your whole life. On the days when I am in a healthy mindset, I love to do my best to eat healthily. I love to eat cooked veggies with some sort of whole grain and protein. The nights where I feel like I am the healthiest and happiest are when I'm cooking dinner with my friends. Not only can I be 100% sure what is in our food, but I also get to spend time with the people I love most. Another thing I love to do is exercise. I can not do many things because of an injury I have, but I love to go on long walks with my dog and my roommate. It's so wonderful to get out of our dorm for a while, stretch our legs, and get to see my dog run around. I also love rock climbing and weight lifting. It's incredible to see myself get stronger every single time I go. After exercising I always do my physical therapy exercises and stretch to make sure I feel good the next day. It is very important to address the multitude of things that make up your health because if you don't address all of them, are you truly healthy?

My Instagram is @misheymoomoo I am proud to be in the LQBTQ+ because I am allowed to be me. For hundreds of years, people in the LGBTQ+ community (especially women) have been forced to be quiet about who they really were. There is still a lot of hatred towards the LGBTQ+ community but I am proud that I am in a position and a world where I can be who I truly am.