What Does “Healthy” Mean Anyways?

To be quite honest, the rise of social media has made me a bit confused on what the health industry is really about anymore. I like to think that my lifestyle and teaching yoga fall under the “wellness” category rather than “fitness” or “health” because I personally teach and practice yoga for the mind, body and soul connection. As much as I like to educate students on different yoga postures, there are poses that don’t work well with everyone’s bodies (especially if someone’s had previous injuries). That’s why there are modifications. The same thing goes with food.

I’ve spent the past few weeks looking at different websites for “healthy” recipes and majority of them led me back to Instagram and personal blogs (which I so appreciate because I love a good recipe recommendation). However, it gets to be a little tricky when there are influencers out there telling you something is “healthy” and then other accounts are telling you to leave that food out of your diet.

It can be confusing, frustrating and just plain misleading. Something that is “healthy” for one person to consume might not be “healthy” for another. If you too are feeling overwhelmed by all of the different information out there, I invite you to take a step back and think about what healthy means to you and your body. It looks different for us all.

Take every recipe, food/product recommendation, blog, workout video, Instagram account, Pinterest post, etc. with a grain of salt and try to modify with things that you know are right for your body. Food bloggers and cookbooks are great resources for meal inspiration but it’s important to keep in mind that the recipes they’re posting are what’s good for their bodies since they’re the ones consuming it.

Before you purchase supplements from someone promoting them to you on Instagram, look at the ingredients list and make sure your body can tolerate them. Do some research. Do a self evaluation before trying a workout video someone posted. Think of ways you can modify if your body needs.

XOXO,

Gee Nicolette

Think Before You ‘Gram

A constant struggle for me (and I’m sure others out there) is knowing when to put down the phone and just enjoy the moment. Anyone else guilty of staging a scene so you can get the perfect Instagram photo? It’s exhausting. Always trying to make everything look like it’s ‘perfect’ when in reality behind the flat lay of beauty products is a messy bathroom with makeup all over and an overflowing laundry basket.

Recently, I was out to dinner with my boyfriend and when the food arrived to the table he pushed everything to the center so I can get a picture (he knows the drill). He knows by now that my Instagram followers see my food before I actually consume it, but for the first time in awhile, I told him to just start eating so we could enjoy the meal while it was freshly made.

While I think it’s great to snap some pictures to capture a moment you want to remember, it’s just as important to be present during those occasions and to enjoy special moments to the fullest. What if we minimized how much we share on our Instagram? What if we shared content with intention rather than searching for likes? I’m guilty of not sharing certain photos because I’m fearful they won’t get a lot of engagement.

Besides, Instagram is all about algorithms anyways so likes don’t mean much anymore. I love following accounts that use their platform for good. I would like to see more influencers doing that and using their voice and influence to make a difference!

Instagram and other social media accounts should be fun. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case when there are people who are struggling, triggered by certain accounts, being bullied, etc.

Live your life to the fullest. Sometimes that means taking some pictures and other times it means putting your phone away. Let’s all work on finding the balance in both! Don’t be afraid to unfollow accounts that are triggering or don’t resonate well with you!

Here’s some of my favorite accounts to follow:

What accounts do you follow for inspiration?

Think before you ‘gram.

XOXO,

Gee Nicolette

Finding a Hobby as an Adult

I recently posted a question on my Instagram Story asking people what their hobbies were. Several people reached out to tell me theirs and a few others said they don’t have one but would like to. This got me thinking… as an adult, finding a hobby can be pretty darn difficult. Between work, trying to balance a social life, a consistent skincare routine and everything else, it can be tough to find the time for a hobby.

However, it’s important to make time for something that makes you happy. We all have bad days or weeks and a hobby can help make those better (for me – sometimes a nap works too but hey, self-care comes in many forms depending on the person and day). I had to do some soul-searching to figure out my hobbies. Check out some of my hobbies below:

Gina’s Hobbies:

  • Cooking
  • Reading
  • Blogging
  • Stand Up Paddle Board
  • Yoga
  • Walking Outdoors

If you are also taking some time for self-reflection and want to try out a new hobby, here are some suggestions:

Ideas for hobbies:

  • Baking/Cooking
  • Volunteering/Activist
  • DIY/Scrapbooking/Painting/Drawing/Photography/Other Art Activity
  • Building Things
  • Crochet/Knitting/Sewing/Jewelry Making
  • Reading/Writing/Blogging
  • Hiking/Camping/Paddle Boarding/Kayaking/Outdoor Activities
  • Growing Plants
  • Wine and Beer Education/Mixology
  • Sports/Fitness Activity
  • Makeup/Beauty/Hair
  • Learning something new/Teaching Others

What’s your favorite hobby? Let me know in the comments!

Photo by: Ashley Dahl Photography
Location: Catalyst Ranch
Shirt: Vibrate Higher
Necklace: Charming Charlie

XOXO,
Gee Nicolette