Healthy living bloggers love to talk about “balance.” How many times have you heard that “healthy living is about moderation and balance” or “a blog about balanced living” (wasn’t that my tagline at one point?) or “balance is the key to health”?
Balance is important. But what does it actually mean?
Generally we think:
- A lot of kale, a little cake
- A lot of running, a rest day
- A lot of X healthy thing, a little of Y splurge thing
My definition of balance is this:
That goes for body and soul. All the feels.
Jess Lively talks a lot about flow a.k.a. “going with the flow and what feels right” in her podcasts. I think flow and feel go hand-in-hand. Perhaps feel is the physical version of flow. If you focus on how you feel, you won’t be pulled into one extreme or the other.
Exercise when you feel like it and because it feels good
If you are exercising for the wrong reasons and not focusing on how it makes your body feel, you will start to resent it and that can lead to burn out. This year I have been focusing on exercising because it feels good and my body craves it. If I’m not craving it, I find other ways to spend my time and the next day I have a great workout. Overall I am exercising for fewer hours then I used to, but when I am exercising my head is 100% there, and my body works hard.
Eat food that leaves you feeling energized
I might have ice cream for dinner once a year, but having it every night isn’t that appealing. Neither is eating fast food or way too much food. I know because I eat both healthy and unhealthy meals in my diet and the one makes me feel a lot better than the other. Sure, I could drink a bottle of wine every night but I wouldn’t feel good, so that temptation is tempered naturally by how I want to feel when I wake up in the morning. I “allow” myself to have a drink on most nights, yet I rarely drink too much anymore.
I think one of the best examples is to focus on how you feel at a holiday meal like Thanksgiving or when you are on vacation. I never, ever, ever want to wake up the next day feeling awful from too much food or drink. Sure it happens to the best of us, but when it comes to indulging, I have learned to stop before I am so full (or tipsy) that I feel sick.
Happiness is more important than vanity
The older I get the less I care about how good I look in a bikini and the more I care about the quality of my everyday life. Who is judging my body anyways? Most people don’t care. So long as my doctor thinks I am healthy and I feel good in my clothes, I’d rather enjoy a little butter on my toast and a big glass of wine on a Friday night. That’s not to say that health and nutrition aren’t super important – they are. But balance to me in the intersection between respecting your body and embracing the social, cultural, and culinary joys of life.
When you focus on feeling good, your body and soul balance.
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
So so so so true. Balance is one of those catch-all terms, just like “healthy”. I think that has been one of the best things about the intuitive eating movement. We aren’t saying eat crap all day, we are saying find your flow, your balance, and learn to listen to you body. Life is too short to deny yourself anything, we only get one go around. That’s why it is so important to take care of ourselves and to enjoy life. Feed the body and the soul, yes!
KathEats says
*Thumbs up emoji* !!
Amy says
This is fantastic. A great mindset about life. Thanks for sharing!
Michelle says
I love this type of post about mind-body connection and being kind to yourself, it can be so hard sometimes. I would say that having a goal of being happy all the time is not an ideal goal though, it’s not achievable. I might change your definition to ‘Balance is finding equilibrium between all life’s activities so that you can meet all ups and downs with a level head.’
KathEats says
I like your take!
Anne @ fANNEtastic food says
I love this post. I’ve been embracing all of this as well – focusing on what feels good. Thanks for sharing!
sarah says
Love this. Couldn’t think of a better way to explain how I like to define balance! Thank you!
Megan says
Such a great read, especially before the holidays! Over the years I’ve learned that I function better when I balance my eating (and drinking) habits.
Jo says
This post is spot on. I have experiencing the same attitude you mention here towards exercise and “looks”. Thanks for sharing.
Alana says
I completely agree. I’m not sure if it’s the age I am at (we are the same age) or how I got to feeling like this but living the sentiments you express in this post makes life a whole lot more enjoyable. I spent so many years striving to be healthy but I was only focusing on eating and exercise. And almost completely ignoring how important the mental portion is. I hope this post reaches far and wide, I’ll be sharing.
Lisa says
Great post! You often hear businesswomen being asked, and talking about, “finding balance.” In those examples, it’s typically about a work/life balance, but I think the general rule stands true here as well. Balance means something different to everyone, we just have to figure it out for ourselves, and sometimes that can take a while. I know I’m still trying to figure it out, but I agree with you in that if my body feels good and my mind is in a good place, then things are going well!
Cara's Healthy Cravings says
Amen! Couldn’t agree with you more.
Nicole says
I love this post! I am 31 and after “finding” a healthy life over 6 years ago and then taking it to extremes of calorie counting and marathon training and goal weights, I’m now at a place where I eat and exercise to feel good, I rarely drink anymore because I don’t like the way it makes me feel, I am less concerned about how my body looks and more focused on how it feels and what I can do with it (strength, flexibility and balance since I have taken up aerial arts as a fitness hobby). It’s a nice place to be! This post sums up balance and body intuition beautifully.
Leslie says
This is a great topic and one that I’m passionate about. As a Dietitian myself, I was not taught in school that happiness and whole body wellness is not just food and eating. There are so many other parts of life that bring us happiness, joy and fulfillment. Those things that make us feel alive in life, our passions. To neglect these areas in our lives, is to not be fully well. And no matter how much broccoli or kale we eat, we will not be fully “nourished.’ Great topic.
polly says
Kath this article (it SHOULD be an article in a magazine!) is fabulous.
I think it’s so timely too. I just turned 45 yesterday and had ice cream, 2 big scoops with whipped cream FOR dinner! hah it was a JOY. I honestly felt good after and almost better than days I stuff my body with fruits and veggies (which are hard for me to digest) and I was eating with JOY and it made all the difference. Now, can I, or should I do that daily? probably not. but it showed me that we all are different and finding a sweet balance that fits your personality is key.
Maybe I am too “touchy feely” being a yoga teacher, but i really believe that our emotions play a huge role in our physical health. I feel and digest better on vacation. I look better when I am happy. I think clearly when I am well rested, but I think even BETTER when I feel loved and safe. ya know?
Anyway, sorry for rambling. I think it would be fun someday to chat about all this cool stuff over ice cream. 😉
XOXO
KathEats says
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! and yes to chatting over ice cream 🙂
kim says
This is why I love your blog. I have followed so much of your advice over the years and I can’t tell you how much you have helped me to change the way I eat….and the way I look at food. It is so refreshing to see someone who is REAL about the things they eat. Makes me feel good to know I am not alone when I have a splurge now and then.
Thank you for this post and all your posts Kath. You really are amazing.
KathEats says
<3 Thank you
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
I am looooooving Jess Lively’s podcasts on how she uses flow!
vicki says
I love these kind of posts. I’ve gained a few lbs recently and I’m havibg trouble shifting them. these posts remind me that if i listen to my body and mind….. i always find it easier to get into good habits. As soon as i start tryibg to diet…. it doesnt work.thanks Kath!
Ella says
Kath, while I’ve found myself becoming less interested in some blogs I follow over the years, or disappointed in the declining quality of their posts, I have never felt that way about yours. Everyone goes through major life changes, and to continue producing interesting and original content all throughout – now that’s impressive! Keep up all your good work.
KathEats says
Thank you!
Beth says
THANK you for this great post. Hard to get it through my thick skull though!
Faith says
Well said, Kath! Balance is absolutely necessary! Thanks for sharing!
Camille says
I love this post so much! I used to run a lot. Marathons and any other races I could get my hands on. I also used to spend a ton of tme at the gym. I also used to eat a lot. Like stuff myself sick. Then I felt even more compelled to run and exercise. That was before having my daughter when I was working full time as a nurse. Then after having my daughter I went to working part time and didn’t feel like I could keep that up and still have enough energy to be a good mom. I read an article somewhere that said a good balance to try was 30 minutes or 3 miles per day. 4-6 days a week. So I decided to try that out and ended up being more toned, weighing less without dieting and still indulging in nights out to eat, dessert, etc. It ended up really balancing my life because I hardly ever don’t have 30 minutes. And I don’t dread it either because the time goes by fast. I exercise either outdoors or at home only. Sometimes in my pajamas and sometimes with my daughter trying to jump roap, squat and push up along side me! Seriously the best thing I ever did to balance my life exercise/food wise.
KathEats says
What a great story! Happy for you
Rachel says
I have never commented before, but wanted to say I loved this post! Thank you.
KathEats says
Thanks for your first comment!
Hannah says
Well said, I really like this Kath. I’m going to try adopt this philosophy. Thanks 🙂
Louise says
You summed up balance so perfectly!
Beth says
I really agree with this. I’ve been having a hard time recently (infertility, yay) and it is really clear how much that negative thing is really impacting how I feel about everything–from my body to how I look, what I want to eat etc. I am generally a very positive person and hopefully this is just a season of my life.
KathEats says
Best of luck and hugs to you <3
Emma says
Really great thoughts, Kath, thanks for sharing.
I’m a big Jess Lively fan (I’ve been through her LWIO class a few times and can’t recommend it enough — looking forward to the new Flow-focused version in 2017!). This fall one of my intentions to emerge is “Listen to my body”. It includes no implied demands to go to the gym, do yoga, or eat only “good” things. It simply reminds me to pause and ask my body, “What sounds good?” (Similar to Cass’s episode!). Over the past few months I’ve found myself in much better alignment with my body, mind, and needs. And when things go off track I can easily come back by just checking in. Sounds like you’re on a similar journey.