Remote Wellness Blog—SA Student-run
I used to think “healthy” meant looking like one of those chiselled fitness models on Instagram; you know, abs so defined they could be used as a washboard and biceps that looked like they had their own gym membership. So, there I was, a broke student doing squats in my room, watching fitness YouTubers with ring lights and protein shakes, hoping that in three weeks I would magically transform into a gym goddess.
Spoiler: I did not, and for a while, I thought that meant I was failing.
The Pressure of Progress Pics
I remember checking my mirror after every week of home workouts like it was going to hand me a gold medal for effort. Instead, I would see... well, me. Just a little sweatier and slightly confused. No abs. No “glow up.” No thunder-thigh transformation. The only thing that got stronger was my frustration.
Was I doing the wrong exercises? Was it because I could not afford protein powders or fancy pre-workout drinks? Or was I just not meant to be healthy? That is when I started spiraling and comparing. If you’ve ever compared your Day 3 sweat to someone’s year-5 abs, you know it never ends well.
The Food Confusion
Let us talk about nutrition for a second. I thought eating healthy meant stocking my fridge with Greek yogurt, almond milk, quinoa, chia seeds, and all those fancy words I could not afford, pronounce, or find at my local shop. So, I stuck to what I had access to: street vendor veggies, affordable brown bread, peanut butter, and lots of water.
Guess what? I was not doing it wrong. It just took me a while to understand that eating healthy is not about designer food; it is about nourishing your body with what you have. Not what TikTok influencers say is “trendy.” Those spinach leaves from a corner stall? Still spinach. Still good.
The Real Wake-Up Call
One day, I paused and asked myself, “Okay, I do not have a six-pack, but do I feel better?” The answer was… yes. I had more energy. I was not crashing after lunch. My mood swings were not swinging as hard. Most importantly, I was waking up feeling lighter. Not physically, but mentally. That is when it hit me: health is not how you look in a photo. It is how you feel when you wake up.
Signs You are Getting Healthier (Even Without Abs)
Let us throw out the toxic idea that you need to “look” healthy to be healthy.
Here are signs of progress I didn’t even notice at first:
- You’re sleeping better (without needing to scroll TikTok until 3 a.m.)
- You’re drinking more water, without a kidney stone scare forcing you.
- Your mood feels more balanced.
- You’re not winded walking upstairs anymore (okay, maybe a little).
- You wake up and do not instantly dread the day.
None of these show up in selfies, but they do show up in your life.
My Wellness Goals Now Look Like This
These days, I do not chase abs. I chase peace. I want to feel like I am taking care of myself, not punishing myself for not fitting into a certain mold. My goals look like this:
- Moving my body because I enjoy it, not because I hate how it looks
- Eating what nourishes me and keeps me full, even if it’s not “Insta-aesthetic.”
- Resting without guilt
- Laughing at how seriously I used to take before-and-after pics
Because here is the truth:
A body that feels good will always matter more than a body that just looks good.
Redefining Healthy
So no, I do not have abs, but I do have clarity, confidence, and mornings where I wake up with energy, even if it is just enough to do a little stretch and scroll. If you are working on yourself and wondering why you are not seeing results, maybe it is time to stop looking in the mirror and start checking in with yourself.
- Do you feel more alive?
- Do you feel stronger, calmer, and more aware of your needs?
That, my friend, is health. It has absolutely nothing to do with your body type.
