"Strong Inside & Out is the New Skinny, Not the Scale"

Redefining Health: Finding Balance Beyond Appearance

What defines health to you?

For many, health is often equated with leanness and fitness, but this narrow perspective overlooks the true essence of a nourished, balanced body. It's time to move beyond idolizing a specific body type as the epitome of health. This mindset not only distorts our understanding of well-being but also traps us in a cycle of unhealthy comparison.

The Trap of Comparison

We've all been there—scrolling through social media and thinking, “Wow, she’s really fit, I need to do what she’s doing.” But pause for a moment... how do you know what she’s doing is truly working for her? The reality is, we need to stop letting women use their lean bodies to sell us an image of health. Now, I’m not saying that lean women can’t be healthy or that it’s wrong to have physical goals while pursuing overall health, but many of them are not.

I know this personally—when I was at my thinnest a few years ago, I was also the unhealthiest I had ever been. It took a lot of unlearning to find my new healthy balance! This experience taught me that health is not one-size-fits-all; it’s a unique journey for each of us.

The Puzzle of Health

Health is like a puzzle, and each piece is crucial to the bigger picture. To truly thrive, we need to put all these pieces together:

1. Mineral Balancing: Minerals are the foundation of our health. They play a critical role in everything from bone health to energy production. An imbalance can lead to a myriad of health issues. Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is an excellent tool to understand your mineral levels and what your body specifically needs.

2. Personalized Nutrition: Eating the foods that our bodies need is essential. Not everyone thrives on the same diet. Some might do well with higher protein, while others need more carbohydrates. Understanding your body’s unique requirements is key to nourishment.

3. Balanced Workouts: Exercise is important, but it needs to be in balance. Overtraining can be just as harmful as not exercising at all. Finding a routine that energizes you rather than depletes you is crucial.

4. Cycle Health & Ovulation: For women, menstrual health is a vital indicator of overall health. Regular cycles and healthy ovulation reflect hormonal balance.

5. Digestion: Good digestion is fundamental. If you’re not absorbing nutrients properly, it doesn’t matter how healthy your diet is.

6. Mood & Energy: Your mental and emotional state are significant indicators of health. Consistent mood swings or low energy can signal underlying issues.

7. Sleep: Quality sleep is non-negotiable. It’s when our bodies repair and rejuvenate.

8. Blood Sugar: Stable blood sugar levels are crucial for energy and overall health. Spikes and crashes can lead to long-term health issues.

9. Resilience to Stress: How we handle stress is a major component of health. Building resilience helps in managing life’s challenges more effectively.

Beyond the Scale

There’s so much more to health than appearance or the number on the scale. Let’s stop glorifying signs of starvation and thinness as the gold standard for health. Instead, let’s focus on feeling good from the inside out. This means paying attention to how we feel, how our bodies function, and how we handle life’s stresses.

Working with women at various stages of life has convinced me that those who may have “10-20 lbs to lose” often find it easier to achieve health and balanced hormones than those who constantly struggle to stay lean. It’s about balance, not deprivation.

Putting It All Together

True health requires a holistic approach. It’s about understanding your body, its needs, and finding a balance that works for you. Through my work, I help women piece together their unique health puzzles, focusing on:

Personalized Nutrition Plans: Tailored to meet individual needs, ensuring you get the right nutrients.

HTMA Testing: To uncover mineral imbalances and guide nutritional adjustments.

Balanced Exercise Routines: Designed to energize and strengthen without overtaxing the body.

Hormonal Health: Supporting cycle health and overall hormonal balance.

Stress Management Techniques: Building resilience through mindful practices.

Health is a journey, not a destination. By focusing on these elements, we can redefine what it means to be truly healthy—thriving from the inside out.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) can be a powerful tool in putting all our pieces of the puzzle together by uncovering hidden imbalances and toxicities in the body. By analyzing a small sample of hair, HTMA provides detailed insights into mineral levels and heavy metal exposure.

This information helps pinpoint specific deficiencies or excesses that could be affecting our hormones, fatburning and mental behavior. For instance, identifying low levels of essential minerals like zinc or magnesium can guide targeted nutritional interventions, while detecting heavy metal burdens like lead can prompt necessary detoxification steps. Through this precise and personalized approach, HTMA offers a clearer path to optimizing health and improving the strength and health of our body. TEST DON'T GUESS.

If you would like to learn more about HTMA testing, email me at [email protected] and see HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) page on my website at jamseshfitness.com.