What does it really mean to be healthy - from a recovered anorexic

For years, I believed that being heathy was synonymous with being thin. To me, the ultimate goal was to lose weight, sculpt a smaller frame, and fit into the “ideal” image I thought would bring me health and happiness.  I would look at thin bodies on social media, or around me, and convince myself that they were the epitome of health. I believed that by becoming skinnier, I would automatically become healthier, stronger, and more in control. Being able to look back now, I am able to realise that my understanding of “health” was incredibly distorted. What I thought was health -constant restriction, rigid discipline, and losing weight at all costs - was in reality, absolutely destroying both my mental and physical health. 

Growing up, I was flooded with images and messages that prompted thinness as the ultimate goal for anyone pursuing heath. There was an unspoken rule: thinner was better. This idea was ingrained into my subconscious, making me believe that the smaller I became, the healthier I would be. So, I embarked on a journey of restriction, eliminating major food groups, skipping meals, and exercising to the point of exhaustion - all in the name of “health”. 

However, the truth was that I was trading health for an illusion. My obsession with weight loss masked the real toll it was taking on my physical and mental state. Instead of becoming healthier, I was becoming weaker, more fatigued, and increasingly anxious. The absolute opposite of what health is. 

Being able to separate health from thinness was one of the hardest changes I had to make in my eating disorder recovery. Recovery and reflection were what finally opened my eyes to what true health really means. True health, I realised, has little to do with being skinny and everything to do with nurturing a body that functions well, feels energetic, and allows me to live a full, joyful life. 

I learned what being healthy really means. It means fuelling my body with nutrient-dense foods, not depriving it. Rather than counting calories, I began focusing on the variety and quality of foods on my plate - whole grains, fruits, vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats. I discovered that balance, not restriction, is key, and that my body will thrive when it receives all the nutrients it needs.

Today, I view health a state of balance, one that honours my body’s needs, respects my mental health, and allows me to experience life fully. I now understand that health ism not a linear journey or a destination, it’s a practice of self-care and self-respect that requires me to listen to my body and mind.

Being healthy is about nourishing my body with good food, engaging in movement that I enjoy, nurturing positive relationships, and finding ways to manage my stress. Health, I have realised, is not about how I look to the world; it is about how I feel within myself and my ability to live in a way that aligns with my true values & goals. Health is not a look, but a feeling.