How to be your healthiest self (realistic version) - Episode 88
Health looks different for everyone and for a while I’ve been thinking about how I might want to share my own health journey I’ve been on.
This conversation isn’t about weight loss, restrictive rules, or a number on a scale. I’m not a nutritionist, trainer, or medical professional—I’m just a real person sharing what’s helped me feel better in my body and mind.
My hope is that hearing my journey might help you reflect on your own.
Over the last few years, I’ve focused on improving a few core areas of my health in ways that actually feel sustainable.
Create and consume:
What Austen’s creating this week: My 2025 influencer income report and breakdown, and what I think creators should focus on in 2025
What Austen’s consuming this week: wine tasting date night at home
In this episode:
Movement & workouts: finding what actually sticks
Growing up, movement was just part of my life.
I played soccer, did musical theater, and stayed active without thinking about it as “working out.” In college, I dabbled in SoulCycle and boutique fitness classes, but consistency wasn’t really a thing yet.
After graduating and working in the city, I was walking everywhere. Between commuting and running errands, I was moving constantly.
I’d try trendy workout classes in NYC through brand events or coworkers (everything from trapeze to trampoline classes to aerial yoga).
When we moved to Hoboken and got a Peloton bike, that was a big game-changer.
What worked wasn’t the bike itself, but finding something that removed friction:
Tons of class options, lengths, and instructors
The ability to track progress and set goals
Motivation through achievements (though this might look like a bullet journal or Notion for you)
Consistency came from showing up, not doing the “perfect” workout. I also learned the importance of:
Finding the time of day that actually works for you
Planning workouts ahead of time
Using apps or portable options when traveling
Food & nutrition: balance over perfection
My approach to food is flexible and realistic.
I started making healthier swaps wherever I could, inspired by The Dude Diet cookbook:
Turkey chili instead of heavier versions
Chicken nachos with pita chips
Reduced-fat or low-fat options when possible
I loosely follow an 80/20 approach:
Sunday–Thursday: cooking at home, balanced meals
Friday–Saturday: going out, ordering takeout, enjoying food socially
I aim to eat more whole foods, and occasionally use the Yuka app to scan packaged items — with a huge grain of salt.
I’ve heard mixed feedback about it, even from nutritionists and I’m very aware of the risk of assigning moral value to food.
As my friend Charlotte says, “everything in moderation, including moderation.”
Here are some easy weeknight meals in my rotation:
Salmon with pasta (or orzo/couscous) and broccoli
Sausage and peppers
Shrimp bowls with rice and veggies
Turkey chili
Mental health: the foundation of everything
Mental health has been just as important as movement or food—if not more.
Sleep has been a huge focus for me. Having a bedtime and wind-down routine helps me fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Small things make a big difference:
Lavender spray for my pillow
Reading before bed when possible versus scrolling on apps
Body image has also been a big topic, especially in a world where celebrities and influencers are always posting the best angles of themselves and maybe even proudly promoting weight loss methods that I wouldn’t personally use.
I’ve had to actively work on:
Gratitude for my body — I’m lucky to live in it
Unfollowing or muting accounts that trigger insecurity
Being mindful of body talk, both internally and externally
Therapy has been helpful when needed, and so have analog hobbies like reading, watercolors, needlepoint, sewing, baking.
Taking time offline, moving my body gently, and living in a walkable neighborhood have all supported my mental well-being in quiet but meaningful ways.
Beauty routines & preventative care
Health isn’t just workouts and meals — it’s also the basics we sometimes overlook.
For me, nonnegotiables include:
Skincare: moisturizing and SPF to replenish what we lose throughout the day
Oral care: brushing and flossing
Body care: moisturizing, exfoliating, and SPF
I’ve also learned the importance of actually making health appointments.
One strategy that helps is batching — picking a specific month or day to schedule everything.
Finding doctors you trust takes time, but resources like:
Friend referrals
ZocDoc (reading reviews and checking insurance)
Local Facebook groups
Affirmations & positive self-talk
Lastly, I’m learning that how we talk to ourselves matters.
Affirmations and positive self-talk aren’t about ignoring reality — they’re about choosing compassion over criticism.
Health isn’t a finish line. It’s something we revisit, adjust, and redefine again and again.
Summary:
Health doesn’t have to look a certain way to be valid. This episode of Create & Consume is a reminder that sustainable wellness is personal, flexible, and rooted in kindness toward yourself — not rules, trends, or comparison.
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