I was waiting in a reception room this week – a perfect time to catch up on the latest gossip magazines;) I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the headline on the cover of Oprah’s October 2019 issue – “What I finally know for sure:  Healthy is the new skinny!”

I couldn’t agree more – it’s about time!

Many would say that Oprah is one of the most influential people of 21st century – inspirational and powerful. She also has held very little back from the public eye when it comes to her nutrition and exercise. Oprah really has been on the cusp of all diet trends for as long as I can remember which include both extreme weight loss and weight gain. It’s a big relief that that she has finally recognized that health is truly wealth.

I don’t think 20 years ago (when I became a personal trainer and health coach), Oprah would have known much about the power of small, realistic, achievable habits that set you up for success. Like so many others, she would have fallen into the all-or-nothing/quick fix mindset.  Coaching clients through habit-based, sustainable methods is the opposite of the damaging health hacks many look for in setting unrealistic goals, like getting skinny.

Skinny doesn’t always equal healthy. Peoples quest to get skinny is a minefield, which can easily slide into unhealthy ways to get there.  It is a far better goal to think about getting healthy. If only human beings could start to change their mindset the same way around exercise.  So here is a thought:

If healthy is the new skinny, then play is the new exercise.

If getting healthy is more about doing things that are sustainable, like eating a little bit better, why can’t play be the new exercise, like moving your body in a way that makes you feel good and suits your lifestyle?

We all have a limited time here on earth. It’s worth living a life that is fulfilling, rather than fearing not being a certain size or a certain shape.

Eating healthy food and moving your body – play – needs to help support or even enhance your long-term quality of life.

Thank goodness people are waking up!