The Original Health Nut

Featured Health Nuts

Nominee Story:

Meet Original Health Nut nominee Yvonne Ralsky, she is a nonprofit entrepreneur, mother of two, and self-proclaimed health nut. With a family history of heart disease and high cholesterol, she knows firsthand that the key to a healthy lifestyle is maintaining a nutritious diet, staying active and making it fun! Yvonne is an inspiration to her family, friends and coworkers, as she is always seeking new ways to incorporate health into every area of her life, despite how “nutty” they think she is!

Yvonne has made working out a healthy habit in her life and breaks a sweat at least five days a week, setting a strong example for her family, friends, and colleagues. She believes that integrating health into the office offers the benefits of relieving stress and promoting a positive attitude. In fact, when we spoke with Yvonne, she and her colleague were just returning from Yvonne’s favorite workout, a Core Fusion class at the gym. At home, Yvonne is a motivator for her family and two children. She recently rallied fellow mothers and neighbors to train for a local Chicago half-marathon with her. Although she and her fellow moms are very busy, Yvonne explained, “taking care of yourself is not an act of indulgence when you are a mother; you have to take care of yourself to take care of your family.” She views working out as a reward rather than punishment and is constantly coming up with new ways to push herself, stay motivated, and inspire others.

Yvonne’s healthy lifestyle is not complete without her nutritious diet. Her motto for food is “feast not fast.” She believes it is all about educating yourself on healthy power foods, like walnuts, and filling up on those rather than fasting. “You should never deprive yourself of anything,” Yvonne explains, “but rather, know the difference between good and bad.” She follows the guidelines of a healthy balanced lifestyle in that there should always be room for an occasional indulgence!

Yvonne truly embodies the title of a ‘health nut’ in every aspect of her life, we hope her “nutty” yet healthful ways will inspire others to get active, eat nutritiously, and live healthily in 2012!

Let’s hear from our expert:

The two words that come to mind when I hear Yvonne’s story are balance and fun. These are the very words that are often missing when we hear about fitness. Yvonne is choosing workouts that she looks forward to doing, so they bring joy to her day and remove the dread factor that is often associated with exercise. Yvonne has also done something crucial when it comes to being successful in leading a healthy lifestyle. That is, she has removed black and white thinking. If you are someone who thinks that the moment you eat a piece of chocolate you may as well throw in the towel when it comes to smart eating, or if you miss a day of working out you decide to wait till next Monday to try again, then you may be a black or white thinker. This sets us up for failure. It does not allow room for balanced choices, as life is never set in stone. It is all about doing the best you can with what you have.

Yvonne is also doing something that is often the missing link when it comes to success and that is taking care of herself, and not putting her name at the very bottom of the daily to do list. I am guilty of this too, I can let work get in the way of my workouts and when I do, the rest of my day, and my relationships, suffer. To top it off, my business is fitness! Unless you take care of yourself, you will not have the energy to take care of those you love.

The areas that Yvonne is so successful in are often the tipping points in leading a life that you love, in a body that is full of vitality. To build a balanced body we need a mixture of strength, cardiovascular and flexibility training. Find simple fitness tips to set you up for success here. There are also some great walking workout downloads that are designed for every fitness level available here. These workouts are also in shorter lengths so they can fit into your already busy day.

So as we step into the New Year, remember to do the best you can with what you have, make yourself a priority and don’t look back.