What Does “Healthy” Really Mean?

 

We hear the word “healthy” everywhere—on food labels, in fitness programs, across Instagram posts of green smoothies and abs. But for most of my life, I thought I knew exactly what it meant.

Growing up, I figured I was healthy because I avoided fast food, soft drinks, and candy. That felt like enough. Later, in college, I started lifting weights and eating “clean,” and I thought, Okay, now I’m really healthy. Back then, health meant chicken breast, broccoli, and a workout routine. Simple as that.

But over the years, I’ve realized “healthy” isn’t a fixed state or a perfect scorecard you check off every day. It’s a moving target—something that evolves as you grow, as science evolves, and as your life changes.

Today, I think about health more as a trajectory than a destination. It’s not about scoring 10 out of 10 in a hundred different areas; it’s about knowing the areas that matter and trying to move forward in at least one of them without sliding backward in the others. That steady upward trend—those small, consistent improvements—build on each other over time. And that’s when you start to feel truly healthy.

Here’s how I break it down.

Health Has Many Dimensions

When people talk about health, they usually mean two things: diet and exercise. Eat the right food. Do the right workouts. End of story.

But I’ve learned that health is far more multi-dimensional. My current working list :

• Nutrition: Eating real, whole foods most of the time.
  
  
• Water: Drinking enough clean, high-quality water daily, and paying attention to how it’s stored (no plastic leaching).
  
  
• Fitness: A balance of strength training, mobility work, and cardio.
  
  
• Sleep: Consistent, restorative sleep every night.
  
  
• Mental Health: Taking care of your mindset and emotions.
  
  
• Recovery: Giving your body the tools it needs to repair between efforts.
  
  
• Environment: Surrounding yourself with spaces that support—not sabotage—your goals.
  
  
• Relationships: Investing in connections that lift you up and energize you.

 

If one area is out of balance, it can ripple into the others. But here’s the trap: trying to perfect every category at once is overwhelming. I’ve been there, and it didn’t end well.

The better approach? Focus on one or two leverage points and let progress in those areas create momentum.

It’s About Trajectory, Not Perfection

For years, I treated health like an all-or-nothing game. Either I was “on” or I was “off.” That mindset made every slip feel like failure.

Now I see it differently. Health isn’t about perfection; it’s about direction.

The goal isn’t to have every spoke of the wheel perfectly tuned—it’s to strengthen one spoke at a time while holding steady in the others. Over time, that upward trajectory compounds, and small improvements in one area often spill over into others.

Start Small, Build Momentum

These days, when I notice I’m falling out of rhythm, I start small.

If I’m not moving enough, I commit to a 10-minute daily walk or some light stretching. That tiny action creates momentum.

When food habits need work, I don’t try to overhaul my entire diet. I swap a few takeout meals for home-cooked ones. I focus on drinking more clean, filtered water every day. Small wins matter.

A short walk can make you crave more movement. Eating nutrient-dense meals can give you more energy for the gym. One shift leads naturally to the next.

Finding Your Leverage Point

Think of your health like a wheel with many spokes—nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, relationships, environment.

Which spoke is weakest right now?
What’s one change that would make the biggest difference in how you feel every day?

Start there. Build momentum in that area, and let your progress cascade into the others.

 

What Does Healthy Mean to You?

Take a moment to reflect: what does “healthy” look like in your life right now? Not what social media says. Not what a wellness influencer tells you. But what feels achievable and meaningful for you today?

What’s one change—big or small—you can make this week to move closer to that version of yourself?

Health doesn’t require massive leaps. It starts with small, intentional steps in the right direction.

 

Justin J. Singer is an entrepreneur and real estate investor with a passion for wellness and human performance. Justin is on a mission to help men conquer burnout and unlock their highest potential through sustainable health, mindset, and physical performance. After transforming his own life from exhausted entrepreneur to thriving pioneer—replacing chronic stress with purpose-driven energy—he now empowers leaders and teams through 90-day coaching programs, transformative retreats, and bespoke wellness environments.

A veteran designer of performance-driven spaces like the Shadow Sanctuary and student of big-wave legend Laird Hamilton, Justin merges 15+ years of high-performance training with real-world resilience strategies. His work has redefined vitality for executives, athletes, and creators worldwide. Justin has a Bachelors of Science degree from Rice University and is an XPT Master Coach, one of only 8 in the world. Justin founded Mekanix Gym in Houston, TX.

Connect & Transform:
JustinJSinger.com | @JustinJSinger | Work With Justin