Balance is the key

Anna Croley has figured out the formula

Like many, Anna Croley, 25, of Dimondale, has had to work from home during the pandemic. The change has given her time to focus on her health.

“I value having balance in my diet and fitness routine,” she said. “Before working at home, my job required physical energy. I needed to show up to training excited, motivated, and positive even on days when that didn’t come naturally. Now that I am doing my job virtually, I have become more aware of my mental health and check in mentally before deciding what I will do for exercise. Creating a daily routine has helped me conquer feeling sad, bored, tired, and unmotivated.”

Croley is a learning specialist in the Learning and Development Department at Jackson National.

“Fitness has helped with my lifestyle because it has provided me with the gift of curiosity,” she said. “I believe my skin, my attitude, and my outlook are reflections of my health. Of course, exercising is going to change the body and how clothes fit, but it is also going to make an impact on feelings. I also have become very aware of how non-exercise activities serve me and my body

She said she likes to try several different ways of staying active and healthy.

“To keep from getting bored I practice a multitude of exercises from hot yoga to running and lifting,” she said. “I surround myself with people who have the same desire to work out so it isn’t hard for me to text a friend or call my mom and get a run or a workout organized. What helps me get motivated is searching for different ways I can tone my body. I use different apps to spice up my routine or to target a specific area I want to work on. Even on my rest days I still manage to walk my dog or hit golf balls in my backyard.”

Her active lifestyle is a compliment to how she eats.

“I have a great relationship with food,” she said. “I love to cook and I love incorporating color and seasonal foods in the meals I make. Even my pizza has color. Growing up, my mom always served our family balanced dinners that would include protein, carbs, and a lot of veggies. I used to dread meals that included broccoli as a kid. In high school,

I became more interested in food and now that I understand the benefits of vitamin K, fiber, and folic acid, it is so much easier knowing that I am eating to fuel my lifestyle. I am fortunate to have a fiancé who will eat anything I feel like making, so having his support and taste palate is great!”

Because of her balanced diet, she is able to handle cravings.

“I give in to cravings, but I do not indulge,” she said. “I have a very balanced diet, so I don’t feel guilty after treating myself. I mean it when I say treat, too: it is not an everyday occurrence. I tend to have more of a savory tooth. I would rather have potato chips than cookies, so each time I give in, I just drink more water to make sure I am staying hydrated and don’t hold on to the additional sodium I consume.”

She said her best piece of advice to others looking to get healthy is to find a support system and explore your options until you find something that sticks.

“If you are stuck or in a rut, seek out different workouts or new recipes from social media apps,” she said. “I have maintained a healthy lifestyle without ever having a gym membership. If the gym isn’t your style, look for bodyweight at-home routines and then work your way into equipment such as resistance bands, free weights, or a weekly class outside of the home. Also, find a solid support system. Surround yourself with people who also want to live a healthy lifestyle and are willing to go for a walk with you and share recipe ideas.”