The original definition of health was described as a one-dimensional state of being. If a person was free of illness or disease, he was declared healthy. We now understand that health is a multidimensional state of being. It is composed of three main dimensions: physical, emotional and social. Physical health affects what we eat, our activity levels, whether we take preventative medications, and whether or not we engage in harmful or risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse. Our emotional health depends on how we manage our emotions, our stress levels and our happiness. Our social health includes our ability to maintain healthy social relationships, our socioeconomic status, and the role we play within our community. What we eat and drink directly affects the benefits of our exercise routine. If I eat a balanced, healthy diet, burning calories should be a breeze. But what if I eat junk food? For a woman my age with my lifestyle, the recommended calorie intake should be between 2,000 and 2,200 calories (Cespedes, 2015). If I were to eat an entire Big Mac meal totaling 1,400 calories, I would have to walk 9.5 miles to burn them off ("To burn off your Big Mac meal, walk this far - Netscape Home & Living", n.d.). To add insult to injury, fast food would make me feel sluggish, bloated, and hungry for more. When our bodies are exposed to too much sugar, our pancreas goes into overdrive causing it to produce a lot of insulin to counteract the spike in blood sugar. Junk food lacks all the proteins and good carbohydrates that your body needs to function properly, so it makes you feel tired and makes you want more food ("Fast Food Nutrition: The Effects of Junk Food on Your Body your body", n.d.). It's a vicious cycle and I've fallen prey to it. If I could choose one last meal to eat before dying, it would be a juicy cheeseburger with a side and a side of fries with a vanilla shake. I will die a happy woman. But if I ate like this every single day and neglected to exercise, I would probably become morbidly obese and eventually diabetic or worse. Eating healthy is something I struggle with seeing the worst in all situations. I regularly jump to worst-case scenario conclusions. I live my life with the bar of expectations painfully low, so when something unfortunate happens I'm not disappointed. My overall happiness is something I need to work on daily. It is difficult to look inside myself at this flaw of mine, but I am aware of it. Most of my pessimism comes from the frustration of adult life. I have had failed personal relationships that devastated me. I often have financial problems because I currently earn just above minimum wage. I feel overwhelmed by having to balance all areas of my life. We are all born with a foundation of happiness, but fortunately we are not stuck there. We can choose happiness. Happiness is attainable for those who have the intention to be happy. Once I choose happiness, I take a minute to think about five things for which I am deeply grateful. This immediately improves my mood. If I get stuck in a rut, I force myself out of that dark place and surround myself with people who lift my spirits. Having a wonderful family and great friends are key for me