Is Being Healthy a Luxury?

My name is Ashley, and I live a half priced life.  I live this type of life to survive, to feed my family, to save money for things I could otherwise not afford like unexpected car repairs or an emergency trip to the dentist.  Sometimes I wish I had a "lavish life"-one where I wouldn't have to worry so much about my household budget, or how high the heating bill will be for a particular month.  I do my absolute best in life in every aspect of my personal existence, but no matter how hard I try- I struggle with being healthy.

You see, sometimes I feel like "being healthy" is a luxury
In the modern world, women are not only the primary caretakers of their family; they are also contributors to the female workforce.  Women face quite the conundrum when it comes to taking care of themselves.  At the end of workday, after homework, dinner, bath time, and bed time- who the heck wants to exercise?  Also, who wants to wake up at 4am before the kids to fit exercise in?

Humans aren't rabbits, so why eat bowls full of salad day in and day out?  Personally, I need variety and depth in my food.  I need two bites of  a brownie (if not three) to satisfy a chocolate craving, and gosh darn-it sometimes I need an ice cream sundae!  Yet, I always feel guilty when I  steal a naughty nibble because I know I'm not going to get the extra exercise I need to burn those additional calories.

Woman-guilt, it's a *bleep*!
So, what happens if you can't afford a membership to the gym, or a sitter to watch your kids while you go to the gym, or even someone to help with the kids so you can exercise at home or go out for a run?  What happens if you don't have the money to purchase healthy foods all the time?  What happens if you can't make the time, or find the time to exercise because your schedule is so busy with work and family that you can't even see straight at the end of the day?  What happens if you don't have a family to care for, but work 6-7 days a week to survive, allowing you little time to pay attention to your own needs?

What happens?!?!
 Being healthy becomes a luxury.  I would love someone to prove me wrong on my theory, or at least give me magical
powers that will allow me to wake up at 4am without feeling psychotic. If you could also throw in a mute button for my extremely loud and co-dependent cat, who yowls at me, at the top of her lungs, waking up my kids the minute my feet
hit the floor- well that would be awesome too!  Seriously though, this post is meant to generate response- whether you agree or disagree with my theory.

I want to know
Do you feel the same way I do? Or, do you have tips to share with readers who feel this way?  Share with me the good and bad, the thoughtful and helpful, your opinions and point of views-on my site The Savings Momma

Please, don't misunderstand- I do exercise and I do eat as healthy as possible.  I was just one of those people not blessed with amazing genetics, and for me- being healthy and staying healthy is an everyday struggle.  I assure you, I do not sit on my duff, eating from my couponing stockpile, drooling on my couch. Promise ;)