Heavy Weight

The United States is “the” global super power and we are also the fattest nation in the world. I suppose this should come as no surprise in a country where being upwardly mobile (or appearing to be) means having the latest and greatest gadgets, cars, and homes. Video games, home theaters, netflix, cable, food delivery all at our fingertips. Most of us have the creature comforts that make us happy and really don't have to leave our homes except for work. Our homes are our havens. Exercise and eating well are just not a priority for many of us.

And I am included. For a long period of time I was a fitness maven, going to the gym multiple times a day, eating healthy and I even became an aerobics instructor. But I have always let my weight fluctuate, up and down like a see – saw. Oprah does it why can’t I? Just kidding. But as a nation we have watched Oprah fight the battle of the bulge for the past 20 + years. And can totally relate to her struggles.

At the moment I find myself at my heaviest and I have no real motivation to lose weight. I do know that the combination of poor food choices and no exercise will lead to nothing nice in the long run. With that in mind I've decided to do something. I am incorporating exercise into my life. I’ve made a pact with Mary and we are going to be accountability partners. I also joined a fitness community. I will be taking baby steps and I know this is a step in the right direction.

Sunday was the first day of exercise. By the time I had pulled out never used CDs from the boxes I have yet to unpack Mekhi woke up from his nap. But not to be deterred I chanelled Tim Gunn of Project Runway and said to myself “Make It Work.” I popped in the Yoga Booty Ballet ( I am not making this up) DVD that was a freebie with another purchase and started to dance.


Mekhi was okay dancing along for about a minute but it soon became clear that he wanted my attention and would not stop crying or whining until I accommodated him.

To “make it work” I strapped on my trusty Baby Hawk Mei Tai – a carrier that is a Godsend and put him on my back.
As I danced and strutted around the room I could hear Mekhi’s teeth chatter at every jump. Five minutes of this and he was ready to get down. I placed him on the couch and he did not move until I was done with my exercise.

That “make it work” moment proved to me that I can incorporate exercise into my life. And really, I owe it to my family – being a sickly young woman with diabetes or any other disease associated with obesity is not going to benefit any of us. My goal this week is three exercise sessions. One down, two to go. Yes, I know it is Friday but I can do it.

Have you struggled with your weight? Do you have any sage words of wisdom to give me?