Plus Size Start

Let's set aside the stigma of the way we LOOK when we are overweight and jump to the fact that it is simply unhealthy. Weight management should not be directly related to how we WISH we look. As everyone knows by now, you can't believe everything you read and see on the internet. Thanks to photo editing software, the people we see don't even really exist; they are figments of an editor's imagination. Ah, if only we lived in a world where we could erase our thigh fat with the click of a mouse. Yeah, right. The ONLY reason you should consider maintaining your weight at a healthy level is just that—it is HEALTHY. When you are HEALTHY, you feel great. When you are HEALTHY, you look great.

So where do you begin when you don't know where, when, or how to begin? The answer to those questions is “baby steps.” Baby steps are steps that are taken one by one, day after day, until you are able to walk through the physically and mentally fit life you seek.

Baby step number one: Make some decisions. Decide that YOU WILL lose weight to become healthy. Decide that YOU WILL do what it takes to lose the weight by eating responsibly and exercising reasonably. Decide you will NOT make yourself sick by trying to starve yourself or abusing supplements or fad diets. Decide to be your own hero. No one else can do it for you. I KNOW making these decisions is easier said than done. This is not going to be easy at all, but you have also decided not to give up easily, right?

Baby step number two: GET A DOCTOR'S ADVICE! I cannot stress how important it is to seek medical guidance BEFORE beginning ANY weight loss journey. A doctor can help you determine what nutritional guidelines will work best for YOUR body. We all have different genetics and different chemical makeups. Your doctor will also be able to help you track your weight loss and make sure you are not losing too much weight too quickly.

After you have made your decisions and doctor’s appointment, it is time to try and take baby step number three. Stand up. Just stand up and reach for the sky.* Stretch your arms and back by clasping your hands and lifting them above your head skyward. Take a deep breath. Enjoy the movement. Enjoy the hope that lives in the decisions you have made. Lower your arms and shake them out. If you are feeling inspired enough and can feel the adrenaline starting to flow, go ahead and walk to the end of your driveway and back. Have a glass of cold water. Try to drink at least eight glasses of water throughout the days ahead.

That’s it. That is all that needs to be done for today. Go to bed tonight with the peace in knowing that you have taken the first three baby steps to a healthier life. Tomorrow you will wake up and take two of those steps again. In the morning, before your feet hit the floor, remind yourself of the decisions you have made. Once you are up and moving, be sure to drink a glass of water and walk to the end of your driveway and back at least once. Each week we will add an additional baby step to the ones you have already taken. I will check back with you often to see if you were able to complete your steps (I, too, have to remind myself on a daily basis to complete mine).

While practicing these daily steps, please be sure to eat responsibly! If you need help with this, you can research a multitude of ideas on the internet, but remember...if it sounds too good to be true or seems illogical, it PROBABLY IS. You can also let me know if responsible eating and recipe suggestions are something you would like me to start covering in future articles, as my next article will cover the modifications needed for different exercises for overweight beginners.

Day by day WE WILL achieve the life of which we’ve dreamed. Don’t give up! Until next time, live well, and enjoy the journey!