Fit in the City ~ Leigh Ann Root
Overweight, The less you'll participate!
This column is not meant to offend, so please try to understand where I'm going with this. If you are 30 pounds overweight or more, you need to lose that weight now! Allow me to explain the urgent message....
A couple of week's ago my son had a friend over (both around 17 months old). We decided to go down to the park (a quarter of a mile away). I had a dilemma, only a stroller for one. I put one in the stroller and one in a backpack. My son was in the backpack, he's almost 30 pounds. Do you see where I'm going with this? I walked down my driveway and to the end of the street and my legs began to ache, my knees and my calves we're killing me. It had been awhile since I had him on my back, he'd gotten heavier! After play time was over, I was dreading the trek back home, especially in the heat. I survived but it got me thinking, some people go through this type of agony on a daily basis. Extra weight, not meant for a person's frame, does create more obstacles. Struggles, for some, are around every corner. My heart goes out to them, especially during the humidity of the summer. I can see how simple tasks become difficult. Climbing stairs and walking across parking lots can become a real chore. These are challenges that can be overcome, people can successfully change the direction of their lives. I'm urging anyone who is experiencing what I'm describing, to make a plan to lose that weight. Do it now, don't waste another day thinking about it, act now. Whether you want to admit it or not, you're not living your life to the fullest when you're carrying extra weight that your body wasn't made to carry. An overweight body gives signals every day that weight is slowing it down and not allowing it to function as it was meant to function. Some days, it may be screaming to a person. But are people listening?
I took my baby in the backpack one step further. I strapped Parker back into my backpack and went into house cleaning mode, up and downstairs, vacuuming. ect. My productivity was not what it usually is. It was downright exhausting. And I thought I was in somewhat good shape! The lesson I learned was, an extra 30 pounds effected my body in a negative way.
Most people who carry extra weight, probably have not realized the effects of the weight gain the way I did, in one day. Their weight gains came over time. I,too, have also experienced the gradual 30 pound weight gain, throughout a pregnancy. Although during that time, I was far too excited about the pregnancy to pay attention to my aches and pains. I was enjoying the bulging belly and baby movement instead. The miracle of growing a baby eased any discomfort. I do recall, the back pain though. When you gain weight over a period of time the effects are not as obvious. Your body becomes accustomed to the weight gain easier, muscles become stronger as they are asked to work harder, etc. Eventually, it does take it's toll. Depending on the weight gained, it can make life much harder. If too much is asked of the heart and other body parts, and the balance shifts in a negative way, resulting in negative impacts. These effects are not only physical but also mental. In my 14 years of fitness instruction I have seen how weight gain can impact lives. On the flip side, I have also seen how weight loss empowers people.
I guess the real question is, what are you going to do? Are you interested in living a life that is easier to maneuver, one that's healthier, one that has more rewards and less physical challenges on a daily basis? Are you interested in getting off medication? Are you going to make yourself accountable or just make another excuse? Are you going to go on another crazy diet (which incidentally will wreak havoc on your metabolism again, slowing down the rate of which you burn food and in turn cause you to lose more muscle mass and gain more fat)? Or are you going to get smart about how you fuel the vehicle you get through your life in? Please give exercise a chance. Just try moving your body more and sitting on your butt less?
I speak from a little more experience after my "pack it on in day" experiment. I'm begging you to get real about losing excess weight if you have it. You know if this message is for you, you've known for awhile what needs to be done. Your quality of life is not what it should be. To what degree are you going to let it continue? I know within each of you is a want for your optimal life. The definition of what that greatness is, is up to the individual. I can tell you this much though, I know it's easier to reach for those dreams and stars without an extra 30 pounds hanging on you, that's for sure.
