Walking proud and often
As a morbidly obese woman weighing in at a whooping 388 pounds. The normal everyday things were more like an obstacle course. I could barely walk. Forget about walking and talking at the same time. I avoided walking with folks because I couldn’t bear the embarrassment of gasping for air the entire time. My lungs, heart, and limbs just couldn’t take it. That’s really a sad shame.
Gone are those days. I park far away, take the stairs, and even take walks for leisure. Walking does the body and mind good. It’s a very low impact, inexpensive form of exercise. Even when I just park and walk a couple of downtown blocks it clears my mind. Something about the fresh air and the movement just perks me up.
The other day, even though my body was pretty banged up from boot camp I decided to take a walk outside. I started off sluggish, but once I got going I started feeling much better. More energized. For those who don’t exercise I know it doesn’t make sense or seem likely. But, endorphines are powerful and so is fresh air.
We often take things like walking a couple of blocks for granted. But, we shouldn’t. There are plenty of folks for many different reasons who can’t walk. Although it may seem just like a simple every day function — please don’t take it for granted. Exercise your body and mind whenever you get the opportunity. Take the stairs, every time. Park further away because you can. A power walk with intervals to get your heart pumping, or a leisurely stroll to clear your head. Just do it! You owe it to yourself.
I walk proud. I walk often. And, I NEVER take one single step for granted.
***Remember: I recently rehabbed a fractured tibia (still kind of rehabbing) so another reason I don’t take a single step for granted. Lace up your tennis shoes today!
Chrisetta Mosley
I am a product – and now a survivor – of childhood obesity. As a child, my family always told me that my extra weight was merely baby fat and I’d eventually grow out of it. I never did. Instead, my childhood is filled with memories of not being able to ride a bike, flattening its training wheels from being over the recommended weight, and avoiding P.E. classes by any means necessary. For years, I wore my fatness like a wounded soldier wears a Purple Heart - with pride. I owned the look. I dressed it up. I worked the room. There wasn't a skinny girl who intimidated me. I made sure my hair was laid just right. Nails polished. Outfits coordinated to the tee. Accessories to compliment every outfit. But everyone has a breaking point, and mine came in the spring of 2004 when I tipped the scale at nearly 400 pounds 388 to be exact. I was MISERABLE trapped inside of that body. I no longer wore my Purple Heart with pride. Rather, I was ashamed and frightened. Ashamed that I had allowed food to become my everything – frightened I would die because of it. Drastic times called for drastic measures... Today, I’m bound and determined to live a better, healthier, active lifestyle. I realize I’m no longer a passenger in my life, I’m the driver. I’m overcoming my inhibitions and I’m slowly but surely saying farewell to my old childhood nemesis, obesity. For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!