Making behavior modifications and habit-based change doesn’t have to be difficult. My motto is ‘small changes make big impacts.’ I know of which I speak. More than four years ago, I weighed over 400 lbs. I am now about half that weight – and still losing. I was not an exerciser at this time although I had once been a dancer and a bit on the athletic side. I had become super sedentary. Walking from the couch to the fridge was about all the exercise I would get.
Then, in December 2016, I tore my meniscus. It was extremely painful and, after going to two orthopedic surgeons, I was devastated that, due to my weight (and BMI, which was 68% at the time – a staggering number I know), I was not a good candidate for surgery to fix my torn knee cap. I was determined to get in good shape.
That January, although I am not much of a New Year’s Resolutions type of gal, I began to ride my recumbent bike. I did it for five minutes at a time, twice a week. That was all I could manage at first. The sweat dripped off me like I had run the Boston Marathon and my breathing was so heavy I thought I’d have a heart attack – or faint. I kept at it. Now it’s December of 2021 and this morning, for example, I did 15 miles in 80 minutes on the bike (I’ve had to replace the one I used back then because, as my husband put it, I “wore it out.”) I am now exercising seven days a week and no less than 10 miles a day. It’s like breathing. If I miss a day, I really miss it.
This is from a girl who was once prescribed a bariatric walker.
I’m not saying this to make you feel bad or have you compare yourself to me, but I want you to know that change, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is possible. All you have to do is want to change. It’s like that song from the Christmas special, “Santa Clause Is Coming to Town.” You just ‘put one foot in front of the other’ and change will occur.
Let’s start making our first steps towards change today. Reach out to me. I am here and happy to help.
Deanna Goodson 