How to be a Healthy HFG

Okay, now I know most people think being healthy and fat do not go together but even fat girls can take steps to make themselves healthier that don't involve massive dieting and exercise. Becoming healthy is easy if you look at it from a positive view point instead of the traditional method of doctors telling you all the wonderful diseases you will die from if you don't lose weight. Does this sound familiar? "So if you don't lose weight Ms. Mateo you run the risk of having high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems,thunder thighs, big ass-itis, death, etc." Hey doc, how about some positive reinforcement? So in a sometimes cruel and punishing world where being overweight is worse then being a terrorist, where doughnuts have become weapons of mass destruction, where being a size 00 is epitome of beauty (insert music from the world smallest violin) how can a fat girl stay happy and healthy? Here are a few tips that have worked for me. I don't have high blood pressure, which runs in my family. I am not pre-diabetic, which runs rampant in both sides my family. All I have is asthma but I have had that all my life and now I get an attack maybe twice a year. So I am pretty healthy and I never let my weight keep me down.

• Drink water. I don't drink anything expect for water. I don't drink coffee or soda. I barely drink juice or iced tea and I really have to be in the mood for it. I drink so much water that I can taste the differences in the water almost like a Sommelier can taste every flavor in a fine wine. Now I know your thinking there is no way you can just drink water but think of it this way all the calories you get from those sugary or caffeinated drinks can be better spent on good dessert, like a piece of pie. My challenge to you today is to replace one sugary drink with a big glass of water and you will see how much better you will feel after.
• Eat breakfast. I can not stress this one enough. See most people look at fat folks and think we stuff our face all day but the truth of the matter is often we skip meals like breakfast and sometimes even lunch thinking the less we eat the better. The truth is the more you eat the better, most doctors will tell you five small meals a day can give your metabolism a boost. You probably don't have time to eat five times a day but if you can manage to eat at least breakfast, lunch, and dinner you are golden.
• Sleep more. Studies show that adult female needs at least seven hours of sleep a day so if your not getting that you need to at least try for 6. You can take a twenty minute cat-nap to recuperate some of that time but still need to get your seven hours. Try to get on a sleep schedule and don't eat anything an hour before you go to bed. Sleep is very important because how can you be at your very best if you are tired.
  
• Eat brown. I'm talking whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, sweet potatoes, and brown rice. This one can be a toughie because sometimes whole wheat can taste like cardboard but if you find the right brand of whole wheat bread it can be good. I like Nature's Own. One of my favorite treats is sweet potato mashed potatoes. I make mine like you would make traditional mashed potatoes with butter and milk. Simply delicious.
  
• Get Wii Fit. I just tried this game out and it was great. I had so much fun and I was sore the next day like I had done a 30 minute aerobics class. You need to exercise so why not have fun doing it and if you can have your friends do it with you even better.
  
• Dance. If you can't afford a Wii Fit put on some music and dance. Go crazy and move your tucchus (that means butt for us gentiles). You will burn calories and have fun.
• Take a walk. No speed walking, I'm talking a nice stroll around the neighborhood. Get to know it well. If you live in a city, check out all the stores and restaurants around you. If you live in a suburb, look at the houses and the people in your neighborhood. If you live in a rural area, take a look at the wildlife and nature around you. Try to do this at least a couple times a week and you will see how different you feel.

Yes we need to be healthy but being healthy is not all about a number on a scale. The only numbers that should matter are you blood sugar level and your blood pressure. All these tips I given you are lifestyle changes that can help you feel better in the long run. None of these tips are about crash dieting or even about restricting yourself because how can you a HFG if you are starving. Lastly, the most important tip I could ever give you is accept yourself as you are because you are more willing to take care of a person you love.