Day 38 – Are you carrying the weight of the world on your body?

Black women are famous for shouldering everyone's problems. We are the mothers, the confidantes. And when everyone else has gone to sleep, we are the ones who will wake in the middle of the night to answer a child's cries. We are the ones who personally assume responsibility for running the church, the community center, the after-school programs--even while working a full-time job. Often we respond to problems, our own and everyone else's, with food. We may not do drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, but we sure can put away a box of cookies when no one's looking. We must learn to distance ourselves from those things we can do nothing about, and learn to lean on others if we need help coping. The myth of the Super Black Woman is no myth--we are indeed strong women. However, we run our spirits and bodies down if we do not, at least once or twice a week, act selfishly.

Today I will put everyone on hold and put myself first.

Day 37 – Up you mighty women, you can accomplish what you will.

That's exactly what Marcus Garvey would have said to us had he eavesdropped on some of our pity parties. Black woman, do you know how strong you are? You make less money than any group in the country, you suffer from more health problems than anyone else, while, in too many cases, single-handedly running a household. Let's ignore the current rash of backlash rhetoric against Black women today. Against the odds, you have managed to do what might have killed lesser women. You are the epitome of beauty, strength, and resiliency, and all the women of the world could learn from you. So now, are we going to let a little thing like getting healthy or shedding a few extra pounds get us down? Hell no. Get up off that couch. Take a walk around the block. Walk up some stairs. Give that Twinkie a second thought. Don't feel like exercising today? Why not spring-clean to your favorite song? You can do it. You are an incredible woman.

I got the power!

Day 36 – Love me, love my behind!

"Ooo-wee, baby."

Artists have drawn them, photographers have photographed them. Cheeks, bottoms, derrieres, bootés, butts. Black women are famous--and envied--for their big, beautiful behinds. The image industry insists on projecting the flat behind standard, but we all know the truth: the luscious behind is the ideal. Beware of exercise advice that, if done as prescribed, would only squish lovely bootés into oblivion. The best exercises uplift and round the cheeks rather than flatten them. Squats are really good for firming and lifting the booté, as well as tightening the thighs. Walking and climbing steps are wonderful, so ignore the elevator today.

I will not get sucked in by the hype. Love me, love my behind!

Day 35 – Ain't no mountain high enough to keep you from exercising today.

Diana Ross had the right idea. She wasn't going to let a little thing like Mama Nature keep her from her goal. We should be just as determined to achieve our health and fitness goals. Determination is different from obsession. Obsession can lead you down a path filled with diet pills, crash diets, and images of Barbie dancing in your head. Obsession can lead to food diseases like bulimia, anorexia nervosa, and compulsive eating--all of which lead to depression. A determined woman, however, takes a balanced approach to achieving her health and fitness goals. More important, she sets reasonable, achievable goals based on her age, lifestyle, genetic makeup, and body type.

Does my desire originate from internal or external forces? If internal, I know I'm on the right track. If external, I'll sit still in order to hear my inner voice again.

Day 34 – Move!

Forty-five percent of Black women are overweight. -- American Dietetic Association

Forty-five percent? By whose standards? Rather than going on the defensive, let's get down to business. First of all, we'll decide if we're overweight. Then set a reasonable, realistic goal for your body. Second, look at creating a plan that's easy and fun enough to do for the rest of your life. Look to see how you can eliminate the sugar, salt, and fat in our dishes. Figure out how to nutritionally re-create the foods you love. Third, incorporate fun exercises into your new, healthy lifestyle. If aerobics gets on your nerves, turn on your favorite records and start dancing. Walk more. Play with your children. Jump rope with the girls on the block. And last but not least, move toward your goal safely and slowly. It took awhile for the pounds and inches to creep on, and it will take awhile to get them off.

Throughout the day, hold in your mind's eye a gorgeous vision of a new, beautiful you.

Day 33 – Love your body just as it is.

You've been hoodwinked. You've been bamboozled.--Malcolm X

We should be pissed. The image industry has forced upon us impossible, undesirable standards of beauty. We are Black women, dammit, and while other races may flow through our veins, we are originally of African descent. We daughters of Africa have been blessed with uniquely designed bodies that have been worshiped for millennia by men the world over--except during this, our twentieth century. Our curvaceous women's bodies became fat and ugly. We're struggling with this diet thing and beating ourselves up when we don't achieve the impossible goals that have been created for us. In the meantime, the rules are changing, slowly but surely. Let's not be obsessive in an unreasonable quest for the perfect body. Perfect by whose definition? Learn to love your body type, and your love will set you free.

I love my body just as it is.

Day 32 – We shall overcome!

Compounding our ongoing fight against prejudice, injustice, and discrimination today is the individually waged battle against unhealthy living. With integration came the right to eat at greasy spoons. With increased leisure time came the right to watch too much TV. As more of us Black women became single parents, we have increasingly resorted to eating out, especially at fast-food restaurants. It's going to require extra work and planning, but we've got to get back into the kitchen. This is not a sexist backlash. Kitchen work is about empowerment and taking responsibility for our health. Prepare big batches of soups, greens, rice, pasta, casseroles, etc., during the weekend and freeze in clearly marked plastic bags. During the week, just defrost and reheat, creatively mix and match foods, and voila! good home cooking.

I'll make the time to cook for myself.