's MTD Sunday Feb 24, 2008

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GIGGLES

Sunday, 24 February 2008

There are many, many ways to cope with and handle your excess weight. You can ignore your weight or be in denial about it, like a lot of people do. You can let your weight run your life or, ultimately, ruin your life. Another way that people handle their excess weight is my giggling. I have a little story to tell you. See, there's a lady who worked in the praline store a couple of blocks away from where I grew up in New Orleans. She must have weighed somewhere between 200-300 pounds. The praline shop was called the Purple Orchid and it was located on Royal Street. This lady would stand in the window and make pralines while crowds of people would stand outside and watch her through the windows. And when the pralines were done, they'd all rush into the store and buy up the freshly made pralines.Many of the store's customers loved to have their photos taken with the sweet lady who made those sugary-sweet pralines. And oh, she would laugh and giggle with everyone as she posed for the photos.In fact, no matter who came into the store, she was always chuckling and greeted every customer as if they were members of her family. I used to stay with her until closing time and I loved to help her. Once all of the pralines had been dipped and the customers were all gone, she'd continue laughing with me. After the store was closed, I'd watch her sit down to change her shoes. Her feet would be all swollen from standing all day and I could see how she was often in a lot of pain. But even through the pain, she'd giggle all the way.Since knowing this lady, I have known thousands and thousands of men and women who have hidden their sorrow behind a laugh. No matter who's around, they always have a giggle for them. I think people do this because they think no one will notice their weight if they're always in a cheery mood. But let's face it, there's nothing cheery about living in a body that's always hurting. Over the years, a lot of giggling, cheery women have walked through the doors of my workout studio, Slimmons, in Los Angeles. And you know what? I think about my friend from the praline store when each of them walks in. I look behind their giggles in an effort to help them deal with whatever is causing their hidden unhappiness.I think everyone should have a good sense of humor. Hey, you know me! But you can't hide your weight or the problems it causes by smiling. You know that your excess weight can cause you so many serious medical problems. And that fact weighs heavily on your minds. I know it does. That's why you must start getting serious about losing the weight you need to lose. And I know you know how to do it. When you eat three healthy meals a day, drink your water, get your exercise in and...lose weight, then you'll really have something to giggle about. I know all about giggling because I used to be one of those gigglers myself. But after my weight-loss success and my success at keeping it off, I can giggle, honestly, every day of my life.Please plan your meals and workouts this week and do it all with a giggle and a with a smile on your face!Love,

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