DEAR HARRIETTE: I looked in the mirror the other day and had to gasp. This period of quarantine has been no friend to me. I have sat in my house for months, and I look like it. I don’t even know how I put on so much weight, but it is not good. I feel like I have turned into one of my aunties who I pledged as a child I would never become. I always judged them for getting so big, and here I am looking just like them. I am horrified. But I am worried that I am too old to shed the weight. What can I do to reverse these months of lethargy? -- Overweight
DEAR OVERWEIGHT: It would be great to start with a complete physical at the doctor. Find out how much you weigh and the status of your body. Learn if there are any health conditions for you to attend to, and ask your doctor about recommended exercises that are safe for your body now. Ask for a referral to a nutritionist as well. Between diet and exercise, you can work to improve your overall health and lose weight at the same time. The key will be for you to be committed to the plan. No matter what age, you can pivot and make a tremendous difference. You deserve to be healthy.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)