I have been morbidly obese my entire life. I was on diets from the time I was 4 years old until I left home for college. I had weight loss surgery when I was 28. I've always been physically active: soccer, dance, volleyball, swimming, yoga, weight lifting.

This year of quarantine kept me from my gym. Before covid, I went to Zumba/Dance 3-4 times a week for an hour each session, I occasionally (twice a month) went to a weights class or worked with weights in the main open gym area. I also swam 3-4 times a week.

Even with all this activity, I was still morbidly obese. But I felt good in my body. I didn't get winded going up a flight of stairs, etc.

Now? I get winded going up a flight of stairs.

So, this week... I've decided that even if I can't go to the gym and do the activities I used to do, I can try walking. I hate walking. I mostly hate walking because Ive had a lot of random-stranger verbal abuse and objects thrown at me any time I engage in exercise publicly. It's especially worse walking along a street without sidewalks. Cars get as close to me as possible, I get splashed, moo-ed and oink-ed at. It's lovely.

In spite of that... I'm making it a goal to walk at least as much as the day before each day this week. It started with just a mile. Yesterday I hit 5k steps (just under 2 miles) and today it is just 1:30 and I've already hit 2.5 miles and almost 6k steps.

I have so very much baggage around my weight, dieting, etc. It feels just so damn good to just go walk. Even if half of it may just be walking up and down my own driveway.