Dear Heather … I Have Been Unhealthy

Hello Heather. I have been very unhealthy for years now due to severe depression. I am now getting my life back on track and have been going to the gym for the past month now. Now I am (as embarrassing as it is to say it publicly) 22 years old (male), 362 lbs (I am thick and most don’t think I am that big), 5’11” and I walk the treadmill every morning (before I eat Breakfast) usually at 3.0-3.4 at an incline at 3.0 (for 55 mins/+5min cool down so 1 hour)…any idea about how many calories I am burning … Continue reading →

Dear Heather .. I Was Diagnosed with Diabetes …

Dear Heather, I went to the doctor recently because I’ve been tired all the time, I got the shakes and experienced a few other troubling systems including incontinence and severe thirst. During the course of the general exam, she asked me a lot of questions and I’ll admit it, I’m overweight and I could probably stand to lose about 75 pounds or more. She recommended a few tests and when all was said and done, she told me I had diabetes. It’s Type II, the kind you get when you’re in bad physical shape like I am and when you’ve … Continue reading →

Dear Heather … Summer Fitness Vacations

Dear Heather, I remember reading in your blog a while back about fitness vacations. I was actually thinking that this would be a good plan for my family (we have 4 boys ranging in age of 5 to 15) and I think a fitness vacation might inspire my sons to stay active while spending some time with their Dad and I. But I’m not sure where to start my planning. Any ideas? -Mom on the Move Dear Mom on the Move, First let me say hats off to you, I have a hard time keeping up with 1 girl, I … Continue reading →

Dear Heather, Does It Get Easier?

It’s been a while since we featured Dear Heather here in the Fitness Blog and to be honest, it’s been a while since we’ve been featuring a great deal here in the fitness blog. I think I was tackled by the same blues that gets everyone else. But we’re back and we’re going to do this together. A couple of years ago, we launched our Spring Forward to Action fitness plan around this time (the time change is coming on Sunday, March 9) but I think this year we’re going to focus our ambitions on “Getting Back on Track” so … Continue reading →

Dear Heather … Hiring a Personal Trainer for Your Child

After a brief hiatus, our weekly Dear Heather … feature is returning to the fitness blog here at Families.com So if you have fitness questions, concerns or just want to know something, feel free to send it my way and I will do my best to get your questions answered. Dear Heather, I am very worried about my daughter. She’s 9 years old and she’s already much taller than most of the kids in her class or her age. But over the summer she started putting on weight and I know she is getting teased at school. I’m concerned about … Continue reading →

Dear Heather … A Question

A reader asked the following question on my blog Coach Mom: Making Up Your Game Plan and I thought I’d put it up front so I could answer it. The question is from Families.com member Tckteacher: A question rather than a comment. Our days of homeschooling our own children are long over, but I now find myself in a position of schooling a 3rd grade child overseas in a situation where there few available resources and no community sports activities for her to join other than dance – which she is involved in. I am trying as her teacher to … Continue reading →

Dear Heather …. Where Have You Been?

Dear Heather, I enjoyed reading your Dear Heathers when you published them, but it seems like it’s been a while since you posted one. Also, I have been doing my own workout at home for a few years now, I alternate strength training and cardio and it seems to be a good system. But I do sit-ups every morning before I shower (I know they are strength training, but I have a phobia about my middle) and even though I can do 50 at a time and it’s easy, I still do them. Is there a way I can make … Continue reading →

Dear Heather … What is Lymphatic Massage?

Dear Heather, I was listening to the radio this morning and there was a lady on there talking about lymphatic massage. She made it sound like it’s the way to go if you want to burn off cellulite and firm up even if you do exercise regularly – but what I wasn’t getting from the radio show was – what is lymphatic massage? Do you know what it is and what it’s good for? – Curious in New Mexico Good morning Curious in New Mexico, I did some research of my own after I got your question. Lymphatic massage is … Continue reading →

Dear Heather … Can you really be fit and fat?

Dear Heather, I enjoy reading your blog regularly and I have been tempted to send you a question in the past, but I always refrained. Now I’m biting the bullet and I’m sending you a question that I’m really curious about. I am basically in good health. I exercise regularly – 4 to 5 times a week. I enjoy riding my bike and walk every chance that I get. I play sports with my boys (they are 14 and 17) and I have low blood pressure and low cholesterol. The problem is I am 5’4 and I weigh about 220 … Continue reading →

Dear Heather … My Husband Thinks It’s My Fault

Dear Heather I get so frustrated with my husband sometimes. I’m overweight. I have been since my second child was born. With my son, the weight just fell off, but in the last couple of years I haven’t lost that pregnancy weight with my daughter. I don’t like how I look, honestly, I feel very chunky and ungainly these days. I gained over 50 pounds and I only lost about 10 after our daughter was born and then quickly regained that 10 pounds. A couple of days ago, I was feeling pretty frustrated and my husband said, and I quote, … Continue reading →