Danger! Danger! I’m at risk of getting heart disease, diabetes and cancer, and dying too young from one of these illnesses. Why? I am middle-aged and I have a fat belly.

I’ve always had a puffy stomach, even in my younger years when I was much leaner. But the puffiness has turned into life-threatening flab and I’ve got to do something about it. I’ve joined my friend and fellow blogger Yvonne on a journey to shrink my belly as part of the weareblackwomen.com Melt the Middle challenge.

 Over the past year or so, I’ve been eating better and exercising, losing some pounds in the process. A few months ago, I moved back to my native North Carolina and I’m sure you can guess what got lost in the transition. Even when I lost weight, my belly didn’t want to let go. So I’m renewing this pledge: Good health will not be an afterthought in my life.

My Mom is my role model. At nearly 80 years old, she is conscientious about healthy-eating. You won’t find any chips or candy in her house. Until a few years ago when health problems affected her mobility, my mother walked several miles a day with her friends. Now, she does leg lifts and other exercises recommended by a physical therapist.

I want to be a role model for my soon-to-be 15-year-old daughter. I also want to have enough stamina to join her Girl Scout troop on a camping trip in the spring and to continue to jump around with her, learning some of the dance moves popular among the teenage crowd.

I’m going to follow the recommendations of the Flat Belly Diet, a plan created by Prevention Magazine, and will exercise at least five days a week in a nearby gym. This is going to be no easy journey. I hope you’ll join us.

Related posts:

1. It’s hard but don’t give up