The comedian Mo’Nique used to joke about how much she loved being a big girl, until her husband told her that he wanted her to be around for a long time.

Slowly but surely, she is getting rid of her extra pounds, and I can personally relate to her need to lose weight and get in better shape.

The other day when I tried to give myself a pedicure I couldn’t even touch my feet and I cried. It’s not because I’m not flexible, I am. It was because of that big round mound that sits under my chest. I must admit  that I’ve turned into a ”tubby tundra” and it  ain’t pretty.

These days, from the White House to our homes, losing weight must become a priority for everyone who is obese.

First Lady Michelle Obama’s rollout of a plan to fight childhood obesity is very timely because America is fighting desperately to fix its broken health care system. Fighting fat by getting people to change their eating habits and  exercise are just two methods for doing this.

I played competitive sports all through high school and college, and I never had to worry about my weight. Thirty-some years later, without the intensity of that type of exercise, weight has become a problem for me. Not only is it unsightly and damaging to myself esteem, but it also makes simple things like giving myself a pedicure hard. Going from size 7 to size 14 took  time, so I know it will take time to get back down in size.

There are a myriad of reasons that America is fat.

But people who are in good shape will tell you they not only look and feel better, but they function at a higher level.

When Philadelphia was named America’s fattest city by Men’s Fitness magazine more than 10 years ago, then-Mayor John Street decided to do something about it. He appointed a health car, Gwen Foster, who not only helped the city lose weight, but also taught citizens how to lead healthier lives.  At that time, I was a broadcast journalist and hosted a radio talk show at WDAS in Philadelphia called Heart to Heart, which was committed to teaching people to lead healthier lives. Foster had a 10-week program for the media that I immediately joined. It was a perfect fit, and after learning the lifestyle changes that she taught, I lost 30 pounds.

Czar Foster rolled out a program called Fun, Fit and Free with initiatives that taught people how to eat wholesome, tasty foods without a lot of fat and meat, and how to exercise. She taught that simple lifestyle changes such as drinking enough water, meditating, dancing to get fit, and replacing those fatty foods with fruits and vegetables make a world of difference in how we feel.  Although thousands of Philadelphians benefited from the program, a new mayoral administration came in 2008 and saw fit to eliminate it.  And that’s unfortunate because under her tutelage, I personally witnessed morbidly obese people who lost 100 pounds and diabetics who were able to come off their insulin after spending a year studying her regime.

Fast forward to today and although Philadelphia is no longer considered the fattest city in America (we’re number 20 on Men’s Fitness’s 2009 Fattest City List), it certainly isn’t listed as one of the healthiest.

Having good health begins at home. By making simple lifestyle changes, all of us can not only set good examples for our children but we’ll become more productive in other areas of our lives as well.  In many cases we’ll lead happier and longer lives by controlling our weight and getting enough exercise.  And Mon’Nique is fast becoming the poster child for weight-loss  sucess.

Be sure to follow bloggers Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb and Mae Israel as they, like me, try to  trim their middles.  And I think it’s also time for me to get more serious about joining  their efforts as well. We’ll all keep you posted on our progress !

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4. When life gives you lemons …