Last week I wrote about my goal to drop six sticky pounds. And a reader asked why, suggesting the scale is not the sole determinant of good health. This is certainly true. But my experience is this: Weight gain begets weight gain and pretty soon you can find yourself heavier than your heart valves, vanity and wardrobe are comfortable with. And I believe vanity, within reason, is an important part of our emotional health. Maybe not as important as clear arteries or wellness in general, but important nonetheless.

Here's some perspective: I'm essentially near the top of what's considered a healthy weight for my stature. That means I have no leeway for vacations or Thanksgiving or GNO. I like leeway. And I like nipping things in the bud before they're a problem. Or before I can't squeeze into my bathing suit to join my daughter in swim class. That's my strategy, and it's worked for me so far.

I think it can work for any parent struggling to keep tabs on their health and find time to exercise. It's all about staying on top of things as much as possible because none of us has room for big problems in our lives. It's about being reasonable. Losing six pounds is a whole lot easier than losing 60. Sixty pounds is a lot. Trust me. I just pushed that amount around in a double stroller yesterday as a way of getting a workout in while babysitting my daughter's best friend before my in-laws arrived in town.



I haven't stepped on the scale this week and yesterday's workout wasn't perfectly tooled or timed for my weight-loss goals. But I burned some calories and got my heart pumping and breathed in some fresh air. Better than nothing. I'll take it. And it was very reasonable given yesterday's demands.