As women, we face some pretty tough to-do lists! We often end up on the bottom of our priority list; prioritizing everyone and everything before we ?treat? ourselves to the basics of a healthy, beautiful life. (And I don't mean the ?fun? stuff, like a pedicure ? I'm talking about eating healthy, looking great, and even taking a good walk or a yoga class.) But what are we to do differently? The to-do list is endless, and day after day, so many truly important things just don't seem to happen. Free time feels more like an oxymoron than a goal. Sometimes, we are so overwhelmed that we seem to believe that even the basics (especially exercise) are luxuries to be earned only after our work is finished, the kids are tucked into bed, and the dishes are put away. (And who has any steam left to exercise by then? Not me, I'm crashed on the couch watching TV ? if I'm lucky, I MIGHT fold some laundry.) Yes, all week long we drive our kids from school to soccer practice to friends, etc., etc., etc., while we literally sit behind the wheel of the car, growing our bodies bigger and bigger and becoming more and more frustrated with how we look ? and more importantly, how we feel. And then we wonder, ?Why don't I have any energy?? Like everyone, my schedule is jam packed. I have a great job that takes a lot of time, plus articles to write, and oh yeah ? friends, family, and somewhere in there ? ME! But one thing I've finally learned is that I cannot write about the prioritization of self without living that way. Like my mom used to say, if it's first priority ? then simply do it first. And for me, even though I'm a curvy size 16, that means making time to acknowledge the importance of exercise ? and stealing the time to do it.

The simple and encouraging reality is this: The time you invest in taking care of your body makes a difference, no matter what size your favorite pair of jeans are. Not only does it come back to you in extra years at the end of your life (exponentially, in fact), but it frees you from the many hours you would have spent being exhausted from being inactive (and overweight, as a result) ? and it saves you from being distracted by a lack of confidence and feeling ?less than? other women around you. You see, it doesn't matter so much what size you are, after all ? beautiful women come in ALL shapes and sizes. But it DOES matter how you prioritize yourself and what you do to stay strong. Make every-day exercise one of your TOP priorities, and you will be so much more effective in all of the things you do. You'll also enjoy them more! And you'll look better ? even if you don't lose a pound ? your skin will have that healthy glow and your step will have a happy bounce in it again! Finally, choose to invite a friend to meet you for that 35-minute walk every morning ? or that bike ride around the park twice a week. They'll be there to help keep you accountable; and together, you'll add to your healthy hearts ? inside and out!