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My California dreams of L.A. Legs and a flat stomach are simply not attainable. This is because of how my body structure is set up 🤣. I’m ok with that. I don’t care. I love every curve and plump roll, keeping and maintaining my health is the goal!

I’m Mia The Diva, Founder and Creator of the flybyjuly campaign. It’s a 12-week online body confidence, health, and fitness challenge.

I am here documenting my journey as I “Get it together” in midlife. I aim to lower my A1C through nutrition and lifestyle. Follow @flybyjuly on most socials or fly along and subscribe here on the blog for weekly updates!

(Disclaimer) First and foremost, I am not a medical professional. Any information I share is based on my personal experience for educational purposes. I will not accept responsibility for the actions taken by any reader/viewer of this content. I am also not responsible for any consequential results of those actions. Please consult a physician or qualified health professional about your health, weight management or any opinions expressed here.  

Let’s get Fly by July Divas!!!!

Hey Divas!✨

Hello September and welcoming the next 365 days! So here we are. I mentioned in my last post that I am on a mission. My mission is to get these suggas in check and lower my A1C levels. Around this time last year I started to really get focused on my health and getting it together. The focus has been on getting in some more movement and making better food choices.

It’s been hard to make a goal. I do not really know where I am at or where I am trying to go. A lot of this is trial and error. It’s about finding what works. This is a lifestyle change, not a diet. Whatever I am doing, this will be for life and the long haul. I’m a little older now so my motivation has changed. Of course, a diva wants her aesthetics.

However, I am more focused on how I am feeling rather than my looks. But don’t get it twisted, I will not be out here looking like “Who did it and Why??”

My dreams of LA Legs and a flat stomach is simply not attainable with how my body structure is set up right now 🤣 I’m ok with that. I don’t care. I love every curve and plump roll, keeping and maintaining my health is the goal!

Body Goals & My Natural Shape

I carry my weight in my butt and my legs. I have a stomach. It is striving for a “pouch.” It’s all a part of the Big Girl deluxe package. I’ve always kept it real with myself. I would say that I have always had a realistic and positive outlook of my body image. However, since hitting my 40’s, I am experiencing hormonal changes, weight gain, and belly bloating. I’m finding myself navigating a new body.

I’ve always been a Big Girl. These days, carrying the extra weight reminds me of the heaviness of life that I’ve carried. It’s time to let go of the weight and the baggage of life. I’m finally in a space that I recognize everything is not mine to carry. Let all that ish that is holding you back go.

I don’t really eat to the levels that one would think for someone of my size. It’s not a matter of not having self control or will power or even emotional eating to a great extent. The weight of life and emotions is far heavier than the calories of any large pizza with extra cheese.

Traveling, specifically flying is when I am most self body conscious

My weight has never really been an issue for me. I’ve always been confident in my skin. I carry myself well. Then, all that confidence goes down the drain when I am traveling.

Traveling, specifically flying is when I am most self body conscious because the seats are so small anyways. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me hoping I do not choose a seat next to them.

I had to travel years ago because I was on my way to my Grandmother’s funeral. Emotions were already high. I board onto the plane and it is a completely full flight, not one extra seat.

The airline did not have assigned seating. I was the very last person to board the plane. Of course, the only seat left was, dare I say it, a middle seat.

There were two gentlemen seated on opposite ends. They were both Big Guys themselves. As a Big Girl, I thought to myself, there is NO WAY this is going to work.

I noticed a petite lady who was nestled into her aisle seat across from their row.

I became nervous that I would have missed my Grandmother’s funeral by booking the next flight out. I asked the lady if she would kindly exchange seats with me. She cringed and looked at me dead in my face and said, no.

I was completely humiliated and embarrassed that I was about to have to de-board this plane. The two guys warmly said:

” Come on girl, get in here we’ll make it work! ”

We did just that. Shoulder to shoulder, elbow to elbow, and thigh to thigh, we made it work.

Ironically it turned out that they were undercover flight marshals on that flight and had shown me their badges. They made one of my worst days one of my absolute best.

I felt so comforted and supported in that moment. Kindness can really make or break someone’s day.

I will never forget the compassion and kindness of those men to this day. It was a moment of clarity for me and having acceptance of where my body is right now.

Body Positivity hits different at 40+

I am capable of looking at myself honestly behind the shame and embarrassment. I will probably never fit comfortably in an airplane seat. I have to make accommodations and adjustments when traveling with a larger body.

Body Positivity hits different at 40+. There are many things that are just not as important as they were in my earlier days.

The goal back then was mostly was to wear something cute in the club. I wanted to be fashionable without looking middle aged.

We did not have all the choices there are today, plus size clothing was marketed to middle aged women. Now that I am middle aged, it’s not so bad here LOL.

Ultimately, I just want to be healthy and comfortable in my body. A snatched waist would be nice but not required and being Fly is just simply the standard of my life these days.

To be honest and realistic with these next 365 days, the goal is to get FLY! I also want to feel comfortable in my body. I’m naturally a bigger girl and I have a proportionate curvy shape I gain everywhere I lose everywhere. I can only go against genetics so much. I don’t want to change this.

I love my body, even at this size. My body has carried me through many storms and is still fighting for me everyday through health scares and all.

Taking time to really be thankful for my body and appreciating her has been a game changer in this journey.

So often, we are shamed for having larger bodies in society. Even in 2025, being fat is still viewed negatively. It is still measured as a barometer of health. Ultimately, healthy is healthy regardless of the body we are in. Similarly, unhealthy is unhealthy regardless of the body we are in.

Even if you have won the perceived societal “genetic lottery,” it does not promise or guarantee good health.

I just want my body to be healthy and carry me through into my later years. I am setting myself up for success while I am still in my prime years.

In our 40’s and 50’s, how we take care of ourselves is crucial. Our actions now will decide our health as we grow old. The goal is to be able to wipe my own behind and sustain myself at 80, should I be so blessed to make it there.

My Day 1 starting measurements for my health journey

It’s been said that we can’t manage the things that we do not measure in life, business and our health.

The medical industry has mostly set its weight guidelines according to the waist-to-hip ratio. It does not rely as much on the BMI, which we all know is the Body Mass Index. I’m not going to focus on that number too much. It does not distinguish between fat and muscle.

Thus, it’s not capable of giving an exact ideal weight goal in my opinion. So, let’s get out our measuring tape, divas!

This is what you need to do to find out your waist-to-hip ratio dear diva

1. Get your tape measure and measure your waist right at your belly button line. If you do not have one, you can order one online. Alternatively, you can get one the old fashioned way by going to the actual store.
2. You will want to stand with your feet hip width apart and then measure your hips at their widest point.
3. Then you will divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. Ta da! 🥳 This is your waist-to-hip ratio.

My waist 54 inches and My hips is 62 inches which gives us a grand total of .87. The ideal waist to hip ratio for women is .80 and men .95.

Whatever weight I am at once I reach my waist to hip ratio number. I will assess how I feel and manage my weight to keep it from there and beyond.

Setting the Vision and the Vibes for once I reach my Health Goals:

I remember I came across a quote years ago. I recall it to this day. It is always a guide in my fashion decisions. It has been a staple for at least the past 15 years or so.

The quote: ” You don’t have to dress a body that sings ” resonates deeply with me. I love this quote to the depths of my soul. It has been a driving force how I embrace my body confidence.

If body positivism was a quote, this would be it.

One year from now. I imagine myself thick legs and in-shape walking pass a mirror somewhere and giving myself a double take. Girl is that you???

I see myself somewhere tropical. I’m wearing a two piece and a cute sarong. I’m sipping on some exotic cocktail and eating delicious fresh seafood.

It’s July I’m Fly and I am living my very best life! My hair is decorated with cowrie shells and flowing faux locs releasing my inner Island gyal. My skin is clear my eyes are bright, energy vibrant!

Breaking Down My Health Goals at 40+

Ultimately, yes I want to be Healthy and comfortable in my body but how does that look on paper? It’s hard to get a hold of your life and rebuild it without measuring.

It’s pretty difficult to make any real progress without measuring where we are. It’s also hard to understand where we’ve been. Additionally, we need to measure where we are going.

I found myself in a rut for many years. I just wasn’t really making a whole lot of progress in my life as I would have liked. I did not have a clear goal or a plan to get there.

I need to have a healthy A1C level to be healthy. My A1C level is higher than usual. I need to bring this number down. This will prevent it from developing into full blown diabetes. I am grateful. This is something that can be managed by lifestyle at this stage. It does not need medication right now.

To break down goals, you may have heard of using the SMART system. Make a goal Specific, Measurable, Achievable, and assign a Time Deadline to that goal.

To keep things simple, I will list my ultimate goal for the next year. It is to get my waist-to-hip ratio to .80 and my AIC level to 5.7 or better.

I will then break it down to what I will need to do monthly. I will decide what to do weekly and daily to reach this goal. I will celebrate by rewarding myself once achieved said goals!

Honestly, at times in the past, I feel like I’ve been rewarding myself way too much and just need some solid discipline. My health is on the line and I really can’t be playing any games. A healthy vibrant body is the reward.

My Mom was never the parent to reward good grades with money or treats. She always told us that our grade was our own reward. Now, I get it. Thanks Mom.

I challenge you to figure out your waist to hip ratio. Think about how life changing a healthier body will be. Consider how that will look on you. I challenge you to think about your own health challenges. Consider what you need to start moving in that direction. Write down some goals to help you get there!

We’re in this together dear diva!

Feel free to hang out, share your progress or just stay updated on everything social follow us @flybyjuly. We’re on most social media. You can also subscribe here at the blog, our Hub, for the latest FBJ news before it hits the streets!

Closing out summer and during the Fly back into Fall months. I’ll mostly be here on the blog. I will be focusing on my personal health journey for now as I get these sugga levels down.

Fly along and subscribe here for weekly updates!

We are back in business as we Fly back into Fall! 💪🏽💕

Let’s get Fly by July!

Be Healthy Be Fabulous Be You!

Mia The Diva