Stranger’s mix-up causes reflection on health

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was coming up out of the subway the other day when a man spoke to me from behind. He complimented me on my outfit and then looked at me. He remarked that he had thought I was someone else — a prominent woman in our city. It was a compliment in that regard, but a little jarring, too. This woman is much larger than I am — at least I think so. It got me thinking about whether I have a realistic sense of my size. I know I have gained weight in recent years, but this other woman is obese. Is that how people see me? Is that true about me? My head started spinning. It really has nothing to do with the other woman; I like her a lot. It is more of a wake-up call to me. I have been so busy that I rarely exercise or do anything for my health. It’s past time to take action. How can I start?