If you or your obese child feels imprisoned by obesity now is the time to escape from obesity. Child obesity has received much attention over the past few decades because it is the most common nutritional disorder among children and teens in the United States.
The problem is children don't have much control over their environment which means it starts with the parents. When parents have negative attitudes towards food and exercise their children are exposed to the same negative attitudes. Parents are the leaders and need to set the example. Children are the followers and since they have little control over their environment they have to accept the offerings.
In order to escape from obesity you need a well executed plan. It all starts with making changes in lifestyle and creating a healthier environment. A good place to start is by cleaning out the cupboards of junk food and replacing it with healthier choices.
The escape from obesity plan is very simple and effortless but it requires commitment and a family effort. The benefits will far outweigh the sacrifices. How we eat is as important as what we eat. Slow down.
At mealtime try to engage in some provocative conversation to control speed eating. Eating is not a race. Take the time to enjoy every bite because eating too fast is the quickest way to over eat. Controlled eating makes you feel more full, you will enjoy the food more, and you end up eating less.
The escape from obesity plan begins with controlled eating. The benefits are more control over weight management, portion control ( you may even eat less), and less stress. Eating slower allows you and your family to unwind and relax from a busy day. Speed eating contributes to child obesity.
Many people use food to sooth hurt feelings or as way of dealing with stress not realizing or caring that it is counter productive to weight loss. If you want to escape from obesity you need to control emotional eating.
Emotional eating or comfort eating is one of the main causes of overeating. One of the problems with emotional eating is the type of foods that emotional eaters choose. They are generally high in fats and sugars because they boost energy levels leaving us feeling less sorrowful, at least for the moment.
Emotional eaters need to find more productive methods of venting their anger, stress, and other emotional outbursts. They need to identify the triggers that cause emotional eating such as: what, when, where, and why. Emotional eating has nothing to do with hunger. When the urge for emotional eating arises try to involve yourself in an activity to get your mind off the food. Positive thoughts will help you escape obesity.
Exercise - All Gain No Pain
We all know that in order to escape from obesity regular exercise is required. For a lot of people the thought of the gym causes them to cringe. Don't feel badly if you feel this way because there is a painless solution.
Weight loss experts will tell you that in order to lose weight you need to make a change in lifestyle. These words are true, however, there are some simple actions that you can make in your daily routine that will help you lose those unwanted pounds without too much extra effort.
Most people start their day with a hot shower. This is a great opportunity to not only get squeaky clean but also start a morning mini exercise program. Depending on the ages of your children and the severity of their weight problem I would advise parental guidance.
While you are rinsing off place your feet against the sides of the shower stall and lean forward until your arms reach the shower walls. With your fingers pointing upwards do a few standing push ups. Don't over do it the day has just begun but do enough to feel the muscles in your arms, chest, and shoulders. Repeat this procedure daily and you will be amazed by how such a simple action can help your body and at the same time you are getting a good stretch to start your day.
Everybody knows that walking is great aerobic exercise and you do see more and more people taking a good stroll in the park. Try to make walking as a family a part of your weekly routine.
The next time you are out walking open up your gait just a little bit and count to thirty. You can repeat this as much as you like and the next time maybe you can get to a forty five count. This action can be done anyplace at any time. Walking from your car to the grocery store, walking from the mall parking lot, to name a few suggestions.
On the subject of the mall another great idea is to park further away from the main entrance . You actually aren't saving much time by parking close to the entrance because by the time it takes to find an empty parking space you could already be parked and getting that good stroll in.
One of my favorite suggestions involves passive modes of transportation in public places. Try using the stairs instead of the elevator. The action of stair walking is superb for building your leg muscles. I do not suggest this if you have bad knees because you are carrying seven times your body weight and the pressure on your knees would be too much.
If you live or work in a high rise simply use the stairs for one or two stories and take the elevator the rest of the way. The same holds true for escalators at airports. There are a few exceptions such as Chicago O'Hare. I do know for a fact that it is a long haul from the tarmac to the main airport and even I take the escalator.
These are just a few suggestions on how to escape from obesity on a daily basis. It would not surprise me if you could think of a dozen other ways without breaking your daily routine. Stop and think about what you do and how you get there? I'm sure that you could think of several other ways that you can escape obesity with no pain and all gain.
Return to Child Obesity Prevention Page from "Escape From Obesity"
Home | About Me | RSS/Blog | Contact Us?2008-2011 Help Cure Child Obesity - All Rights Reserved
Success has a simple formula: do your best, and people may like it. Sam Ewing
No comments:
Post a Comment