Nov 16, What do I do about my daughter

I am not sure where to start but what do I do about my daughter. She just turned 11 and is 119 lbs.

I was always a chunky kid but looking back at photos I was not as big as I had thought I was. I hoped maybe when she hit her growth spurt she would slim down some and I am still waiting for that.

She does seem concerned about it and I remember people telling me when I was a kid, "don't eat that, you will get fat". I don't want to give her any further self esteem and weight issues but I am not sure: What do I do about my daughter.

My biggest concern by far is the amount of junk food she eats. I have never been one to really keep a bunch of junk food, chips and sweets, in the house but on a rare occasion someone will send something home or I will buy a tray of cookies or some ice cream bars at the store as a treat.

My daughter will sneak them until she has eaten all of them. I don't notice usually; because I seldom eat sweets but when I go to get one for myself there will be none left.

Sometimes she will ask and I will allow her but most of the time she just helps herself. Short of just not having it in the house or keeping it in a locked cabinet are there any other suggestions?

I do not want to give her a complex but this is frightening to me and makes me wonder if there are other underlying issues or problems that will surface in the future with the sneaking and hoarding.

I have had some ice cream bars hidden in the freezer for 3 weeks now and there are several left but only because she does not know they are there. I have tried hiding other stuff but she always finds it and when I go back to it there is none left.

She also lies about it and says I told her she could have it or that she didn't eat them all but I know she did because we are the only two in the house and I know I haven't eaten them.

What do I do about my daughter???

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: Your daughter first needs to realize that there is a problem and own up to it. Lying and sneaking solves nothing and simply prolongs the problem. Try engaging in non aggressive conversation from the heart about your concerns and work out a plan that works for both of you.

Perhaps this page will help.

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Jan 17, Fast Food Nutrition Facts

It is appropriate to talk about the fast food nutrition facts because, believe it or not, you can get sufficient nutrients from select fast food menus. This is not to suggest that you make fast food a regular staple in your families diet because when it comes to overweight children the fast food nutrition facts are obvious. It is more about making healthier choices from the menu.

The bulk of your meals should include more natural and fresh foods which are usually found in the perimeter of supermarkets. The interior sections have a variety of foods that in some cases are processed foods. Such as canned foods which would require more label reading to know what the fast food nutrition really is. Frequenting fast food restaurants normally is out of convenience or because of a tight schedule.

Putting limits on how often you indulge will be beneficial to your overall nutritional health. Once a week would be sufficient although less would be better. The fast food nutrition facts are available on line which will help at making smart choices.

Excessive amounts of fast food will ruin any weight loss plan so it is important to know the fast food nutrition. This will aid you in distinguishing between whole foods and foods that are processed which are loaded with calories and fat. Fast food restaurants cater to a wide client?le many of which are careless in food nutrition choices.

Many fast food restaurants have expanded their menus to include more grilled lean meats, salads and fruit. The majority of their menus, however, are processed foods which is why you need to know the fast food nutritional facts. A salad with grilled chicken is an excellent choice but if you are unaware of the ingredients in the salad dressing you just might be eating empty calories. Avoid mayonnaise whenever possible and be wary of what is thought to be fat free. Know the fast food nutrition in fat free products by checking the sugar content.

It is possible for fast foods to be a part of your diet as long as you are educated about the fast food nutritional facts. Once you are informed it makes it easier to choose wisely when ordering your next fast food meal. Keeping fast foods in moderation and with proper exercise you can include it in your weight loss plans.

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What We Learn From The Very Hungry Caterpillar

One of the most beloved children's stories of all time has a good lesson when it comes to moderation.

Over 40 years, 12 million copies and 20 languages later, Eric Carl's classic "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," continues to impact culture, and its underlying messages are now being promoted to help combat childhood obesity.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is teaming up with the Pearson Foundation and We Give Books. The AAP will be distributing copies of the book to more than 17,000 pediatricians' offices.

The book will come packaged with growth charts and a reading guide designed to help parents use the story to talk to their young children about healthy eating.

If you were deprived of a complete childhood aren't familiar with The Very Hungry Caterpillar, here's a brief synopsis...

Caterpillar comes out of his egg. He's hungry. Day one, he eats through a red apple. On day two, 2 green pears. On day three, 3 purple plums, on day four, 4 strawberries, on day five, 5 oranges. Nothing wrong there. But then, our little caterpillar goes completely off the rails, crushing chocolate cake, ice cream, a pickle, cheese, salami, a lollipop, sausage, a cupcake, a cherry pie and a watermelon.

*Spoiler Alert*

(That night, he wished he had finished his gluttonous episode with a bottle of Tums)

To make a short story even shorter, he gets really fat, eats through a leaf, builds a cocoon and turns into a beautiful butterfly.

I think it's a wonderful idea on many levels. Any health-promoting idea that can be integrated into children's pop culture is a good step. And, while I don't see this single idea having much impact, I think from a more global perspective, it provides a parental teaching opportunity.

As parents, we should seek out teaching opportunities in books, TV, movies and everyday life, to get our children thinking about decisions that impact their health.

I think it comes down to role-modelling and education from a parenting perspective. The more institutions, school/government, etc. that are on board with promoting healthy eating and exercise, the better equipped we will be to fight childhood obesity.

Do you think The Very Hungry Caterpillar could be a useful tool to help combat childhood obesity?

Image Credit: Baby Books Guide

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Jan 17, Sleep Apnea Obesity Cause And Effect

If you find it difficult to get a good nights rest it's possible that you suffer from sleep apnea obesity. Everybody needs a good nights rest to function properly and be active. This is a condition when not breathing (apnea) lasts for more than 10 seconds while sleeping.

During episodes of apnea the oxygen levels drop to unsafe levels which is cause for irregular heart beats. People who suffer from this disorder have a higher risk of heart attacks or strokes.

Central SA is when the part of the brain that controls respiration causes the muscles that are used in breathing not to respond. This changes the oxygen levels in the blood stream. When the oxygen levels get too low you are awakened by an automatic breathing reflex.

Obstructive SA mostly occurs by airway passages being blocked by fatty tissue in the neck. The airway passages can also be obstructed by the tongue, tonsils, and uvula.

SA is most common in obesity although some individuals who have large necks can also become victims of this sleep disorder. Being deprived of sleep causes some risks too such as sleeping while driving, sleeping at work, or any other obscure time. They also have a tendency to experience headaches, memory lapses, lack of energy, or shortness of breath.

It's a well known fact that when people don't get enough sleep they are less active. Being less active, of course, means less exercise. SA and obesity are commonly connected the question is which one causes the other.

That all depends on how you want to look at it. If sleep apnea causes obesity because of fatigue and less exercise. Does that mean that obesity does not cause sleep apnea because of the blocked airway passages due to enlarged necks and fatty tissue?

There may be another explanation and it has to do with two hormones. Leptin which suppresses appetite and increases energy. Grehlin which increases food intake. SA lowers the leptin and raises the grehlin. What this means is less energy more desire to eat.

Wake Up Call

The best solution for sleep apnea obesity is to get on a strict diet and lose the pounds. A ten percent reduction in weight reduces the severity of SA by fifty percent. As with any weight loss plan exercise needs to be part of the program. With improved nutrition and exercise you will finally get a good nights sleep.

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Success has a simple formula: do your best, and people may like it. Sam Ewing

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Jan 17, Proper Teen Diet And Exercise

Young adults are notorious for not getting proper teen diet and exercise. This is the main cause of child obesity in America and globally. The primary cause of overweight in teenagers is lack of exercise and poor eating habits.

There are other factors that play significant roles in obesity such as genetics and society. Society has found a way of interfering with proper teen diet and exercise thanks to the lure of electronic devices that can be addictive and also fun. Video games, computers, and cell phones create a sedentary lifestyle that for many teens is hard to resist.

As a matter of fact 43% of teenagers watch more than 2 hours of television per day. Generally while watching television they are consuming junk food that is nothing more than empty calories.

For proper teen diet and exercise you have to set some ground rules that need to be followed. In order to reach goals and measure success you should start by following a height and weight chart. Pick an arranged day to check and record the height and weight results.
Eat a balanced diet avoiding junk food at all costs.
Get more exercise on a daily basis.
Go to bed at the same time every day and get at least 8 hours of sleep.
Finally, drink more water. 1 ounce per day per pound of body weight.

Proper teen diet and exercise also has some rules not to break Don't attempt to lose more than 2 pounds per week. This is not fast weight loss.
Don't try to lose weight by eating less and not exercising.
No Fast Food.
Don't miss any meals and eat slowly.
Keep your emotions under control. No emotional eating.

If you follow the rules as described above your success rate is greatly improved. A healthy diet should include plenty of fresh fruits, whole grains and vegetables. Keep a supply of washed and sliced vegetables in the refrigerator readily available for a quick snack.

Eat foods that are high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, low in fat, lean in protein, and cholesterol free. Limit sugary foods, salt, and refined grain products such as breads, pastas, and breakfast cereal that are not whole grain.

Portion control is essential. One pound of fat is the equivalent to 3500 calories. Which is why physical activity is required for proper teen diet and exercise.

Exercise doesn't have to be a hard core work out. Any form of exercise that promotes physical activity is good. Walking is one of the best forms of aerobic exercise that you can get and its the easiest to do.

Whether its taking the dog for a walk or enjoying a stroll in the park ? walking is good for you. 20-30 minutes of physical activity per day is recommended. There are other forms of exercise that you can get around the house. Exercise should not come as a chore.

One of the newest integrated games that promotes physical exercise is the Nintendo Wii. This game may the answer to teen exercise and obesity; plus it is fun for the whole family. It's popularity has become so big that some on line sellers are limiting the number of units that they will sell per household. And many stores are having a hard time keeping them in stock.

We are very aware that video games are a contributor to sedentary lifestyles yet this is one that actually breaks the barrier and is healthy exercise. With proper teen diet and exercise weight loss is doable but it will take time and commitment.

Return to Teen Diets Page from "Proper Teen Diet And Exercise"

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Success has a simple formula: do your best, and people may like it. Sam Ewing

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Mar 10, Highly Intelligent 16 Year Old

by Mom n Dad
(Redwood City, CA)

Our son is such a great kid..he does not get into the typical trouble that most teens do (so far) but he is addicted to his computer game and driving his car. He is a highly intelligent 16 year old (5.0) GPA student who is very focused on his goals for the future academic college years.

But he has no desire to lose the 60lbs that he is over weight. He is only 5'6 and weighs at least 235lb's. We know as parents we should probably take away his car and computer games/computer in general until he learns to eat right and EXERCISE.

He constantly tells us that he doesn't understand our problem when he is just fine with his huge body and has no problem being the height and weight he is.

We know that he has no idea (although he will be a Pre-Med student in less than a year) that he is setting himself up for some really tough issues in his young adult life.

His Father is Pre-Diabetic and must control it with diet and exercise. His mother (me) has cardiovascular disease and at age 49 have already had 2 open heart surgeries to repair left main 97% block and then another open Heart surgery 3 months later to perform a bypass.

We are frightened that our highly intelligent 16 year old is headed down the wrong path for good health, but at the same time, do not want to punish such a wonderful mind and spirit.

He is really a great person but lacks self-motivation to get control of his obesity and terrible eating habits.

We (his parents) do not over eat and walk everyday except on Sundays, unfortunately our highly intelligent 16 year old son will not come along.

He has a physical with blood work coming up at the end of March and his Doctor has been with him since he was born.

We can only pray that the Doc "scares" him in a way that wakes him up and makes him realize that he is in for some hard times down the road if he doesn't get things under control and start having some self-respect about his looks his health.

Any suggestions other than what we have mentioned sure would be helpful Thank You - scared parents in N. CA

Thank You - Teri Anderson.

Oh Yea! We didn't mean to repeat ourselves but we did post this to another area of this wonderful website.

We're very new to online Content 2.0, sorry if you have read this elsewhere. But we really need some help...We have been fighting for so many years and feel helpless.

Thank you for this vehicle/Avenue to reach out to your readers. We have graciously donated $20 towards the cause.

Many thanks!
Teri and worried husband.

Response:

Teri and Worried Husband,

First off! Thank you for the contribution. This is what helps me fund this site and keep forging forward with my cause.

I did keep your submission on the Teen Obesity page because it addresses some of the causes of teen obesity.

Sedentary lifestyles. What strikes about your highly intelligent 16 year old is that many obese teens (not all) get ridiculed by classmates because they are different or don't 'fit in".

The result is lack of motivation, less time in School, and psychological problems not because of the obesity but because of the peer pressure.

Your son is different though..God bless him for that. He has a vision and cut through all the negative noise to be intelligent despite the ridicule.

I kept your submission on this page "parents of Obese Children" because it also addresses the concerns that parents have.

I have to be careful about what I say out of respect and confidentiality. But, unfortunately, a great deal of my e-mails are from relatives about their concerns. Because the parents are not setting a good example.

Which is why you won't read about those horror stories on this site. You and your husband are setting a good example.

Allow me to make a tiny suggestion just as a start to getting your intelligent 16 year old moving.

First: If he has a vision to be a doctor and help people achieve better health he needs to be setting a good example.

Second: Is it possible for you and your husband to alter your daily walk pattern? Such as: Instead of going to the park for a walk. Walk around the block. Or if your in a rural area around the development.

Have him join you for a small segment. Then you can continue with your routine. In a week or two increase his distance. You may find that he can handle more distances and there is some great bonding that you can accomplish at the same time.

I hope this helps and that he agrees. Oh yea. Bring along some water and maybe celery sticks for him to munch on.

I mentioned in my other response a very successful 100% natural Herbal Remedy that may help if he gets moving " target="_blank">JuniorSlim
I've seen wonderful results. However perhaps the " target="_blank">TeenSlim
is a better option due to his age.

Please stay in touch with this site. We'd love to hear about his success and yours as parents.

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Making The Cut

You either love her, or hate her, but Jillian Michaels is one of the most recognizable faces on TV and the internet right now -- a pretty impressive feat, considering she is a fitness trainer, and didn't start out as an actor, or some random celebrity.

Personally, I like her tough, no nonsense approach to getting people into shape. I think it's necessary for some people. And, in terms of fitness, she gets results with what she recommends.

So, what is her book, Making The Cut, all about?

This book is intended for people who are already reasonably fit and doing some sort of physical activity, who have perhaps 20 pounds or less to lose. Jillian says this,

Let's be clear: Making The Cut isn't about losing 100 pounds; it's about tightening up, getting strong, and changing your body composition. You'll be shedding fat and building lean, strong muscle in its place. You'll be developing a drop-dead, smokin'-hot body.

The basis of this diet, is that people are either fast oxidizers, balanced oxidizers, or slow oxidizers. Apparently slow oxidizers need more carbs. Fast oxidizers need higher percentages of protein. And, balanced oxidizers are somewhere in the middle.

The book then provides three sets of different menus and recipes to fit with each of these types of people.

There are over 100 exercises described in the book, and most of them don't need any exercise equipment, since they focus on body weight. The exercise requirement is at least 40 minutes a day, 5 times per week.

Some of the exercise suggestions, however, don't show any pictures, which can make preforming a move difficult, if it's new to you.

What I like most about Jillian is that she encourages people to get up and take control of their lives. We need motivational people like her in the forefront of the media these days.

Unfortunately, the book offers no scientific evidence whatsoever to back up the dietary advice. Indeed, the science behind this oxidizer theory has not been firmly established, which is probably why!

My guess is that people lose weight on this diet because they are cutting calories and exercising 5 times per week, rather than because of some fancy theory about oxidizing.

That said, however, you can't argue the fact that Jillian Michaels knows exactly how to get people into the best shape of their life, and many of the reviews about this book are brimming over about how effective it is.

Making The Cut is available on Amazon for $8.00.

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