My Response to your responses on Obesity

If you didn’t read the post you can it is Your Child is Obese and It is Your Fault. I sure plucked some nerves. I didn’t address some children have weight problems because of health. That is true. That isn’t who I speaking about. That isn’t the majority. I could google it but let’s say that is 5% of the population for argument’s sake. The rest of the weight problems are attributed to food choices and lack of exercise. I think I hit a nerve because several of you struggle with weight. The question is why? You know the facts. You know the equation but you struggle. I think you struggle because you do not place the proper value on your importance. If you did the extra validation of a treat wouldn’t be as important as making sure you were healthy for yourself.

I am know for being blunt in real life. I am usually not so blunt online but truly seeing all those obese children broke my heart. I just couldn’t understand why a parent wouldn’t do something about it. I got called all sorts of things on Facebook and had several people wrote  nasty messages. Good for you maybe I made you so mad that you see what others aren’t willing to say. I am willing to say I judge parents. I do and I did as a teacher. I judged the parent who sent their kids to school after giving them a soda and a snowball and then told me I need to help them learn. They were setting their child up to fail. I can’t sit still after having a soda and a snowball. This wasn’t ADD this was sugar.  I responded back in a harsh way to your comments because you were still making excuses. I wanted to tick you off. Yup, I did. Why? Well sometime anger works to motivate. I believe as a country we are to easy on people. We “baby” them. What has that gotten us but a huge number of overweight people? We offer commercials, print ads, education and different events to promote healthy living. You need to get “it”. You need to understand that as a parent you are the role model and excuses aren’t going to fix the problem. We all have them.  We all also have the answers to resolve this issue. I am going to offer some of my own examples. I was on the opposite end of the spectrum I was skinny but not healthy. I recognized the issue and addressed it.

 

WATCH the VIDEO at the End of this post

I was told to offer advice on how to fix this issue instead of challenging your excuses. These are my examples of how to end childhood obesity.

1) Go to a doctor and determine if this is a medical condition. Let them tell you the implications for the future if your child isn’t given the help they need. It may shock you or scare you but at least it will inform you.

2) Empty all the crap out of your house. Purge! Leave one package of whatever and when it is gone it is. I do not care what you spent on the food. It isn’t money well spent it isn’t good for you. I mean honestly someone told me they do not have time to see if their kids had 13 cookies. Really? Get off the internet long enough to make portioned controlled amounts if your kid over indulges. Help set limits. This is your job to set limits for your kid.

3) Meal plan take out a calendar and figure out your schedule. Then look at the sales flyer and figure out what you can make around your schedule and your budget. I buy chicken when it is on sale and other meat and just pair them with on sale veggies or veggies I picked up at the farmer’s market. If you have an issue trying to figure out what to make for an affordable price I would like to suggest my friend Erin’s cookbook. The $5 dinner mom. I find a lot of great things in there. They are usually pretty close to $5-$7 for a family of 5. Yes, that is less than a supersized meal for one. It isn’t easier but it is cheaper. Request it at the library. I organize a freezer cooking food swap. I make multiples of the same meal and swap them. I would find a couple of friends and eat healthy together. It is cheaper and easier. I spend 5 hours and cook 20 meals for month.

4) I have a whole site on slow cooker recipes  www.thesassyslowcoooker.com that you can make ahead and freeze. These are some of my favorite people ask me to make them the lemon chicken all the time. It takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and freeze. You can make these ahead and freeze them. Freezer to Crockpot Meals

I also love these soups that freeze well

5) Make a goal. Not a weight goal but an exercise goal. I do not care if it is not taking elevator or if it is walking the stairs for five minutes and then ten. I challenged myself to this thing below it sucked. However, it worked I found a couple of friends on facebook and we did it together. I say do it if it takes all day. Just do it! Do not quit on yourself! How about this. I will do this again with you. We can start today. I mean there is no time like the presence and I could use some motivation myself. The best part is you can do this on your own.

6) Write your goal down and place it where you look. It can be on the cabinet on your cellphone. Offer yourself a reward that isn’t food. If I go to the gym I get to read my book for 30 minutes. Yes, I love to read so it motivates me and so does have the 30 minutes alone.

7) Have a consequence for not following your goal. It could be ten jumping jacks or walk around the block.

8) Take pictures of yourself daily. That way you can see the change. You can see Karla’s journey. I told her to get her “shit” together because I wanted her around. Well, now I see less of her. 80 lbs less. Yes, you read right. She lost 80 lbs. She started her journey with Advocare which I sell and bought her. You can see her results and other peoples results. Advocare Results. It helps you the first 24 days to get yourself in order if you follow it and learn from it you will be well on your way. You can buy yours now Advocare 24 day challenge.

 

 

9) No, you do not need a fancy plan. Just make healthy portioned control choices and exercise. I go to the gym and just try whatever class. I am not able to actually do them all but I keep moving. The key is to keep moving. Do this as a family do not single out your child. We could all use a little more exercise and better food choices.

10) Every time you make an excuse validate that it is an excuse and move on. Get up and get going being on social media and the internet and reading about what to do isn’t going to actually impact you. You need to make the choice. Stop being afraid of failure and just do it!

Watch this video and see what I mean