A Heavy Weight Decision
By Patti Chadwick
One of my family's New Years Resolutions is to shed some extra pounds. Actually, the resolution was made in December, but it's carried over into the New Year! Over the years I've tried and tried to encourage better eating habits and planning healthy meals for my tribe, but with the busyness of life it seems for every three steps forward we make, we take two steps back.
Besides myself and my darling husband, I have two children who struggle with their weight. My eldest boy, however, is a lean-mean-eating machine who eats anything he wants, whenever he wants and somehow never seems to gain weight. Needless to say, the rest of us are not fond of this boy. I guess we are just jealous!
I have mixed feelings about teenagers dieting, but I also know what it's like to struggle with your weight. Since my weight was bothering me, and my two children were struggling losing a quite few extra pounds, we decided to take the plunge and get some professional help. We chose to go to LA Weight Loss and so far it's been a very good experience.
The counselors were really wonderful and set us up with an individual eating program. We need to keep a food diary and go into the Center three times a week to weigh in and talk to a counselor about how we are doing. This may seem like a lot, but it helps to keep us on track. And while we've had to give up some beloved food items, the eating plan leaves room for some of our favorite dishes. This plan is do-able.
Since December, each of us has lost about 13 pounds. That's no small feat for my youngest boy and I. My daughter is at a good weight now, but of course she still think she has to lose about 10 more pounds! Junior is starting to feel pretty good about himself and I feel a lot better physically.
This whole experience has been more of a lifestyle change than a diet. We understand that we can never go back to eating the way we used to, even after reaching our goal weight. Improving our eating habits has become a "family thing". I've changed the way I grocery shop and the way I cook. That in itself will promote better health in our family.
Even for the skinny our "skinny" one.
I will keep you posted on our progress. Remember, losing weight is a personal decision for each of us. If your teen really struggles, try to find a way to help. The old saying, "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels" is so true. Now is the time to make some lifestyle changes that will benefit your teen for the rest of their life.
Patricia Chadwick
is a freelance writer and columnist in several online publications. E-mail her at
patti@parentsandteens.com
or visit her websites and sign up for her FREE weekly newsletters at
www.historyswomen.com
www.parentsandteens.com
. Patti is also the author of
"History's Women - The Unsung Heroines".
Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com.
