Friday, February 10, 2012
In the Trenches
We are really struggling with our weight loss. The boys are exercising as much as possible. Richard is getting seven hours of structured weight loss a week plus PE at school and outdoor play. Jack has a wrist injury, but he is still getting about four hours a week plus PE. I am exercising about 4 hours a week. The boys are still doing the Food Lovers Weight Loss plan, and 8 days ago I switched to a more intense high-protein, shake diet. For 8 days, I have done without my beloved drug--sweet tea. I have followed the plan religiously, measured every portion and counted every calorie. After one week, I have lost one-half pound. I am not sure what we are doing wrong. Perhaps given our metabolism we must accept that we are going to lose weight this slowly. Maybe, there is a better plan out there, It is very hard to keep the kids focused (and me) with so little success. We could use your support and encouragement. If you pray, we will even take your prayers!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
End of our 21-day Introduction Phase!
Hello and thanks for coming back to see out progress!
The Workouts
The boys are doing really well with their work outs. Richard's swimming season has ended, but he is doing conditioning with the high school golf coach twice a week, 2 workouts at the Y, a tennis lesson, 2 golf lessons and at least one round of golf every week. Jack continues to be very busy with wrestling, tennis, and Y workouts. In addition Jack is in the school play and taking a weekly musical theater workshop, so he is getting some choregraphy and movement. I have not had much success with my workouts. I am not motivated to go and when I do go, I have so much muscle and joint pain that I don't want to return. I have to find something to get me moving.
The Food
Jack is the most consistent with the food. He is very careful about what and how much he eats. He slips up some, but not often. Richard really struggles with the food. He has a difficult time reducing portions, and although he packs lunch, he often buys extra food with his allowance. He also slips food from the pantry to his room without permission. I am doing okay. I slip up late in the day. I can honestly say that I am never hungry, but I have intense cravings and often just want to eat something. Once I break bad, I can't stop. I am not able to distinguish cravings and boredom or habit from hunger. I have been using the Sensa, but I am inconsistent. I have not noticed any difference in my appetite or control. The most important food change that we have incorporated is that we all eat a "real" breakfast that includes substantial protein. Also, we are improving our daily water consumption and the habit of small snacks every three hours is becoming a habit.
THE WEIGH IN (drum roll please)
The Food Lovers plan strongly suggest that you do not weigh until the completion of the 21-day introduction phase. Remember the first level of goals: Me: 8 pounds, Richard: 15 pounds and Jack 12 pounds. We were all hoping to accomplish these goals in the first month.
RESULTS: Jack is our first biggest loser! He has lost 7.6 pounds, Richard has lost 2 pounds, and I have gained 6 pounds. I think everything is working for the boys. Richard just needs to be more consistent. Clearly, I need a new plan. I am so disappointed and discouraged. I will be looking for something different.
Richard is starting to talk about wanting to lose weight. He asked how he could get his belly and calves smaller. He said there is one boy at school that is teasing him a lot. If nothing else, in the last 21 days, we have started an open dialogue.
Stay tuned--the journey is going to be long and challenging.
The Workouts
The boys are doing really well with their work outs. Richard's swimming season has ended, but he is doing conditioning with the high school golf coach twice a week, 2 workouts at the Y, a tennis lesson, 2 golf lessons and at least one round of golf every week. Jack continues to be very busy with wrestling, tennis, and Y workouts. In addition Jack is in the school play and taking a weekly musical theater workshop, so he is getting some choregraphy and movement. I have not had much success with my workouts. I am not motivated to go and when I do go, I have so much muscle and joint pain that I don't want to return. I have to find something to get me moving.
The Food
Jack is the most consistent with the food. He is very careful about what and how much he eats. He slips up some, but not often. Richard really struggles with the food. He has a difficult time reducing portions, and although he packs lunch, he often buys extra food with his allowance. He also slips food from the pantry to his room without permission. I am doing okay. I slip up late in the day. I can honestly say that I am never hungry, but I have intense cravings and often just want to eat something. Once I break bad, I can't stop. I am not able to distinguish cravings and boredom or habit from hunger. I have been using the Sensa, but I am inconsistent. I have not noticed any difference in my appetite or control. The most important food change that we have incorporated is that we all eat a "real" breakfast that includes substantial protein. Also, we are improving our daily water consumption and the habit of small snacks every three hours is becoming a habit.
THE WEIGH IN (drum roll please)
The Food Lovers plan strongly suggest that you do not weigh until the completion of the 21-day introduction phase. Remember the first level of goals: Me: 8 pounds, Richard: 15 pounds and Jack 12 pounds. We were all hoping to accomplish these goals in the first month.
RESULTS: Jack is our first biggest loser! He has lost 7.6 pounds, Richard has lost 2 pounds, and I have gained 6 pounds. I think everything is working for the boys. Richard just needs to be more consistent. Clearly, I need a new plan. I am so disappointed and discouraged. I will be looking for something different.
Richard is starting to talk about wanting to lose weight. He asked how he could get his belly and calves smaller. He said there is one boy at school that is teasing him a lot. If nothing else, in the last 21 days, we have started an open dialogue.
Stay tuned--the journey is going to be long and challenging.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Where we are and why now?
Now that I have shared a little of our history and my perception of where the culture is, I want to share where we are and why we are starting a life overhaul now.
The Boys!
One of my sons started high school this year and the other will begin next year. My pediatrician had always thought the boys may "magically" drop the weight when they hit puberty. They have not. My oldest son went over 300 pounds this fall, and we were both shocked and overwhelmed. When our doctor told me he could lose 100 pounds and still be considered overweight, I wept. Also, the boys are asking to lose weight. They are getting more interested in girls and socializing and yet neither (my oldest in particular) feel comfortable in social settings. While I never want my kids to think that being popular in high school is important in the big scheme of things, it does matter. I was very unpopular in high school, and I know the scars never completely go away.
The Practical!
If you have ever tried to seriously diet for a long period of time, you know it is very time-consuming. For the first time in twenty-five years, I find myself not working outside the home. I have the time and energy to dedicate to meal planning, grocery shopping, calorie counting, label reading and exercise coordination and transportation.
The Vanity!
While I have never been obese, I have struggled with my weight since my mid-thirties. Age seemed to seriously change my metabolism, and I have spent the last twenty years gaining ten pounds and losing five constantly back and forth. Since I lost my job last spring, I have gained almost forty pounds. Forty pounds in seven months shocked me. I know I am never going to have the confidence to reenter the work force if I don't feel better about myself. I need to make a serious commitment to weight loss. I think it will be a great adventure to all get thinner and fit together.
The Food!
I spent much of December researching diets, eating plans and fitness programs. After talking with the boys, we have chosen the Food Lovers Fat Loss Eating Plan. We saw the infomercial and were all interested. Although I am generally skeptical of any infomercial product, this seems like a good fit. There is no special food to eat or order, there is no counting, and it is easy to include or exclude certain foods. When I got the Food Lovers kit, I realized that the plan is really just a accumulation of the common sense weight loss tips I have heard for years. What I like about the plan is that it introduces lifestyle changes one at a time, so it isn't overwhelming for the kids. There is also a lot of support including daily audio tips, cookbooks, snacking guidelines and journals. We started the plan 10 days ago. The boys have learned the system and while they make mistakes sometime (we all do), they are getting the hang of it and are aware of what they should be eating. In addition, I am using Sensa (the miracle appetite reducing sprinkle). Sensa is not approved for children under 18, so the boys are not using it.
The Fitness!
The boys are both winter athletes. One is on the varsity swim team and the other is on the middle school wrestling team. They both have practice for about 90 minutes five days a week. In addition, they are both working with a youth trainer at the YMCA. She does a personalized work out with them that includes cardio and strength training. Also, Richard takes a one hour private tennis lesson once a week and two forty-five minute private golf lessons each week. By April, he will also be playing at least nine holes of golf at least twice a week. Jack takes two one-hour private tennis lessons each week and does a two-hour group tennis clinic once a week. We live on a beautiful residential street and the boys are often playing touch football, pick up basketball, or man hunt on the weekends. Needless to say, they are incredibly active.
My fitness plan includes two sessions of beginner boot camp at a community center, two zumba classes and one pilates class each week. I would love to include a walk with my dogs every day, but until spring, I think that is unlikely.
We have lots of rewards and incentives. The first person to lose 5% of his/her body weight gets a $15.00 gift card. First person to lose 10% of his/her body weight gets $25.00. My mother has added the rewards of $50.00 for the first person to lose 25 pounds and $100.00 for the first person to lose 50 pounds.
Our Goals!
All of our goals are four steps and are as follows:
Richard: 15 pounds, 35 pounds, 60 pounds, and finally 80 pounds.
Jack: 12 pounds, 25 pounds, 40 pounds, and finally 60 pounds.
Me: 8 pounds, 18 pounds, 28 pounds, and finally 40 pounds.
Here we go! Wish us luck and come back to follow our progress. We need your comments and support to be successful.
The Boys!
One of my sons started high school this year and the other will begin next year. My pediatrician had always thought the boys may "magically" drop the weight when they hit puberty. They have not. My oldest son went over 300 pounds this fall, and we were both shocked and overwhelmed. When our doctor told me he could lose 100 pounds and still be considered overweight, I wept. Also, the boys are asking to lose weight. They are getting more interested in girls and socializing and yet neither (my oldest in particular) feel comfortable in social settings. While I never want my kids to think that being popular in high school is important in the big scheme of things, it does matter. I was very unpopular in high school, and I know the scars never completely go away.
The Practical!
If you have ever tried to seriously diet for a long period of time, you know it is very time-consuming. For the first time in twenty-five years, I find myself not working outside the home. I have the time and energy to dedicate to meal planning, grocery shopping, calorie counting, label reading and exercise coordination and transportation.
The Vanity!
While I have never been obese, I have struggled with my weight since my mid-thirties. Age seemed to seriously change my metabolism, and I have spent the last twenty years gaining ten pounds and losing five constantly back and forth. Since I lost my job last spring, I have gained almost forty pounds. Forty pounds in seven months shocked me. I know I am never going to have the confidence to reenter the work force if I don't feel better about myself. I need to make a serious commitment to weight loss. I think it will be a great adventure to all get thinner and fit together.
The Food!
I spent much of December researching diets, eating plans and fitness programs. After talking with the boys, we have chosen the Food Lovers Fat Loss Eating Plan. We saw the infomercial and were all interested. Although I am generally skeptical of any infomercial product, this seems like a good fit. There is no special food to eat or order, there is no counting, and it is easy to include or exclude certain foods. When I got the Food Lovers kit, I realized that the plan is really just a accumulation of the common sense weight loss tips I have heard for years. What I like about the plan is that it introduces lifestyle changes one at a time, so it isn't overwhelming for the kids. There is also a lot of support including daily audio tips, cookbooks, snacking guidelines and journals. We started the plan 10 days ago. The boys have learned the system and while they make mistakes sometime (we all do), they are getting the hang of it and are aware of what they should be eating. In addition, I am using Sensa (the miracle appetite reducing sprinkle). Sensa is not approved for children under 18, so the boys are not using it.
The Fitness!
The boys are both winter athletes. One is on the varsity swim team and the other is on the middle school wrestling team. They both have practice for about 90 minutes five days a week. In addition, they are both working with a youth trainer at the YMCA. She does a personalized work out with them that includes cardio and strength training. Also, Richard takes a one hour private tennis lesson once a week and two forty-five minute private golf lessons each week. By April, he will also be playing at least nine holes of golf at least twice a week. Jack takes two one-hour private tennis lessons each week and does a two-hour group tennis clinic once a week. We live on a beautiful residential street and the boys are often playing touch football, pick up basketball, or man hunt on the weekends. Needless to say, they are incredibly active.
My fitness plan includes two sessions of beginner boot camp at a community center, two zumba classes and one pilates class each week. I would love to include a walk with my dogs every day, but until spring, I think that is unlikely.
We have lots of rewards and incentives. The first person to lose 5% of his/her body weight gets a $15.00 gift card. First person to lose 10% of his/her body weight gets $25.00. My mother has added the rewards of $50.00 for the first person to lose 25 pounds and $100.00 for the first person to lose 50 pounds.
Our Goals!
All of our goals are four steps and are as follows:
Richard: 15 pounds, 35 pounds, 60 pounds, and finally 80 pounds.
Jack: 12 pounds, 25 pounds, 40 pounds, and finally 60 pounds.
Me: 8 pounds, 18 pounds, 28 pounds, and finally 40 pounds.
Here we go! Wish us luck and come back to follow our progress. We need your comments and support to be successful.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Walk a Mile in My Shoes.
I have often read that parents of children with autism or aspergers become outraged when people stare at their child having an episode in public. They feel judged and angry. As the parent of obese children, I have had many similar, painful experiences.
When my son was three, we were vacationing at the beach. While waiting in line at a carry- out seafood restaurant, a stranger handed me a menu and pointed out "the only three things, I should let my fat child order." When one of my boys was four, the host mother at a classmate's birthday party refused my son a piece of birthday cake telling him "she would feel too guilty about giving a fat child sweets." When one was in kindergarten, he was suffering merciless teasing for his size. When I met with the teacher she said, "What do you want me to do? He is fat--you do something about it." When my boys were 6 and 5, we made our first trip to New York City. We were visiting Central Park Zoo on a hot August afternoon. We sat down on a shaded bench for rest and a water break. A father and son were nearby, and we heard the little boy ask for ice cream. His father walked him directly over to our bench, pointed at my children and said, "if I let you get ice cream, you'll end up like them." On another family beach trip, I was enjoying a beautiful late afternoon on the beach watching my boys, full of joy, playing in the late day waves. A family was walking towards me who also had two boys. As they approached my lounge chair, I heard the father say, "hey boys, throw rocks at those two fat kids--that's a target you can't miss." As I confronted the father, he apologized, but the wife stepped in and said that my children were disgusting and so was I for letting them get that way. Most recently we received a frightening anonymous letter where the writer discussed in great detail and length what my boys must look like naked and what kind of person would be "turned on" their appearance. These are only some of the highlights of my fifteen-year journey. There have been countless times that I have watched strangers point, gawk, and laugh at my children. I have repeatedly overheard teachers, coaches, friends and even family ridicule the size of my boys when they thought I was out of earshot. Imagine if the world thought there was something less than perfect about the people you love more than life itself, and they felt comfortable telling you about it. How would you feel? How would it affect your parenting? How would it affect your children?
The combination of reality television and media obsession with weight has inspired shows about obesity and weight loss. While these shows likely hope to be informative and inspirational, they also have the affect of treating overweight people like freaks at the circus. Like people with hoarding disorders, drug addictions, 20 children or pageant moms, the nation watches mesmerized by these strange creatures and their habitats.
But perhaps there is no other family challenge that comes with judgement not only of the "patient," but also the "care provider." When people judge my children, they are blaming me. Two states now have pending legislation that would allow the state to remove overweight children from their homes. Family services of Ohio, has just taken such action regarding an obese eight year old. The state of Georgia is running controversial commercials where overweight children look into the camera and ask their parents why they let them get fat. The burden of obesity is shared by the entire family and everyone is suffering.
Please come back for future posts when I will discuss where we are now, what we are doing in 2012 and why we are doing it. Make this journey with us and understand Living Large.
When my son was three, we were vacationing at the beach. While waiting in line at a carry- out seafood restaurant, a stranger handed me a menu and pointed out "the only three things, I should let my fat child order." When one of my boys was four, the host mother at a classmate's birthday party refused my son a piece of birthday cake telling him "she would feel too guilty about giving a fat child sweets." When one was in kindergarten, he was suffering merciless teasing for his size. When I met with the teacher she said, "What do you want me to do? He is fat--you do something about it." When my boys were 6 and 5, we made our first trip to New York City. We were visiting Central Park Zoo on a hot August afternoon. We sat down on a shaded bench for rest and a water break. A father and son were nearby, and we heard the little boy ask for ice cream. His father walked him directly over to our bench, pointed at my children and said, "if I let you get ice cream, you'll end up like them." On another family beach trip, I was enjoying a beautiful late afternoon on the beach watching my boys, full of joy, playing in the late day waves. A family was walking towards me who also had two boys. As they approached my lounge chair, I heard the father say, "hey boys, throw rocks at those two fat kids--that's a target you can't miss." As I confronted the father, he apologized, but the wife stepped in and said that my children were disgusting and so was I for letting them get that way. Most recently we received a frightening anonymous letter where the writer discussed in great detail and length what my boys must look like naked and what kind of person would be "turned on" their appearance. These are only some of the highlights of my fifteen-year journey. There have been countless times that I have watched strangers point, gawk, and laugh at my children. I have repeatedly overheard teachers, coaches, friends and even family ridicule the size of my boys when they thought I was out of earshot. Imagine if the world thought there was something less than perfect about the people you love more than life itself, and they felt comfortable telling you about it. How would you feel? How would it affect your parenting? How would it affect your children?
The combination of reality television and media obsession with weight has inspired shows about obesity and weight loss. While these shows likely hope to be informative and inspirational, they also have the affect of treating overweight people like freaks at the circus. Like people with hoarding disorders, drug addictions, 20 children or pageant moms, the nation watches mesmerized by these strange creatures and their habitats.
But perhaps there is no other family challenge that comes with judgement not only of the "patient," but also the "care provider." When people judge my children, they are blaming me. Two states now have pending legislation that would allow the state to remove overweight children from their homes. Family services of Ohio, has just taken such action regarding an obese eight year old. The state of Georgia is running controversial commercials where overweight children look into the camera and ask their parents why they let them get fat. The burden of obesity is shared by the entire family and everyone is suffering.
Please come back for future posts when I will discuss where we are now, what we are doing in 2012 and why we are doing it. Make this journey with us and understand Living Large.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Welcome! Why I am here, and why I hope you will come back!
At no time in history, has there been more emphasis on obesity than there is right now. As a culture, we have become acutely aware of nutrition and genetics and how the combination of those two things affect body type and size with a particular emphasis on childhood obesity. There is tremendous media focus on this issue. Countless Miss America contestants have made the topic their "platform issue," and even the first lady, Michelle Obama, has made the subject her focus issue. I am sure something good will come from this national focus, but from my early observation, two very dangerous ideas are emerging. One, the medical profession, and the media are quick to offer trite, sugar-coated (pardon the pun) advice that is really useless, and two, the general population is increasingly intolerant of overweight children. With this intolerance comes prejudice, ridicule and exclusion. I cannot imagine a time in history when it has been more painful to be an obese child or more heartbreaking to be the mother of one. And that is my life.
I have two wonderful, kind, multi-talented boys both of whom are obese and always have been. We have been aware of this body type tendency since the boys were infants. I had the "talk" with my pediatrician when the boys were 3 and 2. I saw my first nutritionist when the boys were 5 and 4. In the past ten years, we have tried Weight Watchers, A Physicians Weight Loss program, participated in a Duke University pediatric study on genetics and obesity and met with several doctors, dietitians and counselors. My boys are both three season athletes, active outdoors, worked with personal trainers, and are not big gamers, or television watchers. Also as an avid reader, I have devoured articles and books on the subject. All of the advice is basically the same. Don't keep junk food or sodas in the house; I do not. Eat home cooked meals at the table as a family; we eat out occasionally, but the recommended strategy has always been the traditional model. Keep children active and limit television and computer time; my boys have always played sports and chosen activity over technology. In other words, we have been doing everything "right" for years and our children are overweight.
Thanks for reading this brief introduction to our family challenge. Please visit my blog again soon. In my next several posts, I will share some of the experiences I have had involving my children and their weight, where we are now, and our plan for 2012. I hope you will make the journey with us. For the health of your own family, to understand the complex nature of obesity, to share stories parent to parent, or just to see for yourselves what becomes of us.
I have two wonderful, kind, multi-talented boys both of whom are obese and always have been. We have been aware of this body type tendency since the boys were infants. I had the "talk" with my pediatrician when the boys were 3 and 2. I saw my first nutritionist when the boys were 5 and 4. In the past ten years, we have tried Weight Watchers, A Physicians Weight Loss program, participated in a Duke University pediatric study on genetics and obesity and met with several doctors, dietitians and counselors. My boys are both three season athletes, active outdoors, worked with personal trainers, and are not big gamers, or television watchers. Also as an avid reader, I have devoured articles and books on the subject. All of the advice is basically the same. Don't keep junk food or sodas in the house; I do not. Eat home cooked meals at the table as a family; we eat out occasionally, but the recommended strategy has always been the traditional model. Keep children active and limit television and computer time; my boys have always played sports and chosen activity over technology. In other words, we have been doing everything "right" for years and our children are overweight.
Thanks for reading this brief introduction to our family challenge. Please visit my blog again soon. In my next several posts, I will share some of the experiences I have had involving my children and their weight, where we are now, and our plan for 2012. I hope you will make the journey with us. For the health of your own family, to understand the complex nature of obesity, to share stories parent to parent, or just to see for yourselves what becomes of us.
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