-->
Nobody needs to tell your dear child
that he or she is overweight. They
already know, and they are already trying to process it any way they can. Unfortunately, without your help, the
way they process it could lead to further problems like secret eating and low
self esteem. Go ahead and talk
with your child about weight. Allow him or her to tell you about feelings that
she may not have talked about before. We went through many of the same
things. There’s nothing new under
the sun. Being picked last for
teams, being teased at school, struggling in sports, being ridiculed or having
difficulty fitting into clothes are just a few of the pains overweight children
may have to endure.
You
are the absolute best person to talk to your child about his
or her weight because nobody loves your child more. Therefore, nobody else can empathize as you can. These frustrations and pains need to be
expressed by your child and then validated by you. Don’t shrink back; it’s the right thing to do. Encourage. Listen. Validate,
Empathize. RELATE. Be available.
Unconditional love and acceptance are
the life-blood of a child who struggles with weight problems. You are the primary source of such
love, so pour it on with reckless abandon.
Don’t do anything too harsh or rash
like super strict diets…it will backfire.
Rather, make small adjustments here and there to put the right things to
eat in front of your child. The
last thing you should do is to highlight the fact your child is overweight by
over-reacting with harsh diets.
That could spell rejection, which is the opposite of unconditional love.
Kids come in all shapes and sizes, and
genetic pre-disposition can be a hard taskmaster. That’s why good habits and small steady adjustments are the
best defense against the propensity for your child to be overweight.
We speak about water a lot, for obvious
reasons. However, we are not
concerned about kids drinking more water because we’re in the water
business. We’re in the water
business because we’re concerned about kids drinking more water. That disclaimer said, ENCOURAGE YOUR
CHILD TO DRINK MORE WATER! It will
greatly aid metabolism, it will help them to process their meals, and it will
“fill the gap” with something healthy and life-giving rather than something fattening
like sugary sodas, sweets or even juice.
Your example is the absolute best thing
you can offer your child. If you
want him or her to develop good eating and drinking habits, exhibit good eating
and drinking habits.
Resist the urge to set a timetable for
weight loss. In fact, weight loss
is not the issue at all…good habits are.
Rather than a timetable, make a LIFE change. Over time, you will begin to see the benefits not only in
your child’s weight but in their overall good health. The good news is, kids learn fast. It may not seem like it when it’s time to make the bed, but
it’s true. Go for “possible”, not
“perfect”.
Children learn fast, and they learn
best by example. Teach your child habits that will help keep her healthy for
the rest of her life.
Pick Five: Choose five realistic goals, such as substituting fatty
foods for healthy ones; serving water instead of soda; buy flavoured water instead
of juice (shameless but true); buy complex carbohydrates instead of simple
ones.
Finally, be patient. Be patient. Be patient. And
above all, pour on the unconditional love and affirmation…it’s better to have a
slightly overweight child who knows they are loved than a skinny one who
doesn’t.
Sincerely,
The Pin
The Pin
