Teach Your Kids the RIGHT Lessons Through Your Weightloss Efforts
I was responding to the diabetes thread when I stumbled upon a topic I would love to discuss: our kids learn a lot of lessons watching us. We tend to think about how our girls are impacted when we talk about diet and we get paranoid about teaching them poor self-esteem and terrible body image issues. We all know this is an obvious side-effect when we don't care of ourselves, eat poorly, talk badly about ourselves, and neglect our exercise.
Here is a lesson we DON'T talk about enough and it impacts both our boys and girls.
Do you ever eat things simply because you want it, but you know deep down (and maybe not even that deep down) the food is not NEEDED? Now, a lot of us do it. Next I want you to think about how many times you stop your kids from asking ofor things they WANT versus NEED?
We all do it. We tell them, "we don't have the money for those things," "you just got one the other day," or "you want it, then you pay for it."
Now let's ponder where our kids are learning their behaviors. You have 10, 20, 30, or more pounds to lose. You moan and groan how bad you want it. You sometimes throw a fit because you can't lose your weight. You sulk because life is so unfair, everyone else seems to be able to lose weight but you.
So what are you doing to lose the weight? You exercise...sometimes on schedule. You leave it at the gym...well, you do when it's not TOM, when you haven't had a stressful day, when the moon and jupiter are in complete alignment. You always prep your foods, have good snacks around...but take them home at the end of the day because Susie and Joan just love eating out with you.
The lessons our kids are learning from this behavior is to whine around, moaning and groaning you never get anything you want, AND that half-butt work should get stellar results. Like if I do half my chores I should get all of my allowance.
What if we approached our health the same way we want our kids to behave...
Before we eat, think for a few seconds, "Is this going to help me reach my goals?" Doesn't this sound like, "Think before you speak, " and "think about what you want before you act."
Maybe your goal is to maintain and be satisfied. That means you build in some less than perfect meals each week so that you CAN have those lunches or eat a little treat with your kids. Your goal might be to get off a lot of weight because you are unhealthy and can't stand the way you look anymore. This means you get strict with your eating, you don't give yourself lots of wiggle room because you've been wiggling a lot the past few years with the food, and you can't sleep in anymore because exercise must be a part of your day. Bascially, you think and act the way you want to live versus REACTING to your life. Huge difference ladies.
Rather than saying,"F*!k it all! I'll eat what I want and pay for it later..." we swtich to an attitude of when you want something you can't afford (meaning your butt is bigger than it needs to be so you can't afford it):
- You plan for it.
- Save for it.
- Work for it.
- THEN you get to enjoy it.
Wouldn't it be great if by making realistic meals plans and sticking to them, saving for special meals, working hard in your exercise because you repsect your body and life, and enjoying the spoils of dedication that our kids can see that hard work and dedication pays off these days? This is the lesson you can teach your kids. Don't teach them impulsive behaviors, neglected health and self, poor self-image, dreams don't come true, and when you want something bad enough it isn't worth working hard for.
Make today the day you change how you approach life...if not for you, but for those precious eyes looking to you to teach them all about the world.
_______________________
3.24.08 Food Journal - Still getting over the antibiotics so the food is a little to convenience-y for me.