Make Weight Loss a Family Affair

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

04 Aug 2007 04:41 AM

I once had a friend who very religiously followed weight watchers. She did great and lost nearly 100 pounds. She made herself and her family a separate meal every night so that (in her words) 'they wouldn't be subjected to her diet stuff'. Eventually, life crept up on her and she gained all the weight back. The reality was that because her kids could eat junk and get away with it she had it on hand. Then when she was hungry, and stressed or in a hurry, guess what she grabbed?

I am certainly not suggesting that you push "weight loss" as a goal on your kids. Of course childhood obesity is a serious issue in this country and if your kids are a little chubby then by all means, weight loss for your kids is appropriate. However, simply eating more healthy foods like raw fruits and vegetables, and exercising more can be a part of your daily routine that helps you and teaches them life long habits.

Here are a few ways that our family is making weight loss a family goal:

Dinner is a family affair

With hectic schedules this is tricky. But fixing one dinner does several things. First, it allows me to plan appropriately. Planning a meal means that not only do I put something on the table that is healthy for me and my kids, but it often means that I'm able to find healthy alternatives to their favorites like homemade pizza made out of whole wheat crust, for example. Secondly, eating dinner together helps me eat more slowly, enjoy my meal and in the end be more satisfied.

Find a sport you all enjoy

In our family, soccer is the sport of choice. By encouraging our kids to be active and like sports, we are encouraging some life long habits. But there's a bonus for us and that's the exercise. Being active at least for an hour a day with your kids means that you don't have to find a gym that has child care, but rather you can all go out and enjoy the day. That's one less excuse you have to avoid exercise!

Shop smart with your kids

I have to admit I do not take all five of my kids to the grocery store by myself. But I do usually take one or two and allow them to choose the snacking fruits and vegetables for the week. The advantage is that my kids have the exact type of fruit and/or veggies that they want to snack on (which equals no complaining) and I don't have junk in my house. I can binge on fruits and vegetables all I want!

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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Tristi Pinkston (10839) 04 Aug 2007 10:35 PM

Another thing, too -- if you have weight problems, your children are more than likely going to have them as well. It's genetic and it's environmental, and if they have your genes and live in your environment, they may end up facing the same weight issues. If you teach them now how to eat correctly, and that it can be fun, you can help them stave off some of the trials you've had to go through. What a great gift to give your children!

Valorie Delp (49340) 05 Aug 2007 03:08 AM

Excellent point Tristi!