Empowerment: Taking Back Our Health (Part 1)

At the age of 10, my son came home crying about his weight. Since moving to Texas, he had put on more than a few pounds. He said people made fun of him, and would not pass him the football at recess. He said no one believed that he was a hockey player.

At that point in time, I looked at all 101 lbs of him, and I decided that what I was doing was not working. I knew a lot about health and food, but I did not want to “deprive” my kids of too much. He actually did not eat typically bad foods, he just ate too much, and too fast. We love food in our house, and I cook a lot. However, I have never bought soda, or Doritos, or cookies. I bought goldfish, pretzels and Pirate’s Booty (the so called “healthier snacks”) instead. In addition, since moving to Texas, we ate out more, and I figured a bowl of tortilla chips here, and a burger and fries there, could easily lead to gradual weight gain.

I looked at my son’s tear filled eyes, and I struggled with what to say. My first comment was, “there will always be mean kids that will try to bring you down.” My second comment was “it does not matter what other’s think, what matters is what we think of ourselves.” My last comment, and one I was not completely sure of was “If you do not like something about yourself, you can change. You are not a victim of your weight, you have full control over what you put into your body.”

With that, my son did something that most people seem incapable of doing. He seized control of himself, and made change. He changed what he ate. He cut his portions, and reduced the amount of packaged and processed foods that he consumed. With my support, we cooked at home for most of our meals, and he stopped eating school lunches. He listened when I explained the importance of eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. He began trying new foods.

When we were in Boston this past summer, we went to a beach restaurant famous for their burgers, fried clams, and ice cream. He ordered a salad wrap. I looked at him, after a year of healthy choices, and I asked him if that is what he truly wanted, or if he was just making a good choice. To my surprise, he said, “it is what I really want.”

Since cutting back on processed foods, and portions, my son has not only changed the way he looks, and feels, he has changed his palate. He still eats the junk food occasionally, but if he eats too much, he feels sick. That is the way the body should work, craving what is healthy and good, and rejecting what is not. He weighed 101 lbs 18 months ago, and currently weighs 94 lbs after growing about 3.5 inches.

I am incredibly proud of my son. Not because I am a health nut who demands my kids be a healthy weight. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am all about health, not weight. I myself was never vain enough to lose weight, for the sole purpose of looking better. My personal transformation came from educating myself about food, and taking an approach to health.

My son taught me something important about human beings that day. On one hand I was afraid to put the responsibility back on my child, after all, I felt like I was placing blame on him. But by not allowing him to be a victim, I empowered him. And clearly that is what we all need!

For those of us struggling with weight and/or health issues (we do not have to be fat to be unhealthy, that goes for our kids too!) understand that knowledge IS power. It is not about a diet, it is about educating ourselves about our bodies, and the food we eat. Being healthy is a LIFESTYLE, and it is something that we pass along to our children. As mothers, we have the power to make change, and set an example that will directly affect our children’s current, and future health.

In most cases, our health is not a matter of luck, it is a matter of our choices, and our priorities. This holds true in so many aspects of our lives. So I will tell you what I told me 10-year-old son 18 months ago.  “You are not a victim, you have power, and control over your health, your weight, and your life!” Change your lifestyle now.

If a 10-year-old boy can do it, so can you!

 

(My January 2012 blog will tell you the secret to lasting weight loss, and health! Empowerment, Part 2, joining a movement to “H.E.A.L America”)