At The Dinner Table

This Article was originally Published in The July 2004 Issue of The ZoneNet Newsletter

It was very hard having an overweight child. Wherever we were, people just stared. I often wondered if she saw what I saw. I wish I could have protected my 8 year old, Jeanine, from the eyes of this world. I wish I could have shielded her from those stares. We never really talked much about it. It was simply too painful. It is almost as if as long as we didn't talk about it, it was not real. She pretended not to notice but I knew she saw how people reacted to her. She was a smart, perceptive child. From a very early age, she always saw things that I did not even notice. There was that time on a trip to Washington, D.C. she asked me, "Mom, why are there so many homeless people in our nation's capital?"

I blame myself for her weight problems. We were a generally obese family and we did not practice the best eating habits. We hardly ever exercised. Even our dog was fat. From the beginning, I rewarded her with junk food for everything from getting a good grade at school to being a good girl and doing as she was told. I would wave cookies in front of her so that she would stop crying. By 3 years old, she had started manipulating me instead of the other way around!

I had no idea how much I was really conditioning her to reward herself with food as she got older. It was as if she walked through life feeling she deserved something simply for doing what she was supposed to do. I felt so helpless that it had gotten this far out of control. As she got older and spent more time away from home because of school, I simply could not watch her all the time as she rewarded herself with candy bars and ice cream for no reason at all. And she could get all of this stuff at school too! It was easily accessible to her. She stayed away from anything green unless it was artificially colored. One day at school, Jeanine complained of being dizzy. She experienced short dizzy spells a couple of days following that.

She was unusually tired much of the time. She would snap at her young brother-an infant! She was never this way towards him. We didn't consider any of these things symptoms of something. We just thought Jeanine's body was going through changes until one day when she almost fainted in P.E. class.

That very afternoon, the physician diagnosed her with Type one diabetes. AlThough I wished she did not have to suffer by getting pricked with needles and having to go to the doctor so often, her condition has gotten our entire family involved in eating right. After all, we all eat at the same dinner table. We cut out juices, soda and sugary carbs, which do a real number on blood sugar levels.

Now our 4-person household has lost over one hundred pounds in 6 months. Even our 3-year old shed several pounds! It is a miracle because we do not eat half as much and yet we do not feel hungry like we used to. Jeanine is fitting into smaller and smaller clothes and is a lot more active in extracurricular activities at school. And she no longer sits on the sidelines in gym class. She's even going to be on the intramural volleyball team next year! The most ironic thing is that Jeanine may have diabetes, but she's the healthiest that she has ever been in her entire life!

Ryan Joseph is a writer/researcher. For more information go to http://www.fitness-supplements.net/

---

7 Diet Tips For Rapid Weight Loss

1. Quit snacking in between meals. Do not fall for... Read More

Hoodia ? Its Basic Nature Part 3

Hoodia Gordonii a cactus plant found thousands of miles away... Read More

Dieters : Put MORE Focus on Food

If you're always on a diet you probably spend half... Read More

LapBand Surgery: The Rules of the Road, Part 2

The Constant Quest for Restriction; Not enough vs. too muchRestriction.... Read More

Teenage Weight Loss -- How Teenagers Can Safely Lose Weight

Teenagers with body mass indices between 25 and 30 require... Read More

How to Start Losing Weight and Keep Losing Weight

I have put off writing a motivation article because of... Read More

Weight Training for Weight Loss

Weight training combines building muscle tone and working the cardiovascular... Read More

The Scottish Diet

(Ailsa's Apple Crumble Diet)I'm Scottish, so it's not a big... Read More

Tenuate: Should A Diet Pill Be Part Of Your Weight Loss Checklist?

Maybe your doctor suggested it. Maybe your favorite outfit doesn't... Read More

Why Breakfast is Good for You

Ok... If you are reading this is because you do... Read More

To Lose Weight or Not to Lose Weight... A Guideline for Men!

To begin this article I must start with it's conclusion.The... Read More

Dont Just Melt Fat Off - Burn It Off With A Blow Torch!

Cardio Exercise...A huge variety of fitness activities provide cardiovascular benefits.... Read More

Conventional Dieting Wisdom That Works for WLS Patients

In many cases conventional dieting wisdom simply doesn't work for... Read More

Is Natural Weight Loss Really Possible?

Natural Weight Loss Is PermanentOnly natural weight loss can be... Read More

Top 10 Questions and Answers on Atkins Diet

1. What is Atkins Diet? Dr. Atkins diet, first introduced... Read More

How To Burn 50% More Fat In Every Workout With Secrets For Weight Loss Success

If your health and fitness are important to you, you... Read More

To Diet or not to Diet, That Should Be The Question!

Diet information is everywhere. In advertisements, on TV, in magazines;... Read More

The Psychology of Weight Loss: Part 6 ? Its Not About Numbers!

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS!The health clubs are always racking... Read More

Some Straight Talk About Low-Carbohydrates and Your Health

There have been many diets and weight loss plans that... Read More

A Simple Plan for Weight Loss that Really Works

One pound of fat equals 3500 calories. Want to lose... Read More

Summer Dieting Tips

Cut the Calories, Bring Out the BikiniSummer's almost here and... Read More

Weight Loss, Exercise, and Bodybuilding Tips ? Keeping Your Body-Fat Low: Part 4 of 10

Which is easier to do ? turn a car's steering... Read More

Ultimate Weight Loss: 7 Simple Ways to Eat Better

Make sure you check out the meaning of many common... Read More

Half of our Nation is Overweight!

Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health... Read More

Weight Loss Problems ? Or is it a Self Image Problem?

Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More

The Mysterious Dr. Atkins Death

Dr. Atkins death was unexpected. On 8 April 2003, he... Read More

Fast Weight Loss Using Herbs And Spices

I wonder how much it is generally known that the... Read More

Mesotherapy vs. Cellulite For A Knockout

In the battle to look good, there's a cosmetic treatment... Read More

Nothing More Powerful Than Your Words

Telling yourself you have to "struggle with this weight issue... Read More

Rejuvenation and the Protein Revolution

Rejuvenation and the Protein Revolution in Your Kitchen©2003 Marilyn DiamondIf... Read More

Dietary Weapons of Mass Distraction (WMD)

As hoards of low-carb proponents invade the nutritional landscape, the... Read More

Five Serious Dangers of Low Carbohydrate Diets

CancerCoronary heart diseaseStrokeOsteoporosisMajor Depression from Brain StarvationHeadlines.WASHINGTON, Jun 22, 2004... Read More

From Fat to Fit: Read One Womans Amazing Weight Loss Story

An Interview with Success Story, Caitlin JohnsonIf you don't know... Read More