1. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Nov 07, 2006, 5:10 pm PST

Good ideas but with 66% of Americans overweight or obese getting parents off of the couch should be the first item. We don't need for children to think a "natural body image" is 30 pounds overweight.

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2. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Nov 07, 2006, 6:43 pm PST

Absolutely right ladysunny. Get active and stop thinking about diet. Since I've been doing the lonestartnow program the biggest thing I've been able to change is that it's not diet--it's making positive choices and positive changes. When you diet, you give up something. Now that I'm focusing on positive substitutions and positive changes, it's easier to focus my attention to what I should do rather than what "my diet" tells me to do. Cheryl's right in that it's about lifestyle choices, which is what lonestart promotes. If you don't make it a lifestyle choice, it won't last. If you embrace these changes, your children will too since you are the role model. Make it a family choice, and a family way of life. Find ways to get active, and let your children hear you talk about why it's important. My brother has also been doing the LoneStartNow program, and I overheard my 9 year old nephew ask his grandmother the other day, when she was offering a snack, "Is this good for me?" This really is where it has to start. It has to become a family value.

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3. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Nov 07, 2006, 10:32 pm PST

Both of you are right about emphasizing an active lifestyle, but there is something about ladysunny's statement that doesn't seem right. That statistic, 66% of Americans are overweight or obese, is not completely true. There are Americans who, according to charts in medical facilities, are considered overweight even though they are very healthy. I am one of them. Muscle weighs more than fat, so a person 5'3" can weigh 180 pounds and still be healthy. So, if the extra weight is muscle, the individual will be doing good; if it's fat, then they have a problem.

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4. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Nov 08, 2006, 5:48 am PST

all true it should be balanced but 5yr olds shouldn't be worried about weight they should enjoy being a kid!

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5. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Nov 08, 2006, 6:18 am PST

This might be a first, but it seems all these posts are in agreement! Kids should enjoy being kids, but from what I've seen, too many are enjoying being kids playing video games, watching TV and eating chips rather than being outside playing. Parents do have a responsibility, and not only on the nutrition side, but they have to make sure kids have the chance to be active, whether it's an organized activity or just playing in the yard. And, since one of the points Cheryl makes is how kids learn by example, parents need to set the right example--family walk, active games. Moving rather than sitting.

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6. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Nov 08, 2006, 11:25 am PST

Wonderful article! It's great to read something positive. Keep up the terrific work.

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7. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Nov 08, 2006, 2:01 pm PST

Giggles, and all, here are some ideas: walk to a park, take balls, jump ropes, hula hoops. Climb on the monkey bars. Run around. Go ice skating, roller skating, bike riding, swimming. Go to a museum and walk all around. Go to the farmer's market. Go downtown and walk around. Put on music in your living room and dance around. I cut off our cable in June because I didn't want my kids watching TV all summer. No one has asked to have it turned back on. We rent one movie, for Friday night, and that's it. My kids are very aware of how important nutrition and exercise are. They'll tell you "that's too many carbs" or "that's too sugary." OK, may seem extreme, but I prefer that to the other extreme. (We are all vegan/vegetarian, too--and yes, when they meet you, they may ask, "Are you a meat eater?" I apologize in advance.)

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8. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Nov 08, 2006, 3:49 pm PST

Homeskool42- I think that's great. However, they are talking about obsession. Do you think that's a little borderline obsession?

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9. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Nov 08, 2006, 6:14 pm PST

becca_burney I am sorry you are deluding yourself if you think 180 pounds and 5'3" is a healthy weight. It's OBESE. A normal 5'3" woman should be in the range of 104.5 to 126.5 or 115 plus or minus 10%. And thats with a body fat of 25% - to be healthy that 5'3" woman would have zero bady fat - AND thats not healthy. Even professional athletes aren't that low. Time to do the stairs to the parking lot.....

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10. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Nov 11, 2006, 7:05 am PST

Wow. Am I only the only male who reads this feed?

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11. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Nov 11, 2006, 7:05 am PST

Wow. Am I only the only male who reads this feed?

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12. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Nov 11, 2006, 4:44 pm PST

Looks like it hectordoc74. Sad commentary isn't it.

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13. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Dec 04, 2006, 8:57 am PST

i have a daughter whom will be 6 in january. i myself am not overweight however her grandmother and father are whoms she sees every weekend. while i am signing her up for soccer and girl scouts they are taking her out to dinner and become the good guy. if anyone can help me with a diet plan that would be so helpful. i am sick of her being sick and out of breath all the time.

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14. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Dec 04, 2006, 9:33 am PST

i have a tentency to gain weight right now im 60kg 5.4" in hieght. but my son is 8 years he is 40kgs but is very active & plays a lot still is healthy but not obese. my daughter is 12 she was healthy when she was at my sons age but she is thin now and is5.4" .what to do for my son

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15. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Dec 04, 2006, 6:01 pm PST

how does he feel about it? If he is concerned I would take him to the doctor first and then get the doctor to make suggestions and y'all do it together.

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