Convicted

I'm a Dr. Phil-adict. I just can't help it. I don't always agree with him, but he makes me laugh and I usually like his in-your-face-deal-with-your-problems approach. Hm...that's probably because I'm the exact opposite. A good nap makes most problems disappear--at least for a while!

So, today's show was about childhood obesity. I wasn't an obese child. H wasn't an obese child. M is definitely not an obese child. But I was completely and totally convicted by the show. Dr. Phil's statistics were staggering about childhood obesity and the problems that are associated with it. Dr. Phil was reading a list of foods one family was feeding their child. He named grilled cheese sandwiches, PB&J and on and on. Some of the foods he listed are M's favorite foods! Not that I think I'm raising a child who loves junk food. I try not to keep too much junk food around the house.

On the other hand, I must be vigilant in my quest for healthiness. My plan must include my daughter so that I teach her healthy habits. Dr. Phil said that the biggest role models for children are, first, the same sex parent and, second, the opposite sex parent. This can not be a household of "do as I say, not as I do." I must walk the road I want M to walk. The training must begin now so that healthy habits are a way of life for this family.

Now a question for you. How do I balance this quest for healthiness? How do I make sure that it does not become an obession? For example, I am enjoying going to the gym in the mornings after breakfast. Well, Tuesday mornings are story hour at the library. Do I take Tuesday morning off from exercising so M has a chance to visit with other children or do I exercise? Do I try to cram several activities in one day and do both? I could exercise after H gets home in the evenings. I don't want my desire to become healthy and lose weight to interfer with the activities that my family enjoys doing. Has anyone else struggled with this? Any suggestions?