Before I have a girl...

I have many body issues and I would like to do whatever I can to "fix" myself before I have a daughter. I'm beginning to have a better relationship with food (thanks to some of my group members here at PT, you know who you are :) but any tips are appreciated. I keep reading about 9 year olds having eating disorders. It's so sad.

Thu. Apr 6, 8:10am

me too

I feel exactly the same way. I think the biggest thing to learn is that there are no forbidden foods- just basic rules:
-there are everyday foods (whole grains, lean meats, veggies, and fruit), and sometimes foods (candy, ice cream, fast food, etc.)
-either with everyday OR sometimes foods, portions are important. Not because you want a 9 yr. old obsessed with cals, but because they should eat until their hunger is satisfied, not until they're painfully full.
-exercise is a part of everyday life and specific activities, like sports and active hobbies.
I think if you make it so healthy eating is a fact of life, along with being active (not 5 hours of TV), your kids, your daughter, will follow suit. Most importantly, if you show love for yourself, your daughter will too. No more critical looks in the mirror, no self-conscious covering up! Be a fabulous diva- she will follow! :)

Thursday, April 6, 2006, 9:25 AM

I don't even think its a matter with food. My parents always taught me that what matters is in this family and what you think. I grew up not caring if someone said something or not. The result was me not caring meant people flocked to me. I firmly believe that at the basis of it all isnt body image, isnt food, isnt working out. Its How your chid forms opinions about themselves. Teach your child to think for themselves, to value their own opinion, and for them to BE opinionated. That is at the root, and its what a lot of parents think they are teaching but are not.

Thursday, April 6, 2006, 9:29 AM

girls

a big thing i did w/ my daughter was i did not force her to eat "one more bite" or "take a bite" of something. i offered her a meal, if she didn't eat very much, she compensated at the next meal. if others were eating cookies or whatever, i let her have cookies. i didn't say "only one" or "only on saturday". i find that she can have one bite and throw the rest away. (i on the other hand would eat 20 cookies and not feel satisfied). i also really, really forced myself to do outdoor activites w/ her b/c my childhood was spent indoors. good luck, i love having a girl!

Thursday, April 6, 2006, 10:05 AM

My parents always thought that family dinners were very important to bring everyone together. I agree. BUT... We always had "family-style" dinners - everything in big bowls on the table, with plenty for seconds, thirds, etc., and my parents would encourage us to sit at the table for a long time, to talk, etc. I contribute this, at least somewhat, to my habit of "grazing," or eating just because it's there, because I watched my parents do it, and participated, from a very young age. Now, I always serve food onto plates in the kitchen, and put leftovers away before we eat, and I plan to do the same when I have kids. If you're hungry, you'll make the effort to get more food, but if not, you won't be eating just for the sake of eating, or passing that habit down to your kids.

Thursday, April 6, 2006, 10:45 AM

I often got food as a reward and comfort, and this has created problems for me. I also continually saw my aunts & cousins dieting, so I started dieting when I was about 10.

I somehow never learned to listen to my body - to eat when I was hungry and stop when I was full.

Encourage healthy physical activity as well.

Thursday, April 6, 2006, 10:57 AM

to the poster at 9:25 am

your comments brought a smile to my face when you described everyday and sometimes foods- Cookie Monster would agree as he sings that 'A cookie is a sometimes food'.

There are some good suugestions here and as a girl who was down right fat growing up, I have apprehensions that my children may wind up in the same boat. I think a healthy diet is key and I will encourage as much physical activity as possible.

Has anyone seen the promos for the new TLC show starting Monday which takes unhealthy kids and "ages" them to 40 to see what they'll look like? Pretty interesting, may just enough to shock a few families into healthier eating!

Thursday, April 6, 2006, 11:20 AM

Thanks- 9:25am poster here

I totally got that from Cookie Monster! :)

Thursday, April 6, 2006, 12:32 PM

When I was a kid, my mom would do this thing where she would break down into fake tears and sobs if I did not eat every single morsel of food on my dinner plate. Now I don't know how to stop eating when I'm full. Actually, I don't even know how to tell if I'm full... No surprise that my mom and me are both overweight.
Anyway, forcing kids to clean their plates is not a heathy thing.

Thursday, April 6, 2006, 1:43 PM

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