2 years out and getting back on track-long time no see-Influence on others

I haven't been on Obesity Help for awhile.  It's good to see some of my old friends and new success stories.  I had my 2 year check-up at the end of April.  All my blood work was great and I was down an additional 18 lbs. in the 2nd year.  While I haven't gained but the 5 lbs. I go up and down all the time, I have been eating almost whatever I want since that appointment.  I know it is playing with fire and it's time to stop.  I also realized I'm not setting a good example.

I have been trying to influence my 14 year old daughter to be healthier and eat better.  I think she is finally starting to come around.  She has the exact same body type I have and I know she worries about becoming obese like I was.  I noticed her last week starting to track her calories.  I want to help her in anyway possible without pushing her.  So I am mainly telling her to focus on portion control to begin this journey.  I took things that she likes and put them in snack ziploc's in proper portions.  I think this will make it easier for her to track her food.

I'm also starting to track my food again so we can do this together.  I'm so very happy she is starting to pay attention to her body!!!  Next I will try to get her to exercise more (she's a big reader and not physical), but again, if I push too hard, she will rebel.  Any suggestions on moving forward would be appreciated!!

Again, it's great to be back on here tracking and reading inspirational posts!!

Welcome back!!

I am a big proponent of food tracking, weighing and measuring my food (keeps portion creep down), daily weighing (I take my weekly weight on Sunday), weight training, and exercise. Support is also vital. I have never stopped doing those things and I have been able to keep my weight within a 2-3 lb window for the past 15 months.

Congratulations on losing even more weight during your second year!! That is truly inspirational.


Gail

 Hi Vera, it's great to see you back!  Congratulations on getting off more weight in year two I know that my surgeon was delighted when I took off over 20 pounds in the second year.  For me the daily tracking is so important. I just don't have the luxury of eating whatever I want.  I weigh every morning and on Mondy night at Weigh****chers.  I eat my LW carb p,an, but use WW for lifetime accountability.  I know that left to my sneaky brain, I could put weight back on quickly.

How delightful that you strive to be a great role model for your daughter!

Please check in more often!  :)

Hi Vera.  Good timing.

I decided to start logging my food again this morning.  It really is a wonderful, easy tool.  I don't know why I have been so reluctant to do it.  I did it pretty faithfully while losing weight, but stopped when I hit goal.  I didn't want to have to diet again, but apparently I need to continue to do that or continue gaining.  

Good luck with your daughter, I'm glad she is coming around.  

Thanks everyone!!!  I just finished Zumba class and drank a protein shake.  Day one of tracking went awesome.  Now I need to go to bed because if I stay up late I will start getting the munchies.  This has been my biggest battle/bad habit that I am breaking.

Congratulations on your success.  I too have daughters, one is 16 and the other is 12.  My 16 year old actually has a bit of anorexic tendencies so I really have to monitor her.  She will go quite a while without eating, mainly because I think she is lazy.  If I offer to make her something, she will eat, or she will reach for the junk and easy food.  My other daughter tends to eat quite a lot but she is also growing and developing, so, again, I monitor her eating and try to encourage healthy foods.  My 12 year old also likes to go to the gym with me but my 16, forget it.  I would really encourage you to just make healthy meals and keep healthy foods on hand.  Also, if you don't buy the junk then it can't get in your house for your daughter to eat.  I know it is such a battle and such a balancing act, but good for you for working on it.

Hi Vera!  Welcome back!  I've missed you and wondered how you were doing.  So happy for your success in your second year and as a mother of a twentysomething...I think you are handling your daughter just perfect.  Let it be her idea and just help her along however you can without pushing.  Congrats on logging again.  I still do it.  I took a one week break from it and felt guilty the whole time (wierd, huh?) so apparently I've done it long enough that it's ingrained in me now.  Good to hear from you!!!

Deb

welcome back. I think food tracking is the single most important thing one can do in maintenance to avoid slipping back to old bad habits. I may do it forever. so its good that your daughter is willing to do this.

Not sure how to get her to exercise. I was a bookworm too at that age and traditional team sports bored me. I think if I had some activity that had a mental element to it I might have done better. As an adult I got into dog showing and training and she might like some non traditional activity like those people that use gps gadgets to go on treasure hunts or something.

anyway, stay in touch.  diane

Hi Vera I to have not been on here and am going to try to get back on track. Working in a Cupcake bakery is not easy. But jobs are not easy to find around here at my age. I really enjoyed coming to your meetings. But I work every Saturday, So many weddings. Do you have any suggestions for food tracking. I am so bad at this. I lost 130 pounds and have gained back 30. Now my daughter is getting married in May 2009 and I have to get back on track.  Good luck with your daughter that is really awesome you have someone around you to share your with. I too have 2 daughter and the one that is getting married follows in my body type am so scared for her. She is already over weight. But she is 26 so She won't listen to me.
Thank you Sherri