MUSC Children's Hospital - October 2008 Newsletter

We're all about children!

October 2008

Keeping Kids Lean! Keeping Kids Healthy!

Making food and exercise decisions for health is a lifetime process. When presented with the topic of "Keeping Kids Lean," I kept coming back to the attitude needed to even begin the dreaded "diet". Diet is a four letter word with the word "die" in it. It implies that you are either "on it" or "off it". This black and white approach can sometimes lead to failure. The goal of the Lean Team is the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity through individual, family, and community change. This means embracing everyone with an attitude of health. Let's begin with "Keeping Kids Healthy". The following suggestions are for everyone!

Know where you stand. You've been to the doctor and he/she has told you where you stand... underweight, normal weight, overweight, or maybe you or a loved one has actually traveled into the range of obesity. You are not alone! This can be a starting point. Perhaps a more important place to think about is the weight where you felt the most "fit". Now, where would you truly like to be? Base changes on this vision.

Set realistic daily goals. Your weight goal may be 5, 10, 20, or even 100 pounds. It took a lifetime to get where you are. Today is the first day of the rest of your life! So, set goals of change that you can succeed at today. This can include a long list of things to do and not do. Accept the responsibility of being your own police but be realistic. If you are changing from being a "couch potato" to "running a marathon" it will have to be step by step approach. Getting a pedometer to help you count steps can help you to monitor where you are and where you are going. A reasonable goal for everyone is shoot for 10,000 steps each day (about 5 miles).

Be intentional. Sabotage is very easy when you surround yourself with the "killers". Today is the time to remove easy access to the foods that will make you sink. This list includes snack foods, sugared beverages, and cookies. What foods do you have in your cupboards and refrigerator that are you can personally identify as the "tempters". As I have mentioned in a previous article, "cookies" are my weakness.

Encourage one another. Families do not need to use blame, shame, fault, and guilt as the persuaders. Change is difficult enough without a bunch of negativity. I was one of five children and "yes" the family is a great place to learn conflict resolution... a skill we all need for life! So, what is a family to do? As a kid, I remember weekly family meetings to get that assessment of how we are doing. Turn off the TV, sit around the kitchen table and clear the air. Make it a place of love and encouragement.

Plan a time for the family to celebrate. All of us want recognition so plan events together which will bring you together. It is always a good day when you do something you have never done before. It doesn't have to be expensive. Give everyone a chance to plan and prepare a healthy meal. Those cooking skills are for life. Also, Charleston is a wonderful place to walk. Take a walk, take some pictures, and explore together. Join the Lean Team as a family to walk the bridge on Saturday mornings at 8 am. It is good exercise and a great way to bond.

To find out more about the Lean Team, visit our website at www.musc.edu/leanteam or give us a call at (843)579-4316.

Mary Joan
Lean Team