Family Resolution – Set Healthier Habits this New Year
The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Like mother like daughter.
A chip off the old block.
Children learn what they live.
While those are clichéd, trite phrases, there is much truth to them. Comedians joke that if you want to see what your wife will look like in forty years, look at her mother.
Whether intentional or not, generational traits are passed down from parents to children. If mom and dad live a fairly healthy lifestyle, odds are much greater that the children will follow suit. Conversely, if the head of the household believes being on a diet means skipping the super size fries and adding extra lettuce to the fast food burger, we can surmise the outlook that the children will hold.
There is no time like the present to turn the sinking ship around. New Years is the perfect time to make a family resolution – agree to set healthier habits. One can’t do it without the support of others, so the entire family might as well jump on board.
The easiest change a family can start with is in food consumption. Obviously you’ll need to incorporate exercise into the habits; however starting with food is a small step with measurable results. Simply do not bring junk food into the house. If you have chips, sodas and ice cream available, would you really be able to just have some grapes? More than anything you will need a change of mindset.
Sit down at the table as a family and get input from everyone. Talk about the health risks, talk about wanting to be around for the children for years to come. Make an agreement that there will be no closet eating. Agree to look for creative recipes so that it doesn’t seem like you’re eating rabbit food.
Forcing or demanding healthier habits is formula for failure. If you can make other family members feel that they are part of the decision and truly understand the importance of it, positive results will be easier to achieve.
Hold each other accountable. Give son permission to question mom why she’s eating a donut. Agree to support, not ridicule. Accept digressions as temporary set backs, not failures. Agree that failure is not an option. Keep on keeping on.
Help your Teen Daughter Develop a Good Body Image
“I’m fat!” “I’m ugly!” “I have nothing to wear that doesn’t make me look like a cow!”
Despite all your pep talks and positive reinforcement, you can’t seem to get through to your daughter. She’s miserable. You’re saddened that she’s so disheartened with her body. How do you help your daughter develop a good body image?
Below are some tips to help you help your teen daughter:
- It’s important for girls to play sports or do some kind of physical activity so that they learn to love their bodies for what their bodies can DO instead of only what their bodies look like. This is key.
- Look at magazines with your daughter and talk about how the photos were airbrushed and how the models were made-up so that she understood they were not “real”.
- Try to emphasize health over looks. Not everyone is genetically able to be a size 2, but you can still be healthy at a size 12. Girls need to find their comfortable weight and love themselves for who they are instead of comparing themselves to others.
- Sports for girls. Some girls start T-ball at the age of 5 and play up until late teens. Even if your daughter didn’t start playing sports at a young age, it’s never too late to start. If basketball, softball or soccer doesn’t appeal to her, try martial arts.
- Help her pick out clothing that is flattering to her body. Girls want to wear what everyone else is wearing. Unfortunately not all styles are becoming to all body sizes and shapes.
- While you are working toward building your daughter’s image, remind all siblings that teasing, name calling and rude comments about their sister will not be tolerated.
- Lastly, if your daughter is overweight you should institute an exercise / healthy eating program family-wide. Start going for runs with her, start a sport, join a gym, anything to get her in shape, healthy, and fit. An overweight teen is going to have a low self image. Work together as a family – it will go a long way in helping your teen daughter develop a good body image.
Do You Use Space Heaters
On cold winter days, it can be nice to have a little extra heat in the house. [nmslink:Space heaters, Space heaters] will do the job and do it safely if you are aware of possible dangers. Here are three rules for safe space heater use.
- Keep the heater three feet away from anything in the room. Drapes, papers, and other materials can catch fire from the heat if they are closer.
- Turn the heater off at night and when you leave the house or apartment.
- Be sure to have a [nmslink:carbon monoxide alarm, carbon monoxide alarm]. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. By the time you notice its effects, it could be too late to get out. Have a smoke alarm outside bedroom doors and in other areas of the house.
[nms:heaters,5,1BMO573]
