Go to Dr.phil.com he just had a show and all the children were obese. See my decussion marked Dr. Phil it has a link for obese people like us. Go to Dr. Phil.com to see the show about obese children.Worth looking at, for help.

I'm sorry if I gave you the impression my children or grandchildren are obese. They are not, but I am.

I'm with You Wag!! Even if someone is in the wrong place at the wrong time and gets caught up in trouble, then maybe they should have thought a little more about their 'friends' or 'favorite place' to hang out!

If our laws nailed offenders butts to the wall a little more often then the rest of us wouldn't have to suffer!
God Bless!

Janelle

I'm new to this discussion board...

I agree with some of what you are saying...

BUT...there are tons of activities that kids can participate in that are well supervised. For example, there are youth sports teams, karate, play centers, hiking, swimming, jumping rope (in the garage if necessary), etc.

I've got 50 pounds to lose myself. I currently weigh about 197-200 pounds and am 5'3. I finally made up my mind that I would get involved with him. When he's taking karate, I'm taking kickbox in the back room. When he's swimming I'm outside walking the track.

It's defintely not easy. I just got remarried and was a single mom for 4 years.

But just like Dr. Phil said yesterday it's not about what's easy for us as parents...it's about what's best for the children.

As a child of the 50's, I have always been obese...not just overweight...and I mean since the age of 3-4...very early. We had no video games, were not allowed 'sugary snacks', no soda in the house, TV was limited to an occasional episode of "Felix the Cat" or watching American Bandstand with my older sister. We played outside whenever we could, swam whenever we were invited, and sometimes walked to school if Mom would let us. My brothers were skinny...I was the roly-poly one. What happened? I sure do agree, though, that I would be scared to death to let kids walk in the neighborhood in the evening or nighttime like we used to...and some places, not even during the day. There's just too much out there these days.

I think children have to extra careful nowadays but I agree with Lexie, there's alot of supervised activities such as sports, cheerleading, etc. that are safe and give kids some exercise. I think parents have to get the kids active from an early age. Also, kids eat what's in the house, so give them healthy foods to choose from and they'll get used to a good diet.

Your Welcome. You vent all you want too. And I agree with what you said. If I raised kids they wouldn't be in the street either running around either unless I was outside with them. I'm sorry the doc was such an @#$.

Very astute. I did NOT grow up in the same world or safe atmosphere as my parents, where they ran free in their spare time. You made a very valid point. Well said.

I think what also needs to be addressed is access to good quality affordable food. In inner cities grocery stores could be 10-20 miles away from home. For those with no car and without a decent income just hoping on a bus is not a possiblity. Often times these parents are forced to purchase foods from fast food joints, corner stores or rely on food pantrys. In addition, if you do not make enough income to provide healthy meals, very often meals end up being full of carbs and fat. Cheap and filling. I clearly remember eating buttered noodles or buttered rice for dinner as a child. And the sad truth is, when my oldest was young we were so poor that I often made a meal for us out of bisquits, cornbread, or noodles. We lived in a neighborhood where it was not safe to go out. Not enough money for my son to particpate in activies like sports. and the home too small for any real exercise for a young child. Things are not always cut and dried. Parents do not always have choices. And those that have never lived that life can't really fathom how much more we want for our children and the deep sadness of not being able to provide it. Parents are not always villians in their childs obesity. It is also hard for me to fathom that a parent who they themselves have an obvious issuse with food, would be expected to just snap out of it now that they have a child and magically know how to eat and control their own eating as well as their childs. Clearly there is a problem with the parent in the first place, sympathy and assistance are required, not condemnation. Dr, Phil irks me. Just my 2 cents.

Hey,
I just want to say that Pollypurebread (Underdogs Girl Friend) is absolutely right. Out here in NM you see the results on the Indian reservations. Diabetes on the res is at a whopping 50%! The reasons are obvious, they cant afford good quality food. Their diet has a lot of fatty meats and high carbs, (because its all they can afford) much the same as Polly's inner city kids. I missed that point earlier and thanks to all that mentioned it.
Wouldnt it be nice if some of that foreign aid money sent to countries that want to kill us were used at home, to help feed the poor?

I love you Wag!! I can be so quiet when you're here!
God Bless!

Janelle

So Wag, do you live on a reservation? My Grandfather grew up on one.

No mamm' I do not, just live very close to a few. I Love your cat... looks like my Thomas, the tom cat.