Interesting Chart of How Far We Have Fallen

[windwalker]

Click on the years to see the rates for that year.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/fit.nation/obesity.map/

Every year gets worse. Groups like ours are the light in the darkness that is the key to saving us from ourselves.

Panda

 

[princessrunner]

Whoo Hoo, we are still in the 20% to 25% range in Maine. Must be because we shiver it off in winter!! No wonder I feel "abnormal" when I walk around the malls, carnivals, etcetera...

 

[scoolover]

Time to move to Colorado!

 

[windwalker]

Do you guys think the trend toward the unhealthy lifestyle has been influenced by the video games and the computers? The eighties where when kids still went out to play.

Panda

 

[princessrunner]

Definitely do plus the advent of fast food. When my mom discovered ready made meals in the 70s/80s, that was ALL we ate. Anything she could pop in and heat up fast. She only cooked on Sunday. Probably the reason behind my baking all our breads, and making all our snacks every week. We also don't have video games in our home. We do have computers (otherwise I would not be able to make $$) but we do restrict time. TV too. Harsh aren't we!! My kids ski, run, play multiple sports and are definitely abnormal in their classes too. The kids in my DD13's class call her a freak cuz she has muscles!!!

 

[windwalker]

Definitely do plus the advent of fast food. When my mom discovered ready made meals in the 70s/80s, that was ALL we ate. Anything she could pop in and heat up fast. She only cooked on Sunday. Probably the reason behind my baking all our breads, and making all our snacks every week. We also don't have video games in our home. We do have computers (otherwise I would not be able to make $$) but we do restrict time. TV too. Harsh aren't we!! My kids ski, run, play multiple sports and are definitely abnormal in their classes too. The kids in my DD13's class call her a freak cuz she has muscles!!!

Sounds like you have created a good environment for your kids to grow in.

Panda

 

[Steffwalks]

Obesity? Yea, it's a BIG problem, so-to-speak. Kids don't play, anymore. Most of them seem to be involved in solitary, isolated things like watching TV, playing video and computer games. They don't get outside, they don't play pretend, anymore, and all too often, children only have scheduled time. And even theri toys will do all the playing for them! When my kids were growing up, there was limited tv, I couldn't afford the electricity. But there were bikes and balls and all kinds of outside toys, and boxes! We always had a big box around the house, it became forts, houses, schools, cars, etc and then one day, they would become sleds! I digress... My kids didn't get to eat fast food or other convenience foods, I made everything from scratch. We spent hours together in the kitchen preparing meals and getting to know each other.

But there is another component that no speaks of.....It isn't just kids! The kids today, had parents that grew up eating out 5-6 times a week, and eating hamburger helper, and other convenience foods. Studies have shown that most these parents don't know what a healthy diet really is. Today, (according to a study) 75% of two year old children recieve french fries as their only vegetable in any given day. The people who buy the food are the largest influence on what children eat.

Princessrunner! Congratulations! You seem to be doing all the right things. I hope your children are proud of that!

 

[princessrunner]

DD13 is, she eats off the salad bar at school almost every day and is really upset if there is no broccoli. DS does not appreciate it so much. He would rather have french fries and candy. I was one of those kids who ate nothing but ready made as a kid so I only hope for bigger better things for mine!!!!!!!

 

[monte]

Yea for Colorado! Maybe because we have to breath harder? lol

 

[windwalker]

Obesity? Yea, it's a BIG problem, so-to-speak. Kids don't play, anymore. Most of them seem to be involved in solitary, isolated things like watching TV, playing video and computer games. They don't get outside, they don't play pretend, anymore, and all too often, children only have scheduled time. And even theri toys will do all the playing for them! When my kids were growing up, there was limited tv, I couldn't afford the electricity. But there were bikes and balls and all kinds of outside toys, and boxes! We always had a big box around the house, it became forts, houses, schools, cars, etc and then one day, they would become sleds! I digress... My kids didn't get to eat fast food or other convenience foods, I made everything from scratch. We spent hours together in the kitchen preparing meals and getting to know each other.

But there is another component that no speaks of.....It isn't just kids! The kids today, had parents that grew up eating out 5-6 times a week, and eating hamburger helper, and other convenience foods. Studies have shown that most these parents don't know what a healthy diet really is. Today, (according to a study) 75% of two year old children recieve french fries as their only vegetable in any given day. The people who buy the food are the largest influence on what children eat.

Princessrunner! Congratulations! You seem to be doing all the right things. I hope your children are proud of that!

Hi Connie, you recovered from your vacation yet? My head is still swimming, of course that is normal for me. I'm getting ready to head out for an 8 miler with my pretty princess.

I grew up playing outside. I couldn't wait to get out the door. We rode bikes or just wandered the world. Often walking miles and miles. As a teen in high school as soon as school was out some friends and I would take off for the fields and woods with our 22 rifles and rabbit or squirll hunt till dark. The weekends were also spent roaming the country side. Then I discovered girls and cars so that changed. But I think I still developed a good base for an active lifestyle.

It was a different world then also. You let your kids wander and told them to be home in time for supper. Now you can't let a youngster wander like that. What the heck brought out all the evil that we have to fear for our childrens lifes now? We never had to worry about the sexual predators then, but they seem to be everywhere now, what the heck happened?

One reason may be there are no people outside anymore watching what's going on. When you walk/run through a neighborhood you don't find many people out working in the yard, washing the car, or the million other things people used to be out doing. So I guess it's easier for the bad actors to operate. When I was a good it seemed like people were out everywhere now I don't even know most of my close neighbors and some I've never seem except when they drive in or out of their garage.

Panda

 

[princessrunner]

Or when they wave to you walking/running???!!!!

 

[windwalker]

Or when they wave to you walking/running???!!!!

When I walk through the poorer neighborhoods (the bad parts of town) I get the most waves, I guess that's because there are lots of people outside sitting on the porches or working around there house doing stuff.

I always smile and make eye contact with people, something many people don't do anymore for some reason.

Panda

 

[Steffwalks]

Yea, I am sure all of that is true! I live in a different world where we all know each other. But parents can get out the bikes and the balls and play too! We would all be happier with some play time helping our kids become active happy people. It doesn't take a village to raise kids just a couple (or at least one) plugged-in, involved parents.

 

[hoosmi]

My DD was getting really big before this summer. She was taking gymnastics and dance, but that's only an hour a week! We ate poorly and didn't move much- I know we contributed to it. I was having to buy her plus size clothes, which meant she could rarely try anything on at a store. Her friends were teasing her. It was pretty horrible. I came up with every excuse in the book, but had to deal with it when she came home from school saying her friends called her fat...

It's bad when you've let yourself go, but it's crushing when you realize you've done it to your kids.

Around the time of the Minnie Marathon (right after I discovered WISH ), DH started cooking most of our meals. Emma started walking with me. We only eat out on vacation now (or if we are out of town on the weekend...)

Over the summer and fall, DD completely changed- she packs her lunch for school, does cartwheels all day long (took her 3 years to learn!), and her gymnastics coach is forever praising her. I've watched the little girls in her class for the last few years. You'll always have one or two who are rail thin, but there's very few "fit" looking kids now- almost all her friends who used to tease her are packing on the pounds. Some of the kids can't do gymnastics moves they could do 6 months ago. Emma who has no natural ability (she gets that from me! ) is catching up to where she can do some of the moves they can't now.

I took Emma on the ToT Run to celebrate how far she's come. I think so many people just throw in the towel. I can't believe I'd accepted that DH's family were a bit heavy, and that Emma probably inherited that from them. WHAT?! She loves hearing about my WISH friends now. She's already talking about doing the half when she's old enough- guess I have to keep in relatively good shape so I can keep her in sight!

Here's the pictures:

This is Sept 2006:

Here's the ToT race:

Jen in GA

 

[princessrunner]

WTG Jen and a big high 5 to DD. My DD13 does competitive gymnastics and has since she was 4. That is where she got her "freak" muscles from. Wish I had a pic to post but she very much dislikes photos!!!

 

[nepatsfan73]

Do you guys think the trend toward the unhealthy lifestyle has been influenced by the video games and the computers? The eighties where when kids still went out to play.

I must say that all my kids are active and eat fairly healthy (by choice). In fact, I am the only obese one in my household and I am working to change it. The one thing different with my kids than when I was a kid has a lot to do with changes in society. When I was a young kid (starting about 6 or 7 and continuing thereafter), I would take my bike in the morning, say good bye to my mom and show up back home for lunch or dinner. She, for the most part, would have no idea where in town I was. We would ride our bikes all over town, go to the fields and play ball, go walking through woods, etc. Today, however, I don't feel comfortable just letting my kids take off. Even when they are in the yard, I keep a check on them.

Another big problem is remote controls. For example, in the "old days" we had to at least get up and walk across the room to change channels on the TV and people who had fireplaces had to split wood and carry it into the house. Today, its all done by remote control from the comfort of a chair or couch. Kids just don't understand how tough their parents had it.

 

[princessrunner]

Bill: I agree with the kids, we are 2.5 miles out of town and have 2 registered sex offenders traveling the road daily so my kids stay close. Fortunately, we live 600 feet off the road and have 13 miles of XC ski trails groomed just for us so we have plenty of space for recreation. Oh, and we still split and carry out own wood....... ahhh the backwoods, got to love it.

 

[Steffwalks]

Jen, That is an inspiring story!!!! It is so good to hear of parents who find a way to make things work for their children, but most especially WITH their children! Scheduling classes like gymnastics is a really great thing, but getting out with mom and/or dad is really where the life lessons come from. You deserve a gold medal....make that a platinum medal for taking charge and making a difference! And your DD is is darling!

Bill! You will get there, man. Let your kids help you find your way to the slimmer you! They will have a great time coaching dad!

We bought our grandchildren good bikes for Christmas last year. When they come over they bring their bikes and the old granny and gramps go on bike rides with them. We also go camping and fishing and walking and fly kites and lots of fun outside stuff. And we all have a blast.