Hi!
Sorry it's been a little while since my last email! The end of summer was slightly hectic...and now it's over, I'm so sad! I do love the fall here in NY, but it means that winter is just around the corner...arrgh...my least favorite season!!
I'm going to launch the new Facebook page in the next couple of weeks--so stay tuned for that! I think I've finally settled on a name, but I'm still keeping it a secret for now.
Have you made any 'back to school/fall/post summer' health resolutions? I'd love to hear them.
xoxoxoxo
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My family is overweight! |
So many girls write to me that they want to lose weight or just live a healthier lifestyle but they feel they can't because their parents and siblings are all overweight, sedentary (don't exercise), or eat unhealthily, and seem not to be interested in being healthy.
I agree that it IS more difficult to lead a healthy life when everyone around you isn't (in fact I have a whole chapter in Dr. Susan's Girls-Only Weight Loss Guide about dealing with unhealthy family patterns) but....it isn't impossible!
It is REALLY important for you to take charge of your own health, no matter what other people are doing--including your family and best friends! So here are my top tips for starting to be healthier:
1. At restaurants, avoid fried food (not matter what everyone else orders), eat a single portion (size of your fist) and take the rest home. Stay away from the bread basket.
2. If your family often eats fast food, order the healthiest option on the menu--almost every place now has a 'healthy choice'--and drink water or seltzer!
3. At friends' homes, choose fruit and veggies at meals and for snacks (especially if your house is short on them!)
4. If your parents are open to it, go food shopping with them and choose the healthy food and snacks you want and EAT them. Maybe you'll become a good role model for your siblings!
5. If home-cooked meals aren't healthy, eat a small portion and fill in with fruit and veggies before and after. DON'T skip meals!!
6. Learn to cook healthily and do so for yourself (and your family if they're interested). There are lots of books you can buy or get at the library and tons of websites for inexpensive, easy recipes!
7. No-one can stop you from being active! Take walks alone or with a friend, exercise to a DVD, take a class.
8. Stay in control of the things you definitely can--for example, your family isn't stopping your from avoiding alcohol (tons of calories and when your inhibitions are lowered it makes you want to eat more. Other drugs also mess you up similarly!)
9. If you have any other ideas, send them to email and we'll include them in another newsletter about battling unhealthy homes! I know you can do it!! Your health is the most important thing you have, take charge of it a little at a time--NO excuses!
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