Need a Reason to Lose Weight? Think of Your Children
Jodi Davis
| 3 min read
I haven’t forgotten all the years I lived as a morbidly obese person, especially when I remember thinking of how my children must have felt about their overweight mom. They didn’t seem to care too much about my appearance; well, actually they just didn’t comment about it. And when there was a concern about my health, they sure hid it well.
I’m not so certain if that’s a good thing, which leaves me to wonder whether I would have changed my lifestyle earlier if I had known that my “babies” were scared about their mom’s life.
I can’t recall their specific ages when they realized that being overweight was unhealthy. They were both aware that their mom was not exercising daily. Each of them also knew that I had my own stash of unhealthy snacks that I consumed after they went to bed, food I told them not to eat because it was full of fat and calories. Yes, they finally hit that age when they knew that my unhealthy habits could lead to health conditions like heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and yes… an early death. That’s really sad.
My children must have been scared once they realized how unhealthy it was for their mom to live a morbidly obese life. My parents did not have any weight issues when I was growing up, but I would have been very scared for their health if one of them had been morbidly obese.
Actually, both of my parents smoked cigarettes when I was young. Did that scare me? Yes, very much. I remember begging them to stop smoking because I didn’t want them to die. The health risks of smoking were constantly being taught at school and the thought of them losing their life due to smoking was dreadful.
I’ve often wondered why my kids didn’t ask me to stop my unhealthy eating habits and start exercising in the same way I asked parents to stop smoking. I think the reason is simple: My children simply didn’t want to hurt my feelings.
You know, I almost wish they would have asked me to make some changes back then. It would have hurt my feelings a little, but it could have been the “kick start” I truly needed. Those are years that my children and I can never have back — years when I didn’t take them to the places they wanted to go or participate in an enjoyable physical activity with them because my obesity was an issue.
It was my issue… that affected their young lives.
Today, make the decision to give yourself the “kick start” that you need. Your loved ones want you to make some healthy changes in your life even though they may not say a single word about it. Your health affects your children’s lives… whether you want to admit it or not.
You can do it, I believe in you!
Photo by SCA Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget.
