Daughters and Weight Loss

This diet is taking place while my daughter is hitting a critical age. She just turned ten this summer and is starting to be very body conscious. Of course, this worries me as to how she will be warped by my dieting.

My mom was heavy while I was growing up. I remember her being on Weight Watchers and at a different time she did Nutrisystems. She lost a bunch of weight on each diet, but she always gained it back. Now I am following in her footsteps. She was beautiful and confident. She always dressed well to make the most of her shape. But as a child, people often said "Your mom is so pretty, if only she would lose weight." I often agreed. Not being heavy until later in my adult years, I didn't understand at the time what was stopping her.

I do realize now how hard it is. How your body fights you every step of the way. I can look back and realize that I have never really changed my eating. I dieted, then I went back to the way I was eating before the diet. I think that was her problem too. I never really learned to eat the vegetables and fruits that I am eating now. This may be the first time I am actually making a real, lasting change. (I hope!)

I've wished a lot lately that my mom was still alive to talk to about dieting. I would like to have heard her feelings about the subject rather than just my own fading memories of what she was like at different weights. And I talk to my own daughter about the diet I'm on so that it isn't some big mysterious thing that I am doing.

One of the first things I did was meet with my daughter's doctor and my daughter to discuss the reasons why I am on this diet. The doctor and I explained that I need to do this for my health and not to look prettier. (It is definitely a benefit that I don't complain about though.) The doctor discussed my daughter's weight (which is low) with her. She gave her the goal to gain a couple of pounds before her next visit. We discussed all of the healthy things she could eat that would help her feel less hungry and give her more energy such as cheese, fruit and yogurt. She dances almost seven hours a week and has a hard time keeping her weight on. I don't want her to get the idea that thinner is better. Healthy is better.

We met with her doctor again this week. My daughter had gained two pounds. She was very proud of herself. It was such a foreign thought to me, but I was excited to see that her mind is in the right place. My diet has become so common for her that it wasn't even mentioned during the visit.

Now if only I could get her to eat more vegetables...