In Western Hills and with training available also in downtown Newport, KY

May 4, 2009

Dr. Doug McGuff, interviewed on Indanapolis newscast, explaining how to get your body by science:

As mentioned in this space last week, body image, self esteem, nutrition and the foundation of a lifetime of healthful habits are at stake in every household incubating a youngster into adulthood.

When immaturity meets social pressure to look like a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, parental guidance needs to leap into action.

Kids with excess fat are easy to identify, and in many respects much easier to deal with.  But the silent agony that lurks inside kids craving the perfect body that they think provides a blissful life can bypass the best of parents.

I researched this more than a decade ago when I was writing a weekly newspaper column. If my stats are out of date, the current reality is probably worse.

Does your child exercise regularly and sensibly, or obsessively? Can he or she miss a workout without anxiety? Does he or she exercise through serious illness or injury?

You get the idea.

Does your child eat in hiding? This could signal binging and purging. If induced vomiting is involved, seek help immediately.

How frequently does your child characterize himself or herself negatively, the “I'm so fat” and “I'm so ugly” type of attitude? A little bit is normal, but relentless self-deprecation is a warning signal.

Have you noticed your child possessing diet pills, diuretics, laxatives, anabolic steroids or other supposed muscle-building concoctions?

Does your child talk incessantly about food and exercise, to the point of ignoring discussion of both more meaningful topics (their education and their future) and trivial ones (the latest ballgame)?

Does your child avoid family meals? Sure, their schedules get hectic, but do they really reach for excuses?

Is your child thin and trying to be thinner?

If your child fits any of these descriptions,  I remember from my research that the key line to use in broaching the subject is:

“We’re concerned about you and scared about your health.”

Phrases such as “you're too skinny...or too fat...or not eating enough...or exercising too much...or eating too much” are likely to alienate your adolescent son or daughter.

An estimated five percent of high school girls are victims or anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Seven percent of the boys -- and three percent of the girls -- jeopardize their futures by using steroids. In addition to these, many more adolescents -- an estimated 20 percent -- suffer from numerous eating disorder symptoms.

The pendulum then swings from the kids who are overly concerned with their bodies to those who never met a cookie they didn't devour.

An estimated 15 to 25 percent of adolescents are considered overweight. Twenty-two hours per week in front of the TV is not a good slimness strategy.

The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports tells us that half the girls and a third of the boys ages 6 to 17 cannot do a single pull-up. Only 50 percent engage in vigorous physical activity regularly.

Youth sports programs that emphasize winning are beneficial to the athletically gifted, but less meaningful to the mainstream. If your child shies away from competitive athletics, expose him or her to fitness trails, bike riding, and physical activities with the entire family.

The Tufts University Diet and Nutrition Letter suggests making regular family meals a habit, including nutritious items in them, and making everyone participate.

A family meal, of course, does not take place in front of Friends reruns or the latest gossip from ET. An after-dinner family walk or bike ride is much better than dessert.

Snacks account for at least 30 percent of teenagers' calories, and up to 20 percent of their vitamins and minerals. Keep low-fat yogurt, fresh fruit, and maybe fortified cereal in the house. Limit sweets and processed foods.

Hopefully, most of your child’s healthy lifestyle issues can be ameliorated by the example you set at home.

	Let's see....Kirstie Alley dropped 75 pounds, becoming a Jenny Craig pitch person after displaying the results to Oprah. She's now regained the 65 and added another 10 -- a 75-pound fat outburst. But, hey, she's going to lose it and share her formula with us, presumably at a fee. Hmm. Can't wait!

As mentioned in this space last week, body image, self esteem, nutrition and the foundation of a lifetime of healthful habits are at stake in every household incubating a youngster into adulthood.

Remember the not-so-long-ago email where we discussed:

 You can't change what you tolerate.

 We also mentioned the potency -- for good or bad -- of self talk. Remember the bible scripture that says "Take no thought by saying..."

 How do you "take a thought?" By saying.

 So say good things.

 In order to be fit, the self-imae of a fit person is required. If not, you may make some temporary external changes, but it' like mowing your weeds or painting over rust.

So, get your mind set and talk positively to yourself. To help you along, my best suggestion is that you develop some "Goal Power," which is the title of the second segment in my Podcast/CD audio program: The 30-Day Fat-to-Muscle Makeover. It's a dollar per day for 30 lessons, about 3.5 hours or eating and exercise insights. The full details are here.

You download these programs to your computer for burning onto CD, or directly to your mp3 (iPod) player, or just onto your computer for daily listening. 

Additionally, I've found a couple of websites that might be helpful.

 You can create a virtual model of your thinner self at My Virtual Model or Weightview-dot-com. Picturing yourself thinner, W. Clement Stone, will tell us, enables the body to achieve what the mind conceives.

A high-protein, low-carb, and low-fat chicken breast and cheese omelette

Cooking Tips From Lee Haywards Total Fitness Bodybuilding.

Youll need:

• 2 cups of liquid egg whites
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (cooked)
• 2-3 slices of fat free cheese
• diced mushrooms and onions
• salsa
• seasoning and spices to taste

$5 - $10 - $15 - $20

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Contact: Email -- Ph: 513-288-2235 - Skype: DandyBoy454 (video possible)