I am so joyful and thankful to be writing to you, and want to help motivate and educate you to your very best health! Eric is writing about his passion – to decrease and end childhood obesity. I am writing about the stomach H. pylori infection, proven benefits of fish oil, the power of words in your marriage, and letting your children know you will always be there for them. The pictures above are from the Moto GP race this year. My husband loves anything at the IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway)!
My Rant (and Passion About Childhood Obesity Prevention)
By: Eric Walden
Happy Labor Day! I hope everyone had a good Labor Day. Lisa asked me to forego the exercise routine this week. Instead of an exercise routine she asked me to write about something I was passionate about. So hear we go: My Rant, well really just my passion.
Overweight/Obese Kids:
I know this may be a touchy subject for some parents, but I feel it is one that should be talked about. I know as a personal trainer I am asked all the time about nutrition. Rarely am I asked by a parent about nutrition for their children. Sometimes I feel that parents just think about their own nutrition and not their children’s, or parents are even scared to give their children healthy food. I even hear, “Well, I have tried giving them healthy food, but they won’t eat it, so I give them the junk food that they ask, scream, and beg for.” I have a 3 year old that loves sweets (what 3 year old doesn’t?). He begs all the time to get something sweet. Most of the time we say no, and occasionally we will say yes. But, and I repeat, but we give him a nutritious snack the majority of the time. Sometimes he balks at the idea of a healthy snack, but if he does he doesn’t get a snack. Don’t feel bad for not giving into your child’s wants, even if they throw themselves on the floor of your local grocery store. Let them do it. We, as other parents, know and understand, and we won’t think badly of you. Saying yes to a healthy snack is going to be a little tough if they aren’t use to it. It is like any behavior it takes time to get use to.
The main reason I chose this subject is because it breaks my heart to see children so overweight or obese at a young age. It is because the parent hasn’t taken time to provide the right care for their child. Again, I know I’m stepping on toes. I may even be stomping on toes, but something has to change. You are slowly killing your child.
The following is an excerpt from the CDC.
Obesity is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Data from NHANES surveys (1976–1980 and 2003–2006) show that the prevalence of obesity has increased: for children aged 2–5 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 12.4%; for those aged 6–11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 17.0%; and for those aged 12–19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.6%.1, 46
Obese children and adolescents are at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults. For example, during their youth, obese children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes) than are other children and adolescents.2
Obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults.3, 4 For example, one study found that approximately 80% of children who were overweight at aged 10–15 years were obese adults at age 25 years.3 Another study found that 25% of obese adults were overweight as children.5 The latter study also found that if overweight begins before 8 years of age, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe.
By: Eric Walden
Happy Labor Day! I hope everyone had a good Labor Day. Lisa asked me to forego the exercise routine this week. Instead of an exercise routine she asked me to write about something I was passionate about. So hear we go: My Rant, well really just my passion.
Overweight/Obese Kids:
I know this may be a touchy subject for some parents, but I feel it is one that should be talked about. I know as a personal trainer I am asked all the time about nutrition. Rarely am I asked by a parent about nutrition for their children. Sometimes I feel that parents just think about their own nutrition and not their children’s, or parents are even scared to give their children healthy food. I even hear, “Well, I have tried giving them healthy food, but they won’t eat it, so I give them the junk food that they ask, scream, and beg for.” I have a 3 year old that loves sweets (what 3 year old doesn’t?). He begs all the time to get something sweet. Most of the time we say no, and occasionally we will say yes. But, and I repeat, but we give him a nutritious snack the majority of the time. Sometimes he balks at the idea of a healthy snack, but if he does he doesn’t get a snack. Don’t feel bad for not giving into your child’s wants, even if they throw themselves on the floor of your local grocery store. Let them do it. We, as other parents, know and understand, and we won’t think badly of you. Saying yes to a healthy snack is going to be a little tough if they aren’t use to it. It is like any behavior it takes time to get use to.
The main reason I chose this subject is because it breaks my heart to see children so overweight or obese at a young age. It is because the parent hasn’t taken time to provide the right care for their child. Again, I know I’m stepping on toes. I may even be stomping on toes, but something has to change. You are slowly killing your child.
The following is an excerpt from the CDC.
Obesity is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Data from NHANES surveys (1976–1980 and 2003–2006) show that the prevalence of obesity has increased: for children aged 2–5 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 12.4%; for those aged 6–11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 17.0%; and for those aged 12–19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.6%.1, 46
Obese children and adolescents are at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults. For example, during their youth, obese children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes) than are other children and adolescents.2
Obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults.3, 4 For example, one study found that approximately 80% of children who were overweight at aged 10–15 years were obese adults at age 25 years.3 Another study found that 25% of obese adults were overweight as children.5 The latter study also found that if overweight begins before 8 years of age, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe.
Did you catch the first paragraph? The statistics DOUBLED! I know there are tons of excuses to be had on why a child is overweight or obese. But killing your child is what is happening. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of all Americans, and the age at which it is being developed is going down. Childhood Diabetes is on the rise. Another way to put it is the fact that your child is overweight/obese means you will pay more for health care.
If your child isn’t use to eating healthy, don’t try to change over in one night. Not too many people can do a switch cold turkey; take it slow. Change up the pasta you use to whole grain or ground turkey from ground beef. These little changes may or may not be noticed, but it is a start. Another suggestion is once dinner is over, get everyone out of the house and take the family for a walk. This next month will be perfect for walks in the evening. It is a little cool therefore the walk won’t be hot. Again, there may be some complaining and grumbling, but bare through it. Once it happens consistently the grumbling will become less.
I’m not going to go into this too much. I just wanted to let people know where I stand. I think as parents we can do a lot better on caring for our children. We also need to educate ourselves so we can teach our kids to make better choices.
The following is the link to the CDC where I pulled the excerpt. I encourage you to read through this article and do some research of the effects of being overweight and obese as a child.
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html
I know I have stepped on toes today with this article, but I really hope it opens someone’s eyes to how serious of problem childhood obesity is and how it will affect the life of the child until something changes. As our current president says, “Yes we can…Change”. Please take this to heart and look for ways to change your lifestyle to a healthier one.
If you have questions please feel free to contact me through email or phone. My email is eric_walden@waldospersonaltraining.com and 765-404-7343.
Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Treatment
Helicobacter pylori (also known as H. pylori) is a bacteria found in the stomach and can cause many digestive problems and ulcers, and much less commonly stomach cancer. It is present in ½ of the world population, and the vast majority have no symptoms and never will develop problems. We do not yet know why some people with H. pylori get digestive problems and others do not. It is spread most commomly by consuming food or water contaminated with fecal matter, and then can cause changes to the stomach and upper intestine.
H. pylori needs to be thought of as a cause for especially upper digestive problems which do not quickly resolve. The most common symptoms are pain or discomfort (usually upper abdomen), bloating, feeling full after eating a small amount, lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dark or tar-colored stool (from bleeding), and low blood count and fatigue (from ulcers that bleed).
Diagnosis of H. pylori can be through blood, breath, stool, and upper endoscopy. Treatment involves taking several medications for 10-14 days (two antibiotics and one acid lowering medicine). Even though the 3 medicines together can cause side effects like nausea, t is important to finish all the medicine to ensure the bacteria is killed. Usually a follow up breath test is done to ensure the bacteria is gone, and some people need a second course of medicine.
Fish and Fish Oil Supplements Work – Remember your daily fish oil and Vitamin D!!!
Recent studies show eating several servings of oily fish (especially salmon) or taking daily fish oil pills reduce the risk of death or major heart problems in people at risk by 7 – 30%. A recent epidemiological study on healthy people showed that those who ate one fish meal/week lowered their heart disease risk by 15% and those who ate 5 servings of fish/week lowered their risk by 40%. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends healthy people should eat oily fish at least twice a week, and people with existing heart disease take a daily fish oil supplement (500-1000mg/day of DHA and EPA). Flaxseed oil is not as beneficial because it contains alpha-lineolic acid, which is converted into DHA and EPA in only small amounts.
Vitamin E is no longer recommended as an extra supplement for cardiovascular protection. It can be beneficial especially in some women for breast pain and also can help some women with their hot flashes.
General Tips:
Jennifer, wife and mother of two, orders weekly fresh organic vegetables at reasonable prices delivered to her home from http://www.farmfreshdelivery.com/!
Family and Faith
Marriage Tip (from “Red-Hot Monogamy, Making Your Marriage Sizzle”) - Power of Encouraging Words
Remember the great healing, loving, and sizzling power of encouraging words. I learned from my father that if you think something nice, be certain to say it! This is especially important with your spouse. So when you think of something nice or tender toward your spouse, say it or say something! God can help it to come out well and be powerfully received!
The authors of this book, Bill and Pam Farrel, found out the power of encouraging words on their honeymoon. Pam was looking in the mirror after showering and started to criticize her body. This so bothered Bill that he prayed, “God, I could do a better job than that mirror!” He then wrapped his arms around Pam and looked straight into Pam’s eyes saying, “I will be your mirror. My eyes will reflect your beauty. You are beautiful, Pamela. You are perfect, and if you ever doubt it, come stand before me. If I have to throw away every mirror in the house to get you to believe me, I will! From now on, let me be your mirror.” … Pam adds that a man does himself a favor by loving his wife and being her mirror, because she will want to love him the way he desires to be loved. This is also very true for a wife respecting and being a mirror for her husband!
Chorus from the song “I Will Be Your Mirror”
I will be your mirror
Reflecting the beauty of your face
You are lovely and gentle
A picture of God’s amazing grace
I will see in you what you can’t see in yourself
And I will tell you again and again
I will be your mirror
Parenting Tip (from “For Parents Only”)
Tell and show in actions to your children “I will always be there for you.”
Our children need the security of knowing we are making the effort to understand them and will be there for them regardless of their mistakes, otherwise they will emotionally shut out a parent.
Take the time to focus on them, show you want to know and understand them, and spend time in their world (put aside other “urgent” things to say to them “Honey, YOU are my most important place to be”, ask them what makes you seem available or unavailable, you could text them once a week that you care, love, and am proud of them, etc.)
We as parents need to be vulnerable and admit our mistakes, and say “please forgive me, only God is the perfect parent”
Be calm and work with your words and actions to show that you will always be there for them, love, be their backup, support, desire the best for them regardless of their mistakes. They may have gone against your values, forgotten how valuable they and their bodies are to God, and have consequences, but let them know that God forgives us, so how can we not forgive them!
Have a terrific September, and I will write next after my parent’s 60th wedding anniversary celebration on the 26th! I pray for us and our families and generations for our God to protect us from everything else but do not protect us from God and His powerful work and blessings!
Dr. Lisa
