To a great extent, we, as human beings, are built as an immediate gratification specie. We tend to load up credit card debt, because we want clothes/household goods even though we may not have all the money needed to purchase them, we tend to have an abysmally low savings rate and we have difficulty saying "no" to food sources that will derail our efforts to become healthier and happier. Not using the credit card and delaying purchases, putting money in our 401K accounts and not eating high-caloric food sources is basically delaying gratification. Having enough money for retirement, not haviung vredit card debt and losing weight does not result in immediate gratification, but, the long term results of these efforts will position us much better in life. Sacrificing the immediate, harmful behaviors for the long term "good" is difficult, and sometimes goes against "human nature" but this sacrifice will ultimately make you much healthier and happier.
Okay....I have to say it....What a Giants game!!! Not to be disrespectful to my patients who are Dallas fans, but watching Eli Manning go down the field at the end of the game brought back Superbowl memories.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I enjoy reading your blog. It is very thought provoking. I am still thinking about the blog on childhood obesity.
I have 2 children of my own. One with no weight problem and one on the border. He is nine and he often ask when we are out - if the food he wants to order is healthy. I purchased a book for children - "Eat This, Not That" it grades resturants and gives healthy suggestions to many of the popular resturant chains.
I am trying to promote healthy eating habits. Where I fall short is sporting events - where French Fries, Funnel Cakes, huge burgers and hot dogs etc. are all over. Most of the time I try to feed them before we leave the house, it is still a struggle.
I am glad the cowgirls lost. I guess you can tell I am not a fan of Dallas...but thier stadium is AWESOME....too bad they peed on themselves infront of 105,000 people. See - I said it for you.
Hi everyone.. just an add on to the last post. One eye opening experience that took me nearly 40 years to figure out.. Something that is clearly demonstrated in the "Eat This, Not That" book series. HIDDEN CALORIES.. As a child of the 70's I don't recall spending time in a class at school that alerted me to the real dangers of the fast food industry or the many hidden calories in restaurant food. My school lunchroom touted their version of an appropriate lunch.. French Fries, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers.. nothing green to speak of unless it was encased in a cream sauce or was a garnish. WHERE DO OUR KIDS SPEND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEIR DAY... at school.
So if the very institution that served to support my learning in these formative years said this is how we eat.....
And of coarse, I was not living in the stone age. Even with the few three channels of TV we had back then, I'm sure the advertisers felt their money was well spent on my generation. We knew all the jingles and "had it our way" at BK. To balance it all though, we were also walking to school, outdoors biking in our cul-de-sacs and exploring tadpoles in our local streams.
I think the big message here is we all have to live in today. Our kids are far more challenged with the "choices" they have.. calorie dense, nutrient poor conveniece foods, gaming systems, stagnet time behind the computer. They don't even need to move from their chairs to go to a library for researching a paper.
And yes, today's Parents those techniques we learned from our folks are not going to impact much with the facebook generation. My social networking at 13 was on my bike.. Today it's on the keyboard.
So what is the solution. For me it's balancing time with unplugging the the technology and then other times it is using the technology to work for me. There are gaming systems that get the kids out of their chairs. Maybe that's an option. If they love taking pictures.. get them out in nature.. challenge them to find the best sunset or scenery pic. Send them pictures of you on that local trail running, biking in an event. With words like.. Love to have you with me on my next 5K... How about fun, fishing, canoeing at Burke Lake Saturday??? Or even just surprise them with a pinic dinner packed one evening eaten at the park.
For me, I'll never remember the countless everyday dinners at home. But I do remember the colorful one I spread out for them at the park one evening without the technolgy, phones, etc.. buzzing in the background. And hopefully they will remeber it too with their kids..
I applaud all you parents out there!!! Keep at the efforts for healthier living. Love your kids through the challenges... even the failed attempts are just there to remind us of forward direction and what are goals are. And if it's convenience the kids need.. make that bowl of fruit or cut up veggies and humus be that first thing they catch in their line of vision as they enter the kitchen or open the fridge.
And finally, give yourselves a hand too.. you are reading.. thinking and actively engaged with nutrition simply by participating in these discussions. Take Care!
Post a Comment