weight loss and role models

Several months ago I saw a ridiculous, but funny picture called "Role Models". Two men, who live less-than-stellar lives get into legal trouble and their punishment, court ordered is having to mentor 2 boys in a sort of "Big Brother" program.

Yesterday I had a girl, 12 years old, brought in by her mother for a consultation concerning our program. The mother started the program several days ago, and her child is about 30 pounds overweight. There is a family history of cardiac disease, but most certainly, a 12 year old is mostly interested in losing weight for the aesthetic/social ramifications.

I started thinking about the added pressure that is now on the mother to be very successful in losing weight. There is enough pressure on one's self to commit to a changing life-style, but knowing that you have someone who looks up to you monitoring your progress and mimicking your behavior patterns can add stress.

The fact is that whether it be a child, a spouse, a sibling, a co-worker---your efforts and fortitude in achieving a healthier lifestyle will be an inspiration for others to follow. This should not add pressure to your efforts, but rather serve as a motivational tool for you to show all the people whose lives you touch that it is possible to lose weight and keep it off. Be a role model...you will not only make your own life better but may also influence positively many others to do the same.

Being a Role Model and Inspiration

As you are working through your weight loss efforts, others are watching you and hoping you succeed. Along the way, there also may be a number of people for whom you are providing inspiration. Perhaps you have children who have weight issues...or a spouse. Maybe it is a friend or coworker who need to lose weight but have not yet found the fortitude to embark on a weight loss effort.

To feel that your weight loss initiative may motivate a significant person(s) in your life to follow suit almost puts even more pressure on you to be successful. But it is reality that when you lose a significant amount of weight and become healthier/look younger etc, you will serve as an inspiration to others around you. Not only are you helping yourself, but others may be positively affected as well. Kind of like that movie "Pay it Forward".

Okay, game time...I brought that movie up...Pay it Forward. If you e-mail me with the correct answer, you get a free bottle of serotonin. Here is the question: Can you name the actor who played the teacher and the actress who played the mother of the kid? My e-mail: serotab@aol.com and NO LOOKING ANSWERS UP ON THE INTERNET!!!

weight loss and family

I had a new patient come in yesterday who told me that her major motivation for weight loss was that her young daughter was starting to become overweight and as her mother, she felt obligated to be more of a "role model". She told me that at night, upon returning from work, to relax, she would have several glasses of wine, and her daughter commented on that. This struck a nerve, and the mother decided it was time to eliminate alcohol and show her daughter a healthier way of eating as well.

To an extent, we are all role models to our family, friends, students, patients etc. No matter what your profession or area of specialty, there are people in this world who "look up to you". Does this mean you have to be "perfect" in your eating behaviors, clothes choices, the way you conduct your life? Of course not. But, isn't it a good feeling when your children, family, co-workers, etc. positively comment on your "healthier" appearance? Isn't it a great feeling to know that you are setting some sort of "example" in a positive way? Obviously, as this relates to weight, it is our own self esteem, health, appearance etc. that are affected by our own eating/drinking choices, and we truly are not responsible for other peoples actions. But, very very cool to know that someone decides to become healthier by following our example!