Blame your parents??

[bradybunch]

I definitely agree that it's important to start building these positive messages from an early age - it could make such a huge difference.

[pathoulihanuk]

exactly thats why there is so much negativity with children and they think the whole world is against them etc.

[helena]

I never had a problem with my weight until after i had my first child, i was a happy curvy size UK 14. unfortunatly i put on so much weight during pregnancy that for the first time it had become a real issue to me, and that was when my yo yo dieting started, i can get the weight off but i cannot keep it off!
Even though i cant control my eating habbits, my children do not suffer, they eat a healthy well balanced diet and if they do not want to eat everything off their plate then i do not force them to. i think there is nothing worse than forcing food down a child. I can remember my step dad making us sit at the table on Sundays until we had eaten everything, i used to sit there for hours staring at the soggy cauliflower and gagging as i ate it. How horrible is that? Thats why i vowed never to force food into my childrens mouths, because sometimes kids just are not hungry!!!

[Missy]

yup...when I was little I was expected to eat everything off my plate and think of the starving children. I don't know how me eating everything on my plate is going to benefit them anyways???

Even now I sometimes feel like I am wasting food if I don't finish what's on my plate...I'm still working on breaking out of that habit.

[losing_battle]

Hello everyone:
I don't blame my parents for being over weight, Like someone else said there comes a time when you have to take responsiblity for you.
I take full responsibility for my obesity, now I have a chance to try and correct it before the damage is done.
God Bless
L_B

[helena]

Originally Posted by losing_battle

Hello everyone:
I don't blame my parents for being over weight, Like someone else said there comes a time when you have to take responsiblity for you.
I take full responsibility for my obesity, now I have a chance to try and correct it before the damage is done.
God Bless
L_B

I totally agree, my being over weight has nothing to do with my parents, as neither of my parents are over weight i know it is my own fault! Because i am in charge of the food shopping it is me who decides what goes in my trolley. no body else!!

[mifsit]

in a way i do blame my parents as we always had to clear our plates and i was always given portions similar to the adults at the table. I also think school was an issue because of the rubbish we were fed, everything with chips (fries) and gravy and a sugary dessert with custard. Though in later life I knew the difference but in my 20's didn't take much care of myself, drank and smoked with no exercise. its only been the last 2-3 years after i turned 30 that i've concentrated on eating healthy and getting exercise

[Snoopie33]

I have to say that until biggest loser and the new reality show "Honey were killing our kids" I really didn't think about my childs eating habits as she is healthy and in a normal range, I never thought of the consequences of not teaching her good nutrition or about exercise.
Since I have been struggling with my weight it has affected her in thinking she is "fat". She has since started to change her eating habits, reluctantly at first, since I refuse to allow the junk food to be a staple for her. Now junk food is a once in a while treat, not an everyday thing, I don't want to hear her in the future say mom you should of said no.

[Missy]

Originally Posted by Snoopie33

I have to say that until biggest loser and the new reality show "Honey were killing our kids" I really didn't think about my childs eating habits as she is healthy and in a normal range, I never thought of the consequences of not teaching her good nutrition or about exercise.
Since I have been struggling with my weight it has affected her in thinking she is "fat". She has since started to change her eating habits, reluctantly at first, since I refuse to allow the junk food to be a staple for her. Now junk food is a once in a while treat, not an everyday thing, I don't want to hear her in the future say mom you should of said no.

I think that's an awesome idea. I think junk foods should be seen as a treat instead of an everyday food item. If and when I have kids I will probably try to limit the junk to once a week.

[TarasV]

This is definitely an intersting thread! The hands that rock the cradles rule the world, parents make kings or corrpulent corpses!

The effect of every influence on us builds our character and our personality. By the age of seven we are supposed to be fully developed mentally and set up pretty much for life. Those Seven Up documentaries that showed the progress of some kids from aged 7 and again at 14, 21, 28 etc. It was clear that the character changed little and the child was much like the adult.

Given that the psychological influence of parents is the most dominant thing of our make-up does make them responsible for the kind of people we develop into. Generally, the baggage we have and the health habits are formed young. Also all the damage that is done to our minds is done by good intentioned comments and blunt, savage, ignorance that goes back generations. The foundations are layed either with love and responsible education or by either mental abuse or just a lack of guidance that leads to harmful habits.

However nature (genetics) or nurture may influence us we are still creatures of free will and can change the way we act. We are responsible for our selves if we spend time blaming others and doing something about what we have been dealt. Personally I am a master procrastinator or I would be if I ever finished that thesis! Getting off the couch and exercising is a change I have to make and nothing I do will take back any harm others may have done to me.

The best revenge for those who debase you is to succeed despite their thoughts. While I move my almost 400 pound body at the gym I think of how Pete looks today and how good it will feel to tell those who said I never would that I did it all myself!