麻豆果冻传媒

Healthy Resolutions for Real Success

With the New Year comes many a plan to change our ways, to break a bad habit, start exercising, or eat healthier. Many of us also know how easily New Year鈥檚 resolutions can become a thing of the past. For kids especially, learning healthy habits and sticking to them鈥擭ew Year鈥檚 or not鈥攃an be the key to a long, happy life. So what steps can really make a difference?

鈥淭he tradition of a 鈥榬esolution鈥 usually involves a diet or short-term idea,鈥 says Cindy Zedeck, manager of the Pediatric Weight Control Program at 麻豆果冻传媒 Children鈥檚 Hospital. 鈥淭he key is to set yourself up for success with small steps, and then celebrate every small success along the way. It鈥檚 a process鈥攁nd it has to be a positive experience if it鈥檚 going to last.鈥

Too often, Zedeck explains, parents of overweight kids often feel responsible, and their effort to solve the problem and help their child may be focused on what the child isn鈥檛 doing or shouldn鈥檛 be doing. Zedeck and her team have years of experience helping children and families change their health through a few key tools developed through the Pediatric Weight Control Program.

Here are a sample of tools:

  1. Set small goals: 鈥淩esolutions usually set the bar too high,鈥 says Zedeck. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 meet the big goal; you feel terrible; and then you stop everything.鈥 Instead, she says, start small. If you don鈥檛 work out at all, plan just one activity per week to start. Then set a new goal for adding an additional activity.
  2. Change your environment: Your home is the one place you can really control, so make it healthy. Clear the clothes off your exercise machine and put it near a window. Get rid of all the 鈥榬ed light鈥 (unhealthy) foods and stock up on healthy choices. Put your running shoes near the front door where you鈥檒l see them and be reminded to use them. Dust off the tennis rackets, jump ropes, basketball and hula hoops.
  3. Have roles: In one family, it鈥檚 the mom鈥檚 job during the holidays to receive the plate of sugary treats, say thank you, and then get rid of it. It鈥檚 her son鈥檚 job to select that weekend鈥檚 active family outing. There are many roles, great and small, in a healthy lifestyle. Talk with your family and rotate roles as you go forward.
  4. Plan non-food rewards: Make a list of the non-food and non-dollar rewards that you and your kids can enjoy when you achieve each small goal鈥攁 trip to the beach, local park or pool, a favorite board game, flying a kite, or putting tickets in jar so each success adds up to a larger reward. Talk about rewards, and make a list of what kids and parents would each enjoy.
  5. Use the buddy system and team support: It鈥檚 always more fun to have a friend or family member making the journey with you. Signing up for a new activity can help kids meet new friends, a reward in itself for doing something fun.
  6. Practice simple journaling: Each day, record what you ate and what activity you did. 鈥淛ournaling builds awareness,鈥 says Zedeck. 鈥淚t helps us learn to think about what we eat and the choices we make.鈥

When kids and families need more support, joining a program can be a life-changing step. The 麻豆果冻传媒 Children鈥檚 Pediatric Weight Control Program is a six-month program to help kids aged 8 to 15 and their families develop life-long healthy habits. The program is now enrolling for January, with scholarships available for those who qualify. No referrals necessary, just call (650) 725-4424.