Two weeks ago today Jade and I were having a conversation about soda, sugar, obesity and energy. We talked about what happens to sugar when you digest it and what happens to your energy level. Jade was amazed at what sugar can do to your body.
During the conversation Jade said that she’s bigger than the other girls in her dance class. She talked about how she feels big and doesn’t want to be fat.
I don’t know if I handled this right. It is one of those times, as a mom, you wish you didn’t have your own insecurities and your own issues.
So I said to her that she has a beautiful body and that she has a strong body but if she wants to feel better she could quit drinking soda or eating junk food. (Sure, I know I shouldn’t even have junk food in the house but it is one of my weaknesses). I also told her she could eat more healthy foods.
As the conversation came to a close she suggested we have a challenge to see if the two of us could go one month without sugar. I felt like that was a pretty significant challenge for our first try at this so we settled on no sugary treats and no soda. And at the end of the month we would talk about how we feel energy wise.
Here we are half way through the challenge. She has done amazingly well. Instead of fries she’ll get a salad, when everyone else is getting ice cream she’ll get a sugar free yogurt. And she has had better energy, been happier and fallen asleep quicker. Me? Oh I’m miserable! I am constantly wishing for sugar – ranging from a few Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate chips before bed, a mug of hot chocolate in the morning, a maple bar, a tootsie pop, to a caramel apple, a hot chocolate chip cookie or chocolate covered cinnamon bears.
2 more weeks – we can do this. And hopefully Jade will realize she is beautiful (no matter how she compares to the other girls in her classes) and that she feels better when she isn’t loading up on sugar.
I admire Jade for having such discipline. I myself could not have enough self control in eating too much sweets and that is my problem because I am getting fatter and fatter. You are a great mom for having a kid like Jane, please tell her she’s beautiful…
Jade IS beautiful…very beautiful…and she has a beautiful mom who sets a very good example for her!
Amy
Twitter: familytrifecta
Reply:
September 22nd, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Thanks Liz 🙂 I set a pretty great example of how to eat licorice and cupcakes.
Twitter: emihill
You are a great mom for taking on this challenge. I’m not sure I could do it! It’s so hard raising girls, especially with all the pressure to look a certain way. I’m flying by the seat of my pants most of the time. *sigh* Let your daughter know I think she’s absolutely beautiful.
Amy
Twitter: familytrifecta
Reply:
September 22nd, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Thanks Emily. I tell her you said so. I think we all hate the pressure to look a certain way – our whole lives. So why is it we continue to encourage the behavior?
she wants to feel better she could quit drinking soda or eating junk food.
thanks for this! so weird cuz just this morning i was having a conversation w my 10 year old daughter who thinks she’s “fat” and she was having a come apart on the way to school because she felt her thighs were too fat in her jeans and all her friends are so skinny. (shes a very normal sized 10 yr old, and her friends are abnormally small, although i can see why she feels the way she feels). Ive struggled my whole life with self esteem and eating disorders and the last thing i want to do is have her live with my issues, but its a fine line on how to handle the situation when shes feeling how she is and asking for help. I too have way too many treats around the house, and i get mad when the kids eat them, so why do i keep buying them? i can appreciate this post and wish i was strong enough to have a no sugar challenge! maybe i will!!
Amy
Twitter: familytrifecta
Reply:
September 22nd, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Darcy – I’m sorry your daughter feels the same as mine – but I’m also really glad that I’m not alone in this. Unfortunately the best way for our girls to not have our issues is for us not to be an example of them and that’s really hard. Try doing a challenge with your daughter. It’s amazing how much more motivation I have when I’m doing it for her.