What and how do you tell your family?

ChaCha9904

Ever since I started educating myself about exercise and clean eating back in 2005, one of my major and constant obstacles has been my family, specifically my mom. I'm actually getting my degree in health education and have become obsessed with educating children in order to start good habits early on.

Anyway, I wasn't raised that way. I grew up in Mexico so I was your typical skinny active kid and in Mexico (though things have changed now) we didn't have the access to junk food the way we do in the United States. Now that I'm a mom, and obviously raising a child here, I feel like I'm in a constant battle trying to get my kid on the right track. Trying to cut sugar and processed food from our lives and then letting my kid hang with my parents who don't tell her no.

And it's not only family. It's friends who expect to join them. The pressure is kind of intense and putting restrictions out there only seems to bring judgment, whispers, gossip, an exchange of looks...

Have any of you put rules out there and how have you dealt with the lack of acceptance?

stormsusmc

Being lean is not normal in today's society. This means you need to do things that normal people don't do. You need to pack your own lunch; you need to request food be prepared differently than what's listed on most menus; your idea of 'fast food' should be a protein shake; and you can't take the weekend off from your diet like you do your job. You get what you put in, some have to work harder than others. Just stay motivated and goal oriented.

liznotyet

It has put a strain on some of my relationships because they insist on serving food that is just no longer wise for me to eat. So I either eat it to make them feel good and I feel bad, or I refuse it and feel like I am rejecting them. This sends a mixed message so of course the next time they are going to serve up all the meat and junk and alcohol just in case I am in eating mode. If you are more consistent than I am and take stormsusmc's advice to always bring something that fits your plan, you will do great! Hang in there!

HeatherSLosinIt

My sister is my biggest obstacle, but one that's pretty easily managed. She always wants to go through a drive through while we're out doing errands together, which is often. We do a lot of things together. She tries, though. She'll point out something small I can try. I usually take the small thing, but oh the temptation....

apocalypsepwnie

People are ok generally with my choices as an adult but get weird when I get upset about what my step kids eat.
It's like I'm evil demented cow trying to ruin their childhood by only using treat foods as treats. They do not need chips and ice cream every day. They do not need to eat a hot lunch every day with hot chips with both lunch and dinner.

They eat vegetables and fruit and really like them. The understand WHY treat foods are sometimes foods. They know about sugar and salt. They understand how foods give you energy and effect your moods (keep you happy or make you grumpy and tired later).
I have no idea why helping your children set up automatic habits so they don't have to struggle with their relationship with food and weight like we do.

I don't like the way they treat the people who allow them these foods on every visit. They visit my mother in law every day nearly when they are at our house and she gives them these things the whole time. They don't drink water, it's cordial or juice. They come to expect these things and really only want to go there because of the things they are allowed to eat and do. Then we have to take the miserable sods home coming down off all that sugar and rubbish.
So when they are there I try my best to have myself or my partner prepare their meals and leave before dessert gets served.
We have rules that if they don't eat the healthy food they are given for that meal, they wont get anything else. If they don't want the fruit, veg and good food that's served then they really aren't hungry.