Help Me Save This Child’s Future
You know, there is no easy way to say this.
And I can tell you what will happen after you read this letter:
You will either forward it to everyone you know with endearing thoughts, or you will unsubscribe from my newsletter.
Yes… it’s that dramatic.
I’m not a drama king. I prefer a pretty calm existence with the exception of some radical music and workouts.
I’m also not Sally Struthers. I’m not asking you for cash to feed kids in Africa, although that’s a very noble cause.
This is not about kids in Africa.
This is about ___________ .
Do you see that line?
In that line I want you to write the name of a child… perhaps your own child… who is suffering from weightgain.
I bet know more than one.
In fact I bet you know one very, very well.
When it comes to your own bodyweight, I’m one of the more motivational guys around.
Why? Because I understand what it feels like to be overweight.
Hell, I was downright obese. “Fat” — let’s just call it was it was.
So I get it. We all struggle with this in some form or fashion.
But when it comes down to the innocent — kids who are merely looking up to you and to me for solid role models — I have no sympathy. None at all. Neither should you.
If you are not eating in a healthy fashion, do you think your kids ever will?
They learn from you.
This is not to insult anyone. This comes from a brief session of tears I had the other day.
I saw a little girl who was so obese she could hardly walk. She was crying because her mom would not pick her up. Her mom didn’t have the strength to pick her up and hold the groceries at the same time.
And she wanted more candy. The candy she was eating was almost gone.
Mom gave her one request — the candy — to get her to be quiet about the other request…
…. simply to be held.
Now, I don’t cry during insurance commercials, but this got to me.
And it’s not isolated folks.
Let me just break it down for you:
America has the highest rate and number of obese children in recorded history.
- At the pace we are going, over half of these children will suffer from Type 2 Diabetes and/or heart disease before they turn 45.
- They will in turn pass this genetic information on to their children — yep, that’s what RNA studies are showing — and in turn the generations that follow will never know what it feels like to feel healthy, vibrant, and alive.
Do I have your attention?
Now, I’m going to give you three simple things you can do to help this situation.
It will not go away on its own.
It is utterly up to you and I.
Are we clear? Good —
-
Write down the name of a child you know who is struggling with his or her weight. If it’s your child, that’s okay… I have more homework for you in steps 2 and 3. If it’s a friend’s child, you still have some homework. But you may literally save a life. If not medically, certainly in every other way. Obesity is a prison. I know that prison. I broke freee… .and you can help this child do the same.
- If this is your child (or children) then don’t try to change everything all at once
— but change. Start now. Not tomorrow.
But start with ONE MEAL. Just one one a day. Alter it to be a healthy, tasty meal. Start there. Then increase that to two meals in a few weeks… then three, and so-on.
We have a lot of tasty recipes in “Every Other Day Diet” if you need them:
Every Other Day Diet <—- click.
In my upcoming edition of the book I will include this “one meal at a time” approach in the Starter Plan. This idea comes from a great book of the same title that inspired me to make my plan even easier.
What’s great about my plan as-is: It includes pizza, burgers, etc… foods kids love (and I love!) but in a way that actually helps you lose bodyfat.
- If this is your child or even if it is not, plan to do something physical with them once a week. If he/she is yours, take them out for a bonding walk, to play a game, or whatever they enjoy that makes them move and sweat a bit. If it’s a friend’s child, ask if you and that friend can take the child out to play in the park once a week. Make it feel and sound like a game — not an intervention.
Like I said, you will either love me and share this email with everyone you know so we can actually DO something about this pandemic of childhood obesity, or you will get angry and unsubscribe.
If you fall into the angry category, before you click that unsubscribe link ask yourself this:
Are you angry with me or with yourself?
Look, I truly love you guys. I want to see everyone reading this newsletter absolutely soar with health and vitality.
But sometimes we all need a splash of cold water to get our attention.
That little girl was my dose of cold water.
I have the name of my child written down. She is very close to me and at one time she was gaining bodyweight at a rapid pace. However, we are making strides — one meal and one game at a time.
I’m not a saint. Trust me on that. But I do care about our future generations.
I want the children in my life to grow up knowing what it feels like to taste real, healthy food… to feel lean and energetic… and to love their body.
If that’s too much to ask for, then delete this email.
If not, share it with 5 friends.
Let’s make a difference.
Thanks for reading… and above all, thanks for listening, caring, and taking action.
Archived in Just Jon, Nutrition.
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Comments (9)
Rosie Peters said:
If parents do not teach children healthy diet and exercise, where is a healthy, happy, well adjusted kid going to materialize from?
It is such a simple thing (no - I did not say easy ) to be a healthy role model for our children, to feed them properly and to spend quality active time with each of them.
Governments and schools and health service providers should not be expected to fix the problems of obese kids (and pets, incidentally) created by adults who do not make enough effort.
Posted on Feb 05, 2009 04:09 AM
Nancy said:
Hi Jon,
I have not been reading your emails lately. I put them in a folder, and say I’ll get to them later…which by the way…I never do. I’m not sure why I don’t read them, you usually make me laugh while teaching me something. I suppose part of the reason is that you’re usually trying to sell something…and I’m not in a position to buy…
Anyway, I read your email today. Wow…powerful. I get a sick feeling in my stomach when I see an overweight child. Unfortunately, the child is usually accompanied by an overweight parent. I feel helpless and think there is no hope for this child…look who his/her role model is. I am not a perfect parent, by any means, but my goal is to be the best mom I can be, and that includes teaching my children about living a healthy lifestyle. My son goes to school with a boy (3rd grade). He probably weighs almost as much as me (I weigh about 120 lbs). He can’t participate in gym with the other kids, he gets made fun of, and is struggling in school (he may also have some other issues that I am not aware of). It is very sad. I don’t know his parents, but have seen his dad, who is very overweight. I’m not sure what I can do, but I will give this a lot of thought. I will encourage my son to include him when playing with his friends, maybe send in some extra healthy snacks for him to share.
Something else that I see is kids who are not overweight…they’re very active…but have the worst diets possible…chicken tenders, french fries, pop tarts, candy, junk food…all this on a daily basis. I have 2 newphews, and their mom thinks it’s all ok because her kids are not fat. I disagree. There is no way a kid can eat so unhealthy and not have it catch up with them in later years. I have never seen her kids eat a vegetable…one is 9 years old, the other is 13 years old. Do you have any advice for parents of kids like this?
Thanks for your input…you say it like it is…I like that.
Be well…
Nancy
Posted on Feb 05, 2009 09:21 AM
Jon Benson said:
Hi Nancy,
My income is 100% from my own books, and this is the only means I use to promote them, so naturally that’s always in email — however, I give away 90% of the information I write just for folks like you who I really want to connect with and are not in a position to purchase.
That’s fine! Just enjoy the content — there’s a lot of it in the newsletters that you can apply without spending a dime on me or anyone else.
I’m really glad you read ‘this’ email — it’s crucial. As for advice… yes: Start with yourself. (Not “you”, but advice for parents with children struggling with weight gain.) It is all about you. Everything. Once they see that you look better, feel better, and are in more ‘control’ of your life, their respect for the parent will increase (yes, respect… it’s an issue…) and their natural role modeling behaviors will kick in.
Sometimes kids have some genetic issues of course, and those are different matters — but there’s no genetic issue save one (that afflicts 1 person in 1,000,000) that cannot be improved upon through the use of even a ‘slightly’ modified nutrition plan and some daily fun time (called exercise.)
Jon
Posted on Feb 05, 2009 09:34 AM
Nancy said:
Hi Jon,
Sorry if I implied that you “always selling something” is a bad thing…I certainly didn’t mean that. I respect your knowledge and look forward to reading your newsletters. (By the way, I have Fit Over 40…that’s how I “got to know you”.)
Anyway, thanks for keeping me informed. :)
Nancy
Posted on Feb 05, 2009 12:44 PM
Jon Benson said:
No worries! Didn’t take it bad in any way. ; )
Posted on Feb 05, 2009 12:48 PM
Joe said:
Jon:
Great article! I’m seeing things partly from Nancy’s perspective in that I have two boys who are active and lean although I see things “catching up” with my almost 10 year old. He’s an excellent athlete but he’s beginning to see a “pooch” in his belly and he’s beginning to question his weight. I try to encourage him but it’s difficult to constantly be on the run with sports, school, business, etc and still be a good example. We try to eat balanced meals nightly but I catch him and his brother during the weekends mindlessly cramming junk in their mouths while they educate themselves with the addictions of Sponge Bob. They have no idea of quantities going in, not to mention quality.
He see’s me working out at home and goes to the gym with me a lot, but I am still in that prison of obestity myself. I pray that he won’t fall into my trap.
Yes, I need tons of motivation myself and yes I’m still looking for it.
Posted on Feb 05, 2009 09:01 PM
SteFF said:
Hey Jon,
My dad has just put me onto your website.
I am a 17 year old female from Australia who is overweight and works hard to overcome it.
I think this article is fantastic. Parents seem to shift the blame.
My mother is a mum of 8 and she seems to buy as healthy as she can with the money we have. I know it is hard for her with all the younger kids constantly refusing to eat vegetables and always asking for junk food. She resists most of the time but sometimes she just gives in. My mother is not overweight but she also doesn’t feed us as healthy as she could.
Also i have definitely noticed a decline in family activities.
When i was younger (aged 7-13) i would always be going for bike rides or walks with my family. These days i never see families doing that.
It is a sad thing when people just blame the schools and the government.
It’s time to take responsibility.
I have, and so far i have lost 8kg’s :)
To all the parents out there, trust me your influence is a big thing. My dad had a talk to me about my weight gain spiraling out of control. He did some research and helped me set some goals and i am now on track to being healthy.
I have now signed up for your newsletters and look forward to your advice.
SteFF
Posted on Feb 08, 2009 04:40 AM
Jon Benson said:
Hi SteFF,
I could not agree with you more: Shifting responsibility to the schools or what-have-you is not going to fly. It comes down to the parents deciding to play and work with the kids… and when the kids are your age (adult, not kid… ; ) it’s really a tandem operation.
Congratulations on the 8 kg!! That’s great… here to help in any way.
Jon
P.S. I have a fellow Aussie sitting across from me now. She’s a chef and helps kids in Australia. Do check out her website: http://www.sherrystrong.com. Where to you live in Australia?
Posted on Feb 08, 2009 11:13 AM
SteFF said:
Hey Jon,
I Live in the south-east suburbs of Melbourne.
I will have a look at her website now :)
i definitely agree that once you hit a certain age it is a tandem operation.
I have been reading about all your programs and i thing they all sound great.
Thanks heaps,
SteFF
Posted on Feb 09, 2009 06:10 PM