Phil Parham (19 page)

The road to good health may be hard sometimes, but don't give up. Stick it out so you can be a winner!

1. Have you ever played a sport where you had to practice really hard? What kind of things helped you be a better player?

2. In what ways can you train to be a winner in your health?

3. What types of activities can you do that will help make you strong?

Go outside and throw the football around with your parents. It's good exercise and a whole lot of fun.

A Word from Amy

Some days you just get up on the wrong side of the bed. Do you know what I'm talking about? It's the kind of day when it seems as though nothing is going the way you want it to go, and it makes you feel pretty bummed out. Everyone has blue days every now and then. This is normal when it happens occasionally. But if you're feeling low a lot, then the culprit might be what you're eating. It's true! Food can affect your mood more than you may realize.

Let's pretend you're a car. In order for a car to run, it has to have gas, right? Well, our bodies are similar. We have to put the right food in our “tanks” so that we run properly. If we don't eat foods that are nutritionally balanced, it's like putting the wrong kind of gas in your car. It will drive sluggish and slow.

Why does this happen? Because our bodies need the proper nutrition to keep our blood sugar stable. Have you ever eaten candy or cookies and for a little while you had a whole bunch of energy? Then before you knew it, you got really tired and cranky. This happens because sweets raise our blood-sugar level for a short time, but then it drops.

We can keep this crazy ride from happening by eating meals that are good for us and that include a combination of protein, carbohydrates, and a little healthy fat. Keep this in mind when you put “gas” in your tank, and it will help you fight the blues.

1. Talk about some foods that you like. Which category do they fall into: protein, carbs, or fat? See how many balanced combinations you can come up with.

2. What does your blood sugar have to do with your mood?

3. Think about times when you felt sad or down. Could they have had something to do with something you ate?

Prove the blood-sugar theory. Next time you eat a bag of candy or some other sugary treat, pay close attention to your emotions. Do you feel the roller-coaster high and then sudden low?

A Word from Amy

If you are like many kids (including mine), I bet you love to play video games. It's fun to play in another world and become a different person. Some of my kids' favorite games are the kind where they defeat a bad guy and become the hero who saves the day. Who doesn't want to defeat bad guys?

Well, did you know there's a bad guy who wants to take over your life and make your body unhealthy? I like to call him the “Lazy Monster.” The Lazy Monster comes around and whispers in your ear, “Why don't you lie on the sofa and watch TV? It's so comfy!” or “You can play outside when you get to the next level on your video game.” The Lazy Monster's main goal is to keep you from being active. He wants you to be lazy and unhealthy.

But you can be the hero and defeat the Lazy Monster! How can you do this? You can choose to be active and play outside instead. You can call your friends and go ride your bikes. You can play basketball and other sports. If you defeat the Lazy Monster, you can also defeat his partners in crime—the Diabetes Dude, the Heartbreaker, and Mr. Grumpy. These cohorts are very dangerous to your health. They love for you to be lazy because then they will be in control and defeat you.

Don't let them do that. Get active and be your body's hero!

1. What are some ways that you can defeat the Lazy Monster?

2. Why should you move your body?

3. How can you bring activity into your life every day?

Play a game of HORSE on the basketball court with your parents, siblings, or friends. It's a fun way to be active and defeat the Lazy Monster.

Y
ou can't expect your kids to magically pick up a healthy lifestyle if you are not riding the same train. Your children look up to you and pay attention to what you do, say, and think. Get inspired to set the example in your household. Eat better. Be more active. And see the possibilities that open up once you begin to lead your family into better health.

A Word from Amy

One of the first things we did when we were chosen for
The Biggest Loser
was to get on the scale and show millions of Americans how much we weighed. You can imagine how embarrassing that was because we were so fat! But it was a big part of making a change in my life. I knew I couldn't hide that I needed to lose weight. I needed to be accountable for my health. “Being accountable” means taking responsibility for your health. It also might involve letting someone know of your struggle and asking them to help you change.

Maybe you don't need to lose weight, but you feel as though you would die if you had to stop drinking soda, enjoying a dessert after each meal, or eating ice cream every day. When food has this kind of power over you, it can destroy your health. You must be accountable to your parents (and parents, you can be accountable to other people in your life) and let them know that you need their help to change your bad habits.

As you go through these challenges, I encourage you to be honest. Be an open book. If you have a problem, admit it. Maybe you can't stop eating in the middle of the night. Or maybe you can't stop playing video games. Whatever your area of struggle, share it with someone so they can help you find a solution. The Bible tells us to confess our faults to one another so that we may be healed (James 5:16).

Don't be afraid to tell the truth; it brings freedom.

1. What are some things that may have power over you?

2. Who can you talk to regularly who will hold you accountable for your actions?

3. What does the Bible say to do so that you “may be healed”?

Try giving up something that you love for one week. If you have a hard time doing this, it probably has more power over you than it should.

A Word from Amy