Why would I want another blog?

Back on August 25, 2008, I started Weight Watchers for the ??? time. I weighed my all-time highest... 333 lbs. After 25 days of being on the program, I started a blog (www.skinnyhollie.com) on September 19, 2008 to chronicle my weight loss efforts. In the past 1 1/2 years, I have written about ups and downs on this journey. It has been ab out diets, it has been about exercise, it has been about struggles with my spouse and children... it's pretty much been about EVERYTHING!

On Tuesday, April 13, 2010, I made a pretty BIG DECISION. I decided to bring my family on board!

S is my oldest child. At age 12, she weighs just over 200 lbs. Unfortunatly, my bad eating habits have transfered to her. So far, my approach with her is "do what I SAY, not as I DO."

Growing up as an extremely overweight child myself, I have always tried to limit S's food intake and limit her junk food. But she sneaks it anyway, and last summer I found out that she had been binging behind my back. What can I expect... she has been watching me binge since she was born. Yes, I have lost weight and I diet constantly. But I have not been the role model she needs. I have let her down.

AJ is my only son. He is 9, and so far he can eat whatever he wants and can stay skinny! He loves to eat, and would love off pop-tarts and chicken nuggets if you'd let him. Unlike S, he will try to eat healthy food (fruits and veggies) if you encourage him.

Although AJ does not have a weight problem, his eating habits SUCK. I usully let him eat junk beause he is skinny. But I want him to eat healthy food, too! He is a growing boy that needs nourishment. I want him to have healthy eating habits that he will have for the rest of his life.

Last, but definitely not least, is K. She is 4, and the baby. She is a handful - an emotional, bratty, witty, challenging mess! If she had been my first child, she would have been my last!

K, because she came along after I had successfully lost 100 lbs by eating healthy and exercising, has the best eating habits of any of my children. Since day one, I have been more conscious of what I feed her and have encouraged her to eat healthy. So far, she shows no signs of bad eating habits, even though (like most kids) would eat ice cream and candy all day
if given that choice!

But she will also eat fruits and veggies and is always open to try new things, unlike my other kids...

Since I love my family, and only want the best for them, I have decided that healthy eating and an active lifestyle is not only the path that I need to be on for weight loss. It is the path my children need to be on for lifelong HEALTH.

I KNOW what needs to be done, but doing it just for ME is not enough. I can't continue to feed my babies processed JUNK when I don't even eat it! Yes, it IS easier to pop chicken nuggets and frozen fries in the oven for their dinner. It IS easier to get them McDonald's drive through food, or $5 Little Caesar's pizza on busy nights. I can always find something healthy for JUST ME. But the easier route is NOT always the best route.

Last week, after reading several blogs on health vs. weight loss, and then reading an article about Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, I gave our school-wide menu a second look. Funnel cakes and honey buns for breakfast. Chicken nuggest, pizza, and fried chicken for lunch. Nothing at all with REAL nutritional value. I decided at that moment that it was time to get the whole family on board.

I talked to my kids, and explained that I wanted them to start bringing their lunch to school each day instead of eating school lunch. They were more than thrilled to do so, and so far, so good! Yes, it is time consuming. I have to now make the time to pack healthy lunches. I have to make sure I have groceries and plan ahead. But the great thing is that by doing this for the kids, I am helping ME, too! I am also getting to bring my own lunch, which is helping me stay in control at work.

I have informed my kids that fast food dinners are OUT. The occasional pizza dinner will now be a treat instead of a normal week-night meal. We always have dinner at the table, but now that dinner consists of lean meat and veggies. It is thought out ahead of time, and it is healthy and unprocessed.

This "food revolution" in my household is going to to be hard work to sustain, but it is worth it. While I will still blog on my weight loss blog, I want to use this blog to chronicle my FAMILY journey to health. It will have a lot more pictures of the food we eat, as well as our activities as a family.  It will focus more on my struggles as a mom trying to make permanent changes in my home that will allow my kids to be healthy and fit. It will focus more on my kids, and their transformation to healthy eating and a life with less processed, sugary foods. And it will hopefully encourage others to make the change in their family as well.

I need this, but my kids need it, too. Together, as a family, I know we can do it!