Messages By: powers009

Quote From: bigpaulak

I have received several emails and comments about the Dr Phil promo.

Few quick notes about it. 

First I am going to use the quote I heard on Oprah recently by Mary J Blige. 

About my mother… “I blame her for NOTHING and I forgive her everything.” 

That’s how I feel.  YES my mother blames herself a lot on the show and I wish she had not.  I am saying NOW that I never blamed my mother.  She is only guilty of loving me and being my mother.  That’s all 

Its not as though my mother brings me truckloads of food on a daily basis despite what you see.  She just only wished to see me happy and she knows that the food I wanted is what made me happy. 

Paul 

Quote From: lady_snow

Don't get me wrong...i love Dr.Phil...he has helped so many people especially people with serious weight problems but today i think he blew it.
Yes he probably saved that little girl's life...she was so overweight and her mother and grandmother were too, so he gave them all a gym membership and free organic groceries and medical help plus nutritional counselling.
But when the mother asked him straight out.... "how can i change our life styles when we can't afford the good foods and the exercise equipment",
I THINK HE HAD THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LOOSE WEIGHT ON THEIR OWN!
Is it possible to loose weight on welfare or a fixed income???
Is it possible to loose weight without a gym or pricey exercise equipment??? 

I believe it is but did he spread the word???
NO!!!
 he only made them more envious of the happy people on the show who got the financial help and advice they needed....and most of the world probably finished watching the show by eating a bowl of ice cream.
What do you think???
shari 

Quote From: maryg3

I read several comments posted about how Dr Phil missed the opportunity to truly help people on yesterday's show... and how not all people can afford the things that have been given to Paul to help him. 

   

 

  

Dr Phil did not miss anything yesterday - he was right on target.  The message was that without commitment, all the tools or things given to Paul will not do any good.  It's not WHAT you have been given to work with, it's commiting to doing everything you can, and from that point making the proper choices to keep your commitment - no matter what.

  

 

  

I posted yesterday about the girl, Tammie, who we tried to help and said that I wished there had been more that we could have done.   But the truth was that she was given so many things, including a free membership to Weight Watchers... but she had to make the choice to attend the meetings, and when she missed meetings, she was told she would have to pay to re-join.  No matter the reason, it really came down to her commitment.

   

 

  

"Things" or the "tools" do not make it happen for you...  not 60 minute television shows, gym memberships or dieticians.   One person who posted, proved the point: despite not having "the tools" given to him, he made the commitment and his choice was to exercise by walking around his car so that he could hold on!  Now THAT's what Dr. Phil is talking about! 

  

  

We now live in a society where we want quick and easy solutions to our problems.  Obesity is a very complex situation and not one that can be resolved in a 60 minute tv show.  In the 30 minutes that Dr. Phil dealt with Paul, he did what was of the utmost importance: he called upon Paul to make the commitment.  If you watched the show looking for answers for your own situation and felt he missed the opportunity to spell it out for you, let me reiterate for Dr. Phil:  YOU have to make the commitment to change, and once you do, you will seek the resources to find the answers. 

   

 

  

The second aspect of his message was choices - people posted about how expensive it is to eat healthy. Most people choose to think nothing of paying 5 bucks for a drive thru meal, but reel at the thought of paying 5 dollars for a cut & ready to eat fresh pineapple.  If time is your excuse, it's your choice to pay for the convenience... but if your budget is restricted, cut the pineapple yourself and save money.  Point is, you have to change your mind-set.  Eating healthy is no more expensive in the long run than choosing to buy convenient ready to eat food. 

   

 

  

Tammie was living on a very limited income, but yet she choose to eat out for nearly every meal.  It's what she was used to doing - to make permanent change, you have to do some things that you may not be used to doing, but without commitment, you WON"T be able to make the proper choices! 

  

  

So in case you missed the message - it's ALL about commitment and choices.

Quote From: diane73162

Hi Joan and Vicki,  

I saw the show and knew exactly what Vicki was going through. I too am a single mom with an over weight 12 yr old son. I don't have a lot of advice to give, just some tips that might make things a little easier for Vicki because of her busy schedule.  I also have my son seeing a pediatric dietition, so he is on a balanced eating plan (1800 calories a day). I have also enrolled him in an excercise program that he does for 45 minutes twice a week. So far he has lost 8 pounds in the course of a month. Unfortunately my mom passed away 5 yrs ago, but I know if she were here, she would be saying the same things your mom is saying.  

 

 

 

Here are some things that I do on the weekends  to make my life easier during the week,  and to make sure he stays on his eating plan.  I peel and section about 6 oranges and put them in snack size zip lock baggies and keep them in the refrigerator. I put a half of a sectioned orange in each baggie, it fits perfect, and is a perfect serving size. With 6 oranges, you get 12 servings.  

 

I rinse off grapes and carrots and put them in individual snack size zip lock baggies too (about 15 to 20 per serving).  I try to buy as many kid friendly vegetables and rinse and cut them up in bite size pieces and put them in the snack size baggies as well. The ones that he prefers is red peppers (they are sweeter then green), baby carrots and celery. I usually cut the peppers and celery in sticks. Then I use Light Hidden Valley Ranch sour cream dip when we wants to snack on the veggies. I keep that in a container in the refridgerator.  I also buy skim string cheese, and let him have that with a fruit after school for a snack.  Whenever I buy watermelon or any kind of melon. I cut it up in bite size pieces and either put it in the serving size baggies, or in a container in the refridgerator depending on how much time I have.  It really makes my life easier during the week when I'm in a hurry.  

 

 

 

I also keep a basket of already rinsed off fruit on the kitchen counter. I have found that as long as all he has to do is grab it, open it and eat it, then he won't ask me for unhealthy snacks that he can simply open and eat, like chips or cookies.  There are times that I let him have chips and cookies, but I choose the more healthier ones, like baked chips and low calorie cookies, but I don't keep them in the house, so the only time he has access to them is when we go out.  I use my slow cooker a lot during the week so when I get home, dinner is finished and there is not much clean up. It's a good investment because you can find a lot of healthy slow cooker recipes online. I also found a lot of kid friendly fish recipes that are quick and easy.  I can send you some of the recipes if you want them. My email address is diane731@comcast.net  

 

  

 

It takes time and effort to get a child at that age to stick to a good balanced eating plan, and get them on a schedule to make sure they are getting proper excercise, but it can be done.  I personally never thought I would be able to get my son to eat fish, but the recipes that I have found are great!  I found a lot of them at www.allrecipes.com You can find good recipes there and make them low calorie just by making some changes in the ingredients.   

 

Just by having my son on this eating plan, me and my 16 yr old daughter have lost weight too.  The key is to just be patient and make some small changes around the house. I'm sure the people that Dr. Phil has set you up with will have a good plan for your daughter. I just hope some of these tips help with your busy schedule. Please don't hessitate to email me if there is anything I can help you with. I will be more then happy to.  You have a beautiful daughter, and once she starts to lose a few pounds, she will get so excited and motivated that it will make things a little easier. You have been blessed with a beautiful daughter and a wonderful mom who loves the both of you very much, so please cherish the time you have together, you'll be glad you did.  

Sincerely, 

Diane 

 

Quote From: mommajoan

Hello, 

  

Your compassion shows through your note.  I can see that you understand first hand what we are going through.  Thank you for your prayers and your support. 

  

Perhaps you too can be motivated, as a young mother, to begin your journey to health for your son's sake as well as your own...there is such a rich life waiting for you.  My obesity has caused the early onset of arthritis in both my knees.  There is so much I used to love to do that now is beyond my ability to do.  If I were younger, I would do whatever it takes to shed the extra pounds and prevent the loss of activities that brought me so much joy.  In that way, it's too late for me but it's not too late for you.  I will pray for you regularly. You have a beautiful and lovely spirit.  Don't let anything or anyone stop you from soaring like an eagle! 

  

God bless you! 

Joan 

Quote From: mom12yrof3

 am new to this site and not sure where I belong!  My husband and I have been married for 12 years and have three great kids.  More than one person could ever hope for.  Our marriage has had it's share of ups and downs mostly downs.  Within a few days a big down has come to face.  I am that girl that sits at the table with her friends and listens while they say they think their spouse or love is cheating and stats how they drive by their places of work to check.  I speak up in a strong and powerful voice "My husband whould never do that and would never hide anything for me".  Look who should open mouth insert foot.  I came home from a weekend spent trying to make my sister smile and to stop worrying about her love to find that mine has opened a private email account.  That's not all!!  Inside the new email account was a confirmation of a three month subscription to a online amature site of girls in their panties and in most cases nothing.  I know to men this isn't a big deal but to me it hurts more than I ever thought possible.  I don't know what to do, it has been three days and I can't eat nor can I look at him.   When I think about that site I want to be sick.  When I confronted him he told me "It was no big deal".  I was then told "To get over it".  What is happening here?  The question of divorce has come up in my mind a few times not just after this and I wonder if that is where we are heading.  He doesn't at all seem to be upset that I am hurt or that I am questioning divorce.  Is it possible that it just might not matter?  I think I am a good wife and mom.  I have been going to night school for a year and have one more year left.  As a wife is it expected that I just forget it and move on?  I can't, I can't even breath.  He won't talk about it and when he does he looks for things to throw back in my face.  This isn't a surprise to me whenever there was a problem he would always throw something in there to turn the tables.  In his mind he does no wrong and that everthing is on me. I am sick of fighting, I am sick of being sad.  I ask myself if I would miss him if he was gone?  I can't answer that fully.  I say yes I would be sad only because of the years but years not amounting of much happiness isn't missed I don't think.  He is great at his career and has come along way, I just don't think he wants marriage and kids anymore.  If he did he would fight and I know I have for 12 years and can't anymore.  Please help!! He was my superman!!