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Teens choose health
Friday, March 24,
2006 4:08 AM EST
By Donna Harris
Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer
Kathy and Brian Milne knew their son, Nick, was carrying more weight than
he should be.
The problem was what they should do about it.
"Nick was 8, about to turn 9, and he was still carrying his baby
fat," Mrs. Milne said. "He was making all the wrong choices
about what to eat and drinking sodas at school, which they shouldn't have
at school."
But
the Woodstock mom found the solution to their dilemma after her mother,
Patty Lyons of Canton, saw a story in the newspaper four years ago about a
new weight-management and education program for children.
Center Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully Inc. (CHOICES), a
nonprofit organization that addresses the needs of overweight and obese
children, has taught Nick, 13, how to make wiser decisions about the food
and drinks he puts into his body while giving him numerous exercise
options to help melt away the pounds.
"We promote children growing into their weight, and Nick is a perfect
example of that," said Vanetta Keyes of Woodstock, executive director
and founder of the program. "I stress to parents that this is not a
weight-loss program. It's an education program to teach children how to
make correct choices, and the weight will correct itself."
Mrs. Milne said she talked with Ms. Keyes about the program and decided to
give it a try.
"He really, really loved it," she said. "He's a very social
person and loves group activities and the camaraderie."
The program includes eight-week fitness challenges that emphasize
nutrition and physical activity. During each challenge, kids ages 11 to 18
meet each Thursday from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at BodyPlex Fitness Center in
Woodstock to work on cardio equipment and do a group aerobic activity with
fitness director/certified personal trainer Terence Griggs.
"I think it's a really great program for people who think it's a big
class, and they'll be all nervous," said Nick, a Woodstock Middle
School seventh-grader who has been with the program since it started.
"Terence makes it so easy. He switches it up every class period. He
divides it up so good, the hour is over before you know it. I think it's a
very good workout."
They
also have group discussions and receive their CHOICES Change,
"money" they earn for making healthy lifestyle changes that can
be spent for bottled water, T-shirts, jump ropes, gift cards, backpacks
and other rewards.
"If they give up TV for exercise, they get a certain number of
points," Mrs. Milne said. "If they drink water as opposed to
soda, they get a certain number of points. They get points for the number
of vegetables they eat a day and the number of fruits they eat. It gives
them the opportunity to make positive choices."
Ms. Keyes added most children make 80 to 120 changes a week, and the
rewards are "what keeps them motivated."
As CHOICES members, kids have unlimited access to BodyPlex during each
challenge, and Nick also goes on Tuesday nights to participate in Body
Jam, a hip-hop dance class that the kids love.
"They try to mix it up on Tuesday nights so the kids don't get
bored," Mrs. Milne said. "They did bowling for eight weeks, and
Body Jam just started. The next eight weeks will probably be something
different."
In between challenges, the kids continue to meet Thursday nights to work
out and get nutrition education.
"We want to keep them motivated until the next challenge starts so we
do everything we'd do during the fitness challenge except they're not
required to turn in journals," Ms. Keyes said, noting the next
challenge begins April 13. "It's like a little break."
From his determination and the good choices he's made, Nick has lost about
35 pounds and has dropped from a size 38 pants -pushing toward a size 40 -
to a size 34 since last April, his mom said.
"He had been doing really well keeping his weight under control until
he began to hit his pre-teen junk food and soda habits," she said,
noting Nick's main downfall was sodas. "If he has too many carbs or
drinks too many sodas, the weight just packs on him. Once he realized how
heavy he was becoming, he really stuck with the program, worked out more
often, etc."
"I feel a whole lot better," said Nick, who is already 5 feet 11½
inches tall and wears a size 15 shoe. "More athletic, more endurance,
faster runner. I'm eating a whole lot better. A soda a week or so. I do
eat some junk food, but I don't like junk food that much."
Nick, who received an achievement award from the program last October,
also is "not a couch potato," his mom said.
"His PlayStation doesn't get used much," she said.
"I usually ride my bike in the afternoon, but it's broken right
now," he said. "I play basketball, football, soccer, do a lot of
stuff."
He plays Upward basketball at his church, First Baptist Woodstock, and is
playing spring football in the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Authority
program.
Nick is one participant who quickly understood he could get into better
shape if he got active and made different food choices, Ms. Keyes said.
"I recall him telling us that he walked to McDonald's, and all he got
was a cheeseburger, and he didn't get any fries," she said.
"Even though he still went to McDonald's, he made a good
choice."
He's also one of the kids who has been able to take time off from the
program but still continue to put what he's learned into daily practice.
"He came about a year and a half, and then we didn't see him for
about six months," Ms. Keyes said. "But when he came back, he'd
kept it up. He was a little taller, playing basketball, and had really
trimmed down."
Now he may not complete every eight-week challenge, but he might come two
or three times for reinforcement, she said.
"The important element in lifestyle changes that need to be made is
positive reinforcement and being around other kids who are struggling and
going through the same issues they are," she said.
To further promote better lifestyles for children, CHOICES and the
Cherokee Council of PTA are sponsoring the first Children's Healthier
Living and Physical Activity Expo on Saturday in Woodstock.
The free event will include a one-mile family walk, health screenings,
vendor presentations, nutrition workshops, arts and crafts, school team
exhibitions, an aerobics session, sporting games and healthy food.
dharris@cherokeetribune.com
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choicesforkids.org
