Before the DPP, Frieda had very little awareness of the nutrition and impact that it had on her body. She had no energy, didn’t exercise, had joint pains, had consistent mood swings, and “felt quite hopeless about losing weight”. Despite the rough position Frieda was in, she took it upon herself to sign up for one of our DPP classes and soon started seeing a difference. One of the key differences that Frieda saw with the DPP compared to other ways that she had tried to change her unhealthy lifestyle was the commitment. Her prevention experience was an entire year long, with meetings going from weekly to monthly as the program progressed. This reliable, safe place allowed Frieda to find her own success.

“Lifestyle changes just don’t happen overnight, weight doesn’t come off in a flash, and exercise habits take a long time to establish.  Being able to have a framework for a year meant the stage was set for me to succeed.”

     The DPP was also something that Frieda genuinely enjoyed, and that is due to the instructors and impressive group support provided. Frieda’s instructor would email her between classes and go over plans before trips out of town, which really gave her the support and extra push she needed to change her habits. The group in which Frieda worked with was incredibly diverse, with some fitness nuts, others who hated running, as well as people who were short, tall, fat, or skinny. This environment allowed the DPP meetings to become an enjoyable social gathering, creating a place where sticking to a meal or exercise regimen much easier with the support of colleagues going through the same thing right along with you. We are proud to congratulate Frieda on not only reaching the 5% goal, but reaching all the way to 10% below her initial starting weight! Her commitment took her to a much healthier place, and SGP could not be more proud. Just like Frieda felt in the beginning, you may feel discouraged and hopeless, but take her advice and give the DPP a shot, chances are you could change your life and meet some great people in the process.

Designs By: Courteney Lisowski

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, I thought I should share a story about a person that I love dearly- my mom!

It’s about what started out as an act of love for her,  ended up also becoming Lesson of Love for me.

Happy Valentines Day, everybody!

>>>

For as long as I can remember, I have had a hard time asking for help.

One of the main reasons I haven’t liked asking for help was because I didn’t want to burden anybody else with the task of helping me, particularly if it involved a situation “I created”.  But then I realized something.  Failing to ask for help not only shackles me to the problem, making it more difficult to keep moving forward, but it also ties the hands of those around me that want to help.

But then, as I was preparing to post my mom’s story, I had an epiphany…

I realized that ASKING for help is really offering an invitation to achieve greatness in disguise, and those who accept it have the opportunity to realize their own potential and achieve more than they ever thought was possible.  — I guess after all these years my mom is still teaching me a thing or two.

You see, almost 2 years ago I made a special birthday wish. It was what I’d call a “2-fer”.  You know, 2 wishes in 1. I hoped to inspire my friends and family to get out and be more active while raising money to fund our Skinny Gene Birthday Wishes program, which provides financial assistance to those in need of nutrition education and support to prevent type 2 diabetes.

Truth be told, I had my mom in mind when I created the part of the wish to get moving. But my mom was also the one person I was afraid to ask to participate. Mom has always been a very busy person, but over the years her health has made it difficult for her to remain active.  Her frequent migraines and sensitivity to heat and sun exposure make it difficult for her to participate in many outdoor activities. In fact, being outside can make her downright miserable.

Needless to say, I was both relieved and pleased when my mom accepted my first birthday challenge to walk 3.4 miles (in one day) for my birthday.  Not only did she say yes, she took it seriously. She went to the gym and started exercising to make sure she wouldn’t have any problems on the “big day”.  She also recruited her office staff, friends, and local business to participate in my wish.  In total, she walked 40 miles during my birthday month and raised $1,300 in donations. And this was just the beginning!!!

Last year, in 2012, my mom made her own challenge –  do a “tri-city walk”.  She set a goal of walking 418 miles, the

equivalent distance from San Antonio (where she lives) to Austin, to Houston, and back home. She used a pedometer to track her distance and kept a running tally of her monthly totals. At the end of the year, we added it all up and realized that she had walked a total of 760 miles, surpassing her tri-city walk goal, and actually walking the equivalent distance from San Antonio, through New Mexico, and past the Arizona border.

This year, my mom is once again raising the bar. She is determined to walk 760 more miles in 2013. My mom will start where she left off in 2012 (around Bowie, Arizona) and continue all the way to San Diego, California -where her granddaughter lives. She has also donated $760 and hopes to raise  an additional $760 for the Skinny Gene Birthday Wishes rogram.

Not bad for a”68 year old grandma” who 2 years ago trained to walk 3.4 miles in 1 day, eh!!!!

If somebody had told my mom, you’re going to walk 1,520 miles in 2 years, she would never have believed it;  neither would I.

By accepting my initial birthday challenge, she accepted the opportunity to unlock her own potential and achieve more than she ever thought was possible.-Way to go mom! I’m proud of you!

The Lesson of Love…that (real) love is rarely one-sided. When we have the courage to act out of love, what we receive in return is often times greater than we could ever imagine.

I remember holding my daughter for the first time and looking into her eyes. Although small, her eyes told a story filled with infinite possibilities. I saw motherhood as being a lifetime of firsts – first words, first steps, first recital – each one flooding my heart with abundant joy and love.

First dance recital

As my “baby” turned into my “little princess”, I could see the change in her eyes.

Now when I look into her eyes, I can still see her beauty growing inside, but most importantly, when it comes to looking for a glimpse into what her future can be, I see that her brown eyes are right there, staring back at me.

My daughter is at a highly impressionable age, in which almost every experience doubles as a possible influence. Limiting her TV to PBS and videos has not been a strong enough gatekeeper to thwart the efforts of kid-targeted advertisers. Short of blindfolding my daughter in the grocery store, or leaving her behind, it’s hard to prevent her from being bombarded by the countless kid-targeted products, placed perfectly at her eye level – of course. And if the pressures on TV and the in-store advertisements weren’t hard enough, I have to compete with the greatest threat of all – kid-to-kid, word-of–mouth advertising.

The kids on the playground and in the classroom are like parakeets, repeating whatever they hear at home and sharing their likes and dislikes, which influences how my daughter perceives different foods. I’m constantly being told by advertisers, other parents, even my own daughter what I should be buying.

Wait a minute, Mr. Advertiser, unless you plan on contributing to her college fund and the weekly grocery budget, you don’t get to have a say in how my child is raised.

I felt like my voice was quickly becoming out numbered. If advertisers are spending more than $2 billion a year to target children, I’m going to need some reinforcements. That’s also when I realized one very important thing. Yes, there are many negative distractions vying for my daughter’s attention, but at the end of the day, her eyes are still on me. I get to decide what the next move will be. My decision was simple, reassert my role as CEO of my household, as the Head Product and Produce Inspector, as Chief Health and Wellness Ambassador, in other words- MOM.

I have a family history of diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, but I’ve decided to pass on a different family tradition. One in which we live to prevent diabetes, not find ways to live in spite of it. The studies show that 1 in 3 children are projected to develop diabetes in their lifestyle, losing up to 23 years of life. But when I look into my daughter’s eyes, I’m reminded of the vow I took in my heart to love and protect her. And right now, statically, diabetes is her biggest threat.

You’ve probably heard the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, I believe this has never been more true than today. I feel so grateful to have other friends and family in our lives whose actions reinforce our values of living a healthy lifestyle. My daughter’s eyes might be on me, but she’s also looking to see who else supports the values and ideal that I put forth.

(*Please click on each of the 10 numbers below to see the pictures.)

Since my daughter was born, we tried to be a living example of what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. Each week we have a family day, which generally incorporates both family fun and physical activity.  We also make a conscious decision to expose her to various forms of competitive events. Since before my daughter was 2 years old, she’s been going with us to cheer on our friends at their marathons. When we can’t cheer them on in person, we show her photos of the event and talk about their accomplishments.

My daughter goes to see Jarod run his first marathon

“Come on guys, let’s run like Lindsay.”

Last month, I signed us up for our first Mother-Daughter 5k. Two weeks prior to our race, we cheered on her “Auntie” Lindsay at her first ½ marathon. My little runner’s eyes beamed as she watched Lindsay run towards the finish line. In that moment, my daughter idolized Lindsay, and my heart was happy. I knew that a new connection had been made, linking my daughter’s understanding of what exercise is and why we do it, to an actual desire to grow and develop as a runner.

So proud of her Auntie Lindsay for doing a 1/2 marathon

After Lindsay’s ½ marathon, my daughter couldn’t wait to participate in her own race. She asked several times a day, every day, for two weeks, “When do I get to do my race Mommy?” Then she’d tell my husband, “Daddy, you have to cheer like Jarod (Lindsay’s husband), and say wooooo really loud. Okay Daddy?”

The day before the race, my daughter and I went to the pre-race expo and picked up our bibs. As we stood in line, my little runner told everybody within an earshot how she was going to “win” her race tomorrow. She’d say, “Are you running tomorrow, cause I am, and I’m gonna run super fast, so I can win.” Seeing her excitement filled my heart with joy.

Picked up our bibs and are ready for our race.

After what seem like months to my mini-me, the day of our Mother-Daughter race finally came, but the circumstances were less than ideal. A huge storm came through San Diego that weekend. This part of sunny California was, well, anything but sunny.

The night before, I watched as the rain pelted against the window and the trees swayed. I didn’t want to get the mail in that weather, much less do a 5k. We had a little dress rehearsal, trying on several combinations of fleece jackets and rain gear. I tossed and turned throughout the night, worrying if I was making the right choice by subjecting her to such inclement weather. But then I remembered the cover of the Parents magazine that I just saw, “Raising a kid that won’t give up”.

Maybe this race can be much more than a lesson about physical activity and living a healthy lifestyle. It’s an opportunity to show my daughter that life is anything but easy, but we have a choice. We can cower and hide from adversity, or we can decide to dance in the rain. When we properly equip ourselves, we can fight through whatever we are going through, and come out a winner at the end.

Showing our medals.

On the big day, I quickly put in an appeal to God as we pulled away from the house. “Lord, I can handle the cold, but I don’t know if I can put my daughter through this rain.”  Despite my growing anxiety, we headed towards the race, knowing I reserved the right to pull out of the race if I didn’t feel it was safe to continue. As soon as we approached the parking lot for the event, the rain stopped. I looked to the skies and smiled in gratitude.

My daughter talked about how excited she was during the car ride, but as soon as the wind hit her face, she began to get scared. “Mommy I want to go inside.” “Oh honey, we can’t go inside”, I said. “The race is outside. Don’t be scared. It’s just the wind, and you’ll warm up as soon as we get moving.”

I pinned her bib, #678, to her Hello Kitty rain jacket, and we were off. The first part of the course was the hardest, because my 32 pound child had to fight her way against 40 mile an hour winds. I held her hand tightly in my grasp; it was almost as if I were afraid the wind might take her away.

Before I knew it, my little competitor had turned her focus from the blistering winds and fringed weather to people in the race that she wanted to catch up to or pass. One was a little girl that was almost 2 years her elder.

A friend she met along the way.

Including the inevitable potty break – she is 4 after all – we crossed the finish line, hand-in-hand in less than 50 minutes.

It’s funny, because now when my little 5ker tells her story, she doesn’t bring up the cold weather or wind. She says, “I crossed the finish line with my mommy.”

When I see the world through my daughter’s eyes, I see plenty of negative temptations, but I also see hope. She is surrounded by so many people, parents, aunties and uncles, neighbors and friends, all helping to challenge what has become “the norm” and instead promote living healthfully.

As for me, our first Mommy and Me race is a day I will never forget. Thinking about what she accomplished, walking (evening running) her first 5K before the age of 5, fills me with tremendous amounts of love and pride.

I look back smiling, because it turns out it did shine brightly that day. It just wasn’t in the sky. It was on her face.

ABOUT ME: My name is Marlayna. I’ve recently shared my story about why I chose to LIVE MY LIFE WITH INTENTION- my life’s journey towards becoming who I am today (click here to read it). I’m a mother, wife, friend, and a diabetes prevention advocate. I occassionally blog about living a healthy lifestyle.

Janie said, “Look at me, I’m not that overweight. I eat healthy. What did I do to deserve this?”

I paused for a second and looked at her. Janie was right.  The woman before me was an educated, middle-aged Caucasian woman with a very petite frame and average weight. She wasn’t at all the picture of prediabetes or diabetes that is often portrayed to the public. Janie was confused, and understandably so.

I went home and thought about our conversation. So many things about it bugged me, and I wanted to do something about it. 

Many people like to wait until the New Year to make some sort of resolution. I typically like to do self-reflection and set personal goals 3 times a year.  One of which is in November, when I create goals regarding how I can be a better advocate for diabetes prevention. 

Prior to my conversation with Janie, I was unsure what I wanted my November goal to be, but now I know.

I want to help others to … RE-THINK DIABETES

Diabetes and Prediabetes need what I’d call a little “rebranding” in the hearts and minds of people across the globe.

When I first found my passion for diabetes prevention in 2002, I was like the rest of them, trying to initiate action from fear. Then again, I was reacting to having just lost my Aunt to diabetes the previous year. But I believe that somewhere along the way the content became so doom and gloom that it robbed people of the desire to create change, like analysis paralysis.  Much of the public opinion has become – it’s such a big problem, and since change is too hard, we might as well accept it.

Now, I believe that the facts must be shared, and we must still do our job to help others to see that diabetes must be taken seriously, but we must also balance those fear–based tactics with ones of hope. Diabetes is preventable, and there are people and programs out there to help those in need of nutritional guidance and counseling.

If I were able to wipe the slate clean, and start fresh, I’d have two very important messages I’d like to share.

ONE:  With help, Die-abetes can actually be Live-abetes, or better yet… Preventa-betes

TWO: No one, and I mean no one, deserves to have diabetes.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard a statement or inference that someone “deserved diabetes”. Diabetes is the 5^th deadliest disease, and kills more people than AIDS and breast cancer combined. I feel saying or implying that “diabetes is deserved” is both hurtful and belittling, and it implies that another person doesn’t have the same right to the quality or longevity of life.

The negative stigma surrounding type 2 diabetes is so strong that it’s causing those with type 1 to want to disassociate themselves from type 2.  One popular opinion is that those with type 2 brought it upon themselves.  Unfortunately, it is these negative associations that cause those with type 2 diabetes to want to “go into hiding” and not seek the support or medical care they need to control the disease, which can lead to a loss of life.

To this, I’d say, just like I would to any other bully, whether they are on the playground, in corporate America, or in the classroom – Stop it!

Yes, lifestyle choices can definitely increase a person’s risk for developing type 2 diabetes.  But, I’d also like to offer up an alternative perspective to consider. 

To me, the big culprits are also lack of information (e.g. how to read a label), access to nutritious foods, budgetary constraints, stress, psychological influences, and genetics.

Myth: If you are overweight or obese, you will eventually develop type 2 diabetes.

Fact:  Being overweight is a risk factor for developing this disease, but other risk factors such as family history, ethnicity and age also play a role. Unfortunately, too many people disregard the other risk factors for diabetes and think that weight is the only risk factor for type 2 diabetes.  Most overweight people never develop type 2 diabetes, and many people with type 2 diabetes are at a normal weight or only moderately overweight.

So instead of wagging fingers, let’s try to show a little compassion and extend a helping hand.

At this day in age, everybody knows at least one person with diabetes; you (or they) just might not know it yet.  You’d be amazed by how a little support can go a long way when it comes to diabetes prevention and management. 

Rethink diabetes, and decide to support those fighting to prevent or control diabetes.

ABOUT ME: My name is Marlayna. I’ve recently shared my story about why I chose to LIVE MY LIFE WITH INTENTION- my life’s journey towards becoming who I am today (click here to read it). I’m a mother, wife, friend, and a diabetes prevention advocate. I occassionally blog about living a healthy lifestyle.

(Disclaimer: The personal opinions expressed above do not necessary reflect those of Skinny Gene Project or J. Moss Foundation)

• That’s 5.4 lbs. per year.
  

  Photo by rob_rob2001

• 0.10 lbs. per week.
• 0.01 lbs. a day.

As absurd as this lawsuit may seem, it  – and many other similar lawsuits throughout the years –  raises a pretty interesting debate on who is ultimately responsible for the steady increase  in obesity rates. 

True – nobody is holding us down, prying our mouths open, and shoving Big Macs down our throats; but we can’t entirely discount the power of persuasion. Whether it’s a strong willed child pleading for a hamburger, or the new cool toy in the happy meal; the appeal of picking up food after a long day at work; the convenience of having a safe air-conditioned environment for kids to play in; or the necessity to feed a family on a limited budget; “avoidance” just may not be that easy for everyone.

Understanding the stronghold the fast food giant really has on both children and parents, lawmakers and concerned parents have raised their voices and taken action to incentivize McDonalds to improve upon the nutritional quality of their food.  In 2010 San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to pass a law that cracks down on the popular practice of giving away free toys with unhealthy restaurant meals for children.

Whether it is banning Happy Meals or providing alternative healthy options for families, there was no doubt that something substantial needed to be done.

Currently 1 in 3 Americans are considered to be obese, and it is no coincidence that it is estimated 1 in 3 children (born in or after 2000) will develop diabetes in their lifetime. In fact, one recent study showed that obesity rates in adults actually rose in 28 states this year.Only the District of Columbia showed a decline.

 It is truly a growing problem; but now McDonalds has decided to implement healthy programs to become a part of the solution.

July, 2011 McDonald’s® announced its “Commitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices,” a comprehensive plan to help consumers make nutrition-minded choices when visiting McDonald’s or eating elsewhere.

 So for those of you who think that speaking up and using your voice to make positive changes to improve the health of families and communities doesn’t make a difference…. The Proof Is In The Happy Meal.

I don’t think the driving force behind McDonald’s new healthy changes were politicians, it was parents. 

Here are the highlights from the “Commitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices” press release. (Please click here to see the full article):

1. Championing children’s well-being: For example, starting April 2012 (or sooner!), Apple Slices will be included in every McDonald’s Happy Meal®.  This means about 20 percent fewer calories in the most popular Happy Meals.
2. Expanded and improved healthier nutritionally-balanced menu choices: By 2020, McDonald’s will reduce added sugar, saturated fat and calories through varied portion sizes, reformulations and innovations.
3. Increased access to nutrition information: McDonald’s will expand its in-restaurant, website/mobile communications, and marketing vehicles to make it even easier to access the information you want before you order. To begin, McDonald’s is now making available its first mobile app so customers can access nutrition information on-the-go on iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, and Android devices.

Actions in support of the nutrition commitments are already underway at restaurants. 

Sodium Reduction: McDonald’s has already reduced sodium by 10 percent in the majority of its national chicken menu offerings – most recently Chicken McNuggets®, a Happy Meal favorite. Sodium reductions will continue across the menu in accordance with the Company’s 2015 commitments.  

New Happy Meal: McDonald’s will begin rolling out the new Happy Meal in September 2011, with the goal of having them available in all 14,000 restaurants during Q1 2012.  The new Happy Meal will automatically include both produce (apple slices, a quarter cup or half serving) and a new smaller size French fries (1.1 ounces) along with the choice of a Hamburger, Cheeseburger or Chicken McNuggets, and choice of beverage, including new fat-free chocolate milk and 1% low fat white milk. For those customers who prefer a side choice of apples only, two bags of apple slices will be available, upon request.

Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative: Since 2006, McDonald’s has supported the Council of Better Business Bureaus (“CBBB”) Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (“CFBAI”) involving a voluntary Food Pledge to only nationally advertise products to kids that represent healthier dietary choices. McDonald’s was actively engaged in the process to help develop CBBB’s recently announced more rigorous pledge standards, which include stricter sodium and sugar criteria, zero grams artificial trans fat per labeled serving, and requirements for nutrient components to encourage.

Listening Tour: To ensure that the company’s ongoing commitments are supporting parents and communities, Fields and McDonald’s U.S. executive leadership team will embark on a national listening tour in August. They will hear directly from parents and nutrition experts about how McDonald’s can play a role in this important topic. McDonald’s will launch a new online parents’ community that provides a forum for McDonald’s and parents to more frequently engage in dialog around these important topics. 

Accountability and Measurement: To evaluate McDonald’s progress and the impacts of its nutrition commitments, McDonald’s will rely on independent third-parties with expertise in children’s well-being. The company is establishing a Kids’ Food and Nutrition Advisory Board comprised of parents and experts in children’s nutrition, education and behavior to help develop effective nutrition and active lifestyle marketing messages and programming for kids. McDonald’s will also enter into an agreement with a third-party organization to collaborate on a comprehensive measurement process that sets benchmarks and annual progress against commitment goals, which will be reported publicly.

 ABOUT ME: My name is Marlayna. I’ve recently shared my story about why I chose to LIVE MY LIFE WITH INTENTION- my life’s journey towards becoming who I am today (click here to read it). I’m a mother, wife, friend, and a diabetes prevention advocate. I occassionally blog about living a healthy lifestyle.

 * The opinions represented in this post are my own, and do not express those of the Skinny Gene Project or J. Moss Foundation

It’s old news that processed meats (e.g. hot dogs, bacon and sausage) are linked to diabetes and heart disease. In fact, over 1,600 separate studies showed evidence that each 1.8 oz serving of processed meat – the equivalent of one hot dog – increases the risk of heart disease by 42% and diabetes by 19%. So I assumed the story about hot dogs was going to just be an old story with a new twist. Boy was I wrong.

The story wasn’t about diabetes or heart disease; it was about cancer.

I find the debate surrounding this hot topic so interesting, I want to share the facts with you and ask you to share your opinions.

Here’s the story, from a few different sides…

A watchdog group, known as the Cancer Project, is bringing attention to the correlation between hot dogs and colorectal cancer. The group warned that, “downing one dog a day can increase the risk for colorectal cancer by 21%. Each year, about 143,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and about 53,000 die of it.”

“We’ve had an epidemic of colorectal cancer for decades,” said the group’s president, Dr. Neal Barnard. “Only fairly recently has it become clear that a big part of the reason is the American appetite for hot dogs, bacon, sausage, and other processed meats”

The group, which promotes vegan diets, thinks that the link between hot dogs and cancer, heart disease and diabetes should be taken more seriously. “Like cigarettes, hot dogs should come with a warning label that helps racing fans and other consumers understand the health risk.”  They erected the billboard (below) near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, issuing a stark warning to the legions of weiner lovers who show up for races.

As you can imagine, the group’s billboard and statements have not been well-received by the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council. The Council president, Janet Riley, said, “This is an absurd claim. Trying to link a food product that has clear nutritional value with a product like cigarettes, which have no redeeming qualities, is inflammatory and alarmist.”

Now, before you’re quick to dismiss the relevancy of the research, because of the “dog a day” specification, think about this…

In 2006, Americans consumed more than 1.6 billion pounds of hot dogs. That’s a lot of dogs! The average person eats 32 pounds of some form of smoked ham, bacon, or processed pork.  That equals about 1.4 ounces of processed meat a day. An average hot dog is 1.8 ounces. The warning about eating a “hot dog a day” for 63% of Americans is actually pretty relevant!

Apart from backyard BBQs, street vendors, ballparks, and other sporting events, when I think about hot dogs, I think about our kids. I’ve heard several moms say that they feed their kids “dogs”, because it’s all that they’ll eat.

Well, the debate about the dangers of eating hot dogs also extends to our children. Parents are also being warned about the perils of feeding their children hot dogs for two major reasons.

First, research has proven that children from birth to age 10 that eat more than 12 hot dogs per month have 9 x the normal risk of developing childhood leukemia.  Even eating hot dogs 1- 2 x per week while pregnant can increase the baby’s risk of brain cancer.

Second, hot dogs are a significant choking hazard. About 17% of food-related asphyxiations are caused by hot dogs. More than 10,000 children under 14 go to the emergency room each year after choking on food, and up to 77 die.

“If you were to take the best engineers in the world and try to design the perfect plug for a child’s airway, it would be a hot dog,” says statement author Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “I’m a pediatric emergency doctor, and to try to get them out once they’re wedged in, it’s almost impossible.”

Dr. Smith goes on to state that, “The Consumer Product Safety Commission requires labels on toys with small parts alerting people not to give them to kids under 3. Yet there are no required warnings on food, though more than half of non-fatal choking episodes involve food.”

Janet Riley, the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council president, which thinks comparing hot dogs to cigarettes is “absurd”, does supports the American Academy of Pediatrics’ call to better educate parents and caregivers about choking prevention. “Ensuring the safety of the foods we service to children is critically important for us.”

Now that you’ve got a feel for the argument about hot dogs from a few different perspectives, I want to know what you think. Do you think hot dogs are dangerous, and those containing nitrites should have health warnings?  What about choking warnings, should they be mandatory?

I do believe, label or not, that moderation is key to living a healthy lifestyle. Achieving good health requires “big picture planning”. You must consider what you purchase for your home (e.g. convenience foods), at fast food places, at restaurants, and what you eat at social gatherings. Whether you decide to eliminate processed meat (e.g. hot dogs) completely, or decide to decrease your intake slowly each week, you have to create a plan.  Your plan has to fit your budget, lifestyle, beliefs, and ultimately lead you towards living a healthier lifestyle.

……………..

Need help with your “big picture plan” to wean  off of processed food? The Skinny Gene Project can help. The nutrition team will provide you with the resources you need to make live a healthier lifestyle. Just click here to get started.

 ABOUT ME

: My name is Marlayna. I’ve recently shared my story about why I chose to LIVE MY LIFE WITH INTENTION- my life’s journey towards becoming who I am today (click here to read it). I’m a mother, wife, friend, and a diabetes prevention advocate. I occassionally blog about living a healthy lifestyle.

 * The opinions represented in this post are my own, and do not express those of the Skinny Gene Project or J. Moss Foundation

Going to the San Diego County Fair at Del Mar has become a family tradition. We enjoy watching the pig races and local dance competitions, and of course helping our 4-year old daughter find her new favorite ride. – We think she’s easily amused, since the school bus from Torrey Pines High School to and from the fairgrounds always tops her list of favorite “rides”. 

For us, part of the County Fair experience is the food.

The fair is most commonly known for its display of what I refer to as crazy food concoctions. Each year, the vendors seem to be raising the bar. The biggest buzz about the return of the fair is usually about the newest, over-the-top food you can buy. For many it’s the “you’ve gotta try it to believe it” culture that really makes for a “true fair experience”.

Well, having just been to the fair and seen the “latest and greatest” belly-busting, cholesterol-topping foods being offered, I’d like to offer a little friendly advice to any future fairgoers – “sample sensibly“.  Remember that calories are like currency, and if you’re not careful, the county fair may be far more expensive than you bargained for.

It’s estimated that the average indulgent fairgoer eats between 2,000-3,000 calories (a pound of weight gain is 3,500 calories) at the fair.  Given the calories of these fair favorites, you can see just how easy it is to do.

Below are the estimated calories per item and the miles the average person would have to walk to prevent those calories from being a “moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.”

(Source: MMAjunkie.com)

— Fried Snickers (5 oz.): 444 calories – 4.5 miles
— Fried Twinkie (2 oz.): 420 calories – 4.25 miles
— Funnel cake (1): 760 calories – 7.6 miles
— Twinkie Dog Sundae: 500 calories – 5 miles
— Krispy Kreme Chicken Sandwich: 600 calories – 6 miles
— Fried cheesecake (6 oz.): 655 calories – 6.5 miles
— Foot-long hot dog and bun: 470 calories – 4.7 miles
— Giant turkey leg: 1,136 calories – 11.36 miles
— Fried Mac ‘n Cheese: 610 calories  – 6.1 miles,
— Deep-fried blooming onion: 1320 calories – 13.2 miles
— Caramel apple: 300 calories – 3 miles
— Deep fried butter: 810 calories  per stick – 8.1 miles
— Deep Fried Oreo: 490 calories – 4.9 miles 

If avoiding these fair favorites is completely out of the question, then I’d recommend budgeting for your splurge. 

First, you’ve gotta know how many calories you can afford to buy. In other words, how many additional calories are you willing to burn within 1 week of the fair. Estimate that you’ll burn 100 calories per mile, if you walk at a brisk pace( 3.5-4 miles an hour).

Let’s say you’re eyeing the Krispy Kreme Chicken Sandwich. You don’t think you can realistically walk the 6 extra miles required to burn it off, but you think 3 miles is more realistic. If you’ve gotta have it, I’d recommend eating half the sandwich and throwing the other half away. Don’t save it for later. Get rid of it. Yes, you might lose $3 (assuming the sandwich cost $6), but think of it as $3 or 3 miles. The choice is yours.  

Second, plan to fill up on some healthier foods. Either eat a high fiber- based meal before coming (fiber is filling) or fill up on many of the healthy food options offered at the fair (like grilled veggies – yum!). Remember to drink lots of water. It will help you stay hydrated and to feel satisfied.

The big county fair only comes around once a year, so enjoy yourself. Just have a plan so that the memories of your time at the fair will last forever, but the effect of your food choices do not.

 ABOUT ME: My name is Marlayna. I’ve recently shared my story about why I chose to LIVE MY LIFE WITH INTENTION- my life’s journey towards becoming who I am today (click here to read it). I’m a mother, wife, friend, and a diabetes prevention advocate. I occassionally blog about living a healthy lifestyle.

In my story, I referred to different periods of my life as being chapters of a book. With my birthday quickly approaching, it was only fitting that the next chapter I would choose to create would be the “Birthday Wish”.

MAKE A WISH

Photo by Kingley RN

It all started with a simple idea – Make a Wish. 

It seemed easy enough. After all, I have had plenty of practice blowing out candles over the last 33 years. But this time I wanted to do something different.

I wanted to CREATE a wish that I could ultimately GIVE to others.

As an adult, my previous wishes seemed to be a bit impromptu. Making a wish became nothing more than giving mental recognition to what I valued- world peace, love, and happiness. I didn’t truly believe a birthday wish could directly affect my life. I guess you could say that the “magic of the wish”, that I had once believed in as a child, was gone.

Then recently at a child’s birthday party, I was watching as the child’s face gleemed with hope as she made her wish. That’s when I realized what was missing from my wishes- hope.

 This was an Ah-ha moment for me.

Maybe all these years my wishes didn’t come true because I was waiting for something to be given to me, instead of wishing for an opportunity to create something powerful in my own life.

Those of you who know me or read my story know that I am committed to Living Life with Intention. I wanted to create a birthday wish that was not only a reflection of my values but would extend beyond my own life to positively affect others.

In making my wish, I had one main goal – to motivate at least 1 person to live a healthier lifestyle and prevent type 2 diabetes.

I believe that just as diabetes is an epidemic in our country, we can create a “ripple effect” that propels prevention forward – from a person, to their family, and through their community.

We just need 1 person to start it and a few friends to push it along and help it to grow. 

 WALK, RUN, SWIM, or GIVE ( oh and let’s add bike too)  

Now that I knew the intention of my wish would be to prevent diabetes, I needed to put

Photo By Jinoy Anto

my wish into motion. To pull it off, I needed some help. If I said, “hey, wanna help me prevent diabetes?”, I would have only received blank stares.  Something this big needed to be broken down to into small steps, peddles, strokes.

 My message was simple…

“In lieu of presents, my birthday wish this year is to have YOU be 1 of 34 people that will commit to walking,running, or swimming 3.4 (three point four) miles on any one day between May 19th and June 2nd. As a commitment to awareness of a need for physical activity to prevent type 2 diabetes, I am personally pledging to walk 34 miles within 7 days. 

If you are unable to participate physically, please consider making a $34 donation to the Skinny Gene Project so we can continue our mission to educate those at-risk, and empower them with the resources to prevent diabetes. Who’s in?”

After all…

“You can’t make footprints in the sands of time if you’re sitting on your butt. And who wants to make buttprints in the sands of time?” — Bob Moawad 

THE POWER OF A WISH

RESULTS: In the 2 week period, more than 92 people in 5 different states walked, ran, swam, or biked  928 miles. Together we burned  approximately 97, 901 calories.  We also received $1,600 in donations.

What’s bigger than these numbers are what they represent.  Together we burned the equivalent of what it would take for 2 people to prevent diabetes! 

WISHING MAKERS

One of the biggest “Wish Makers” in my life is my mother, Gloria Moss. Truth be told, when I first told her about my wish, I kind of held my breath while waiting for her response. Would she embrace the idea or dismiss it? Given her last visit to California, I had reason to worry. 

 When she came out last April we went for a 4 mile walk in Del Mar, Calfornia, and let’s just say she was less than happy with me for the speed and distance I was pushing her to do.  While she was wondering if I was trying to “kill her”, I was wondering how I might “motivate” her to maintain her physical activity; even when I’m not around to “crack the whip”.

Needless to say, she has always loved and supported me, but her determination to ensure my Birthday Wish would come true, went way beyond the love of a mother.

My mom not only walked a total of 40 miles ( 34 miles during the 2 week period, 6 miles training for the wish), she shared my wish and convinced 34+ other friends and family to pledge their support.  She also single-handedly raised  $1,300 for our non-profit organization. – Thanks Mom!

Here are our other wonderful  “Wish Makers“… 

Special Thanks to the representatives from the following organzations  who made a financial contribution to may favorite non-profit- The Skinny Gene Project!

Bexar County Medical Society

Britts & Associates, LLP

Dr. Rohit Kapoor- Oncologist, San Antonio, TX

 MD Health Group

Dr. Robert Narvaez- Gastroenterologist, San Antonio, TXNew Braunfels Pediatrics Clinic

Northeast  Methodist Hospital of San Antonio

UC Mailing and Shipping Center

–Note: In the charts below $= requested donation of $34 – $35; $$=amounts that exceeded donation request

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

We’ve accomplished so much, and we are just getting started. We’ve got momentum behind us, and we’re running with it.

The wish meant something different for each participant. It was a reminder to make their health a priority. It was motivation to maintain their active lifestyle, but run a little harder or farther. It was encouragement to do something they haven’t done in a while.

Whether participating in the wish was the first step in a positive direction, or just another step along the path, we are confident for most people…it won’t be their last.

“I’m really happy that Lisa brought it to my attention; being diabetic myself, I know the importance of physical activity, but sometimes it gets so routine that I “forget” just how essential it is.  Its challenges like this one, where you can involve a big group and make it fun, that keeps me motivated.”

 

 

 

“I heard about the Skinny Gene challenge from my mom and Irene and am happy to participate.  As I get older, I realize how important it is to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle, not only to maintain physical health, but for mental health as well.  I am already trying to instill this principle in my two year old son and three year old daughter.”   

 

 

GO AHEAD… MAKE A WISH!

(Please email the Skinny Gene Project at events@jmossfoundation.org if you would like help creating your own healthy birthday wish!)

The first section -My Story

The second section- The Catalyst

The third section-My Motivation

NEW BEGINNING- the REAL “WHY”

As I mentioned, my story has 3 parts. The one I have yet to mention is the Beginning, the WHY?

When I shared my story with the kind stranger in Union Square, I spoke about my Aunt Gloria and my need to protect my daughter from diabetes. But I knew something was missing from my answer, I just didn’t know what it was.

I thought about it as I walked back from Union Square to my hotel and wondered, “had I not answered the question? If I did, why did it feel so incomplete?” That’s when it occurred to me. I had explained how diabetes affected my family, and how prevention is being lived out in my life, but it doesn’t explain why I have the need to help others. 

WHY make the personal and financial sacrifices to start a non-profit organization to help others? Following my dream has not been easy on my family. I have been asked by numerous people why I don’t just quit and go get a corporate job; one that would be less stressful and would provide more for my family financially.

Photo by Gabriela Camerotti

Here’s the thing… sometimes you just have to follow your heart. My heart leads me to help others, because I have been on the receiving end before.

I know what it is like be in a bad situation and want desperately for someone to come save you from someone else or from yourself.

The answer to the WHY is this:  I have had my life threatened before, which has led me to want to help anyone who desperately wants the opportunity to fend off a disease that  may threaten their life. 

I believe that everyday a tragedy occurs. A person finds the strength and courage to free themselves from  a bad situation long enough to ask for help, only to be turned away and forced back into the bad situation from which they left.

I started a non-profit organization that would not just educate people, but would empower them to take control of their lives.  With support and guidance, they’re able to start a new chapter in their own life.  One in which they will be a co-author.

I am a Christian. I believe that God gives us both rainbows and rainstorms. I have definitely had my fair share of storms.

When I was 8 yrs old, a rare disease attacked my brain, taking my eye sight (in my left eye) and threatened to take my life.  I have been the target of a random act of violence and a sexual assault.  I lost many people I love, including one whose life was just beginning.

My life experiences could have pointed me towards food or other addictions. I could have easily “swapped chapters” with many of the people we serve.

The difference between my story, in which I’ve chosen to get better not bitter, and find strength out of sorrow, is that I have very loving and supportive family and friends.

Many of the people we serve don’t have a support system to help them to wade through the storm and look to the horizon for the next rainbow.

BLANK SLATE

As I mentioned in the beginning of my story, I left my conversation with the stranger in Union Square with a new opportunity; a blank slate on which I can write the next scene in my life and put it into motion.

Photo by Dougit Designs

My hope with the Skinny Gene Project has always been to give people the opportunity to live a better life.  My experiences have helped me to understand the importance of treating the person, not just the disease.  I believe we have to uplift the person if we want to defeat diabetes.

For this reason, the next chapter of my life will be a push to integrate a patient advocacy program into our organization. I want to provide prediabetes support groups and counseling that address the emotional and financial stressor that contributes to unhealthy eating.

God has given me a heart to help others. Making healthy lifestyle changes shouldn’t be about just making healthier food choices, but also about choosing to love oneself enough to truly live life.

I hope at the end, each person we touch will have the desire to pick up their pen and write a new beginning, a healthy story, into their life.

MY MOTIVATION

In short, my motivation is the preservation of life.

In 2007, I was 7 months pregnant with my daughter.  I guess you can say the hormones kicked in, and I had a maternal need to protect and provide for my child. I had seen that diabetes could destroy and devastate families.  I felt that it was my responsibility to do something to protect my own.

For the first time, our generation is in danger of outliving our children. This is not okay with me. We are supposed to protect our children from the things that can harm them. WHY not diabetes?  So in 2008, I started the Skinny Gene Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping others prevent diabetes.

My daughter is my inspiration and my motivation for living a healthy lifestyle.  As her mother, the best way for me to teach her is to lead by example. I want her to grow up thinking that Saturday morning hikes are normal, desserts are for special occasions (the not so healthy ones anyway), and that life should be lived- not taken for granted.

For the first 3 years of life, my daughter suffered from a severe case of pediatric G.E.R.D. We struggled to manage her pain levels and to find the underlying cause that was contributing to her condition. As doctors searched for a diagnosis to explain her symptoms, they would first have to rule out a few life-threatening diseases.  The “what if game” became a constant reminder of the uncertainty of tomorrow.

Anyone who is a parent and has watched their child suffer, knows that when you finally get through it, you’ll be face to face with a new perspective at the other end. Mine was this…

“There are things, that no matter how hard I try, I can’t prevent my daughter from battling.  Type 2 diabetes is NOT going to be one of them.”  

Since she is a minority, she already has a 50% likelihood of developing diabetes in her lifetime.  Fortunately, genetics alone will not predetermine a person for having type 2 diabetes.

Environment and lifestyle choices will also affect her outcome. My job, as her mother, is to give her the best possible opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

In essence, I’m living life with the intention of saving hers.

Click to read the FINAL section: THE BEGINNING- the real WHY