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Healthy Families Challenge: Meet the Jacksons
Filed under: Healthy Families Challenge
The last time I checked, Mississippi was still the fattest state in the nation.
And, in the 10 years that my son and I have been living here in northern Mississippi -- "hill country," as the natives call it -- the grease-laden cheeseburgers, country-fried steak, fried catfish and bubbly peach cobbler, have provided a good explanation as to why.
So it's with some pressure that we represent Mississippi, the Deep South, where soul food and Southern cuisine loom large and taste insanely good, and obesity and diabetes run rampant.
I, Deidra Jackson, 43, and my son, Jackson, 11, live in Oxford, home to Ole Miss (The University of Mississippi), my alma mater and my employer. I work there as an instructor of journalism. The two of us moved to Oxford in 2000. Jack's father and I divorced when Jack, who was born in Raleigh, N.C., was an infant. After deciding to leave Raleigh, where I was a newspaper editor and reporter, we moved to Mississippi to be closer to my parents, who reside in Columbus, some two hours away. Jack makes me happy and proud to be a mom. We make a great team.
We live in Lafayette County, six miles outside eclectic Oxford and its 120-plus restaurants, several of which feature award-winning chefs. Jack and I rarely eat at those restaurants. It's the more affordable family chain eateries and fast-food spots and their quesadilla burgers, egg rolls, rib-eye steaks, stuffed-crust pepperoni pizzas, chicken tenders, waffle fries, cheese breadsticks and chili dogs that are our bugaboos.
Even though we don't always eat as healthfully as I'd like, largely because of time constraints, Jack is svelte. He's nearly as tall as I am -- about 5 feet 7 inches -- and stays on the run, zooming by the living room window on his scooter, dirt bike or skateboard. He golfs and fences, and plays on soccer, baseball and basketball teams sponsored by the Oxford Park Commission or formed with neighborhood friends.
A sixth-grader, Jackson is a sensitive, smart, popular and personable young man. During the Healthy Families Challenge, he says, he'd like to improve his fitness level, build muscle tone and eat healthier.
Unlike most youngsters, Jack willingly eats fruits and veggies, and he's not into many sweets. That said, he has his limits. A couple of days ago, I replaced our usual two-percent milk with healthier "lite" soy milk. He said it smelled like "clay water" before reluctantly blending it with his artificial strawberry drink mix.
I bought the soy milk after reading this from a chain e-mail letter my aunt sent me, titled, "Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins."
"Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract," read the email. "Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells are being starved."
Jack said he threw up twice after downing the drink. Not sure if it was the "clay-water" or that extra heaping spoonful of sugar he dumped in, but either way, we've got work to do.
As I write this at 9:37 a.m., I'm munching on kettle-cooked hickory barbecue potato chips, not because I'm hungry, but because I want something savory and crunchy to help trigger my thoughts.
Help me.
I used to be a gymaholic. High-impact aerobics and weightlifting gave me a high like nothing else. But, over the years, I tired of working out. Whereas, I once ate whatever I wanted and watched the pounds melt away, I have for some time now watched them creep back on.
Being overweight is horrible. Socially, I believe people look around and beyond me for those who are more attractive and pleasing to their eyes; professionally, I suspect that a thinner me would be valued more and possibly closer to breaking that proverbial glass ceiling. I feel invisible. I'm miserable carrying around this excess load. I want to begin a fitness routine, but alone, I'm not motivated enough to just do it. Walking up and downstairs to my office and across campus is my daily exercise routine. I need to do more.
My goals are to lose at least 30 pounds in these eight months, get back to a routine of rigorous exercise and regularly prepare nutritious and tasty meals for my son and me.
I know I need to set a better example for Jackson to keep him healthy. And me, too.
Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
10-05-2010 @ 10:41AM
Deborah Valentin, L.Ac said...Deidra-
I admire your honesty and don't look back just move forward! I would begin with getting knowledge on healthy living. I found with my patients that fad diets don't work. It is adhering to core basic principles of eating healthy and working out. Here are some tips that not only you can do but you can involve your son:
Make sure you plan your week with what di so you stay organized.
Begin compiling recipes that are not expensive, healthy as well as easy and fast to make. You can find most recipes on the internet.
When you grocery shop stay focused on the recipes and make sure to fill your cabinets with non-processed foods.
As you begin to just make healthier choices you will not crave junk food and the pounds will come off. Overall, you will feel like a new person.
I wish you all the luck!
Sincerley,
Deborah Valentin, L.Ac
www.sage-wellness.com
Reply
10-05-2010 @ 11:34AM
Vanessa Wasta said...Dear Deidra,
I wish you all the best on meeting your goals for a healthy and happy lifestyle - bravo to you!
I want to point out though that the cancer update email you reference in your post is a long-running hoax that was not distributed by Johns Hopkins. Its contents are fabricated, and we've posted a statement and rebuttal to each of the items on our Web site. This forum doesn't allow urls in comments, but if you type Cancer Update hoax email and Johns Hopkins into any search engine, you'll find it.
And you may also be interested in learning more from the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center -- check out success stories and more on its Web site -- search for weight management center and Johns Hopkins.
Best regards,
Vanessa Wasta
Office of Public Affairs
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center
Reply
12-15-2010 @ 1:14PM
Rebecca said...I am currently engaged in a "Fitness Challenge" at my local Rec Center.Know how you feel about those sore muscles. I am sore in more than one place, all the time! The "Fitness Challenge" included 1x/month Nutritional Workshop. So, about those BBQ chips; it was suggested to do Food Journals (which I DON'T do), but along w/writing down what you eat, it was said that it is just as important to write down how you feel. What I do is when I am craving those chips, I STOP & think, "What am I really hungry for/what am I feeling right now?" Try & get PAST that feeling of anxiety. If you DO give in to the chips, NOTE how you feel after. If you DON'T & do something alternative, NOTE how you felt after yo got past that difficult moment of needing them & getting past it & doing a healthy or at least emotional change/alternative. Now, about the milk, poor Jack! Try Almond Breeze Vanilla - it is full of calcium, low in calories & tastes great (I don't care for soy, I get the clay water reference he spoke of). I don't use the unsweetened. The regular is 90 calories a cup. But I think the unsweetened wd be even better than that soy. It's made from Almonds, so hopefully you & Jack don't have any nut alllergies. Good luck, Dierdre! I feel for you!
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