Dear OPYOW Enthusiasts,
The fact that I have spent the last twelve years employed as a special educator, hold a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree in Special Education from National Louis University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from UIC are not what makes me uniquely qualified to sit on this panel. Instead, I will point out that I moved out of infanthood as a cherubesque toddler, grew into a chubby kid, moved on to become a pleasingly plump ‘tween, and spent most of my life battling against being over weight!
It did not help that I came from a family of Eastern European descent that loved food and holidays! When I look back on the menus that were put in front of me, knowing what we know today, I am astounded that I wasn’t even more grossly obese! I do believe that what saved me from such a fate was my early interest in sports and being active. My love for “playing” outside, no matter what the activity, was a likely factor in keeping some weight gain at bay!. During the years I was growing up, there was little emphasis on girls competing in sports outside of those noted in the Olympics, like Peggy Fleming or in the news media spot light, such as Billie Jean King!
Luckily I was able to connect with the game of tennis and the team sport of volleyball during my high school and college years! While the struggle with eating properly continued, at least there was enough activity to assist me in spending my young adult years being only moderately overweight. Then, life happened, and marriage, family obligations , and the adult responsibilities of home ownership and mortgages set in. During these adult years, little by little I lost the sense of “play” that had been so innate as a youngster and found less and less time for exercise and sports participation.
Two years ago, I found myself to be in poor health with prescriptions for diabetic and cholesterol lowering drugs in my hand! I realized that I needed to get back to basics and get that sense of “play” and “activity” back into my life. In the past two years I have lost 88 pounds and have become an A.A.P.F. competitive power lifter in the Master’s category. Two years ago, I could not get up and down from a chair 10 times in a row without being totally winded. Today I can squat 347 lbs of free weights, dead lift 286 and bench press close to 200! All of this accomplished being “50 something”! I was lucky to have crossed paths with a personal trainer who kept me motivated and focused upon my goals to become healthy and competitive in a sport once again! Thanks Matt and the Boys at ZenZen Barbell who accepted me into their fold! I was also blessed with colleagues ,friends, and relatives that collectively became an ongoing source of encouragement and moral support.
So, my message to all of the adults out there, help any child you can, to avoid all of the challenges that I lived through! Find fun and challenging ways to show them the route to good nutrition and lead them to engaging movement activities! Most of all, besides instructing, BECOME the example. The fight against childhood obesity needs to come from example not platitudes! I wish that I had that example at a much earlier age!
Maria.
