Skin CLINIC
by Karen D. Jennings
6-30-2007
How Can I Educate My Daughter About
Her Health?
Dear Karen,
The other day, my daughter and I were engaged in a heated discussion about her
lack of commitment towards a healthy lifestyle. She thinks that I’m an
overbearing mother, trying to control her, but the truth is that I’m worried
about what will happen to her if she continues to ignore her health. Right now,
she only wants to have fun and eat what she wants. Her philosophy is “Live for
the moment” and worry about the consequences when they arrive or when she is
much older. She just turned 30 and is 50 pounds overweight. Her diet consists
mostly of junk food and fast food. She usually skips breakfast, so by midmorning
she is starved, grabbing everything in sight, cookies, cake, chips and candy.
That usually holds her over until she can get to the fast food drive-thru at
lunch.
We also discussed skin care, including sunscreen. She spends a lot of time out
in the sun and her skin is looking worn. She is starting to look much older than
her age. She thinks I am way too critical about her looks. Our conversation did
not stop there. I also brought up the importance of daily exercise and taking
supplements. Her response was eyes that rolled back before she walked away. How
can I make her realize that the bad choices she makes now can lead to a
disastrous meltdown in the future.
–Tina, Pasadena, CA
Dear Tina,
It is unfortunate, but many of us only learn by taking a fall. Then we suddenly
have a desire to change. The old saying “You don’t appreciate what you have
until you lose it” is so true. Sooner or later, most people will come to that
point where they want change, and my guess is, so will your daughter. You never
want to push your beliefs upon someone, as that will only turn them away. But it
never hurts to always have a strong conviction to your healthy lifestyle when
she is around. Keep open communication going about your daily lifestyle and how
great it feels to work out and eat right, how you feel better today than you did
years ago. Leave out some magazines and books on the subject. Most of all, be
patient, sooner or later she will be curious. You might event try giving her a
subscription to a health magazine. It is also good to research your family tree.
If you have overweight family members who have had cancer, diabetes, or heart
disease, you should share this information with your daughter. She might not
want to listen, but maybe some of the information will stay with her and one day
she will remember everything you said.
The same goes for her prematurely aging skin. What doesn’t bother her now will
concern her one day when she looks in the mirror and sees a person aging before
her eyes, wrinkles everywhere, around her eyes, forehead, and mouth, not to
mention the dehydrated skin and age spots. When that time arises, she will want
her mother and will know that her mother really wasn’t pushing things upon her
but truly loved her and cared about her well being.
She will then be ready to listen to:
1. Eat a well-balanced diet, low in fat, high in fiber, with lots of fruits and
vegetables
2. Exercise 5 to 6 times a week for 30-60 minutes (cardiovascular) and 3 times a
week with weights
3. Take a good daily multi-vitamin, high in vitamin B
4. Use a quality skin care line that includes a lactic acid (12% AHA) treatment,
retinol, an anti-aging moisturizer with vitamin C, chlorella and peptides,
sunscreen (SPF15 or above), and mask twice a week.
For more information about health, nutrition, or skin care, please write to us
at P.O. Box 2635, Costa Mesa, CA 92628 or call us at 949-481-9185.
© Karen Jennings 2007