In the Unlikely Event of a Water Landing…
It’s not much consolation that the flight attendant says, “In the unlikely event …” is it? We all know the speech, though:
“A loss of cabin pressure will result in an oxygen mask dropping down from the compartment above. Place the mask over your nose and mouth and breathe normally. Please secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others.”
We’ve heard it so many times we could probably recite it verbatim. But it’s also a useful metaphor for taking care of your own needs before attempting to help someone else. To that point, this week’s blogs launched our discussion of childhood obesity. I’ve been writing about weight loss for quite some time and this is the first time I’ve delved into this subject. The reason I haven’t before is because I believe you must get your own head on straight about weight loss, healthy living and body image before you can help your child. As parents, we are our children’s first – and best – teachers. They are a reflection of our attitudes and our behaviors. They do what we do, for better or worse, so we need to model the behavior we want to see in them. We must put our own oxygen mask on first, then we can help them. More exciting news items: I started podcasting! My first-ever podcast answers a question I had about the nutritional comparison of flaxseeds and fish oil as a source of Omega-3 fatty acids. If you have a question you’d like answered in a future podcast, click the “Ask Marilyn” button on the website and ask away! And just in time for summer, I have a new eBook out called “Fresh Fast Food!” These are all delicious salads that can be made in five minutes or less. No drive-thru can touch that! Reader Andrea was the lucky winner of a 3-month free yoga membership to my studio in Bellevue. Congratulations Andrea, I can’t wait to see you in class! And coincidentally (I swear, I didn’t pay them) they honored me as “Student of the Month” in a special feature on their Facebook page. Awwww, shucks! The weather’s warm, and the kids are finishing up the school year; they’re going to be home more so let’s make sure these months are full of fun activities, healthy food and lasting memories! Have a happy, healthy week! – Marilyn New this week
