Posts: 377
2/18/11 10:39 A

Spaghetti is a weekly staple in our house. The kids would eat it every day, if they could. I found Ronzoni Garden Delights spaghetti noodles. they are made with tomato, carrots, and spinach. The box claims a full serving of veggies in a 4 oz. serving, but I don't put a lot of stock in that. They have 4g of fiber and 7g of protein per serving, and my kids LOVE them!

SparkPoints: (76,238)
Fitness Minutes: (58,466)
Posts: 13,007
2/12/11 10:41 A

I took my kids to the Cupids Ball that our town puts on so they could dance and move around.

current weight: 235.0

275 238.75 202.5 166.25

130

SparkPoints: (38,084)
Fitness Minutes: (18,991)
Posts: 943
9/12/10 9:44 A

Play tag and include them in some of my cardiovascular exercise.

Posts: 130
8/6/10 6:34 P

So I have 2 kids, the 8 year old is overweight for his age, but also very tall. He drinks copious amounts of water and his diet centers around fruits and veggies, more fruit than anything else. He's always been this way, and his 4year old sister is tall and thin for her age, but is a very picky eater, centering around SWEETS. Needless to say, the family dinner is the one time that everyone eats the same thing,and because of spark I get to take that small step to teaching my kids about portion control and trying new foods once a day. Kids learn from example, and I do remember a time (pre teen) when I rebelled from my mom's watchful eye of whole wheat this and no dressing on that, but here i am at 36 with my own kids, and for the last 10 yers I've been putting her tools she gave me into practice.

SparkPoints: (26,233)
Fitness Minutes: (30,960)
Posts: 2,749
7/7/10 7:43 P

Be a great role model in things both big & small. Sometimes we have to change things we don't want to change. Sometimes we don't see things that need to be changed because they are on auto-pilot. Decide to pay close attention to what you do, say & even think because thoughts are goals as well. Parents are a child's major mentor & they will hold you to your word/behavior, even if it is silently.

eliz

Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht
Nurse Educator

SparkPoints: (1,997)
Fitness Minutes: (1,577)
Posts: 199
6/16/10 9:04 P

#372 - Get music for everyone to listen to when walking/jogging ... since we run in a circle a little boom box works for us!

current weight: 166.0

175 171.25 167.5 163.75

160

SparkPoints: (1,997)
Fitness Minutes: (1,577)
Posts: 199
6/14/10 5:06 P

#371 - exercise with kids (push ups, sit ups, etc) while watching a cool kid show that keeps their attention ... they'll do more than they think they can cause they aren't concentrating on "how hard the exercise is" but on the show instead!!! We did and the kids maxed more than they ever thought they could =D

current weight: 166.0

175 171.25 167.5 163.75

160

SparkPoints: (1,997)
Fitness Minutes: (1,577)
Posts: 199
6/11/10 10:23 A

#370 ... find a challenge or program and do it together constantly challenging each other to do better

current weight: 166.0

175 171.25 167.5 163.75

160

SparkPoints: (62,587)
Fitness Minutes: (51,399)
Posts: 10,079
6/9/10 5:26 P

#369...Go for a few walks this week in the country!

Pounds lost: 10.0

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20

Posts: 353
6/9/10 10:58 A

#368 Got our bikes out of the basement and went for a 10k ride along the bike path and stopped for a water and apple break half way.

May Minutes: 0

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SparkPoints: (1,997)
Fitness Minutes: (1,577)
Posts: 199
6/2/10 10:56 P

#367

Started the Couch-to-5K program with the children today

current weight: 166.0

175 171.25 167.5 163.75

160

Posts: 33
3/3/10 6:42 P

It sucks how cold and rainy the weather has been, but I just found out that the very reasonably priced local kids museum has an indoor play area for toddlers. An annual membership that includes unlimited visits for our whole family costs only $60, and also gives us a free day pass for a friend and two free tickets to a nearby skating rink.

Posts: 18
3/2/10 11:50 P

#365: Went to Powell Gardens today and walked around for 2 hours. This is the first day it has been warm and sunny enough to do this!!

Pounds lost: 0.0

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30

SparkPoints: (1,732)
Fitness Minutes: (870)
Posts: 97
3/1/10 7:14 P

We took our 5-year-old daughter to ride her new bike after dinner. We spent 30 minutes trying to convince her she would not fall over, but at least she was moving!

Posts: 1,535
2/26/10 4:42 P

JADALLY - Maybe your daughter is thirsty and doesn't realize it. My son was eating like there was no tomorrow and I couldn't figure out how to help him. We incorporated an only healthy snack rule, but he was stil eating too much. When I joined SP and realized I wasn't drinking enough water I took a look at his consumption. Now I ask him to drink at least 8 oz of water before snaking. He now eats 3 meals a day with an occasional nightime snack.

SparkPoints: (17,610)
Fitness Minutes: (23,138)
Posts: 258
2/25/10 11:29 A

I give them fresh fruit for snack at school

offering healthier after school snacks - fruit, veg, something filling

NOT reward them with FOOD - this is a really hard habit to break, but possible with some effort!

Involve them in the grocery shopping

Let them help in the kitchen - when possible

I use the following website for information that they can check out when there are questions about food, fitness and just health in general www.kidshealth.org

current weight: 174.5

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155

Posts: 1
2/21/10 12:36 P

I have the same problems with my boyfriends daughters, 3 are slim and still live with their mother and the one who lives dad is the one who is about 20-30 lbs overweight. She has complained about being teased at school. She gets home from school and eats till supper time, sometimes doesn't finish supper and an hour later hungry and eating off and on till bedtime. How can you help a 10 year old control all that grazing? Its not healthy food she is grazing on either.

Posts: 260
1/31/10 6:39 P

I have 2 daughters, 14 & 6. My 14 yr old has the body of a goddess, and my 6 yr old is completely different. She is always ALWAYS eating. Before breaky snacking before lunch, eats lunch snacks till dinner and is still getting out of bed at 9pm at night because she says she's hungry. I don't want her to be obese so i have cupboards full of healthy foods and lots and lots of fruit and cold water which i give to her hoping it will fill her up. Any ideas anyone on how to keep her full?

Posts: 890
11/5/09 3:37 P

We walk together every day, eat healthy foods most of the time, play together everyday, and the 3 yo is in gymnastics and swimming at the YMCA. I'm considering signing her up for basketball as well. The almost 9 mo? He's got to wait for that stuff! I also don't hide my workouts despite doing them while kids are napping and we try to go hiking and riding every weekend.

current weight: 240.0

260 227.5 195 162.5

130

SparkPoints: (58,253)
Fitness Minutes: (47,068)
Posts: 3,269
7/30/09 3:39 A

To DBABYBELLY

My older daughter used to be the same when she was about 2 years old. Didn't like to eat very much - only liked the kids small yogurt pots, and canned spaghetti/pasta shapes, and then would drink large amounts of milk. However once she started going to nursery - she just seemed to come out of that phase and started eating bits of everything that I put on her plate. As long as your family doctor/nurse is not worried about her weight, keep offering her the normal family meals and eventually this phase should pass.

Good luck:)

Posts: 66
7/22/09 11:29 A

4-year-old will play soccer this fall, and I think the 18-mo-old will get enough exercise through pure silliness!

But, I worry - the 18-mo-old looks skinny to me, though she is in the 25% for weight, and 10% for height. But, she won't eat regular family food, and we don't give snacks after supper, to try and encourage her to eat her supper. So - she wakes up 2 to 4 times per night and asks for milk (!!!!). She'll cry and stay awake if I don't give in, but I worry that this is a terrible habit, besides being bad for her teeth. Help!

Posts: 85
7/18/09 9:32 P

Hi All,

Does anyone know how many cups of water a 6 year old is suppose to drink? Do kids need the same amount as an adult??

SparkPoints: (35,463)
Fitness Minutes: (8,879)
Posts: 5,967
5/29/09 11:00 P

We went for an hour walk after dinner as a family. This was our third walk this week plus our longest!!

current weight: 246.6

247 221.5 196 170.5

145

Posts: 483
5/29/09 8:51 A

Took a 3 mile hike up to Cunningham Falls (Catoctin Mountain)

Pounds lost: 2.0

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40

Posts: 128
4/28/09 5:54 A

My daughter and I try to keep "junk" calories at around 150-200 per day. That like 4 kisses after lunch, and a skinny cow after dinner. We also try not to drink our calories, with the exception of milk or not more than 1 cup of calcium fortified OJ a day.

Posts: 19,736
4/16/09 1:28 A

I have two girls, ages 10 yrs and 2 1/2 yrs; both are quite active, but my oldest daughter is always asking me if she's fat? My lifestyle change has definitely affected her~it's hard to explain the difference between a lifestyle change and a diet. any suggestions?


HUGS,
Melissa

current weight: 226.8

243 213.5 184 154.5

125

SparkPoints: (57,453)
Fitness Minutes: (40,638)
Posts: 2,789
3/18/09 3:43 A

I mentioned the family adventure to my daughter, and ask her if shes had any fruit or veggies at school. She always comes home very excited to tell me if she ate them. She also tells me what she does at school to stay active during recess. Whenever we are together, I make sure we are doing something physical everyday. When the weather is bad, we will turn on Exercise on Demand, and do Yoga or Hip Hop aerobics. When its nice, we are always at the park, walking, scootering or skating. I make sure that she knows its important to do healthy things every day. I have even had her pick her own healthy snacks out at the grocery store... she loves that!

Edited by: ATHENAFOREVER81 at: 3/18/2009 (03:43)

Pounds lost: 31.0

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SparkPoints: (1,129)
Fitness Minutes: (1,320)
Posts: 106
3/17/09 10:59 A

My kids really don't have a problem eating healthy foods, and I don't offer too much of an alternative. There's no cookies around and we don't go to fast food joints. I don't load them up with juice, their allowed to have 1 juice drink everyday, and I give them 2 glasses of milk, if they're thirsty they drink water. I think it's great that my 1 and 2 year old both ask for water. They like working out with me, and we do silly dances and play outside a lot. They're pretty much still at the age that they'll do anything I do so I have to set the good example and only eat foods that I'd want them to eat and drink what I'd want them to drink. Granted I did gain my weight by snacking at night (but they didn't see it).
So, Ya my boys are doing alright right now... just gotta keep it up. But I think the best thing you can do is set the example for them.

current weight: 176.0

188 171 154 137

120

SparkPoints: (50,371)
Fitness Minutes: (42,084)
Posts: 11,661
12/5/08 7:00 P

Hi Becky - we have a 5-year old with all kinds of allergies - it's tough!

You might want to take a look at this team if you haven't already:

www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individ
ual.asp?gid=827

We keep working at it and he's slowly getting better. Do you have dust mite covers for the mattress and pillows if he's allergic to dust mites? I'd also make sure you change your furnace filters regularly and have the highest quality possible. Depending on the age of your house, you might want to have your hvac ducts cleaned out.

Another thing you may want to research (this isn't a recommendation) is Omega 3 - I do better with my dust mite allergies when I take this.

Posts: 54
12/3/08 10:00 P

Hi- I was wondering if anyone here has or is dealing with asthma and allergies effected it. my 6 year old son has asthma and allergies that tend to set him off. And I am doing what I can think of to do, cleaning, dusting, carpet out, allergy meds. He still seems to have these allergies that flare up and make the asthma worse and he's had a non-stop ear infection that his doctor is attributing to allergies. I don't know what else to do. He's on singular daily.

I would appreciate any tips-if you have any. Thanks!! Becky

Posts: 2
11/2/08 11:31 P

I grew up taking a boiled egg for lunch because I wouldn't eat sandwiches...My mom put a ziploc of ice and it lasted fine until lunch time.

Posts: 288
10/7/08 6:05 A

Hello everyone. I have 3 sons, 2 have no weight problem but my middle son is morbidly obese - he takes part in sport at school (Hockey) and sometimes even walks home from school.

My question is... how do I motivate him to lose weight and not let him think that he is dieting. I want it to be a lifestyle change. Any ideas ??

current weight: 224.0

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169

SparkPoints: (20,994)
Fitness Minutes: (21,510)
Posts: 820
9/23/08 12:33 P

We have exercise CDs that the kids watch. They picked some out and so far they have been helping to keep the kids motivated.

current weight: 142.0

149 145.5 142 138.5

135

SparkPoints: (1,265)
Fitness Minutes: (810)
Posts: 31
9/23/08 9:30 A

My 10 year old looks for snacks and goes to her room to hide and eat them. If we have any cookies around or even fruit she hides to eat it. Yesterday it seems she ate her lunch and then some and came home early from school because her stomach was hurting but half an hour later my mother said she ate some ramen soup. What can I do? I really am worried.

current weight: 210.0

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Posts: 214
9/14/08 7:38 P

now my almost 12 yr old boy who is supposed to be really watching his weight went out to eat with friends and bragged that is was a buffet as he carried in his dessert he was too full to finish argh !!!!
should ban buffets, especially from preteen boys!

Pounds lost: 8.8

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48.5

Posts: 214
9/11/08 7:28 A

well my 8 yr old girl yesterday bought school lunch and ate the cookie and threw the rest out! tried packing at home too and its a trading game.

Pounds lost: 8.8

0 12.125 24.25 36.375

48.5

SparkPoints: (53,012)
Fitness Minutes: (27,888)
Posts: 12,304
8/30/08 9:27 A

Today my girls and i have made a big bowl of fresh fruit salad, they really enjoyed helping to do it.
Now they are outside playing in the garden.
Jasmine

current weight: 155.4

160 148 136 124

112

Posts: 26
8/26/08 3:53 P

Hi! I am limiting the amount of TV and Video Games my kids watch. I have started this school year making their breakfast at home instead of letting them eat biscuits and gravy at school. I am also going to start have them make their lunch at home with healthy foods. They only drink water at home unless it is meal time then it is Organic Apple Juice, OJ, or Organic Milk.

SparkPoints: (53,012)
Fitness Minutes: (27,888)
Posts: 12,304
8/25/08 5:55 P

Limit how much tv my girls watch.
Limit how much chocolate they have, make one day a week (Friday) a treat day.
Introduce new fruit and veg.

current weight: 155.4

160 148 136 124

112

Posts: 337
8/15/08 2:29 P

Wow, what a delimna. That would be rough. I thought the wii fit would help, but the five year old was bothered when it said he was overweight, and doesn't really play much. I, though, play whenever I can find time.

Pounds lost: 0.0

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Posts: 4,601
8/15/08 10:31 A

I hear you on the video games. I turn off the PS3 and they move onto the computer. I turn that off and they turn the TV on. It gets ridiculous! We tried implementing time limits but the problem is with 4 of them wanting to use them, they al sit around each other and will spend hours on it. Sooo we stopped that for now and are trying to figure out the best approach. It's hard with tv time too since they are a wide range in ages and girls and boys. If you tell them to choose a show together to watch, they can't agree. BUT if you let each one pick a show, they will sit there and watch the 3 year olds sow and he'll watch the 9 years old show. I'm getting ready to turn it off completely!

Anyway, I try to take them outside as much as possible and walk to the playground. It gets hard because the 6 month old is not happy in his carseat or the stroller so we don't get out as much as I would like. DH has been trying to get home early froom work sometimes and take them on bike rides or swimming while I stay home with baby. THat seems to work out ok if he can get home.

Pounds lost: 0.0

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Posts: 337
8/14/08 4:32 P

I started shutting off the video games and doing things outside with him. We try to stay out until it gets dark. With fall approaching, I am afraid we'll fall back into old habits. He's only five and we live in a small town, so there are few options for anyone, much less the young ones.

Pounds lost: 0.0

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Posts: 175
7/31/08 12:08 A

Bought a season pass to the community pool. Swimming for 2 hrs about 2-3 days per week. Signed kids up for fall sports/dance.

Pounds lost: 0.0

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15

SparkPoints: (6,230)
Fitness Minutes: (2,197)
Posts: 630
7/25/08 2:02 A

#333

We got a slip and slide for the kids to play on. The whole neighborhood is hanging at our house. Best $20 I ever spent. LOL

current weight: 276.8

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145

SparkPoints: (9,230)
Fitness Minutes: (7,395)
Posts: 571
7/23/08 8:20 A

My son has been eating breakfast with me everyday, so at least he is getting a healthy breakfast and not a lot of sugar.

current weight: 254.0

265 248.75 232.5 216.25

200

SparkPoints: (42,357)
Fitness Minutes: (39,763)
Posts: 3,758
7/21/08 11:32 P

We went to the farmers market, so the kids could pick out some new local foods.

Pounds lost: 0.0

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30.2

Posts: 7,028
6/30/08 6:30 P

Took my son for a 20 minute bike ride. Told him I wanted to try and do this every day to get him out and moving. Have cut back on second helpings for him, and he has been maintaining his weight. Small steps is what we are taking at our house to keep him healthy, and work on slimming down.

current weight: 204.8

204.8 193.6 182.4 171.2

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Posts: 1,324
6/25/08 6:27 P

Hello, FLOWERTULIP.

I understand some of the cheese products and of course the crackers and fruit. I just don't know about turkey. And I do like the idea of soy butter. Now, that sounds quite interesting.

I'm wondering if the schools have their own suggestions.

Posts: 257
6/25/08 9:57 A

My kids haven't started school, but we have this problem at the gym and I didn't want to just send them with snack food all the time, so I found that you can pack soy butter and my kids like it just fine. I also pack cheese and turkey and crackers and fruit.

Posts: 257
6/25/08 9:56 A

My kids haven't started school, but we have this problem at the gym and I didn't want to just send them with snack food all the time, so I found that you can pack soy butter and my kids like it just fine. I also pack cheese and turkey and crackers and fruit.

Posts: 1,324
6/16/08 10:22 A

Hello everyone. Family was talking about food allergies this weekend and wondering what I will do to substitute our favourite peanut butter and jam sandwich when the four-year old starts kindergarten in the Fall, full days by the way. I didn't like any of the suggestions I heard.

What is recommendable? If we cannot refrigerate foods at school and do not want additives in foods (cheese slices, etc), do we have to resort to snacks?

I might as well be prepared ahead of time. I'll look through the SparkRecipes and see if there are suggestions.

Posts: 1,813
6/16/08 7:22 A

I can't hide anything from my dgt. She's learned to pick through it and question ingredients just like her dad. It's him i have to work on!

Pounds lost: 12.0

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Posts: 1,324
6/10/08 9:58 A

Thanks Future150. I've never needed 'tricks' with anyone before. The only success I have had with the four-year old is to hide sweet potato and carrots in muffins and quick breads. And helping to prepare them definitely does not work with this little one.

Again, I'll be trying to disguise veggies in dips. She loves dab-dab-dabbing fruits into yogurt. Now, I'll have to experiment with different dips.

And she won't eat meat. Won't give up!

Posts: 44
6/10/08 12:28 A

One way I have gotten my kids to eat veggies is to let them be part of the prep. Popping the sugar snap peas, radishes I would give them a bucket and they would wash them. scrubbing carrots. My kids prefer their cucumbers cut into spears instead of slices. Peppers in rings. I don't know why this matters but to them it does. Also tryout the veggies when they are in season in your area they will be fresh and often sweeter. Try some orange or red peppers they are very sweet. I don't tell my kids the name of stuff until after they try it. and when all else fails RANCH DIP and cheese sauce! You can hide the veggies in ground meat stuff pretty easy I put shredded zuch (which I hate), or carrots in meat loaf and nobody notices or has a problem, Spagetti squash mixed in with spagetti pasta and cover in sauce. My kids also love acorn squash and sweet potatoes (whole and baked as fries) Good Luck!

Posts: 1,324
6/9/08 10:26 A

Hello everyone.

Every child seems different. My three children (now adults) would line up at the salad buffets while out on trips and eat healthily. Now, my two-year old grandson is the same. But his four-year old sister is very picky and refuses to eat veggies and meat. At least, she likes yogurts, cheeses, cereals and fruits. So, a child's vitamin is essential.

"Veggies make me sick! I'm allergic to all veggies!"

Yes, I'm trying to pursuade her parents to listen to their own comments and try eating more healthily (overweight, poor eaters).

Any suggestions to get a four-year old to eat veggies? At the moment, I'm disguising them in sweet potato pie/cheesecake and carrot cake. I think I need other items and how to introduce them to her diet.

And oh yes, I am the major caregiver while her parents are in another city trying to establish themselves.

Fun times!

Posts: 257
6/8/08 10:11 P

Well, lots of comments on exercise, but this topic could be lots of things and food is a big one at my house. Oh how kids love snacks! We are trying to teach the 2 year old that she needs to eat dinner when we do and there are no snacks after dinner when she is still hungry because she didn't eat dinner. This is so difficult because my kids are actually very skinny and I think my little one needs calories through the day, but not eating dinner and begging for food later just won't fly with me! That's when we eat a lot of those veggies! So that has been my challenging step to keep my kids healthy.

Posts: 1,813
6/7/08 11:55 P

#324 - gardened together and searched for the shovel my 2 yo threw somewhere. :-)

Pounds lost: 12.0

0 7.25 14.5 21.75

29

SparkPoints: (60,550)
Fitness Minutes: (49,194)
Posts: 5,592
6/3/08 11:20 P

#323 My kids and I walked the dog 2 miles tonight..

current weight: 162.8

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125

Posts: 257
6/3/08 12:27 A

Sprinkler park! Run run run!

Posts: 249
6/1/08 11:20 A

#320

My Daughter and I are getting ready to do a walking exercise video todether.

Posts: 1,813
5/31/08 10:08 P

#319 - walked 3 miles with my son in a stroller

Pounds lost: 12.0

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Posts: 1,813
5/30/08 6:27 P

#318 - again I'm posting in advance
My daughter is having a gymnastics birthday party

Pounds lost: 12.0

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Posts: 1,813
5/30/08 6:27 P

#317 - I'm posting in advance but on sunday -
my kids and I will be walking in the kidney walk at the zoo.

Pounds lost: 12.0

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Posts: 1,813
5/30/08 6:26 P

#316 -
walked to the store

Pounds lost: 12.0

0 7.25 14.5 21.75

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SparkPoints: (171,090)
Fitness Minutes: (93,326)
Posts: 10,511
5/29/08 12:12 A

We all went for a walk in the park today.

current weight: 181.2

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140

Posts: 257
5/27/08 5:35 P

Moved ALL the furniture out of the den to have the carpets cleaned and the kids had a lot of fun dancing in the bare room while we waited for the cleaners..who were VERY VERY late...lots of dancing.

Posts: 1,813
5/26/08 9:36 P

#313 - went for a hike at the zoo

Pounds lost: 12.0

0 7.25 14.5 21.75

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Posts: 1,813
5/25/08 10:33 P

#312 - gardening with the kids

Pounds lost: 12.0

0 7.25 14.5 21.75

29

Posts: 1,813
5/25/08 10:33 P

#311 - walk around the neighborhood

Pounds lost: 12.0

0 7.25 14.5 21.75

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Posts: 1,813
5/21/08 11:25 P

#310 - danced with the stars

Pounds lost: 12.0

0 7.25 14.5 21.75

29

Posts: 1,900
5/21/08 3:12 P

#309 - went to the park this morning and played for almost 2 hours

current weight: 130.0

137 134 131 128

125

Posts: 1,813
5/19/08 3:19 P

#308 - dance class tonight

Pounds lost: 12.0

0 7.25 14.5 21.75

29

Posts: 1,813
5/17/08 10:33 P

#307 - played on the playground

Pounds lost: 12.0

0 7.25 14.5 21.75

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Posts: 1,813
5/12/08 10:34 P

#306
Danced with the stars on "Dancing with the stars"

Pounds lost: 12.0

0 7.25 14.5 21.75

29