When Your Kids Lie

There is no greater pain and frustration for any parent than when they see their kids start to LIE. Evey parent knows this. When your kids lie you begin to ask yourself where you've gone wrong or that what it is about you that makes your child rather not say the truth and, instead,lie. There are many factors involved and the usual reason is the child wanted to escape scolding, a bit of tongue lashing, perhaps, or even punishment. I don't know about you but my view in the matter is parent's should not punish their children. A healthy relationship between parent and child is based on trust. Trust is only gained when they communicate openly and honestly.

I remember as a child I lied to my parents on several occasion to avoid being grounded or punished. It is only now do I realize, now that I too am a parent, that even parents aren't perfect. We want so much to do what's best for our children that we unknowingly overdo it at times. We have to give our children some room to breathe and grow, to be able to make their own decision, and see for themselves what life is really like out there. When we talk to our children they become more comfortable in disclosing sensitive issues which they would rather hide than talk about. Some pointers to keep in mind are:

1. Encourage your children but LET THEM decide.

2. Give them some room for personal growth. Let them mingle with their peers.

3. When you say something say it like you MEAN IT and when you say you are going to do something, DO IT. Don't make excuses because that's the first step in creating a distance between you and your child.

4. Learn to TRUST your child. Let him or her feel that you too are thriving on this bond.

5. Interfere only when you have to. Let them come to you if they seek advice or help but reassure them that you are there for them.

6. Find things that you enjoy together and make it a point to do them regardless of your schedule or commitments.

7. Remember that your child is your legacy and he or she will carry on to their children what you have taught.

Parenting is a learn-as-you-go experience. No matter what advice is bestowed on you if you are a new parent you know that nothing really compares to being one day in and day out. Good parenting is also about learning. As a parent we need to be flexible and open-minded. It really hurts when your kids start to lie and the only way to break the habit is to explain to them at the level they can understand that you were hurt. Try to undermine the reason why they needed to lie and address this. Never leave this out in the open because lying can become habitual. Let them know and feel that you are there for them and no matter how they do wrong you will always love them. I always say being a parent is an adventure. The sleepless nights having to change diapers or warm milk bottles gave way to screaming, running little preschoolers and having to look for almost anything from the tv remote to your shoes. It is fun and everyday something new always comes up. So you parents out there, cherish every moment because your kids will only be young once. Next thing you know you are paying for college tuition and dealing with boyfriends or girlfriends . Ahh, parenting indeed.

How to (not) lose 10 pounds in 10 days.

Losing weight is never easy. If you go to the internet and try to look for weight loss programs or diets you will be astounded by how much material is actually out there. I guess you'd have to ask yourself if it really works and those testimonials can come in handy. Well, the whole objective of losing weight, at least for most people, is to lose as much as possible in as little time as possible. The whole notion of an exercise program is simply to adjust the body's ability to take up food and burn it for energy. Our Metabolic Rate is entirely dependent on how much ( or how little ) activity we do. Exercising enables us to burn our body's fuel reserves because it allows our body to metabolize these fuels faster. As we exercise our body uses up these metabolic fuels and gives off heat. We perspire in order to help our body cool down from heat produced by metabolism.

How much fat can we actually burn? Well, our body has its own preference on which fuel to utilize first. Carbohydrates get used up first but so does protein when carbohydrates start to dwindle. Our body will use protein over fat because our metabolic pathways are not always 2 way streets. By that I mean we can't always convert a fuel source to another without having to convert it to something else first. We do burn the fat, mind you, but not in the way we thought we are going to burn it.

You also have to remember that we are made of 70% water. If we were going to lose 10 pounds in 10 days, it is very possible but at the cost of depriving ourselves of adequate hydration (water). It's not only unsafe but can be life-threatening as well. Dehydration can kill,folks. Remember that we can survive a month without food but we can't survive a week without water. So can we lose 10 pounds in 10 days? No, not safely. The best way to lose weight as I have alluded to in one of my previous posts is to slowly train our minds in registering stimuli from our favorite foods. We need to be more conscious of What we eat as well as HOW MUCH we eat. We also need to be aware of how our body adjusts to the type of exercises we do as well as their intensity. Remember that there is no specific exercise program for anyone. Your instructor may tailor a program for you in terms of what your goals are but the truth is there is no better teacher than your own body. Take things in moderation. Don't starve yourself just because you felt guilty. The hunger pang will be so much more that you'd end up eating more and more.

Here's a tip for you; before you try to lose weight cleanse your body first. Water cleansing is effective but can only clean you so far. Cleansing tea is also an alternative, if you can stand the taste. The purpose of cleansing is to prime our bodies to the changes in our eating habits that we will be implementing. Removal of wastes and toxins can also improve our absorption of nutrients. Here's another tip; fiber adds bulk and, therefore, satiety. It also helps in "sponging up" some of the fats in our diets before they get absorbed. So use more of fiber and be intimate with your favorite chair once again.

Consult your physician before attempting to undergo any exercise program. Learn the nutritional value of the foods you eat. Learn to eat to sustain your body of what it needs. Natural foods are best. Until our next post,folks. Do take care and thank you for your time.