[kellishaver]

As an overweight parent, I know I'm overweight and am working to change that, with slow, but steady results.

I've always been very conscious of my child's weight, because I don't want her dealing with the same feelings of shame, discomfort, lack of energy, etc. that I went through as a kid, or to face the medical problems later in life that I'm now working hard to avoid. This is, for me, a Really Big Deal. Being overweight sucks. I want better for my kid.

If anything, having a kid has helped me, because teaching healthy lifestyle and eating habits by example is far better than telling her one thing and doing something totally different, myself.

On the other hand, I have an overweight friend with a 100+lb, average height, 9yr olds who will argue all day that the kid "isn't fat."