Yesterday morning over breakfast, her second for the day (so far totalling 3 bowls of cereal (before church) and two biscuits, bacon, scrambled eggs and lemonade at Bob Evans (after church)), Lindsey, my lovely 13 year old, announced that her goal for 2008 was to have a "six pack" by the end of summer. She is currently on swim team. They swim six days a week. Besides their meets which are generally two or three a week, they swim on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, they swim from 5:45a to 7:00a . . . on Saturday, they can sleep in and only swim from 7:00a to 9:00a).
So, she asked me how to do this. I know, I know, I am obese, consider organizing my yarn stash as serious exercise, and yet she asks me about abs of steel. Go figure. I said eating correctly (more fruits and vegetables) and exercising. Obviously, she presumed I made a mistake, made a face only a 13 year could accomplish and said that "I'll look online."
Great fun. Before dinner, she checked online and was totally bummed because everything she found said that the only way to get a "six-pack" was to eat correctly (minimum of 8 servings of fruits/vegetables per day) and to exercise. She then proceeded to eat two pieces of chicken, 3 potato wedges (roasted potatoes - not her favorite because they just aren't as good as fries), 1/4 cup of brocolli and two bisquits.
By the way, she is 5'1" and weighs 101. Frankly, she looks great. The swimming has toned her arms and legs. She loves swimming the 500 meter and since the beginning of the season has shaved 132 seconds (and incredible feat) off of her time and ended up in second place for the event at this past weekend's meet, only losing by 2 seconds.
So, the question is why does she want a six pack . . . cause it will increase her muscle mass and she will be able to eat more cereal for breakfast. Gotta love the logic of a healthy 13 year old. If she wasn't so terribly annoying sometimes, she would be great fun to be around.
2 comments:
I have a 15 year old who plays softball year round and I know what you mean. She works out in the school gym and runs every morning before coming home to eat a serving bowl size bowl of cereal. She learned from me that serving bowls portions are easier than seconds. Being 5'9" 120 she ask how to get the "cut" she see's in the others. Less soda and more water. They ice skate 5 nights a week as a way to work on the upper legs but I think it's just to talk to the boys who skate there. I told her if she want to be serious then cut out the sugar and the starches and it will happen. She remembers me racing bicycles and in the single digit body fat but that was years ago. It's all commitment. I prefer my softer side now. Like Sears. :P
Yes - you gotta love teen-age girls! And all of their energy - just give me one-tenth of it and I'd be happy!
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