[shcirerf]

This might get a bit long so bear with me. Will also post this in a WW thread, as it does also relate there!

I am a Lifetime/maintaining WW member. Recently we've had 17 year old girl join our group. So proud of her.

However, she lives with her grandparents and her grandmother has just returned from stem cell transplant treatment and her grandfather has a heart condition.

I give her high fives for joining and continuing to come to meetings.

However, I can see she is struggling, and tonight she broke down and cried when she weighed in.

I live in a small community and a local therapist has been coming to meetings as well and always sits with, (I'll call her Sam). So I think there is a connection there.

Anyway, Sam has been trying so hard. Tonight, after the breakdown and the meeting, she bought some cook books and I over heard her telling the receptionist she was going to give cooking a whirl, since what she's been trying hasn't been working.

I know her, because her family brings there dog to the veterinary hospital where I work.

Anyway, since I left the meeting, I've been racking my brain, thinking of ways to help her. I don't want to be intrusive, but I felt so bad for her, seeing her in front of me and crying and knowing the things I know. I want to be supportive in a good way.

Don't get me wrong, her grandparents are great people, but she has so much going on in her life, while I can see why she is trying to address her health, I can also see how this could seem a mountain you could never climb.

I thought to start off, I would give her a few of my easy, 2 or 3 ingredient WW recipes, that you can whip out in the microwave. If she's good with that, I'll work on a few more.

She's been coming faithfully for 8 weeks, and she is trying, most people in her situation would have quit by now, and I so badly want to encourage her to not give up!

[IanG]

Maybe you're just what she needs right now. I came to weight loss when a lot seemed to be falling down in the rest of my life and it was time for a change. Her situation might be just what she needs to keep with this. So just keep doing what you are doing.

[HungryHungryHippo]

I think that's such a great idea!

[LockItUp]

I think the easy recipes are a great idea! Then go from there depending on her receptiveness!

[changeforme]

i think reaching out to her in anyway is awesome. sometimes we just need to know others are out there, ya know?

thank you for caring so much

[shcirerf]

Thank you!

I just want for her to succeed, and I have so much admiration for her, at her age, taking this on!

She's got so much to learn, I fear she will get overwhelmed and give up.

Seeing her in tears was tough! I do have to give our leader a big kudo, she handled it very well, as did all the folks waiting to weigh in. We just patiently waited while they talked.

I still want to just cry for her!

[Angihas2]

I think it's important for those that can teach, do so. Especially if your heart is urging you to. I truly wish at 17, when I was only 20 or so pounds overweight I had had someone in my life who recognized that I wanted to change, but didn't know where to start. I walked, everywhere, like miles a day, but I didn't know, in my teens that WHAT you eat was sometimes more important than how MUCH you ate.

[shcirerf]

I'm going to organize some of my easy recipes for her. We'll see where it goes from there!

[Mommy42Angels]

I think a lot of us can relate to what it felt like to be 17 and insecure about your body. I know that I welcomed encouragement of any kind with open arms. You could really make a difference in this young lady's life with just one act of kindness.

[mandypandy2246]

REACH OUT .. .for sure. As a teenager without much of a family support system, I would have welcomed that. Start small, and see if she's comfortable with it and grow bigger. If at some point she doesn't seem interested, step back - but perhaps at some point even give her your email address and tell her to contact you anytime. (Keep in mind that 17 year old girls email, facebook and text ... no phone calls!).

[shcirerf]

I'm going to give her a few easy recipes at next weeks meeting, let her know she can contact me if need be, and leave it at that.

Thanks for all your help!

[jennybee]

It's amazing that you're trying to help her, I'm sure she really needs the support and friendship right now! The recipes are a great idea, you could also maybe (depending on how well you know her) see if she wants to join you for a workout/hike or something one weekend?

[Amarantha2]

Sounds perfect. You are a good person.

[krampus]

World needs more kind souls like you.

I think about this - at 3FC everyone knows SO MUCH about weight loss, nutrition, exercise, and all that. We should band together and open a gigantic worldwide weight loss support/assistance organization.

[April Snow]

Good for you, and I hope she can accept your help in the spirit in which it's being offered.