Teen Credits Parents With Instilling Healthy Lifestyle
In these days of a record number of eating disorders among teenagers, it’s refreshing to see a teen with a healthy body image. Meet Victoria Patterson.
“There are all sorts of unspoken pressures to be skinny,” she says. “But I feel good about myself and my body.”
But she didn’t come by her attitude all by herself. Her parents, triathletes and marathoners, helped foster that sense.
Lori Patterson, Victoria’s mom, is a longtime fitness professional. From the time her children were toddlers, Lori created rules about healthy eating.
“We make a conscious effort to use words and actions that invoke healthy behaviors,” Lori says.
Her kids are required to eat a fruit and a vegetable at every meal. However, they are also allowed a dessert after lunch and dinner.
“No snacking on junk food, but if they know it’s coming after lunch or dinner they are OK with that.”
Lori keeps a drawer in her refrigerator filled with acceptable snacks: yogurt, cheese, fruits and vegetables.
She also leads by example.
“We’ve always been very active and encouraged that in the kids. When they were younger, we’d say, ‘Let’s go outside and catch a ball.’ But they’ve grown up in the gym.”
Most important, Lori is careful to watch her words around her children, especially her daughter. “We don’t use the word ‘fat.’” Lori says. “I don’t ever complain about the way I look in front of them. And I make it a point to always tell Victoria how beautiful she looks. It’s all about being healthy and not being skinny.”
Though about to leave high school for film school in Chicago, Victoria has spent the past year teaching group fitness at a Gold’s Gym in St. Charles County, Mo. She also is a cheerleader and runs track.
For Lori, one of the best times she’s had is taking a certification course in Body Jam (a fitness dance) with her daughter.
“She was better than me,” laughs Lori. “It was awesome that we could do that together.”
For Victoria, who says some other girls at school don’t have a very positive body image, her mom has made all the difference.
“She was my role model. She works out every day, and what she does shapes the way I eat and the way I exercise. I make healthy choices because of the things my parents have taught me.”
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