Girl's weight-loss success inspiration for obese children

BY SOPHIA MAINES
The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News

MYRTLE BEACH--Seven-year-old Faith Moriarty shrank her body from 140 pounds
to about 84 pounds in six months with a regimen that included walking laps
on the sidewalk around her school daily.
The school, Cathedral Hall Academy, has dedicated the path "Faith Walk" and
made a sign to display by it.

"We are so proud of her," said Wayne Miller, director of the academy. "She
has shown how you can take your life in your hands, even in the second
grade."

Faith is only one example of what health officials nationwide are calling
an epidemic of child obesity.

At least 15 percent of American children ages 6 to 19 are overweight,
according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Tears well up in Faith's blue eyes when she recalls how her life used to
be.

Because of her weight, Faith never learned to ride a bike. She avoided
playground slides because it was difficult to maneuver her legs at the top.

She was one of the heaviest children in her class.

Some students called her names and taunted her. "The days they used to pick
on me, I didn't like those days," Faith said.

Faith's mother, Paula Moriarty, a second-grade teacher at Cathedral Hall,
remembers thinking that Faith needed a group of other overweight children
who would accept her.

Shopping was also a struggle for Faith, who wore an adult size 16.

She often asked her mother why she was different. The question broke
Moriarty's heart.

Faith had been overweight from an early age, but it wasn't until last year
that Moriarty started to notice her daughter was unhealthy.

"When I looked at my daughter, I didn't see a fat little girl," she said.
"I saw my beautiful baby. ... I didn't see how much sadness was hiding
behind her eyes."

When they vacationed in Bermuda, Moriarty watched as Faith gasped for air
as she lagged behind on walking trips.

"It was like walking with an unhealthy adult," Moriarty said. "It hurt me
as a parent to not be able to do anything about it."

Faith's weight continued to increase. By winter, the 4-foot, 6-inch girl
weighed 140 pounds.

It was time to change, but sitting the child down for a talk was difficult.
"I didn't want to start because I didn't want to tell her that there was
something wrong," Moriarty said.

Moriarty held her daughter's hand and said it was time to work toward a
healthy lifestyle.

Thus it began.

Whole wheat bread. Baked meat instead of fried. Sugar-free treats.

The evening trips to buffet restaurants, where Moriarty used to let her
daughter eat whatever she wanted, were scratched from the schedule.

Moriarty watched her daughter's portions closely. Instead of a full can of
ravioli, she gave her one serving. Small bowls of cereal replaced large
bowls.

The first month was not easy.

Faith started walking laps along the sidewalk that surrounds her school. At
first, she could only do a few. She also began swimming for exercise.
Initially she could only swim a few laps across the short side of the pool.
She worked up to swimming the long side.

Moriarty estimates that her daughter used to watch about 35 hours of
television a week.

Now she fits about seven into a schedule that includes beach walks,
miniature golf and dance lessons. "(Faith's) stamina was nothing," Moriarty
said. "Now she's like an Energizer battery."

*****
The fat acceptors could learn from this kid.

-- Steve
º¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤º
Steve Chaney

Remove "Vegetus." to get my real email address
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http://member.newsguy.com/~gunhed/hallofstupid
"If only sheep could cook, we wouldn't need women at all! 8)" - Dizzy,
Message-ID:
"Outside of this group, I don't remember hearing anyone in RL say that fat
people are worthless." - some anonymous coward admitting the truth,
Message-ID:
"I watched The Accused last night with Jodie Foster. Tough movie. I was
wondering what people felt as to whether or not they feel she deserved what
happened to her." - Brenda Lee Ehmka, Message-ID:

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vetting your rage toward thorugh all forms of harassment. Do you realize
that?" - Sunny, on Jade's life in a nutshell

(Steve Chaney, aka Papa
Gunnykins ®) wrote:

BY SOPHIA MAINES
The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News

MYRTLE BEACH--Seven-year-old Faith Moriarty shrank her body from 140 pounds
to about 84 pounds in six months with a regimen that included walking laps
on the sidewalk around her school daily.
The school, Cathedral Hall Academy, has dedicated the path "Faith Walk" and
made a sign to display by it.

"We are so proud of her," said Wayne Miller, director of the academy. "She
has shown how you can take your life in your hands, even in the second
grade."

Faith is only one example of what health officials nationwide are calling
an epidemic of child obesity.

At least 15 percent of American children ages 6 to 19 are overweight,
according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Tears well up in Faith's blue eyes when she recalls how her life used to
be.

Because of her weight, Faith never learned to ride a bike. She avoided
playground slides because it was difficult to maneuver her legs at the top.

She was one of the heaviest children in her class.

Some students called her names and taunted her. "The days they used to pick
on me, I didn't like those days," Faith said.

Faith's mother, Paula Moriarty, a second-grade teacher at Cathedral Hall,
remembers thinking that Faith needed a group of other overweight children
who would accept her.

Shopping was also a struggle for Faith, who wore an adult size 16.

She often asked her mother why she was different. The question broke
Moriarty's heart.

Faith had been overweight from an early age, but it wasn't until last year
that Moriarty started to notice her daughter was unhealthy.

"When I looked at my daughter, I didn't see a fat little girl," she said.
"I saw my beautiful baby. ... I didn't see how much sadness was hiding
behind her eyes."

When they vacationed in Bermuda, Moriarty watched as Faith gasped for air
as she lagged behind on walking trips.

"It was like walking with an unhealthy adult," Moriarty said. "It hurt me
as a parent to not be able to do anything about it."

Faith's weight continued to increase. By winter, the 4-foot, 6-inch girl
weighed 140 pounds.

It was time to change, but sitting the child down for a talk was difficult.
"I didn't want to start because I didn't want to tell her that there was
something wrong," Moriarty said.

Moriarty held her daughter's hand and said it was time to work toward a
healthy lifestyle.

Thus it began.

Whole wheat bread. Baked meat instead of fried. Sugar-free treats.

The evening trips to buffet restaurants, where Moriarty used to let her
daughter eat whatever she wanted, were scratched from the schedule.

Moriarty watched her daughter's portions closely. Instead of a full can of
ravioli, she gave her one serving. Small bowls of cereal replaced large
bowls.

The first month was not easy.

Faith started walking laps along the sidewalk that surrounds her school. At
first, she could only do a few. She also began swimming for exercise.
Initially she could only swim a few laps across the short side of the pool.
She worked up to swimming the long side.

Moriarty estimates that her daughter used to watch about 35 hours of
television a week.

Now she fits about seven into a schedule that includes beach walks,
miniature golf and dance lessons. "(Faith's) stamina was nothing," Moriarty
said. "Now she's like an Energizer battery."

*****
The fat acceptors could learn from this kid.

-- Steve
º¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤º
Steve Chaney


This is a great article, Steve. Thanks for posting it.

miguel