Trim Kids(tm): The Proven 12-Week Plan That Has Helped Thousands of Children Achieve a Healthier Weight

With my goal of establishing healthy eating habits for my family (mainly centered on my children ages 10, 9 and 9), I stumbled upon this incrediable book dealing with getting kids healthy. This book titled Trim Kids ™: The Proven 12-Week Plan That Has Helped Thousands of Children Achieve a Healthier Weight, by Melinda S. Sothern, and T. Kristian von Almen is extraordinary. Trim Kids teaches kids how to be healthy in a concise and easy to follow, step by step program. It begins by determining what reality really is when determining proper weight, body mass and exercise for each child. The book goes on to teach the children (and parents) what proper fat and sugar intake really is. There are many questionnaires to follow in determining what area your children are doing well in and what areas can be improved upon. This gave my children a great participatory method of determining just how healthy they were or were not. After several chapters on how to establish what really is healthy, the book gives many clear and exciting tips on finding proper exercise and eating environments to begin the road of creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle the kids can enjoy and keep for a lifetime. Our personal favorite suggestion is the winter exercise room complete with a mattress, hula-hoops, jump ropes, a mini trampoline and loud music! Once the foundation has been laid, the book takes you on a 12-week step by step program to help the kids (and the adults) see what progress they are making with the program. Each week has new recipes and exercise suggestions to keep the kids motivated. The program is simple and very easy to follow. My whole family is committed to this program. My children and I read a chapter each night before bedtime and we are all healthier because of it. This is NOT a diet book. It is however a great book on establishing a healthy lifestyle that all of us can easily follow.

I cannot express my sincere thanks enough to the authors of Trim Kids for the success my child has had on this program. The diet, the exercise and the behavior modification truly work. My daughter, Maci, was classied as clinically obese during the summer of 2000. At age 9, Maci weighed 132 lbs and was wearing adult size clothes. She was teased by other children which was lowering her self esteem. She would breathe heavy and turn red when playing with her friends, during dance classes and when playing sports. We tried monitoring what she ate, when, how much, etc. and had her enrolled in dance classes and sports year round. Maci continued to gain weight. Thanks to the Trim Kids program, Maci has lost 32lbs. Here we are twenty-one months later and Maci is still maintaining her goal weight. She has learned the importance of eating healthy and excercising safely. The results of this program are absolutely remarkable and definitely long term. I highly recommend the program to both overweight children and their parents (I lost 8lbs myself following the program with my daughter). Maci's overall attitude has changed- she is more confident and her self esteem has sky-rocketed. She simply beams with pride. Her face still lights up everytime someone we haven't seen in a while comments on her weight loss and says how nice she looks. When asked how she did it, Maci proudly replies, "I joined Committed to Kids and followed the Trim Kids program". Sincerely,Rhonda Miller

I would like to express my gratitude to TRIM KIDS and the authors of this book. In April of 2001,my grandson Trey Olano began this program. He was 12 years old weighing 205 pounds. He had a 42 inch waist and wore extra large shirts. Buying clothes for him was a hectic chore not to mention the ridicule he tolerated. He was never allowed to participate in playground ball because he did not meet the required weight limit. He came to his parents and myself with concerns about his weight. It was hindering his ability to play sports,and was becoming a health issue. His energy level was extremely low and his self-esteem even lower. We enrolled Trey in Committed To Kids in New Orleans. He followed the Trim Kids Program for one year and the results were astounding. He has lost a total of 51 pounds . He now has a 31 inch waistline and wears medium to small size shirts.With TRIM KIDS,Trey's determination,and the support of his whole family we now see a different child. Trey now enjoys being himself. His self-esteem is remarkable.This year he has participated on his school's football,baseball.and wrestling teams. The TRIM KIDS PROGRAM has truly changed my grandson's life.J Agoff

This book is a must have whether or not you have an overweight child! This book provides so much quality information that can be applicable to the whole family. As a trained exercise physiologist, I come across quite a bit of material that is not researched and has no scientific merit, however, well-respected experts in my field wrote Trim Kids. Dr. Melinda Sothern and her team have been publishing in major scientific journals for over 15 years and actually have the experience and basis for their recommendations. Trim Kids has over 100 pages of tips and ideas to increase physical activity in children. There are also strength, flexibility, and aerobic exercise recommendations for all children based on family medical history and environment, the child's age, weight condition, personal interests, and body type. All recommendations follow the guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine and are based on sound scientific principles and research. This book is a must read for all parents even those with normal weight children because the exercise guidelines may help prevent overweight conditions. This book addresses all aspects of weight loss and weight management including nutrition and psychological issues. I have recommended this book to quite a few families and have seen first-hand the positive influence it has made on both the children and parents.

What can I say? This book is not only practical, but lifesaving, life changing for kids that are overweight, and in danger of serious health problems. I have reviewed and USED this program first hand, since last May 1st of 2001. My son has lost and changed in some very healthy ways. At 11, he was 212. and today, he is so far, 160.plus he has grown 3 plus in. in height. The other part to this, is the symptoms of beginning health problems have corrected themself as a result of the weight reduction. We got results. I am the mom and have also lost 45 lbs so far, and this was due to the change in menu at home, initially for my son with 30 to go from implementing this prractical program! This program is phenomenal and I recommend to ALL FAMILIES! This book is a must have if you are concerned with the weight, eating habits and nutrition for you children and/or the rest of your family. This is the first time, anything has had the consistent and "real" lifechanging results we have ever encountered.Thank you to the authors and anyone involved with this effective book/program that it contains!