Ray Clarke and Lorri Wilson-Clarke
It seems like every week, if not everyday, a new article is published about obesity and diabetes. Americans are getting heavier every year. The percentage of overweight boys and girls has more than doubled during the past two decades. Since both positive and negative behaviors established at a young age have a high probability of persisting into adulthood, it is likely that inactive kids will become inactive adults. This trend can be altered if we decide to accept the solution, eat healthier and exercise.
This story is about a young girl who is overweight and is teased and bullied about her weight and her size. After some disturbing news from her doctor, Sarah with the help of her family decides that she will meet her problem head-on by taking control of her life through a healthy diet and exercise. Sarah becomes fit and her self-esteem soars. When it comes to dealing with obesity and possibly the onset of diabetes, we all know the solution is a healthy diet and exercise, but we lack the motivation. Well, Sarah’s here, and she is ready to kick butt.
As parents, they work hard every day to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but they experienced setbacks due to job and family stress that can impact a routine of eating healthy and exercising regularly. By tapping into their unique talents Lorri, a personal trainer and Ray, an engineer, with a drive to exercise daily, tell an inspiring story of a child’s determination to eat healthier and exercise to lose weight and develop a healthy lifestyle. Recalling their own painful memories associated with being teased and bullied as children or witnessing it as parents, they tell of the joy found from the personal success that is realized by taking small steps. As physical education classes are being cut from school curriculums because of budget constraints, the Clarkes hope to help parents realize the importance of daily exercise and proper nutrition. Fit kids are more apt to become healthier adults.
Chapter One
Three girls at school—Emily, Ashley and Lauren—made fun of Sarah because she was overweight. When she asked the girls to stop calling her “fat girl” and “big butt,” they just laughed and kept teasing and bullying her. Ashley and Lauren were in the same grade as Sarah but were in a different class than Sarah. Emily, Lauren’s older sister, was in the seventh grade.
At lunchtime Sarah tried to avoid the three girls, but they found her near the basketball courts. They continued to call Sarah “fat girl” and “big butt” and made fat faces by blowing out their cheeks and waddling around as if they were fat. Sarah continued to gaze in the mirror, looking at her stomach, which looked bigger than her waist and her thighs. She thought she looked like her uncle, who had a large belly. She looked down at her legs, thinking her legs were as big as tree trunks. She was so critical of how she looked, and she kept thinking about how the three girls were calling her names. Tears formed in Sarah’s eyes as she continued to stare at herself in the mirror.
Chapter Seven
They waited about ten minutes. Then Dr. Jones walked into the examination room and saw Sarah. Looking at Sarah’s medical chart and then looking at Sarah for the second time, Dr. Jones said, “Sarah, you have been an excellent patient by losing weight and eating very healthy.” Dr. Jones continued, “If you remember, I told you that you were beginning to develop juvenile diabetes during your last visit, but I think you have things under control since you started an excellent workout program along with eating very healthy.”
Sarah grinned, showing all her teeth, and said, “I won’t have to take those shots, right?” Dr. Jones smiled and said, “Sarah, you keep doing what you’re doing and I will be sending my patients to you for advice on how to change their eating habits and begin their exercise programs.”
Sarah’s mother and Dr. Jones talked about what a great effort Sarah put forth in changing her eating habits and working out. As Sarah and her mother were leaving the doctor’s office, Dr. Jones said, “Sarah, you should be very proud of yourself because you made the choice to exercise and eat right.”
