I intend to live forever - so far, so good

[awest1217]

On the healthy eating, it is very important you stay away from D12 and body image. She is at an age where if you push the fact that she gained weight that she could have many issues later. It sounds like you are always pushing being healthy, which is good, but when she talks about her body make sure you tell her that she is beautiful and that we are just going to eat healthier as a family to have a better lifestyle, not to lose weight.

Also look into how this will help D8's ADHD. I have heard that certain healthier diets will help control some of the behavior issues so maybe something to look into.

Instead of focusing on being healthy for D12 to lose weight or D8 to better behaved, make sure you make it that you are doing this so you ALL are healthier. My older nephews come over and all I have in the house is healthy foods. I rarely have soda, and if I do it is only because of company. S never drinks soda with me, only one cup of juice, then it is water or milk. Snack wise, there is candy and cookies, but he knows that he only gets one piece of candy a day (unless there is a special occasion) and one cookie, but that is it. Otherwise he is eating granola bars, crackers, or some other more healthy alternative. I am not a super health food person, but teaching your daughters that they can have one cookie and then eat a bunch of fruit is great. My nephews don't eat healthy food at home so when they come over, sometimes they are upset and other times they are excited to have fresh fruit and vegetables, whereas S doesn't like to eat a lot of junk and prefers the healthier food and will even tell you that you have to eat healthy and what is healthy. Make the transition with the food fun, and not a chore because then they will learn to love it for a life time instead of dieting to lose weight.

Glad things were more neutral with STBXW.