For new shows, what do you want to see more of? What do you want to see less of? If you could write the show and make it anything at all that you wanted, what would it be?

michelle,

I have a 1 yr old and a 4 yr old, and I understand how difficult it is to find time for yourself to take a shower, let alone find time to exercise! One homework assignment this week was to find something that you don't normally do alone and push yourself to do it alone, and my first thought was "go to the bathroom"

I try to exercise with my kids, playing things like Simon Says, or dancing around the house to the Wiggles or, even better, Laurie Berkner. I also do yoga at least once a day, and soemtimes twice. My kids will either join in, or the baby will sit in the high chair with a snack and the 4 yr old entertains herself with crayons at a table next to me. And every sunny day we walk 10 mintues to the local park for 15 minutes of playtime, then walk back.

It is so important that you exercise with your kids or in front of your kids so that they learn early on that exercise is important. At this age they will imitate whatever we do in front of them (good and bad!!!), so exercising with them or near them will help them learn a good habit when habits are still easy to learn.

alli

I know I would love to see more tips on how to create your own dishes. I love the recipes, but, I like creating my own, and just need more tips on how to create my own dishes that are still healthy. Basically, little tips and tricks to kill the calories without killing the flavor.

kd,
You have done a few shows that especially got my attention. The shows that were done in unusual locations with offbeat challenges: the comedy troupe was one, and I seem to recall one done in a fire house. I work in a correctional facility, so I really pay attention to the shows that feature how to eat right under really difficult/unusual circumstances. Not that everyone doesn't have some craziness in their lives, but those of us who work in stressful jobs like police, paramedic, hospital, firefighting, or work longer than 8-hour shifts or work offbeat shifts really learn a lot from those shows. I see the consequences of improper diet and no exercise on my fellow employees all the time. The job's hard enough and the poor choices make it harder.

quote:

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Originally posted by michelle may:
Working to be active is slow going since my dh doesn't like to walk and I am not comfortable going alone. My kids don't count since I am suppose to protect them. With a 1 yr. old and a 3 yr. old my activities are limited.
michelle

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No one says you have to walk outside. I started out walking in place while watching TV. I "graduated" to marching in place and then jogging in place. I also like to dance to the Wiggles with my daughter, we play tag, kick ball and all kinds of other active play games in the yard. Those things definitely count towards being active!

more about kit meals and tight budget meals. I like what I read about the activities; skiing, hiking, camping. Some day I would like to do those things. Working to be active is slow going since my dh doesn't like to walk and I am not comfortable going alone. My kids don't count since I am suppose to protect them. With a 1 yr. old and a 3 yr. old my activities are limited.
michelle

Everything there is to know about kit meals.

Kathleen:

I think it might be interesting to title the show (or a segment of it), "Becoming..." You could target a different area relating to health on each episode. Speaking from my 43 years of experience with health / weight issues, I have learned this journey is a process. Even CTs who have experienced success and reached goal like yourself and Roberta know it is a continual process to stay healthy.

Eps / Segments could include:

Becoming...more active
...label savvy
...portion aware
...confident in the kitchen
...adventuresome in the market
...self-confident

Each episode could have a certain theme, with experts brought in, such as you did with "Cooking Thin" to support the concepts being conveyed. These could also be great chapters for a book, interspersed with the tips you are gathering from the CTs. Just a thought.

Thanks for asking for our feedback. It's an honor to contribute to the CT Think Tank!

kp

I would also like makeover type things. I watch What not to Wear on the learning channel and I always learn something. Having struggled with my weight all my life I have always dressed to hide myself, not to flatter myself.

I like that THINking, IMJ!

KD, I'd like to see a show (or two) focussed on dressing and self-esteem. I see so many heavy people dressed in awful clothes (having been one myself) and not wearing things that help them feel good. I think that is one of the most important lessons I learned here, to treat yourself well no matter what your size.

Do something maybe to help women shop for clothes as they lose weight. I know for me, its tough figuring out what looks well on me and looking beyond the fat that I still focus on. So something like a makeover every couple of sizes. Maybe see if you can get someone like "the girls" from BBCA's "What not to Wear".

Catherine

Wow! My heart, too, jumped when I saw this thread I had been previously unaware of.

A lot of dittos on previous suggestions for shows (I hope that doesn't sound too much like another media celebrity).

Kit meals, return visits, occasion shows, etc.

How about going into a school cafeteria (hospital, restaurant) and helping "healthify" the menu. (As a teacher this concerned me - that what I would teach - wasn't implemented in reality.)

For show title how about:

Myth: Thin. Possible!

or

WiTHIN

or

THINking

I want to formally apply for apprentice, shopper, go-fer, whatever spots are available.

lmj

I am thrilled to see your show getting closer to reality! I cannot wait.

I am not that great with names. I would love to see profiles on people and how they were successful. More... I'd like to see how they overcame the stumbling blocks we all hit on this journey.

Maddie

Great trick if you can get away with it, Roberta - where have you been anyway! Books aren't titled until the very last second.

quote:

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Originally posted by kd:
If say for instance you were brainstorming the title for a new before and after, makeover type success story show - what wouldya call it?

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I would go with the name of the new book for the title of the new show.

KD: With all the love in the world, I hate it when you dangle these little carrots in front of us and then say "what if"......it's like "I know a secret, but I can't tell you".....I'll just have to wait, but I can't.....

I'd like to see something about eating healthy and feeding your family the healthy way on a strict food budget. I volunteer for that one!
Maybe even a food stamp budget. It's very hard to get those vegies and fruits and meats in without breaking the budget sometimes and not all kids will eat beans.

I'd like to see a panel of experts every now and then, taking questions and answering them right there. That would be super.

How about dividing the show up and having so much time alotted to each division of the experts...with motivation and food prep by KD....after all she's why we are where we are.

If this happens, I will be the happiest woman in Aberdeen South Dakota. Please tell me it's so.

I like Mission: Transition (because of the implication that it is a change over time, not a 'hallelujah, I found the magic pill' thing) and Change for Good (because of the double meaning of changing for the better and permanent change) that have been mentioned so far.

I'm soooo excited to think about having another resource for your wonderful stuff KD. I never got around to posting this but I was like a kid in the candy shop when the web content changed. Thanks!

Peg

[What about an episode on starting the journey...really cleaning out the kitchen and completely restocking it with healthy choices....and talking about the new choices, tools, ways of cooking, etc.]

I say a triple amen....

Charlotte

wow KD!!!

so many great ideas already. I have one...inspired by your post a while back about what would you stock your kitchen with if you were starting from scratch. What about an episode on starting the journey...really cleaning out the kitchen and completely restocking it with healthy choices....and talking about the new choices, tools, ways of cooking, etc. I live with my elderly mom and it has been quite a journey for me to re-learn how to cook, and listening to her suprised remarks about it actually being possible to cook with out oil/lard - yes lard!!--and vegetables cooked so that they are still recognizeable as veggies...

other things for that episode would be tips on how to pick out utensils, cooking pots that help...like how to choose a good grill pan, or how to season a cast iron grill pan...and other cooking things like that which would help with cooking healthy meals...kind of a clean sweep/mission organization for the "cooking thin" kitchen

also could be a look at how to revamp your life and schedule to fit exercise, meal planning, shopping, cooking into a "cooking thin" lifestyle...something as a single person that has been the biggest challenge for me...actually planning, shopping, and cooking meals (no more little frozen green boxes for dinner - or white chinese carry out boxes)

I guess what I am suggesting is looking at revamping your whole life, how to get started, how to maintain, and hwo to follow through. Just how to really change your lifestyle and make it a permanent change...

jackie

Oh WOW!!!! YIPPEE!!!! (Jumping for joy, jumping for joy.....glad no one can see me right now, LOL).

A name.....Healthy Choices ?
That may sound too much like the frozen dinners.

Following Bee & Lori's thinking....

1)Getting Thin and Loving Life

2)Cooking Thin, Living Healthy

3)Getting Thin and Living Healthy

I really love the shows that take someone's entire life-style into consideration....Family situations, work situations, health issues and so on. Like Alli posted, I would love to see pantry and cooking method makeovers too. The personal trainer idea is great too.
At the beginning of the show, the person being helped could have a list of goals they would like to achieve... weight, health, exercise, whatever. The show could follow the person's progress "diary" style...Good days and bad days, ups and downs. We learn so much on this site from each other's road blocks. It would be so interesting to see how someone's mind-set can change over time.

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