It’s Not a DIET was written to help combat the serious and ongoing

problem of obesity in children. I toyed with the idea of writing this

book for about a year; however, I decided to wait.

Looking back now, I would say the reason for the delay was because

I felt the methods I had created to combat obesity with my Karate kids

were just simple, common-sense, motivational tricks I had picked up

along the way. Tricks that not only made a difference in the weight

loss of the child but were also making changes within the family. Mom

was becoming more personable, Dad was around more at the Karate

school watching the child, and the child was not so shy anymore. He

was actively making new friends when he was at the Karate school.

Then it hit me. The “right” medicine is what works!

Before we get started, I would like for you to know that I am not

a registered dietician. Any change in a child’s eating habits should be

made with the approval of a physician, and nutritional values of foods,

and their appropriate serving sizes, should be discussed with a licensed,

registered dietician. I recommend that parents attend nutrition classes

or receive counseling from a licensed, registered dietician.

While I may not be an expert on nutrition, I do understand what

good health looks and feels like. I am a Martial Arts Master, and I own

and operate the West Boca Karate Center in Boca Raton, Florida.

Since 1986, I have made it my business to work with many over weight children, teens and adults.

 

I teach all my students, overweight or not, how to project

themselves, through proper posture and eye contact, so the thought

of star ting a conflict is forgotten almost immediately by others. Success

in the Martial Arts training of any student depends greatly on getting

them to feel good about who they are — and how they appear to

themselves and to others. To effect this kind of change in overweight

students with poor self-esteem requires that they see themselves in a

different light.

 

A wise man once told me, “If you change, everything will change

for you.” All children are special; but, if you are to make a difference

with them, you must become special to them. You must change to

help them. This book will help you learn how to make the necessary

changes.

 

Diets (changes in eating habits) alone very rarely work long term.

One reason can be found in the first three letters in the word diet:

DIE. How do you think this word plays on your subconscious? What

message does it send? Your body is designed to protect itself — even

from you. Words are, without exception, the most powerful force for

change on earth; they have the ability to change everything and

anything.

 

As you read, remember that this book is not about dieting, it is a

strategy for the implementation of change and a parent-child resource.

I will describe in detail the techniques I use to help my over weight

students see themselves differently so they can create the changes in

their lives to lose weight. It is my hope that you are up to the task of

the personality, tonality and behavioral changes you will need to make

to help a child. Because for things to change for the overweight child

in your life, you must change first.

 

 

Master Ron J. Tramontano