DR. WALLACE: I am an amateur writer from Washington state. I'm writing a series of letters to celebrities from all over the world asking the same questions of them all. When I'm finished, I intend to write a book compiling their responses.
The questions are: If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be? If you could have furthered one relationship, what would it have been? What is the weirdest thing you did as a kid? I hope to hear from you real soon Dr. Wallace! Thanks. —Stephanie, Chehalis, Wash.
STEPHANIE: Wow! You want me to share my deep, dark secrets with you and let you give readers the opportunity to peek into my past. So be it! I like your enthusiasm and I'm happy to be part of your book.
As to furthering your relationship, coaching high school basketball was my passion and I wanted eventually to coach basketball at a major university. Instead, I gave up high school coaching and teaching (my second love) to become a high school principal.
I did many unusual things as a youngster. One of them was painting my baseball bat dark blue. I did it because I wanted to better see the baseball actually hit the bat so I could become a great hitter! It didn't work and one umpire wouldn't even allow me to use it in the game.
Lastly, as far as considering me a "celebrity", when I showed my wife your comment she smiled and said, "That's nice, but please take out the trash."
FASTING DIETS INVOLVE LOSS OF MUSCLE
DR. WALLACE: I'd like to lose 20 pounds. I've tried several diets, but after a few days I get depressed and start overheating again. A good friend said the best way to diet is to fast. She said that weight lost fasting is hard to put back on. I'm all for that. Do you recommend fasting? —Hannah, Gary, In.
HANNAH: fasting, especially for teens, is not recommended for weight reduction. All fasting diets involve the loss of muscle tissue as well as fat. This could be dangerous during the teen years, when the developing and undergoing rapid growth spurts. The body should be adding, and not subtracting, Lean tissue. There is evidence that fasting may produce a loss of bone tissue in teens run the risk of stunting their natural growth.
A regimen of proper exercise, diet and rest may take a little longer, but it's the safest weight-loss method.
EAT ALL THE FOOD ON YOUR PLATE!
DR. WALLACE: Should parents force their children to eat foods they don't like? Mine do, and sometimes forcing myself to eat the food I don't like really makes me feel ill. —Nameless, Talladega, AL.
NAMELESS: According to the American dietetic association, no one needs to finish everything on his or her plate. Children should be allowed to choose what and how much to eat, and parents should respect the individual taste preferences of their children.
I sure wish my father had followed this information when I was a young child. He thought he was doing me a big favor by insisting that I eat everything prepared by my mother, "because when you are older you will be enjoying all the food you don't like now." He was a good man and I know he meant well but the foods I dislike them are not on my plate now. That list includes liver, carrots, cheese and all vegetables that are creamed. The list is much longer, but space limits their mention here.
Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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