I reached out to Camp California Fitness for help with my 10 year old granddaughter's struggle with obesity. She was constantly eating. She seemed to go from the TV to the kitchen day and night. We would be eating a meal and she was already talking about what she wanted for the next snack or meal. Her pockets and backpack had stashes of candy and snacks. Going to amusement parks or other outings was a chance to eat and eat- not to enjoy the attractions. She spent more on food than the prices of admission. She told me that she did not feel hungry, just wanted the food. She said it made her feel good. At the same time, she told me about all the names the kids called her at school- fatty, fat girl, pig, on and on. She said it made her cry and feel bad so she would eat to feel better.

This all started when she was 7 years old. She would spend the summer with me and lose 20-30 pounds then go home for the school year and gain back the pounds she lost and a few more. We did this yo-yo for three summers. When the excess got to be 40 pounds, I got very scared for her. There is a history of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer in my family. I did not know what to do and felt we needed professional help before things got totally out of control in her life.

My belief was that the extensive, and unhealthy food intake was related to various issues and factors in her emerging lifestyle. It seemed that she needed to participate in a focused learning program that supported lifestyle changes, not just dieting. I also knew that she needed to learn and change soon. The longer this addiction to food went on, the harder it would be to change. I knew her happiness and future were in serious jeopardy.

The environment had to be safe, caring, motivating, fun, and supportive, involving the whole person, not just a fad or short term diet fix. It had to have positive, long-term impact and results. I was looking for something that would give my granddaughter tools to help her resolve issues and see food as a necessity for a healthy life, not as an addiction. I wanted to find people that I could trust and would love her almost as much as I do. After all, she is my granddaughter- my joy, my precious little girl.

We found CCF on the internet. I could feel from the words and pictures that these were professional and dedicated people that really gave their all to the children. I could also sense they had assembled a staff of very special people with a wealth of knowledge, experience, and commitment to helping young people learn and start living healthier, happier lifestyles. My granddaughter studied the Website. Her response was- "Grandma- please, please, I really, really want to go there." So decision made! We started with the 4 week program. By week 3, she was asking to please be allowed to stay the additional 4 weeks, so we did that.

The change in my granddaughter is almost beyond words. Her physical appearance is stunning. She learned the process of analyzing choices and consequences. She takes ownership and responsibility for her actions. Her sense of self and self-esteem has grown. She has a heightened awareness of balance in her life- balancing calorie intake and output through activity levels. My granddaughter was able to talk freely and confidentially about issues that caused her to use food for comfort or just something to do. The CCF environment gave the girls the opportunity to share their thoughts, concerns, fears, and problems. The sharing was with one another as well as professional staff members.

I was impressed with the availability of the staff members throughout the program. Made me feel that I was there with my granddaughter and sharing in her growth and development.

CCF has continued to stay in touch with my granddaughter as part of their follow-up program. Their caring and reinforcement continues to motivate my granddaughter toward her life goals. The CCF investment is not just for an 8 week (2 month) summer retreat. It is 8 weeks of focused learning and applying healthy lifestyles followed by months of followed up guidance and reinforcement.

We are still working together. My fears have calmed. I have new hope for my granddaughter's future. She is so proud of herself and loves the compliments from the people who used to call her bad names. She has taught all of us a lot about healthy eating. I'm amazed at what is in our foods! She shows me the content labels and tells me what they mean. Then tells me why she does not want to eat them or does want to eat them. She makes good choices. Since she came home we've been to theme parks, restaurants / play places, etc. She no longer asks for unhealthy snacks. She looks for healthy foods when she is physically hungry- not just responding to temptation. I cannot be prouder of her!

The people of CCF gave her (and continue to give her) a priceless gift from their hearts- heightened self-esteem, self-awareness, self-reliance, tools to analyze and make good choices, and responsibility for those choices.

Sincerely,
Grandma Hope

-Hope ~ Angelica's Grandmother