Before Gloria got on her current routine, whenever we would go out of town for 5 to 10 days and leave Gloria in the care of responsible loving people, we could almost be assured that she would gain nearly a pound a day. One time we placed all our sweets and pastry in our freezer and locked it. Gloria, then 15, was able to break the lock and get the sweets. On other occasions Gloria would raid my wallet and purchase all sorts of pastries from the food vending truck that visited her workplace at break time. Similar kinds of problem are met by parents whose handicapped children live in group homes.
Weight is often a problem there and is difficult to control.
We feel that the longer these new habits are ingrained into Gloria's behavior, the longer she will continue them without our encouragement, because someday she will have to live without us. But as an unplanned consequence of her regime, because we now are also following a more healthful lifestyle, we may be around a little longer to help Gloria cope with the many problems mentally handicapped people always face. Folks, it is not easy to teach a healthful eating and exercise regime to the cognitively impaired, and it can get discouraging. You do best to start gradually, but start now. Scolding and chagrin are out.