Gr8 Health: Strong is the new skinny

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) - Robanne Robin knows what it is to lose. The mother of three and registered nurse years ago was once 300 pounds. 

"I started looking at the series of eating disorders I have had my whole life,” Robin said. “I started out as a heavy kid, definitely unhealthy; eating things I shouldn't be eating and not exercising."

To lose the weight, she went the other way – becoming anorexic and bulimic. Then, there was another change.

"After that I went the complete other direction and ballooned to 300 pounds where I stayed for ten years,” Robin recalls.
 
LIFE CHANGING

Robin explains there was a moment in her life where she knew she needed to make a change. 

"The second trip to the ER was a defining moment,” she told 24-Hour News 8’s Karen Hensel.  “To lay in a sterile hospital bed in the ER I got a glimpse of what my life was going to be down the road. Morbid obesity is a scary place to be."

She says gastric bypass surgery pushed her in the right direction. 

"That direction totally changed everything and I lost 150 pounds.  I changed my diet, I exercise, I teach hip hop dance to these guys so it is amazing,” Robin said. 

Now half her size, at 150 pounds, she teaches "strong is the new skinny" to young kids.

STRONG IS THE NEW SKINNY

When asked by a show of hands how many feel they are too skinny, not one hand goes up.  However, when asked how many think they are overweight hands shoot up quickly. 

These are all young kids 7 – 12 years old.

It's why a class of fun dance, exercise, is so important at such a young age.  One young elementary school girl says she joined because, "I just love hip hop. Me and my friends will go out at recess and dance a lot." 

Another young boy said, "I thought it was awesome and you can get a lot of strength."

Still another boy says, "It inspired me to do cool things." 

When 24-Hour News 8's Karen Hensel asked, "What is 'strong is the new skinny? What does that mean?" the boy responded, "I don't know."

For this group, it's a boost in self esteem.

"I've never done it before and this is my first time,” said a young girl.

When asked if it is exercise they all exclaimed, "Yeah!”

Even one child, just 7 years old, understands the message. 

"She wants you to be strong not skinny,” the child said. “Worry about getting strong and if you are active you might get skinny but not hurt your body."

MORE HELP

Robanne Robin has an inspirational book called Half My Size. The hip hop class is every week at the Fishers Y. There's a free family introductory class this Saturday, March 16, at 11:45 a.m. for members and non-members.