Stacey Morrison knows a thing or two about how to get things done. The Hits radio presenter and her husband Scotty live very busy lives, with both of them holding down multiple jobs while raising their three young kids.
So when Stacey (42) noticed how many sugary energy drinks Scotty was downing, she began worrying about his diet. But she had the perfect plan, using one of the oldest tricks in the book.
“I’m sure it’s something people could relate to, that as a wife, I didn’t want to be the one nagging him,” Stacey admits. “So I went to a nutritionist, Lee-Anne Wann, about my own health and told him what she said, and he was nodding going, ‘Oh, that’s really interesting!’
“I told him some more and he was still asking questions, so I said I wouldn’t mind booking him an appointment too, if he wanted to go. I made it seem like his idea!” she laughs.
Stacey and Scotty are setting a good example for their family.
“Would I have ever gone to a nutritionist myself? No way!” laughs Scotty (45). “It was thanks to this one and her little, scheming tactics,” he says, with a playful prod at Stacey.
Within two weeks of seeing Lee-Anne, he’d lost five kilos and felt like a different person, thanks to a few simple lifestyle changes.
“Scotty didn’t have a huge nutritional awareness,” tells Stacey. “I remember when a friend of ours was doing Weight Watchers, he was eating butter chicken and she said to him, ‘Do you know there’s 46g of fat in that?’ And Scotty said, ‘Is that a lot?’”
As the parents of son Hawaiki (9) and daughters Kurawaka (7) and Maiana (3), Stacey says she was worried that although Scotty was looking good, his general health might really be suffering.
“Lee-Anne got me to do a food diary for seven days and when I gave it to her, she said, ‘My God! You should be about 140kg and the unhealthiest person I’ve seen,’” he admits.
Puppy Ziggy, pictured with the couple’s youngest daughter, Maiana.
Scotty, who says he wants to be in the best health possible for his family, agrees, saying, “When you’re fit and well, your mind functions better and things seem to fall into place a lot easier.”
As well as a better diet, Scotty exercises regularly – karate twice a week with his kids (he wants to gain his black belt by the time he’s 50), as well as boxing and visits to the gym. His good example has had a positive effect on his children.
“Our seven-year-old was running around and doing press-ups last week. She saw us do that and obviously learnt by example. Even our three-year-old does burpees next to me!”
And while her kids gave up asking Mum for sweet treats long ago, Stacey has given them something they wanted – a new family member! A Griffin-cross puppy called Ziggy joined the family last month.
Now, they’re all doting on him, and yes, jostling to be the one to get active and take him for walks.
The Te Karere presenter’s dietary choices alarmed his wife, so Stacye persuaded him to get some nutritional advice.
Men’s health month
Each year 3000 men die from preventable illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.
Talk to the men in your life about their health this June and visit menshealthmonth.co.nz for more information.
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