Anyone that is a nutritionist or feeds and athlete want to take a look?

[redlight]

Please tell me you are not calling her a big girl at 110 lbs. I know everyone has a different shape, and at age 12, you do not look like you will look at say 22 or 32, but 110 lbs at 5'3" seems pretty good to me.

I just have some eating issues and I'm a teeny bit concerned that either she or you (or both) are this concerned about her body at age 12.

Thank you. I was going to say something as well. 5'3", 110 is actually on the slim side.

 

[Wonders10]

Thank you. I was going to say something as well. 5'3", 110 is actually on the slim side.

Definitely slim, especially dependent on your overall shape. At my lowest I was 130 and I am also 5'3" and wore a size 6. I tend to have more of a muscular build as well. I have since gained weight but people who didn't know me at that size have seen pictures and told me I almost looked too thin. For me personally.

OP - I get that you want her to have the energy to perform at her best, and to learn the right foods to keep her healthy and strong, but trust me, putting too much emphasis on not eating that, or counting the calories for this could backfire. Big time.

 

[Mom21]

Let me clarify a little. My dd has been very chubby in the past to the point of the dr sending us to a nutritionist. At $250/hour the nutritionist said my dd had a good diet and gave a few suggestions for changes. It is only in the past 6 months that she has thinned out. I am the one that never focused on her weight. I always made it about being healthy because she has always been in athletics. I was bulimic as a teen. In fact I would talk to my friends about it and how to make sure I wasn't causing harm. Most of them actually thought I was too lenient in her diet, ie letting her set portions and snacks. I actually went the opposite direction than the drs wanted me to go.

Now in the last 6 months she has really slimmed out as she has gotten taller. This thread had absolutely nothing to do with weight. I thought I said that earlier. It is insuring my little athlete get the nutrition and calories (and yes that means more if needed) she needs to perform at her best. She really wants to excel this year and I want her to be healthy with all the practice which she knows I personally think is too much. She is a big girl though. She has large powerful legs and is built sturdy. She is absolutely gorgeous and already the boys think so too.....sigh.

Keep the food ideas coming. I am printing them out to give her some ideas. She's bored with the same food also. She was happy about getting a protein smoothie when I told her about it. She loves them from Smoothie King.

 

[Mom21]

Does she not like egg yolkes? Add some more eggs to her breakfast. Cook a turkey breast and feed that to her for breakfast, no one says you have to eat breakfast food for breakfast. Make sure she has a carb/protien combo for snacks, that way she'll have some fast carbs to burn but some protien to maintain throughout the workout. I'd call her doctor and ask for a meal plan, but really it may get to the point that you tell her if she doens't eat better she can't train. They do have rules about body fat/weight and competition, that may motivate her to start packing in the protiens at breakfast and lunch when she's working out.

Nope she hates the yolks unless I make it scrambled and then she will eat them and I add in some cheese and milk for extra dairy. She only wants that every couple of weeks though. She's just not into eggs. She's the one with a problem with something other than breakfast food for breakfast. I'll often reheat leftovers for me and she says that isn't breakfast food. I just tell her it's what I want and she doesn't have to eat it.......LOL. Thanks for understanding what I was asking. I thought she needed more protein, but I just wasn't sure how to get it in her.

 

[malibuconlee]

At 5-3 and 110 lbs she is not a big girl!! When I was in high school I was 5-1 and 117lbs at the end of swim season. So muscular. Would love to have that body back!!!

 

[golfgal]

Let me clarify a little. My dd has been very chubby in the past to the point of the dr sending us to a nutritionist. At $250/hour the nutritionist said my dd had a good diet and gave a few suggestions for changes. It is only in the past 6 months that she has thinned out. I am the one that never focused on her weight. I always made it about being healthy because she has always been in athletics. I was bulimic as a teen. In fact I would talk to my friends about it and how to make sure I wasn't causing harm. Most of them actually thought I was too lenient in her diet, ie letting her set portions and snacks. I actually went the opposite direction than the drs wanted me to go.

Now in the last 6 months she has really slimmed out as she has gotten taller. This thread had absolutely nothing to do with weight. I thought I said that earlier. It is insuring my little athlete get the nutrition and calories (and yes that means more if needed) she needs to perform at her best. She really wants to excel this year and I want her to be healthy with all the practice which she knows I personally think is too much. She is a big girl though. She has large powerful legs and is built sturdy. She is absolutely gorgeous and already the boys think so too.....sigh.

Keep the food ideas coming. I am printing them out to give her some ideas. She's bored with the same food also. She was happy about getting a protein smoothie when I told her about it. She loves them from Smoothie King.

How old is she? It is VERY common for pre-teens to be 'chubby" and then thin out. Also keep in mind that her metabolizam will adjust for the lack of calories and the amount of exercise and what will suffer is her performance, not her weight. If her muscles don't have enough sugar and protein to do their job she won't be competitive no matter how hard she works. Also, muscle weight more then fat so her weight shouldn't have anything to do with her diet, etc. Her build is more important. Your DD sound like she has the same build as my DD, muscular. DD is never going to be waif-like but she certainly isn't chubby or big by any means.

Look to see if you can find a sports nutritionist. I am surprised that her club doesn't have one they work with already. If you are anywhere near MN I can give you the name of a good one. If you want to send me a PM I can get you his contact information for his book on sports nutrition--it is VERY good.

 

[Mom21]

How old is she? It is VERY common for pre-teens to be 'chubby" and then thin out. Also keep in mind that her metabolizam will adjust for the lack of calories and the amount of exercise and what will suffer is her performance, not her weight. If her muscles don't have enough sugar and protein to do their job she won't be competitive no matter how hard she works. Also, muscle weight more then fat so her weight shouldn't have anything to do with her diet, etc. Her build is more important. Your DD sound like she has the same build as my DD, muscular. DD is never going to be waif-like but she certainly isn't chubby or big by any means.

Look to see if you can find a sports nutritionist. I am surprised that her club doesn't have one they work with already. If you are anywhere near MN I can give you the name of a good one. If you want to send me a PM I can get you his contact information for his book on sports nutrition--it is VERY good.

I wish I did. I'm in way South Florida. Only child nutritionist here was the one we saw when she was about 6 or 7. Oh well. That is why I'm trying to get ideas from here. I know she doesn't eat properly.

Now to address everyone that focused on the fact that I said she is a big girl. Well she is. If you saw her you would agree. Muscular and thick. I never said FAT. This was not about weight but making sure she got what she needed to prevent things like previous poster said like shutting down her metabolism and making sure she performs at optimum level like she wants. I only mentioned weight and height in that it will affect what she needs to eat. I can assure you a 110lb girl won't eat the same as a 75lb girl.

I really would love for her to stop all together and sit at home. These kids work way too hard, get hurt way too often, and I think will suffer physically starting in their 20's. Just ask my dd and she will tell you I tell her that. But since I don't want to stop her from doing what she loves, all I can do is make sure she gets the proper support and that includes nutrition and sleep.

 

[bookgirl]

Nope she hates the yolks unless I make it scrambled and then she will eat them and I add in some cheese and milk for extra dairy. She only wants that every couple of weeks though. She's just not into eggs. She's the one with a problem with something other than breakfast food for breakfast. I'll often reheat leftovers for me and she says that isn't breakfast food. I just tell her it's what I want and she doesn't have to eat it.......LOL. Thanks for understanding what I was asking. I thought she needed more protein, but I just wasn't sure how to get it in her.

Okay, well then how about adding peanut butter (or any nutbutter I like sunflower seed) to her toast. Protein powder is a good one. How would she do with a whole grain Kashi waffle spread with peanut butter or cream cheese? Would she eat Quiche? That's breakfasty. Google baked oatmal and you could add protien powder and nuts or flax seed.

Snacks could be cheese and crackers, pb and crackers, I like rice cakes too but I'd add some kind of spread. Pouches of tuna they have no water and lots of people just it it plain out of the pouch, with triscuits or wheat thins. Cream cheese and bagel. Nuts with some whole grain crackers. Powerbars. Fruit is not a great snack, the calories burn up in seconds and they have no staying power. If she really wants fruit add the protein/carb combo to it. Instead of plain water you can get those little pouches of flavored additives they make them for runners. They have energy and carbs for rehydration and calories. I want to say the brand is Propel.

As far as anything else, Rozini makes a smart pasta that uses chickpea flour. It's much healtier than white, but it tastes much better than wheat pasta. IN fact it tastes just like white pasta. See if she'll eat hummus which is also a chickpea base. I like the morning star "hamburger" both patties and crumbles. See if she'll let you add that to her menu, very little fat but good proteins. They also make breakfast "meats".

 

[mom2kazkids]

I take it that she is a gymnast?

 

[IDoDis]

Hmmm... 110 lbs and 5'3"? Muscular? You've described my DD who is also an athlete. I would in no way shape or form say my DD is a "big girl." In fact, I think she's thin. I just don't see how you could say your DD is a big girl with those measurements.

If she is a gymnast (you never said, so I'm guessing), then she's probably larger than others in her gym. Most competitive gymnasts are short, thin, and may have delayed puberty. If your DD actually looks "normal" then she may look large compared to the others. If you think she looks large in general, then maybe you still have some issues to sort out with body image due to your past.

 

[Mom21]

Okay, well then how about adding peanut butter (or any nutbutter I like sunflower seed) to her toast. Protein powder is a good one. How would she do with a whole grain Kashi waffle spread with peanut butter or cream cheese? Would she eat Quiche? That's breakfasty. Google baked oatmal and you could add protien powder and nuts or flax seed.

Snacks could be cheese and crackers, pb and crackers, I like rice cakes too but I'd add some kind of spread. Pouches of tuna they have no water and lots of people just it it plain out of the pouch, with triscuits or wheat thins. Cream cheese and bagel. Nuts with some whole grain crackers. Powerbars. Fruit is not a great snack, the calories burn up in seconds and they have no staying power. If she really wants fruit add the protein/carb combo to it. Instead of plain water you can get those little pouches of flavored additives they make them for runners. They have energy and carbs for rehydration and calories. I want to say the brand is Propel.

As far as anything else, Rozini makes a smart pasta that uses chickpea flour. It's much healtier than white, but it tastes much better than wheat pasta. IN fact it tastes just like white pasta. See if she'll eat hummus which is also a chickpea base. I like the morning star "hamburger" both patties and crumbles. See if she'll let you add that to her menu, very little fat but good proteins. They also make breakfast "meats".

Once again, very good ideas. I'm printing them out. She saw I bought whole grain waffles today and asked for one for breakfast tomorrow. I'll see if she'll let me spread some PB on it or at least put it on her plate to try. I think she would like it. Right now I have Propel in the fridge. She likes that. Mainly she does plain water but doesn't object when I get something special. She likes Boca Burgers. I'm making a trip to Whole Foods tomorrow and plan to take my time and go through every aisle to see if there is something healthy she would like. Def on the protein powder for smoothies. She does love her fruit, but I agree when I eat fruit I get hungry easily. I've been thinking about getting some hummus to see if she would like it.

And to answer mom2kazkids she does trampoline/tumbling. It is gymnastics but not the traditional 4 events most people know although she did that years ago and moved for 3 years to All Stars competitive cheer and now back to this. She has never not competed I think since she was 5 or 6. Started gymnastics at 18 months. Has done ice skating, horseback riding, swimming, diving, cheer, gymnastics and so much more. She just lives to move. She wants to do synchronized swimming but no time.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Keep them coming. This girl needs to eat

 

[Mom21]

UGH! I wish I could go back and get rid of the word "big", but then I would be accused of altering my post. Yes she is a big girl. She's bigger than some of her friends that are older than her and not even athletes. This isn't about weight. I told you. I don't want her to lose any weight. I just want her to be healthy. I personally think she has an awesome, beautiful, powerful body. I wish I could post some pics so everyone would see she is not a poster child for starvation or child neglect.....LOL.

Edited to add: She is actually only 5'2 and 1/2". Measured her just a bit ago.

 

[Wonders10]

OP, yes I was aware you stated this advice was not for weight loss.

My "issue" is the amount of effort both of you are putting on calories in, calories out...eating this and eating that. She may not be competing, but that doesn't mean she isn't comparing herself to her non-tumbling friends as well as the other girls at the gym. Plus, while I understand your bulimia is no longer an issue directly (as in you no longer display the obvious signs of bulimia), you may still have those concerns in the back of your head that you aren't even aware of.

And you keep emphasizing how beautiful and strong she is now that she has slimmed down a bit and grew a bit. Well obviously she has been doing something right. And, she is only 12 - her body will be going through lots of changes that will probably include gaining weight, losing weight, etc.

I'm sorry - I know that I am reading into this way more than you have intended. And that's my issue with diet and weight loss. I tend to read between the lines and see what may or may not be there. But I don't mean to offend you.

 

[IDoDis]

Instead of Teddy Grahams for snacks, how about Triscuit crackers with peanut butter in between? The protein from the peanut butter will carry her through better than carbs from the teddy grahams. And make sure it's natural peanut butter like Laura Scutter's (the kind you stir up and refrigerate). The processed kind is laden with sugar & preservatives. It's just blech! The natural kind is just peanuts & salt.

 

[bgirl29]

OP, yes I was aware you stated this advice was not for weight loss.

My "issue" is the amount of effort both of you are putting on calories in, calories out...eating this and eating that. She may not be competing, but that doesn't mean she isn't comparing herself to her non-tumbling friends as well as the other girls at the gym. Plus, while I understand your bulimia is no longer an issue directly (as in you no longer display the obvious signs of bulimia), you may still have those concerns in the back of your head that you aren't even aware of.

And you keep emphasizing how beautiful and strong she is now that she has slimmed down a bit and grew a bit. Well obviously she has been doing something right. And, she is only 12 - her body will be going through lots of changes that will probably include gaining weight, losing weight, etc.

I'm sorry - I know that I am reading into this way more than you have intended. And that's my issue with diet and weight loss. I tend to read between the lines and see what may or may not be there. But I don't mean to offend you.

I just wanted you to know that I have been thinking the same things. My DD is not quite 5'2" and just weighed 111 at the doctor's office. If anyone ever called her a big girl I would tell them they needed their eyes checked. No she is no longer the little stick person she used to be, but as an athlete I think this is a healthier and safer size for her to be.

 

[bookgirl]

I just wanted you to know that I have been thinking the same things. My DD is not quite 5'2" and just weighed 111 at the doctor's office. If anyone ever called her a big girl I would tell them they needed their eyes checked. No she is no longer the little stick person she used to be, but as an athlete I think this is a healthier and safer size for her to be.

I really think by big she means muscular large boned. I have twin nephews one is long armed and legged and skinny and the other has a solid body type (about an inch shorter) but with a large bone frame and muscular, very defined arm and leg muscles built like a linebacker. The skinny boy outweighs the sturdy boy. You would never think it to look at them.

She sounds like she's built like an athlete, not a traditional "girl" type body. So she can be any where weight wise but never look "skinny".

I am large sized now, but even at my ideal weight I never looked small. I have large (circumfrence) bones, a long torso (5 7 in total height) but short muscled legs (my mom who is a inch shorter than me has legs that are two inches longer than mine). I always look like a big girl even when I was 10 pounds underweight for my height.

 

[bgirl29]

Bookgirl thank you for sharing your perspective. I guess I just never think about people, especially children, having big bones.

 

[carone0318]

Ok, so I have the typical gymnast dd (4'6"; 72# of muscle and she will be 13 in Sept) and it's all about protein.

Here are some snacks that dd either eats at gym, on the way to/from gym:

- Apple w/ PB. It is better to have fruit with protein rather than fruit alone.
- Raw Almonds
- Raw Cashews
- Kefir - this is a yogurt smoothie type drink that is organic, but high in protein (like 11g)
- Greek Yogurt - again, high in protein (like 11g too)
- Z Bars - they are organic and some are higher in protein than others. They are made by Clif Bar.
- Something my dd loves is grilled chicken cut into cubes with cubed raw organic cheese. Both high in protein.
- There are dried type berries that are considered "Superfoods" that I will mix with the nuts for a trail mix. Goji berries and Inca berries that I buy online.


If I remember anything else, I'll let you know

I shoot for high protein, but am also working toward organic now too.