My DS13 is getting chunky...help!

[EmJay2001]

I agree to have the doctor check him out. It could be a thyroid issue or some other medical thing. Although I doubt it. When I was 13 I can't tell you how much I used to eat. Now, I played soccer then so I didn't get "chunky". But, I once ate 2 large pizzas in one sitting. I ate A LOT.

As far as what YOU can do to help. He will need to eat. But, try to avoid buying things with high fructose corn syrup in them. You'd be surprised what it's in if you haven't looked. Breads, salad dressings, obviously soda, juices, snacks, etc... From everything I have read about it, your body can break it down, it has to turn it to fat first. Same goes for "partially hydrogenated oils".

Try to get him to drink water.

Buy things with more fiber in them and feed him more protien if possible. This makes you feel full longer and keeps the blood sugar more level.

Stay away from the "white menace". This is any food with white flour, white rice, etc... These foods, along with sugary foods, cause spikes in your blood sugar and when the blood sugar comes back down you eat, even if it is only an hour or 2 later. Read the book "Ultrametabolism" by Dr. Mark Hyman. It explains it all. I have read it several times.

Also, try not to let him eat at least 3 hours before going to bed. (Also explained in the book).

You could make a difference without saying a word if you just buy some different foods. I buy only whole wheat bread. The kids hated it at first because they were used to the white menace bread. Now they only eat whole wheat bread and if they have a piece of white bread at a friend's house they don't like it.

Those are just some ideas that hopefully can help, on top of his doctor's opinion as well.

This is an excellent post. My DD also carries a lot of weight, she is 13 and weighs almost the same as me, an adult who is much taller than her. She just does not process sugar well at all. About 6 weeks ago we became a sugar-free house. She does not get any white sugar/flour etc on a day to day bases but we do allow some cheat meals/food item a few days a week. Her choice which ones, like today for example, the school has pizza lunch so she is having that. It is working out amazingly for us. She loves the new food plan (we dont call it a diet, that has neg connotations). To her, she is eating more flavourful and just plain more food now. I make sure she has health carbs and I always combine them with a fiber and protein item. It is all about balance and portion control. I downsized the plate for everyone as well, we use the smaller plates and I use the 1/2 plate veggie, 1/4 carb, 1/4 protein idea as well (with a side salad). I am using her love of food to my advantage. She will always try something new, she might not like it but in general she likes a lot. Green beans are about the only thing she hates so I work around that. Also, she told me she is never hungry and does not feel deprived at all and she is losing about 1/2 pound a week, which is fantastic in my book . Now my skinny mini ds says this plan sucks because he is gaining weight on it, lol. I am very very happy about the too, win win for me . It is very, very time consuming and expensive. In the beginning I spent hours and hours in the stores reading labels (so many crappy foods out there!!!) and my grocery bill has increased by about 50% . I do save time because I make a lot simpler things. Last night was salmon with pesto and feta, steamed broccoli and pinto bean chips with hummus dip. Only about 15 min prep time total. Other nights it takes longer because I have to make something from scratch, like pizza night. I have an excellent low sugar (you need some for the yeast to activate, I use honey) whole wheat pizza dough recipe. That takes a lot longer because it takes a bit to mix, then rise then dress then cook. But totally worth it because it is a big hit here.

Good luck!

 

[karenbaco]

This is an excellent post. My DD also carries a lot of weight, she is 13 and weighs almost the same as me, an adult who is much taller than her. She just does not process sugar well at all. About 6 weeks ago we became a sugar-free house. She does not get any white sugar/flour etc on a day to day bases but we do allow some cheat meals/food item a few days a week. Her choice which ones, like today for example, the school has pizza lunch so she is having that. It is working out amazingly for us. She loves the new food plan (we dont call it a diet, that has neg connotations). To her, she is eating more flavourful and just plain more food now. I make sure she has health carbs and I always combine them with a fiber and protein item. It is all about balance and portion control. I downsized the plate for everyone as well, we use the smaller plates and I use the 1/2 plate veggie, 1/4 carb, 1/4 protein idea as well (with a side salad). I am using her love of food to my advantage. She will always try something new, she might not like it but in general she likes a lot. Green beans are about the only thing she hates so I work around that. Also, she told me she is never hungry and does not feel deprived at all and she is losing about 1/2 pound a week, which is fantastic in my book . Now my skinny mini ds says this plan sucks because he is gaining weight on it, lol. I am very very happy about the too, win win for me . It is very, very time consuming and expensive. In the beginning I spent hours and hours in the stores reading labels (so many crappy foods out there!!!) and my grocery bill has increased by about 50% . I do save time because I make a lot simpler things. Last night was salmon with pesto and feta, steamed broccoli and pinto bean chips with hummus dip. Only about 15 min prep time total. Other nights it takes longer because I have to make something from scratch, like pizza night. I have an excellent low sugar (you need some for the yeast to activate, I use honey) whole wheat pizza dough recipe. That takes a lot longer because it takes a bit to mix, then rise then dress then cook. But totally worth it because it is a big hit here.

Good luck!

Thank you! I would love the recipe for whole wheat dough. I suggest you try tomake mini pizzas on whole wheat english muffins. Those are awesome and always a hit with kids.

 

[EmJay2001]

Thank you! I would love the recipe for whole wheat dough. I suggest you try tomake mini pizzas on whole wheat english muffins. Those are awesome and always a hit with kids.

This is the recipe I use but I use the old version. She recently updated it and doubled everything and changed the honey to coconut sugar.

http://www.sugarfreemom.com/recipes/whole-wheat-thin-crust-pizza-dough/

so for me I use:

1.5 c of ww pastry flour
1 tsp of baking power
.... same as the website but halved
1 tbsp honey (the honey gets consumed by the yeast so I dont worry about it, plus 1 tbsp 10 ways is not much per slice )

I use a 9x12 pan I bought especially for this recipe, it is smaller than a normal cookie sheet.

I actually made this tonight . I paired it with cucumber and tzatziki, a garden salad and for dessert strawberries with fresh whipped cream on top (I put vanilla and a few packs of Caramel Stevia in the whip cream, I will use a bit of sugar alcohols, in a few select things)

 

[tina.tina]

I would say that taking neighborhood walks as a family will help everyone in your family.

 

[proud_canadian]

Hi there,

It sounds to me like your DS is filling out and about to hit a big growth spurt. However, none of us really know if his weight is in the healthy range or not. Definitely ask the doctor at the next checkup, maybe see if you can call ahead and put a note in the file or something so that the doctor is aware of your concerns, but you don't have to say anything in front of the doctor which may embarass your DS.

Whether his weight is in the normal range or not, it doesn't hurt to try and eat healthier and get more active. Even though it seems like you are doing a great job already. Just try to keep snacks and foods at home as healthy as possible, so when he is hungry for a snack he isn't tempted by the unhealthy ones. Kids get enough junk out of the home I find, between parties, and playdates, etc, so we try to eat as clean as possible at home. For example, at home my kids only drink milk with dinner and water the rest of the time. We don't buy them pop or juice, as they still get it at parties, daycare, etc, no need to have it at home too. Try to set a good example for your DS by staying active yourself, go for walks or bike rides as a family (nice weather is coming finally!!!), or suggest a fun game of hoops in the driveway, etc.

If he does have a weight issue, have the doctor talk to your DS about what to do about it. He will likely respond better hearing about it from a professional. If there is a valid issue there, I wouldn't brush it off, because too many kids these days are unhealthy and it can lead to lifelong problems, but it sounds to me like he is just a normal kid about to sprout up in a hurry!

 

[Hutchy]

My brother turned into a CHUNK in middle school and was still a big boy in 9th grade. The summer between 9th and 10th he grew around 6 inches and lost over 30lbs. I was working a lot that summer so I rarely saw him and didn't realize how much he had changed and one day looked out at the pool and asked my mom who was in the pool. She told me it was my brother and I thought she was lying but sure enough he looked like a different person. When school started back 2 different teachers pulled him aside to make sure he wasn't doing drugs because he had lost so much weight, I guess they didn't notice how much taller he is! Now he just turned 26 yesterday and he weighs between 170-180 and is around 6' tall.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Encourage him to join a sport or other physical activity. Marching band thinned out my kids at 13.

 

[karenbaco]

Encourage him to join a sport or other physical activity. Marching band thinned out my kids at 13.

In my original thread I said this "He is pretty active, plays very competitive baseball, and just finished basketball season"

 

[Waiting2goback]

This is an excellent post. My DD also carries a lot of weight, she is 13 and weighs almost the same as me, an adult who is much taller than her. She just does not process sugar well at all. About 6 weeks ago we became a sugar-free house. She does not get any white sugar/flour etc on a day to day bases but we do allow some cheat meals/food item a few days a week. Her choice which ones, like today for example, the school has pizza lunch so she is having that. It is working out amazingly for us. She loves the new food plan (we dont call it a diet, that has neg connotations). To her, she is eating more flavourful and just plain more food now. I make sure she has health carbs and I always combine them with a fiber and protein item. It is all about balance and portion control. I downsized the plate for everyone as well, we use the smaller plates and I use the 1/2 plate veggie, 1/4 carb, 1/4 protein idea as well (with a side salad). I am using her love of food to my advantage. She will always try something new, she might not like it but in general she likes a lot. Green beans are about the only thing she hates so I work around that. Also, she told me she is never hungry and does not feel deprived at all and she is losing about 1/2 pound a week, which is fantastic in my book . Now my skinny mini ds says this plan sucks because he is gaining weight on it, lol. I am very very happy about the too, win win for me . It is very, very time consuming and expensive. In the beginning I spent hours and hours in the stores reading labels (so many crappy foods out there!!!) and my grocery bill has increased by about 50% . I do save time because I make a lot simpler things. Last night was salmon with pesto and feta, steamed broccoli and pinto bean chips with hummus dip. Only about 15 min prep time total. Other nights it takes longer because I have to make something from scratch, like pizza night. I have an excellent low sugar (you need some for the yeast to activate, I use honey) whole wheat pizza dough recipe. That takes a lot longer because it takes a bit to mix, then rise then dress then cook. But totally worth it because it is a big hit here.

Good luck!

Thank you. I can't tell you how many books I have read on the subject. I have had trouble losing weight even when eating "healthy". I was getting so frustrated. Then, after reading another book by the author of Ultrametabolism I decided to start a gluten free/dairy free diet. I lost 20 lbs in 2 months with no more exercise than I was doing before I changed my diet.

These two things (gluten and dairy) can cause inflammation inside your body that can not only prevent you from losing weight but causing you to gain weight.

My whole point is, sometimes you just need to try new things. For anyone that has weight concerns it is more about adopting a new lifestyle as opposed to just losing weight.

 

[low-key]

I was a Chubby kid, I remember my mom would have to buy me "husky" pants

 

[kelly3927]

Several people have given a lot of good advice about healthy food but I would also try to make sure he is getting healthy fats. There is a belief in this country that low fat or no fat is the best option and that is completely false. Change your milk to whole milk. If his allergy will allow nuts have him snack on almonds, cashews, walnuts. Use olive oil, avocado oil, butter, no margarine or fake food products. Healthy fats will help him feel full.

 

[karenbaco]

DS saw the Pedi today and happy to report all is well. He is still only 10th percentile for height (4'10") and 50th for weight (110#). Yes he is getting a little thick but she thinks it is a precursor to a growth spurt. I sure hope she's right. Slowly getting there but on the late side of hitting puberty. There is a pro to getting puberty late though. More time to grow before it hits Going to do our best to keep him active and eating well. He's going to start bringing a lunch to school. PB & J but we use whole grain bread and all natural organic peanut butter. Of course he wants, chips and a granola bar to go with it :/. Going to get him some apple sauce to put in seeing all fruits make his mouth itchy and bottled water. Thanks for the encouragement and advice.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

DS saw the Pedi today and happy to report all is well. He is still only 10th percentile for height (4'10") and 50th for weight (110#). Yes he is getting a little thick but she thinks it is a precursor to a growth spurt. I sure hope she's right. Slowly getting there but on the late side of hitting puberty. There is a pro to getting puberty late though. More time to grow before it hits Going to do our best to keep him active and eating well. He's going to start bringing a lunch to school. PB & J but we use whole grain bread and all natural organic peanut butter. Of course he wants, chips and a granola bar to go with it :/. Going to get him some apple sauce to put in seeing all fruits make his mouth itchy and bottled water. Thanks for the encouragement and advice.

Excellent! I've got a late bloomer as well, my DS is in the 7th percentile for height and at almost 11 shows no sign of puberty yet. The longer it waits to hit, the taller they'll be. On the good side, he did grow 1 1/2" and gained 4 pounds since he last went to the doctor!

For your son, will he eat peanut butter and celery along with a sandwich? I've found that putting the peanut butter in a separate baggie, and then cutting off the corner an sort of "frosting" the celery is much neater than putting it on before I leave home, and it's healthier than chips.

 

[Caradana]

I'm a big fan of parents working out equaling kids working out. Family trip to the high school track every other night to walk/run laps. Praise improvements. Works beautifully.

 

[U2_rocks!]

My DS is 14 and not really going through puberty yet. Last year he was pretty chunky in the middle and not that tall, but in the last 6 - 8 months he has lost most of his belly (though he's not really thin - he just looks average now) and has grown a bit. I think this summer I will see a huge growth spurt and probably the beginnings of puberty. It's quite common in boys.

It also helps that he took up a new sport that challenged his muscles in different ways, which probably jump-started his metabolism.

 

[Waiting2goback]

DS saw the Pedi today and happy to report all is well. He is still only 10th percentile for height (4'10") and 50th for weight (110#). Yes he is getting a little thick but she thinks it is a precursor to a growth spurt. I sure hope she's right. Slowly getting there but on the late side of hitting puberty. There is a pro to getting puberty late though. More time to grow before it hits Going to do our best to keep him active and eating well. He's going to start bringing a lunch to school. PB & J but we use whole grain bread and all natural organic peanut butter. Of course he wants, chips and a granola bar to go with it :/. Going to get him some apple sauce to put in seeing all fruits make his mouth itchy and bottled water. Thanks for the encouragement and advice.

Well, its good news that everything seems to be normal. Its good that you are doing the organic PB because the others have high fructose corn syrup in them or some partially hydrogentated oils. If you're still watching what he eats then the jelly has tons of sugar in it and the applesauce does as well. Most applesauces have HFCS in them as well. Believe it or not the granola bars, if you buy the right ones, might be a better option. Some have less sugar and they tend to be higher in fiber, which will make him feel full longer. I get KASHI stuff because they are more "natural".

 

[karenbaco]

Well, its good news that everything seems to be normal. Its good that you are doing the organic PB because the others have high fructose corn syrup in them or some partially hydrogentated oils. If you're still watching what he eats then the jelly has tons of sugar in it and the applesauce does as well. Most applesauces have HFCS in them as well. Believe it or not the granola bars, if you buy the right ones, might be a better option. Some have less sugar and they tend to be higher in fiber, which will make him feel full longer. I get KASHI stuff because they are more "natural".

I buy the no added sugar applesauce so its only apples. I put a tiny teaspoon of jelly on his sandwich so he gets very little sugar and it balances out by using natural peanut butter. No way will I ever buy the crappy peanut butter again. Yuck! No soda or juice in my house either, they drink water.