Need weight loss help for DS11

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

Hello WISH friends!!!

I used to be a regular here...got down to my goal weight at WW and have drifted away from this board but now I am back!! I need help with my DS11! He is probably about 15-20 lbs overweight. Not the worst, I know, but yesterday a girl at school called him fat (breaks my heart, mean kids!!!) and I know how painful that is...I don't want him to enter middle school next year overweight....the mean kids get meaner!!!

Anyway, I am not planning to put him on some strict diet or anything, but I told him that we need to make better food choices and try to be more active!! I told him I am going to do it with him (I have put on a few pounds since my goal weight!) and we are going to start by keeping a food diary...you bite, you write! Anyway I wondered how anyone out there has started a weight loss effort for a kid this age...?? He has an iPod touch and I have an iPhone..I know there are a lot of cool apps out there for weight loss...can anyone recommend one that is "kid friendly"?? Can anyone tell me how they have helped their kids lose weight? I told him we would both weigh in once a week to see how we are doing..?? Is that a good idea?

I need some inspiration to help him... I don't want to starve him or make him feel deprived... I know activity has to be a big part of it...

I appreciate any and all responses..

 

[Rose&Mike]

Hi Andrea.

Here are my thoughts. I have a 20yo son, who while he was always thin worried a lot about being "fat". We have a friend who's son was diagnosed with anxiety disorder and they were concerned he was developing an eating disorder. They are finding more and more that adolescent boys are developing eating disorders along with girls.

So, having said all that, I would make it about the activity first. Once he has some kind of an active schedule going, whether it be a sport, practice, or just planned activity each day, then I would talk about what your body needs to get stronger, faster, etc. I have found that if boys think they can get in shape faster by eating better, it's a great motivator. When you are talking about food choices talk about what they can do to fuel your body--or drag your body down in the case of bad choices. Make it all about health and healthy choices and activity and less about being thin or not being fat. Apps might work great for this because he can track how much protein he is getting versus carbs versus fat.

Good luck! Kids can be so cruel. Hopefully, this will end up being a very positive, healthy experience for you and your DS.

 

[PaulaSue]

I'm interested too. One of my DDs is getting heavy and I hate it. (She is so me that age) and I dont want her to suffer like I did.

Thankfully another dd lost the baby fat with swim team and I was thinking of putting all 3 in this year for the exercise (it's over winter since we can't walk often with the weather)

I am scared to push the issue too much since she already has self conf issues but I really have been getting on her (sisters too) about portion control, reading labels and dressing to hide the tummy.

We have been upping our walks to get ready for our trip and I have tried to stop baking so much (food allergies so I have to make most desserts so all can eat.)

I remind daily of drinking more water and double check lunch boxes.

I would love more ideas.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

i agree with rose on this one - tread carefully with the whole weight issue. make it about being healthy, about being a better baseball player or runner or whatever sport or activity he's into. kids are so vulnerable at this age. focus on what makes for a healthier body, not what he can't have. how about cooking together? or going to the store together and learning to shop the perimeter? that kind of stuff.

good luck! try not to worry too much. after all, he's only 11 and you never know - he may sprout up in the next year or two and you'll be calling him bean pole!

 

[Sandi]

I would focus on making sure he gets exercise every day. Biking, running/walking, swimming, weight lifting (under proper supervision), tennis, squash, playing in the park, on and on. You can do some of this with him and it will demonstrate that it's just part of a healthy lifestyle.

My own feeling about the "bite it, write it" for an 11 yo is that it's just going to make him feel bad. I think it's fine for him to see YOU do it for yourself, but I would be concerned that he'd feel resentful, etc.

 

[disneyfreak1]

I put all three of us on the Belly Fat Cure and it has helped my overweight DS16 tremendously. We tried WW, but he was allowed way too many points and too much freedom. Belly Fat Cure has been perfect for him (and me) because we can still have bread, potatoes, etc. in moderation. He hasn't felt deprived on this plan. We are limited to 15 grams of sugar and 6 servings of carbs per day and there are alot of great recipes in the book that we love.

 

[loislane]

Except in cases of extreme obesity, I don't think diet should be in a kid's vocabulary. As the parent, you still have a great deal of control over what goes into your kid's body, so wield that control wisely. Gradually replace junk food in the house with healthier choices. Swap out simple carbs like white bread for whole grain products. The goal, and this is just my opinion, should be about better health and not just weight and to start that, everyone needs to fuel their body with the proper foods. Fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains.

Then just work on bumping up activity. Is he sedentary? Sits around playing video games? Make that the exception and not the norm. Or, make it a reward. "Let's go for a 30-minute walk together and then you can have 30 minutes of video game time." Fitness should be fun - and the best way to instill a love of fitness is for you yourself to be a good example and role model.

 

[HYYJ]

YES! Losing weight and keeping healthy!