Big weight gain in 7 yo - panicking

[Anonymous]

Start easing out (as opposedto cold turkey) on things like breakfast...maje an excuse like you'd isn't have time so here's a bag of dry cereal or you meant to go to the store to get more XYZ, but here's a Fiber One granola bar instead...then head out the dirt so she doesn't have time to sulk or protest.

[Anonymous]

This board has idea that if you just say the right things, or don’t say the right things, and if you have the right foods available but not the wrong foods except you also don’t restrict foods, that kids will naturally eat the right foods and the right amount of food for a healthy weight.

I think that idea is so, so toxic.

If everyone in my family line that I know about had suffered from serious depression, and that got worse coinciding with a huge spike in depression naturally, would I approach the problem by never talking about it? Just saying stuff like “I like to think sad thoughts in moderation?”

Obesity is like the last frontier of really hating ourselves for some reason. I guess maybe also aging? All this “magic words” or “I don’t want to cause an eating disorder” stuff is part of that bullsh!t. And it’s so hubristic. As if you and your sleeve of chips ahoy had such power.

It’s great to do lots of nutrition education. That’s important knowledge. It’s also okay to acknowledge that for some people, for reasons we don’t really understand, it is WAY WAY harder to stick to good nutrition. Your kid may be someone for whom it is harder. It’s okay for them to know that and that it is theirs to manage with as much help as you can provide, and it’s okay to talk about how you can have a happy and fulfilling life if you struggle with weight even as it’s okay to talk about the reasons why a healthy weight is a good thing to work for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This board has idea that if you just say the right things, or don’t say the right things, and if you have the right foods available but not the wrong foods except you also don’t restrict foods, that kids will naturally eat the right foods and the right amount of food for a healthy weight.

I think that idea is so, so toxic.

If everyone in my family line that I know about had suffered from serious depression, and that got worse coinciding with a huge spike in depression naturally, would I approach the problem by never talking about it? Just saying stuff like “I like to think sad thoughts in moderation?”

Obesity is like the last frontier of really hating ourselves for some reason. I guess maybe also aging? All this “magic words” or “I don’t want to cause an eating disorder” stuff is part of that bullsh!t. And it’s so hubristic. As if you and your sleeve of chips ahoy had such power.

It’s great to do lots of nutrition education. That’s important knowledge. It’s also okay to acknowledge that for some people, for reasons we don’t really understand, it is WAY WAY harder to stick to good nutrition. Your kid may be someone for whom it is harder. It’s okay for them to know that and that it is theirs to manage with as much help as you can provide, and it’s okay to talk about how you can have a happy and fulfilling life if you struggle with weight even as it’s okay to talk about the reasons why a healthy weight is a good thing to work for.

Your first paragraph is spot on, thank you.

[Anonymous]

How long has this been happening op? Since the start of summer? Since the Halloween/holidays? Or more broader Since the last pediatrician appt last year?

Fwiw, all my kids ebb& flowed with weight in like 7 or 8 month bursts. Sports or not, their bodies were doing their own thing with weight gain and growing.

Also , jc penny has a great product line for size Husky.
Ask me how I know (I'm guessing clothes are tricky to find, at least it was for me).

[Anonymous]

I’d do as many meals at/from home as possible. Breakfast at home, healthy, no sugar. Lunches made at home. Absolutely no desserts unless fruit and no sugar. Remove junk from house entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This board has idea that if you just say the right things, or don’t say the right things, and if you have the right foods available but not the wrong foods except you also don’t restrict foods, that kids will naturally eat the right foods and the right amount of food for a healthy weight.

I think that idea is so, so toxic.

If everyone in my family line that I know about had suffered from serious depression, and that got worse coinciding with a huge spike in depression naturally, would I approach the problem by never talking about it? Just saying stuff like “I like to think sad thoughts in moderation?”

Obesity is like the last frontier of really hating ourselves for some reason. I guess maybe also aging? All this “magic words” or “I don’t want to cause an eating disorder” stuff is part of that bullsh!t. And it’s so hubristic. As if you and your sleeve of chips ahoy had such power.

It’s great to do lots of nutrition education. That’s important knowledge. It’s also okay to acknowledge that for some people, for reasons we don’t really understand, it is WAY WAY harder to stick to good nutrition. Your kid may be someone for whom it is harder. It’s okay for them to know that and that it is theirs to manage with as much help as you can provide, and it’s okay to talk about how you can have a happy and fulfilling life if you struggle with weight even as it’s okay to talk about the reasons why a healthy weight is a good thing to work for.

Thank you for being the voice of reason. This is spot on

[Anonymous]

My daughter also gained a lot of weight around the same time. She’s always been a more muscular build, very tall and loves food. Our family members verbally expressed their disagreement about our approach, but we did tell her that eating too much food is not healthy and pulled her back from overeating when we noticed her doing it along with the weight gain. We repeat the following strategies:
- move your body a lot every day
- demonstrate small portions and only 1 serving
- prioritize protein, veggies and fruit over bread, pasta.
- fruit or veggie sticks only for snack and more waiting between meals.
- at dinner, we focus on veggie/salad first.
- also we cook very healthy foods that she doesn’t always like so she will eat a lot less then - we don’t offer an alternative

She has evened out a lot lately and is much healthier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d do as many meals at/from home as possible. Breakfast at home, healthy, no sugar. Lunches made at home. Absolutely no desserts unless fruit and no sugar. Remove junk from house entirely.

Cold turkey doesn't work. In fact, it causes more problems.

[Anonymous]

Breakfast at school is pure packaged sugar loaded junk. Child doesn't need it if eating breakfast at home. Make child eat fruits and veggies. Can't just have junk food as snacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does she eat at home for "full breakfast"?

My guess is there isn’t anything wrong with what she eats at home. If my kid ate a full breakfast of omelet, bacon and toast with milk, I’d bet he would still want to grab a honeybun or Froot Loops or yogurt tube at school, if it were available to him. School breakfast is usually the equivalent of sacks of sugar and corn/wheat with synthetic vitamins and artificial color added.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long has this been happening op? Since the start of summer? Since the Halloween/holidays? Or more broader Since the last pediatrician appt last year?

Fwiw, all my kids ebb& flowed with weight in like 7 or 8 month bursts. Sports or not, their bodies were doing their own thing with weight gain and growing.

Also , jc penny has a great product line for size Husky.
Ask me how I know (I'm guessing clothes are tricky to find, at least it was for me).

I thought it was a DD - that would be Pretty Plus - Ask me how I know

[Anonymous]

Get rid of ***ALL*** snacks. 3 meals a day that is it.

Agree with whoever said to stop breakfast at home.

Dessert is once or twice a week. You can give a small portion with dinner and when its gone its gone.

No seconds on starch for dinner unless all the protein and vegetables are gone.

Limit milk to two measuring cups per day, minus any cheese yogurt servings

Zero liquid calories other than milk

Daily family walk, sign her up for sports

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does she eat at home for "full breakfast"?

My guess is there isn’t anything wrong with what she eats at home. If my kid ate a full breakfast of omelet, bacon and toast with milk, I’d bet he would still want to grab a honeybun or Froot Loops or yogurt tube at school, if it were available to him. School breakfast is usually the equivalent of sacks of sugar and corn/wheat with synthetic vitamins and artificial color added.

If that is true, what can OP do to stop her from eating the sugar breakfast at school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does she eat at home for "full breakfast"?

My guess is there isn’t anything wrong with what she eats at home. If my kid ate a full breakfast of omelet, bacon and toast with milk, I’d bet he would still want to grab a honeybun or Froot Loops or yogurt tube at school, if it were available to him. School breakfast is usually the equivalent of sacks of sugar and corn/wheat with synthetic vitamins and artificial color added.

It's not the food but clearly the quantity. A full breakfast isn't necessary when a light one will do especially if 2nd breakfast is coming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does she eat at home for "full breakfast"?

My guess is there isn’t anything wrong with what she eats at home. If my kid ate a full breakfast of omelet, bacon and toast with milk, I’d bet he would still want to grab a honeybun or Froot Loops or yogurt tube at school, if it were available to him. School breakfast is usually the equivalent of sacks of sugar and corn/wheat with synthetic vitamins and artificial color added.

If that is true, what can OP do to stop her from eating the sugar breakfast at school?

Stop putting the money on her account.