8-yo DS weight loss 'hit a plateau' - need suggestions/ideas

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, is your son really even overweight? I mean, he sounds big and tall, but if he were 11 years old, that weight for that height would be totally normal wouldn't it?

What's his BMI?

This was my thought as well.

[Anonymous]

It's completely normal for weight loss to plateau during a long term effort. Totally, totally normal. You don't take additional measures. You wait it out and you give the dieter pep talks so they don't lose their dieting spirit.

The plateau can last 3-6 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of physical activities is best. What sports does he do? Right now mine does
soccer practice 1x week
Soccer game 1x week
Baseball practice 2x week
Baseball game 1x week
Karate 2 x per week
Swimming 2x per week

How does your 8 yo have time to do all this?

Some things do overlap and we have to pick and choose on weekends. He is not overweight anymore since we added more activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of physical activities is best. What sports does he do? Right now mine does
soccer practice 1x week
Soccer game 1x week
Baseball practice 2x week
Baseball game 1x week
Karate 2 x per week
Swimming 2x per week

Anytime for school or sleep?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of physical activities is best. What sports does he do? Right now mine does
soccer practice 1x week
Soccer game 1x week
Baseball practice 2x week
Baseball game 1x week
Karate 2 x per week
Swimming 2x per week

Anytime for school or sleep?

Is he an only child? This sounds impossible to me.

[Anonymous]

his breakfast is always a hard boiled egg + either cereals or toast w/ sun butter. so there's definitely room there to be more healthful. tks for the suggestion.

i just did on a calculator online to get his BMI - 21, which is 95%-tile and considered obese. and yes he's big and tall but also 'fat' with tummy sticking out and jiggles.

we check his weight every week and when on the weeks he didn't lose any/much weight i usually told him he's still getting stronger and faster and his waist is getting smaller to keep him motivated and the sense of accomplishment. i can't say that anymore since his waist has been growing ever so slightly recently...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of physical activities is best. What sports does he do? Right now mine does
soccer practice 1x week
Soccer game 1x week
Baseball practice 2x week
Baseball game 1x week
Karate 2 x per week
Swimming 2x per week

Anytime for school or sleep?

Is he an only child? This sounds impossible to me.

I have 3. In bed usually by 8:45 does great in school. The middle child does the same sports as well. The youngest just does swimming and gymnastics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:his breakfast is always a hard boiled egg + either cereals or toast w/ sun butter. so there's definitely room there to be more healthful. tks for the suggestion.

i just did on a calculator online to get his BMI - 21, which is 95%-tile and considered obese. and yes he's big and tall but also 'fat' with tummy sticking out and jiggles.

we check his weight every week and when on the weeks he didn't lose any/much weight i usually told him he's still getting stronger and faster and his waist is getting smaller to keep him motivated and the sense of accomplishment. i can't say that anymore since his waist has been growing ever so slightly recently...

Dear God. Are you actually putting him on a scale?!?! I can only imagine what you have said in front of him/to him about his stomach. You are completely setting him up for an eating disorder. He is young so his weight problem is completely something you have done to him and you need to fix it for him. Stop buying junk. Switch him to skim milk and help him make healthy choice without him knowing what you are doing.

Food issues can be life long and sadly it sounds like you probably have them and now he will too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP, is your son really even overweight? I mean, he sounds big and tall, but if he were 11 years old, that weight for that height would be totally normal wouldn't it?

What's his BMI?


This was my thought as well.

My thought too. This poor child does not need a regimented diet and constant activity. He needs you to lay off! Encourage healthy eating and activity, let him have occasional treats, and let him be a kid!

[Anonymous]

isn't a 21 bmi normal? i thought 20-25?

but in any case: your son sounds fine, you sound like a nut. what's going to cause more harm - being a little pudgy or a parent who won't shut the hell up about the kid being a little pudgy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:isn't a 21 bmi normal? i thought 20-25?

but in any case: your son sounds fine, you sound like a nut. what's going to cause more harm - being a little pudgy or a parent who won't shut the hell up about the kid being a little pudgy?

This. I am a nurse and a long time ago I worked at an adolescent pediatric practice and there were 3 types of parents of over overweight kids. 1.) ones that didn't care/notice/were in denial 2.) ones that cared and lightly monitored by encouraging healthful choices and 3.) wack jobs like OP who constantly weighed their kid and make awkward comments about their waist size. Kids with type 1 and 2 were almost always fine but kids of type 3 parents ALWAYS ended up with a.) terrible relationships with their parents b.) eating disorders c.) emotional problems/depression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:his breakfast is always a hard boiled egg + either cereals or toast w/ sun butter. so there's definitely room there to be more healthful. tks for the suggestion.

i just did on a calculator online to get his BMI - 21, which is 95%-tile and considered obese. and yes he's big and tall but also 'fat' with tummy sticking out and jiggles.

we check his weight every week and when on the weeks he didn't lose any/much weight i usually told him he's still getting stronger and faster and his waist is getting smaller to keep him motivated and the sense of accomplishment. i can't say that anymore since his waist has been growing ever so slightly recently...

Does your doctor recommend weighing him weekly? Are you seeing a dietician that works with children? Maybe they can provide suggestions. Maybe he is in a growth lull. One growth spurt, will send him into a normal weight range. It is also possible that he will always carry a little more weight. What do body types in both your families look like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of physical activities is best. What sports does he do? Right now mine does
soccer practice 1x week
Soccer game 1x week
Baseball practice 2x week
Baseball game 1x week
Karate 2 x per week
Swimming 2x per week

Anytime for school or sleep?

Also, unstructured play time outside is really great for kids. I was always slender as a child because I spent so much time running around outside with my neighbors. And I played a D1 sport in college so it's not like all that organized play is definitely the best thing for him.

[Anonymous]

I was beginning to veer into category 3. My DD was getting fat around the age of 9 and it bothered me so much. I stressed about it at night and blamed myself as a parent. To make matters worse, DD's twin brother was like a tooth pick no matter what he ate. I felt like I was in a dilemma. Let. DS eat the foods he enjoyed while at the same time limiting DDs intake. And, guess what happened? DD became a sneak eater. She would raid the fridge and pantry when I was asleep no matter how much I tried to hide things from her. I would find a pile of food and candy wrappers behind her bed. It got really crazy and depressing. Then, one day, which I can't explain, DD started getting taller and the weight became in proportion to her height. She has always been sports centered so I never had to force her to be active. I don't stress about the food anymore and DD eats what she wants in moderation. People would ask me initially how she lost the weight but I had no real answer. I don't think she lost much weight, she just got taller. I am glad. She feels good about herself and although I still find the candy wrappers, I don't stress over it. I try to focus on the positive, like how DD is a good student and athlete, is kind to others and has a good self image.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of physical activities is best. What sports does he do? Right now mine does
soccer practice 1x week
Soccer game 1x week
Baseball practice 2x week
Baseball game 1x week
Karate 2 x per week
Swimming 2x per week

Anytime for school or sleep?

Is he an only child? This sounds impossible to me.

I have 3. In bed usually by 8:45 does great in school. The middle child does the same sports as well. The youngest just does swimming and gymnastics

That is surprising. How do you and DH manage to schlep so many kids around to so many different activities?