DS 15 and dieting

[Anonymous]

Nothing you have said worries me. He seems to be a pretty typical teenage boy who hits a certain age, and now wants to get a 6-pack or whatever. Have gone through this with 2 nephews (third is starting now). They have all ended up as healthy young adults with an active lifestyle, and mindful of what they put in their bodies, but not obsessed with any of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing you have said worries me. He seems to be a pretty typical teenage boy who hits a certain age, and now wants to get a 6-pack or whatever. Have gone through this with 2 nephews (third is starting now). They have all ended up as healthy young adults with an active lifestyle, and mindful of what they put in their bodies, but not obsessed with any of it.

He stopped eating bread and pasta, though, that is worrisome. If it is just temporary so her gets rid of the love handles, sure, not a big deal. If he develops a habit of restricting foods, worrisome.
Mom with a teen who has anorexia.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like he's adopting a healthy lifestyle--- I think it's great. My son has done similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing you have said worries me. He seems to be a pretty typical teenage boy who hits a certain age, and now wants to get a 6-pack or whatever. Have gone through this with 2 nephews (third is starting now). They have all ended up as healthy young adults with an active lifestyle, and mindful of what they put in their bodies, but not obsessed with any of it.

He stopped eating bread and pasta, though, that is worrisome. If it is just temporary so her gets rid of the love handles, sure, not a big deal. If he develops a habit of restricting foods, worrisome.
Mom with a teen who has anorexia.

I disagree. It’s fine not to eat bread or pasta. That in itself is not anorexia. Vegetarians also restrict foods.
OP, go ahead and watch, but it does seem pretty typical teen behavior so far. Has he developed an interest in someone? That also often Spurs new dedication to eating better, working out, and hygiene.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing you have said worries me. He seems to be a pretty typical teenage boy who hits a certain age, and now wants to get a 6-pack or whatever. Have gone through this with 2 nephews (third is starting now). They have all ended up as healthy young adults with an active lifestyle, and mindful of what they put in their bodies, but not obsessed with any of it.

He stopped eating bread and pasta, though, that is worrisome. If it is just temporary so her gets rid of the love handles, sure, not a big deal. If he develops a habit of restricting foods, worrisome.
Mom with a teen who has anorexia.

What's wrong with not eating bread or pasta? They're generally not nutrient rich foods.

- Bread Lover

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing you have said worries me. He seems to be a pretty typical teenage boy who hits a certain age, and now wants to get a 6-pack or whatever. Have gone through this with 2 nephews (third is starting now). They have all ended up as healthy young adults with an active lifestyle, and mindful of what they put in their bodies, but not obsessed with any of it.

He stopped eating bread and pasta, though, that is worrisome. If it is just temporary so her gets rid of the love handles, sure, not a big deal. If he develops a habit of restricting foods, worrisome.
Mom with a teen who has anorexia.

If you're lifting weights and trying to bulk up, the advice is usually to increase protein and limit carbs. But if he's eating a carb-heavy meal at work, it does make sense to limit empty carbs everywhere else, if only to balance out his overall diet.

The only thing I'd add would be to encourage him not to forget about healthy fats from things like avocados, nuts, and fish. Those won't drastically affect his efforts to build muscle or lose weight, but will make sure he's staying healthy. Something like avocado toast on whole-wheat bread would be an option to add fiber-rich carbs and good fats, and make sure he's not totally avoiding that "bread" group.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised at the love handles. My Dh is 6'2, 162 lbs and is very thin- 32 pants size. DH is really muscular though.

I don't think limiting bread and pasta is disordered eating. Most people should be limiting those. And yes, teenaged boys eat salads. My DH eats a spinach, tomato and carrot salad without dressing every day for lunch and has done so for about 20 years. I think it's boring and tasteless, but he enjoys it. He's very into healthy eating and thinks it helps him with his running and biking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing you have said worries me. He seems to be a pretty typical teenage boy who hits a certain age, and now wants to get a 6-pack or whatever. Have gone through this with 2 nephews (third is starting now). They have all ended up as healthy young adults with an active lifestyle, and mindful of what they put in their bodies, but not obsessed with any of it.

Ditto, and this comes from a mother of a teen with an eating disorder. He probably wants to get in shape for girls or because that's what "all the kids are doing" now.

[Anonymous]

He doesn't sound unhealthy, but if you're really concerned about osteoporosis and calorie intake, I would ask him to track his macro and micro nutrients for awhile in a food tracker. There are apps for this. You could also support him and start making some healthy, balanced meals with him. Research the mediterranean diet. Whole grains like quinoa, veggie rich dishes, pistachios and walnuts, olive oil.

[Anonymous]

OP, if things continue in a way that worries you and it’s in your budget, maybe a dietitian appointment could be helpful either way. If it’s for disordered reasons, they could have insights. And if it’s really just because he wants to be healthy, they could give advice on the best ways to eat healthy so he doesn’t accidentally go about it In worrisome ways.

[Anonymous]

OK, so to summarize what OP said he eats:

lots of lean protein

rice

salads

a lunch at work that is probably carb heavy

This sounds fine to me. He's got plenty of quality carbs in here, and he does NOT need pasta and bread. I say this as a runner who eats pasta several times a week. Rice and a carb-y lunch are fine here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing you have said worries me. He seems to be a pretty typical teenage boy who hits a certain age, and now wants to get a 6-pack or whatever. Have gone through this with 2 nephews (third is starting now). They have all ended up as healthy young adults with an active lifestyle, and mindful of what they put in their bodies, but not obsessed with any of it.

He stopped eating bread and pasta, though, that is worrisome. If it is just temporary so her gets rid of the love handles, sure, not a big deal. If he develops a habit of restricting foods, worrisome.
Mom with a teen who has anorexia.

EVERYONE should stay away from bread and pasta.

I have two teen boys and a 6'1" husband to feed daily and we only eat pasta once a month and bread occasionally. Mainly in pizza or Subway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing you have said worries me. He seems to be a pretty typical teenage boy who hits a certain age, and now wants to get a 6-pack or whatever. Have gone through this with 2 nephews (third is starting now). They have all ended up as healthy young adults with an active lifestyle, and mindful of what they put in their bodies, but not obsessed with any of it.

He stopped eating bread and pasta, though, that is worrisome. If it is just temporary so her gets rid of the love handles, sure, not a big deal. If he develops a habit of restricting foods, worrisome.
Mom with a teen who has anorexia.

I disagree. It’s fine not to eat bread or pasta. That in itself is not anorexia. Vegetarians also restrict foods.
OP, go ahead and watch, but it does seem pretty typical teen behavior so far. Has he developed an interest in someone? That also often Spurs new dedication to eating better, working out, and hygiene.

Must be the anti-gluten brigade! Newsflash, wheat is delicious, bread is great, you clearly have a disorder. Why should anyone restrict wheat if they don't have celiac?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing you have said worries me. He seems to be a pretty typical teenage boy who hits a certain age, and now wants to get a 6-pack or whatever. Have gone through this with 2 nephews (third is starting now). They have all ended up as healthy young adults with an active lifestyle, and mindful of what they put in their bodies, but not obsessed with any of it.

He stopped eating bread and pasta, though, that is worrisome. If it is just temporary so her gets rid of the love handles, sure, not a big deal. If he develops a habit of restricting foods, worrisome.
Mom with a teen who has anorexia.

EVERYONE should stay away from bread and pasta.

I have two teen boys and a 6'1" husband to feed daily and we only eat pasta once a month and bread occasionally. Mainly in pizza or Subway.

Go away, you disordered insane person. Bread and wheat are why we exist today, why people are alive, it is a staple food in most cultures. You are disordered to the T!
I swear there is but two normal people when it comes to eating on dcum!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing you have said worries me. He seems to be a pretty typical teenage boy who hits a certain age, and now wants to get a 6-pack or whatever. Have gone through this with 2 nephews (third is starting now). They have all ended up as healthy young adults with an active lifestyle, and mindful of what they put in their bodies, but not obsessed with any of it.

Ditto, and this comes from a mother of a teen with an eating disorder. He probably wants to get in shape for girls or because that's what "all the kids are doing" now.

Well, that is how it starts.
It can take a turn to the dark side or it can be perfectly fine.
OP there is a guy on youtube that encourages everyone not to cut food groups and speak the truth about muscle building. It sounds like your DS watched some youtube videos himself where broccoli, chicken, and rice are that prescribed diet for building muscle.
Show him the guy Greg Doucette, that guy is a bit annoying but spot on all the time.