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

[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...

You are totally setting him up for a lifetime of body/weight/image issues. Stop weighing him and measuring his waist. Stop mandating such stringent physical activity and sports.
Have good food choices around and tell him to go and ride his bike. When it seems like his belly maybe getting a bit big and jiggly wait a couple of weeks and see if it was his body storing fat while prepping for a growth spurt. That's how it goes for many kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are being ridiculous. He's not really all that heavy for his weight and the stop in loss, and gain around the waste, could indicate a growth spurt.

If you are going to give him one glass of milk a day you are better giving him whole milk. Once you remove the fat from milk you are left with nothing but sugars and that will actually make anyone gain weight more than the fat in the milk will.

A low fat diet really isn't all it's cracked up to be if you are removing the fat from where it is naturally occurring. It's one thing to trim a steak and another to remove it from milk. Also foods like coconut and avocado are high in fats but really good for you.

I'm pretty sure that there's protein in skim milk.

Not as much as you'd like to think and your body processes the milk differently because of the lack of fat. You are much better off with whole milk or goat milk.
There was a study proving that if you are going to drink one glass of milk a day while attempting to lose or maintain weight, that whole milk is better and more effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I told him his tummy sticks out a bit. What's the problem?

What does don't buy junk mean? You just know for a fact that all fat people buy junk, huh?

You're on every weight thread yelling eating disorder and that concerned parents have issues. You're boring. Get lost. Get a life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You are totally setting him up for a lifetime of body/weight/image issues. Stop weighing him and measuring his waist. Stop mandating such stringent physical activity and sports.
Have good food choices around and tell him to go and ride his bike. When it seems like his belly maybe getting a bit big and jiggly wait a couple of weeks and see if it was his body storing fat while prepping for a growth spurt. That's how it goes for many kids.

I think you're confusing a few kids mentioned by several different posters in this thread.

[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

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

How does he fit all this in his schedule and how old is he? I am genuinely interested.

Almost 8
Mon 3-4 karate
Mon 5-6 soccer
Tue 5-6:30 baseball
Wed 4:30-5:00 swim
Wed 6:00-7:00 karate (this can change, you can go twice per week)
Thur 5-6:30 baseball
Fri 4:30-5:00 swim, ( only swims spring: summer)
Sat baseball and soccer games can also do karate

[Anonymous]

I'd focus less on weight and more on food-as-fuel. The idea is to teach him to fill his tank (stomach) with food that gives him energy and nutrients to be strong and feel great.

Lean protein (grilled chicken/fish), plant-based, vitamin-rich fats (avocados, nuts), and roasted or steamed veggies with interesting spices are all solid choices that will help him feel great!

Also, high fiber food is filling. If he's a big eater who likes hearty "comfort" foods, it'll be hard to cut the rice and pasta too much without him feeling deprived and hungry.

I would be sure to include brown rice (no white rice), high fiber pasta (they now make one that looks white and tastes great but is high fiber -- comes in a purple box), and other healthy grains like bulgur (http://www.fooducate.com/app#page=product&id=39ECEBD8-5856-11E2-A40C-1231381A0463).

Yes, those foods all have carbs. But they also have solid protein and fiber, too. Nutritious and filling. Include some beans, grilled chicken, veggies and a light sauce and you've got a great meal.

I'd also be open to my kid eating leftovers of that for breakfast, too. No reason breakfast has to be the typical toast/eggs/cereal thing. Substantive dinner leftovers are filling and nutritious. Don't limit yourself there. If it seems more fun, serve them in a hand-held, low-carb wrap like this (http://www.fooducate.com/app#page=product&id=01A42154-588C-11E0-A55F-1231380C180E)

I also find those wraps incredibly helpful for serving veggies. We roast broccoli and cauliflower with sweet onions, sprinkle with spices, and serve in those wraps with a bit of sauce or cheese, and the kids love them!!

Beyond that, my advice is to chill out. If you weigh him weekly and measure his waist, you really do run the risk of triggering disordered eating for years to come (and rebellious over-eating or sneaking in the short-term).

Better to teach him that food is fuel, and help him learn which foods will make him feel good (NOT LOOK GOOD OR WEIGH LESS). GL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1

If this was a DD there would be an uproar. Please be careful about how you are treating your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I told him his tummy sticks out a bit. What's the problem?

What does don't buy junk mean? You just know for a fact that all fat people buy junk, huh?

You're on every weight thread yelling eating disorder and that concerned parents have issues. You're boring. Get lost. Get a life.

New poster here. What's the problem with telling him that his tummy sticks out a bit. Well, for one thing he has eyes and he has a body and he can see his own body. Do you need feedback on the appearance of your body? You have clothing, you can tell whether and how your clothing fits and when your stomach is jiggling and heavy. Why do you think that overweight people need to be kept up to date by the toned community?

Also, it's basically mean, isn't it? What's the point? It's really not nice. Is that a memory that you want him to carry through? My mom told me that my stomach sticks out? Really, OP?

I think you know what "Don't buy junk" means. You are being deliberately obtuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are being ridiculous. He's not really all that heavy for his weight and the stop in loss, and gain around the waste, could indicate a growth spurt.

If you are going to give him one glass of milk a day you are better giving him whole milk. Once you remove the fat from milk you are left with nothing but sugars and that will actually make anyone gain weight more than the fat in the milk will.

A low fat diet really isn't all it's cracked up to be if you are removing the fat from where it is naturally occurring. It's one thing to trim a steak and another to remove it from milk. Also foods like coconut and avocado are high in fats but really good for you.

I'm pretty sure that there's protein in skim milk.

Not as much as you'd like to think and your body processes the milk differently because of the lack of fat. You are much better off with whole milk or goat milk.
There was a study proving that if you are going to drink one glass of milk a day while attempting to lose or maintain weight, that whole milk is better and more effective.

What I think is that there are 8 grams of protein in a cup of skim milk, compared to 8 grams of protein in a cup of whole milk.

And please provide some references that your body processes protein differently if it comes in skim milk vs. whole milk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At 9 yrs old my DS was 5'2" 120lbs. Yes he is the size of a 12 yr old. Would I make him "diet?" no. Do I encourage healthy eating and lots of physical activity? yes. We model healthy eating and regular exercise. Do I want to promote unhealthy body image and over-self-consciousness at this early age? No.

She said this was at the doctor's recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Stop weighing him!!! Please!!!! Poor kid

Also, when does he have time to play? Can you cut back on one sport? Play is important for kids. I wonder if he's over scheduled and stressed out--stress makes a body hold on to weight.

Let him be a kid. And please throw out the scale!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop weighing him!!! Please!!!! Poor kid

Also, when does he have time to play? Can you cut back on one sport? Play is important for kids. I wonder if he's over scheduled and stressed out--stress makes a body hold on to weight.

Let him be a kid. And please throw out the scale!!!

I'm pretty sure the OP and the PP with the kid with the 4 sports are not the same person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I was thinking the same thing!

My son (8.5) has a pattern of going wide-slightly fuller in face right before he sprouts up a few more inches and then looks thin again. It's his pattern of growing. He was a super chubby baby/toddler, but no fat, tall and solid. He us super athletic, plays travel soccer, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd focus less on weight and more on food-as-fuel. The idea is to teach him to fill his tank (stomach) with food that gives him energy and nutrients to be strong and feel great.

Lean protein (grilled chicken/fish), plant-based, vitamin-rich fats (avocados, nuts), and roasted or steamed veggies with interesting spices are all solid choices that will help him feel great!

Also, high fiber food is filling. If he's a big eater who likes hearty "comfort" foods, it'll be hard to cut the rice and pasta too much without him feeling deprived and hungry.

I would be sure to include brown rice (no white rice), high fiber pasta (they now make one that looks white and tastes great but is high fiber -- comes in a purple box), and other healthy grains like bulgur (http://www.fooducate.com/app#page=product&id=39ECEBD8-5856-11E2-A40C-1231381A0463).

Yes, those foods all have carbs. But they also have solid protein and fiber, too. Nutritious and filling. Include some beans, grilled chicken, veggies and a light sauce and you've got a great meal.

I'd also be open to my kid eating leftovers of that for breakfast, too. No reason breakfast has to be the typical toast/eggs/cereal thing. Substantive dinner leftovers are filling and nutritious. Don't limit yourself there. If it seems more fun, serve them in a hand-held, low-carb wrap like this (http://www.fooducate.com/app#page=product&id=01A42154-588C-11E0-A55F-1231380C180E)

I also find those wraps incredibly helpful for serving veggies. We roast broccoli and cauliflower with sweet onions, sprinkle with spices, and serve in those wraps with a bit of sauce or cheese, and the kids love them!!

Beyond that, my advice is to chill out. If you weigh him weekly and measure his waist, you really do run the risk of triggering disordered eating for years to come (and rebellious over-eating or sneaking in the short-term).

Better to teach him that food is fuel, and help him learn which foods will make him feel good (NOT LOOK GOOD OR WEIGH LESS). GL.

OP here - just wanted to say thank you for this post. very helpful info. i especially like the roast veggie wrap idea. sounds really yummy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. What's the problem with telling him that his tummy sticks out a bit. Well, for one thing he has eyes and he has a body and he can see his own body. Do you need feedback on the appearance of your body? You have clothing, you can tell whether and how your clothing fits and when your stomach is jiggling and heavy. Why do you think that overweight people need to be kept up to date by the toned community?

Also, it's basically mean, isn't it? What's the point? It's really not nice. Is that a memory that you want him to carry through? My mom told me that my stomach sticks out? Really, OP?

I think you know what "Don't buy junk" means. You are being deliberately obtuse.

why is it mean? he's a child, i'm the parent, i tell him his tummy sticks out which is a fact that he, as an 8-yo, may not actually understand or care. i'm not calling him fat or big belly or teasing him about it. it's a sign that he is in need to move more and eat less, simple as that, and never about 'appearance' like you (might) think.

but link me a study that says belly fat is health for not unhealthy then i'll reconsider it.