Low priority but still a concern: my kids are going to gain weight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am totally on board with social distancing and I know this is not important right now and many families are worried about having enough food during this time. But it's an anonymous board and we all have our concerns, right? My kids always hover at the top end of a healthy weight. We manage it by staying in active sports and adding lots of fruits and veggies to our diets. But the reality is that COVID means all our normal healthy habits are difficult. We can take walks and ride bikes, but my kids are already over that (especially the walks) and during the week I need to work 40+ hours a week from home, so I can't supervise that much. Fresh fruit is hard to keep in the house without extra trips to the store, which we of course aren't taking (we go 1x a week and get as much fresh stuff as we can). I am even considering caving and getting a trampoline just to give them an easy way to get exercise. I hope this falls under the "won't matter in a year" category of concerns, but I am stressed about keeping them healthy. Anyone relate?

Trampoline is a great idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are idiots. Kids can play outside. They can run. Walk ride bides. They just need to keep distance. You can also sldo exercises inside!

You're an idiot. Nasty unuseful reply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t they stay active? I’m doing online power yoga every day, plus running every afternoon. We also have free weights in the garage. Kids can still play outdoors every day. Have them help with yard work. Walk the dog. Ride bikes. Go for hikes. There is no reason to be sedentary right now.

nope.
Our hiking trails are closed.
Our dog is a monster lab who will pull them to the ground.
Yard work, yes, the do it, but it isn't particularly calorie burning?
Free weights aren't either
My kids are 9 and 12. What will they play outdoors? And btw playing is wonderful, but it isn't exercise.
Bottom line --there will be weight gain. The key is to moderate food intake.

With your attitude, yes you will gain and so will your children. Try On Demand classes. Try dance parties. Try anything.

[Anonymous]

You really shouldn't have to exercise to maintain a healthy weight. You must be eating excessively large servings and/or junk food. It's this simple - extra calories in cause weight gain. I know many people who are basically sedentary but are still thin. That doesn't mean being sedentary is good, it just means there is no reason to be fat just because you are sedentary. Cut out the cookies, the brownies, the doritos. Cut all portion sizes 25%. Bam. Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You really shouldn't have to exercise to maintain a healthy weight. You must be eating excessively large servings and/or junk food. It's this simple - extra calories in cause weight gain. I know many people who are basically sedentary but are still thin. That doesn't mean being sedentary is good, it just means there is no reason to be fat just because you are sedentary. Cut out the cookies, the brownies, the doritos. Cut all portion sizes 25%. Bam. Done.

BTW, also, if you have any workout equipment that measures calories burned (rowing machine, treadmill, bike), just go see what it takes to burn 100 calories. You'll be sweating trying to burn off 100 calories in 15 minutes and making it to 500 calories in an hour is a no-go for most Americans. 100 calories is a healthy, small bag of "smart popcorn". A few handfuls of doritos or a 20 oz coke is twice that. So, again, exercise is really not the optimal way to maintain a healthy weight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You really shouldn't have to exercise to maintain a healthy weight. You must be eating excessively large servings and/or junk food. It's this simple - extra calories in cause weight gain. I know many people who are basically sedentary but are still thin. That doesn't mean being sedentary is good, it just means there is no reason to be fat just because you are sedentary. Cut out the cookies, the brownies, the doritos. Cut all portion sizes 25%. Bam. Done.

Adults, yes, maybe. Kids? Do you have kids or know anyone who has kids?

[Anonymous]

I have two kids, one never gains weight and the other does. They both have similar appetites and similar levels of activity. I am also worried about my weight gainer.

We have told the kids that since we can’t go to the store a lot they can’t eat whenever they want to. We don’t buy a ton of junk when we go. We do buy small treats that they like (like mini popsicles) so they can have something small treat most nights so they don’t feel deprived.

We are only baking once a week and trying to find high protein recipes.

We are using screens as a reward for activity (, walking the dog, playing basketball, biking, walking with a parent, dance or yoga video )—they get some screen time automatically every day, but they have to earn more by being active

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You really shouldn't have to exercise to maintain a healthy weight. You must be eating excessively large servings and/or junk food. It's this simple - extra calories in cause weight gain. I know many people who are basically sedentary but are still thin. That doesn't mean being sedentary is good, it just means there is no reason to be fat just because you are sedentary. Cut out the cookies, the brownies, the doritos. Cut all portion sizes 25%. Bam. Done.

Adults, yes, maybe. Kids? Do you have kids or know anyone who has kids?

I have three kids, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You really shouldn't have to exercise to maintain a healthy weight. You must be eating excessively large servings and/or junk food. It's this simple - extra calories in cause weight gain. I know many people who are basically sedentary but are still thin. That doesn't mean being sedentary is good, it just means there is no reason to be fat just because you are sedentary. Cut out the cookies, the brownies, the doritos. Cut all portion sizes 25%. Bam. Done.

Adults, yes, maybe. Kids? Do you have kids or know anyone who has kids?

I have three kids, yes.

Then you know that kids aren't supposed to maintain weight or be sedentary. Kids are supposed to gain weight, although not a lot at once, usually.

Cut portion sizes 25%? What?

[Anonymous]

Actually, my kids are probably getting as much or more exercise than usual right now. Instead of sitting in school all day, they can run around in the yard, and we go hiking and/or walking every day. We also have a small indoor trampoline.
PP who said their trails are closed must not live in the DC area. The hiking trails (not playgrounds, etc) remain open in DC, MD, and VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, my kids are probably getting as much or more exercise than usual right now. Instead of sitting in school all day, they can run around in the yard, and we go hiking and/or walking every day. We also have a small indoor trampoline.
PP who said their trails are closed must not live in the DC area. The hiking trails (not playgrounds, etc) remain open in DC, MD, and VA.

But you have to get to the hiking trails. Not that easy if you have dual working parents right now.

[Anonymous]

Most trampoline injuries occur from having more than one person jump at once, jumping off elevated surfaces onto the tramp, or attempting to use the trampoline to land on another surface. If you make rules limiting to one person at a time, no going upside down, and no jumping on/off the trampoline it shouldn’t be that dangerous. If you don’t think your kids can follow those rules, then it can be a problem. Also check with homeowners insurance, you might have to put up a no trespassing sign or something.

Another idea is those little jogging trampolines. Those can be used indoors so weather won’t matter, and less tempting or possible to do the above dangerous things on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You really shouldn't have to exercise to maintain a healthy weight. You must be eating excessively large servings and/or junk food. It's this simple - extra calories in cause weight gain. I know many people who are basically sedentary but are still thin. That doesn't mean being sedentary is good, it just means there is no reason to be fat just because you are sedentary. Cut out the cookies, the brownies, the doritos. Cut all portion sizes 25%. Bam. Done.

Adults, yes, maybe. Kids? Do you have kids or know anyone who has kids?

I have three kids, yes.

Then you know that kids aren't supposed to maintain weight or be sedentary. Kids are supposed to gain weight, although not a lot at once, usually.

Cut portion sizes 25%? What?

Uh, if the kids are moving toward an unhealthy bmi, you most certainly should cut portion sizes.

[Anonymous]

OP, I know the feeling. I have one kid that loves to be active all the time and another that loves to stay in the house, so this quarantine is her dream. She also loves to cook and bake.

In normal life she walks to and from school everyday, a mile each way, and plays sports on the weekends, so she gets some basic movement everyday. Now....it's a struggle. We still get out everyday but as some people point out -- not everyone has a yard or lives near hiking trails that kids can get to on their own. My husband and I have to work all day and we just can't stop to go for a hike.

Just try your best to keep them active, eventually you will get back to a normal routine.

[Anonymous]

My DC attends private school with online class from 8:30-3:30 pm every school day (an hour lunch) and then has homework. There is not a lot of free time to run around and we do not have a yard. Plus, DC is a tween and has anxiety about going outside in our urban city because the news is a constant stream of infection and deaths. We bought a punching bag and have been doing a push-up challenge but I personally am cutting the kid some slack.