Overweight 11 year old boy

[Anonymous]

Pre-COVID, my son was very athletic. Played on travel soccer, as well as was on the swim team.
COVID hit, and his activity level went dramatically down, and snacking way up.
We took walks, went on hikes, biked around the neighborhood, played badminton in our yard... but it’s not enough. I tried bringing home less snack food... and my husband would go out and buy more (since he’s a big snack-er too), forgetting that I was trying to limit DS.
He’s not fat, but chunky, gets out of breath after running for a minute... no way could he even be on travel soccer if he wanted to.
We have really started to crack down on his snacking, and are trying to increase his cardio. We both have mentioned his weight and needing to make healthier diet choices and getting more active.
But I am also afraid if I make to much out of it, he will internalize it too much. I don’t want him to hurt his feelings or fat shame him.
Thoughts on other things we can do?

[Anonymous]

Travel soccer started up again last summer and year round swimming did, also. Why didn’t you sign him up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Travel soccer started up again last summer and year round swimming did, also. Why didn’t you sign him up?

Different people have different tolerances...
When we went to travel soccer camp last summer, they weren’t remotely enforcing any of the Covid restrictions they said they were going to. They said they were going to keep the teams separate, but they did not. Decided it wasn’t worth it (I also care for my 83 yr old mother, so we were trying to minimize our exposure).
And our swim team did not have a team last year.

[Anonymous]

So the adults in the family should be vaccinated now so have him play soccer this summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the adults in the family should be vaccinated now so have him play soccer this summer.

We are having him do sports this summer. But he’s so out of shape now we don’t want him to get discouraged.

[Anonymous]

I would start gradually. Have him join a summer swim team. At 11 if he's active he'll be back in shape in no time.

[Anonymous]

Take him to the track at weekends and get him to do some laps. Do you have room for a stationary bike or rowing machine? Have some non-food rewards to motivate him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pre-COVID, my son was very athletic. Played on travel soccer, as well as was on the swim team.
COVID hit, and his activity level went dramatically down, and snacking way up.
We took walks, went on hikes, biked around the neighborhood, played badminton in our yard... but it’s not enough. I tried bringing home less snack food... and my husband would go out and buy more (since he’s a big snack-er too), forgetting that I was trying to limit DS.
He’s not fat, but chunky, gets out of breath after running for a minute... no way could he even be on travel soccer if he wanted to.
We have really started to crack down on his snacking, and are trying to increase his cardio. We both have mentioned his weight and needing to make healthier diet choices and getting more active.
But I am also afraid if I make to much out of it, he will internalize it too much. I don’t want him to hurt his feelings or fat shame him.
Thoughts on other things we can do?

Many many kids "pudge out" at 11-12. And then sprout up when they hit their adolescent growth spurt. Just focus on healthy eating and lifetime sports/exercise that he can do as he becomes an adult. Biking, hiking, skiing, swimming, tennis, etc. Please don't mention weight. There is huge social pressure on boys now too, regarding looks.

[Anonymous]

12 yo DS is really out of shape and didn’t play on his team sports for a year. They didn’t happen because of Covid and the things he did do were not nearly the same amount of exercise. Combined with virtual school, he put on a lot of weight.

We found a high a HS kid to work out with him a couple of times per week and that been great for his physical and mental health. We pay him and it’s a lot more motivating to have this than trying to work out with your parents. They do it all outside.

[Anonymous]

You need to make a big deal about the food choices, quietly, in private, to your husband. Your son is 11 and stuck at home. He can't eat too much of the wrong thing if you guys stop supplying it. Do not allow your husband to buy junk and then blame the kid for not being active enough. You really can't exercise your way out of a crappy diet.

Start running with him, or make your husband do it. NonetoRun is easy to follow. I'm doing it with my son (slowly) and I have a bad hip and he wears AFOs 8 hours a day. https://www.nonetorun.com/

Or do jump rope together. That's great exercise. There are some fun videos on YouTube and TikTok. I've been trying to learn but think it may be worse for my hip than the running.

Also, does he have a Switch? Ring Fit also isn't a bad beginner workout, honestly. I prefer the minigames and individual exercises to the story mode, but a child might like either.

[Anonymous]

If your kids are gaining weight, it is because they are taking in too many calories. Focus on that. Of course he will be out of shape but this isn't the Olympics.

[Anonymous]

Commiserating here. My almost 11 year old actually was pudgier just when Covid hit. It really seemed to be a question of him just having a growth spurt, and he’s lengthened out a fair bit the past year. Like a PP said, I am not saying anything to my DS, as he is very sensitive already and it would crush his self esteem.

[Anonymous]

Be thankful he isnt a she. Fat girls are the worst.

[Anonymous]

Be careful going from couch potato to a lot of activity at that age—prime age for knee and heel overuse/growing pains. You want to ramp up slowly and make sure he is stretching his leg muscles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be thankful he isnt a she. Fat girls are the worst.

Yikes.