I'm intrigued by the low carb argument and worried by the predictions of an epidemic in obesity in children. I'm reluctant to put my daughter (11years old, a big girl but not fat) on a low carb programme and not sure she'd go for it anyway. What do other members do about their children?

My son, (also 11, but definitely chunky) was on low carb for about 2 months. He dropped 16 lbs and looked fabulous and like a "normal" kid for the first time in his life. He enjoyed it, but got bored with it and started eating junk food again. He gained every ounce back and then some. Altho I limit junk food in my house, I couldn't stop him from finishing off other's left over lunches at school (which I later found out is what he does on a regular basis.)

I think most kids need lots of variety, but making good food choices available is important. I definitely would not put them on a strict WOE unless they showed interest in it and wanted to do it.

On the other hand, helping them understand good food choices is part of our duty as a parent. Lots of carbs are simply not good for anyone, including children. I try to keep most junk food out of the house, limiting cookies, ice cream and the like to special occasions. There is always a bowl of fruit on the counter and I have celery with peanut butter available after school. (Lo carb and they love it.) I keep ice water in the fridge and limit the amount of juice I'll make, offering mainly water and milk as choices.

I wish you the best of luck with your kids. It's not an easy thing!!
(It really gets tough when one is so skinny their clothes fall off and the other gains weight by just smelling food.)

Jeannie

Thanks for your reply Jeannie. It's so hard both for children and parents. There is so much rubbish so cleverly marketed and they usually really do have a sweet tooth. My daughter is quite open about the fact that, if she gets a cheese string in her lunchbox, that's good because she can swap (trade) it for a cake! I certainly won't go down the low fat road with her but it's difficult even to get her off things like white bread although we do use the part white part wholemeal variety.
Nice to hear that you're pregnant, hope you're well and all goes fine for you. That was a relief because I'm only in the second week of Atkins, doing well and don't want to hear any failure stories at the minute
Best wishes

Anne:

I'm stopping by again to let you know that my 11 year old has decided to go low carb again this summer. I am THRILLED as he's starting in a new school in September and I'd like him to go in looking and feeling his best.

I'll put him on CAD with modification. He will definitely be allowed snacks as an 11 year old doesn't have the ability to go without them. They are truly growing, after all.

Wish me luck! I'm going to take his before picture and hope to share it with all of you.

Jeannie

Hi Jeannie
That's good, I hope he does well on it. My daughter starts secondary school after the summer, too. I think that's the equivalent of your junior high. It's difficult for them going to new schools when they're at that age and worry so much about what the other kids think of them and that they'll fit in. I'm not sure what CAD is though I gather its called Carbohydrate Addicts Diet? I suppose it's similar to Atkins? Keep in touch and let me know how he gets on
Regards
Anne

Hi Anne:

Yes, that is the Carbohydrates Addicts Diet. In a nutshell, the basics of the program are:

Very low carbs for breakfast and lunch

one snack allowed (usually in the afternoon)

one Reward Meal which allows carbs. (Pretty much whatever kind of carb you want if you are doing CAD. CALP, Carbohydrate Addicts Life Plan is more strict with the Reward Meal) This meal has to be finished within one hour so as not to spark an insullin response with the higher carbs.

This is a great plan for kids (and adults) as they have a hard time just eating meat, cheese, eggs and vegetables. They look forward to the freedom of the reward meal and it makes it a very livable plan for them.

I will let you know how he gets along. He lost well on it in August when he did it last.

Jeannie

Hi Jeannief!
I don't know what your son's genetic makeup is, but I was thinking about my husband when you said that your son was a "Chunky" 11 year old. My husband went through a chunky phase as an 11 year old too! I did not believe him until my MIL showed me pictures. It was right before his growth spurt and he lived on candy & sugar (which he still does ) and he was chubby, but in the next 2 years he shot up to 6'0 and was way thin - he's a 6'3 very lean, 33 year old man now (and I if I may say devestatingly handsome) and it's odd to look at the pictures of the chubby 11 year old that he use to be. Could it be that your son is getting ready for a growth spurt as well? Then again, I could be way off base since I don't know your son or your paticular situation. I do wish you and your son much success.
Saturn

I don't think a growth spurt's going to do it for my son. He's been chubby for years and constantly getting chubbier. (Is that a word?)

Anyway... His dr. told him two years ago to "stop gaining weight and just stay the same weight and his growing height would take care of the rest." Well, that was 25 - 30 lbs ago. It would take quite a growth spurt to take care of his weight problems. (He's 4'11" and 131 lbs.)

Also, unfortunately, he takes after MY side of the family. My husband's side was skinny, skinny as children. My family had all large boned, kids with a tendancy to gain weight . My other son is as skinny as a rail (his pants fall down on him).

My hope is just to get 15 - 20 lbs off of him so he doesn't look so heavy and feels better both physically and emotionally. He's going into a new school in the fall and dealing with the verbal abuse is something I don't want to put him through. We are changing schools because the bullying in his old school was soooo bad. I want him to have a fresh start in this new school, if at all possible without the extra pounds.

Kids are just soooo mean.

Jeannie

I can certainly understand where you are coming from now. My heart is breaking for you that your son has been bullied at school. My older sister was horribly picked on as a child (she developed EARLY) which made me spend most of my years at school stand offish and not nice. I have anxiety about my own daughter starting school for that reason (she's a bit shy around children of the same age). My husband was also picked on a lot as a child. Today, both my hubby & sis are happy adults. It must be hard for you to see your son go through this. I hope the summer brings a lot of opportunities for your son to get outside and enjoy doing something physical to help him on his road to success. It amazing what a few less pounds will do for self-esteem. You have inspiried me to get the kids dressed at take them for a walk!!! Please keep me updated on your son's progress!
Best Wishes - Saturn

Yesterday my son started using mild weight training to help tone his upper body and abs. Today he voluntarily went down to do these exercises! I'm so happy for him.

We have a membership to the YMCA and I intend to keep us there on a regular basis over the summer. I wish they had a weight maintenance program to help children, there. They have so many great things for adults to do (like weight training, treadmills, aerobics and exercycles), but very little for kids. Basically kids can either play basketball (if the gym isn't booked) or swim.) It's better than doing nothing!

I really hope we can make it as regularly as I plan.

Jeannie

Hi Jeannie
I don't want to upset you in your pregnant state but I've just had a lovely after supper Friday night treat. A decaff. coffee with a shot of brandy in it and topped with whipping cream, delicious!

But on a more serious note, that's rotten what your little boy's had to put up with. Didn't they have an effective anti-bullying policy at his last school? There really should be no need for it if the teachers are doing their job properly, especially at a junior school.

I know it's good for us all to be healthy and try not to be too overweight but children should learn to respect everyone regardless of weight, race, intelligence or whatever. His self-respect shouldn't have to depend on his weight but I know we don't live in a perfect world and I do hope his new programme works for him and he is allowed to enjoy his new school and make loads of friends

Anne, no need to rub in the fact that I'm pregnant and can't imbibe. Sigh. That drink sounded fabulous. I certainly hope you enjoyed every drip of it.

The principal at my son's school did a terrible job dealing with the bullying issues that we continuously brought to his attention. Basically, anyone could do anything they wanted to my son, but heaven forbid he ever act out in response. Then the book was thrown at him for having a temper and "anger issues."

I'm just so, so, very glad my son will not be in that atmosphere next year. He has already said, "I hope I don't have to go through that in my new school."

I will help him in every way I possibly can to avoid all this by working on his self esteem, getting him some help to overcome the baggage this is sure to have left on his psychy and helping him become a healthy weight so as not to give other children something obvious to go after. He has a full head of gorgeous red hair which is not prominent here (most have blonde, brown or black hair), so they already have his hair color to start with.

Thanks for all your support, Anne. I love hearing from you!

Jeannie

Even my three year old (who just threw a fit because she wants ice cream). But mostly my 12 year old (ok almost 13) who sleeps a lot durring the day and is definately overweight. Lately she has lost a little weight, but I was discouraged to learn that she has been taking some sort of DIET PILL??? I intend to talk with her Dad about that (she lives with him and his girlfriend, who I understand lost a bunch of weight on Diet Pills). I want her to understand that a pill isn't the solution to all of life's problems.

*sigh*

Hi Risha:

I know what you mean about even the young ones needing to start on this. Lucky for me, my 2.5 year old loves meat and cheese, so I'll be guiding her toward a lot of that in the future. This morning, though, she wanted cookies for breakfast and would have nothing to do with the eggs and toast I'd prepared for her.

No, I didn't give in, but there's just no arguing with a toddler. You just gotta listen to the screaming fit and then go on with your life. I offered her a apricot and she ate that happily. (I ended up throwing out the egg and wheat toast. Sigh.)

What a shame about your daughter wanting to do diet pills. I can understand, though. If I could've gotten ahold of diet pills when I was 13, I probably would have jumped at the chance. I remember buying diet pills when I got my first job and had my own money for the first time in my life.

When you're with her, introduce her to the idea of insullin responses and how they make us fat due to excessive carbohydrate intake. Teach her a little at a time, and hopefully she'll get the message and join you on your quest for good health.

Best of luck!

Jeannie