wvpumpkin
12-09-2007, 10:37 PM
My eight year old son seems to be gaining weight around his middle. He is such a picky eater. He doesnt' like much vegetable or meat. He will eat fruit, but doesn't like any type of berries. I am at a loss as to what to give him. His stomach looks bloated and when he sits he has rolls on his stomach. He isn't fat but he is too heavy for his build. Any suggestions as to things I could give him and how many calories per day he should have. I plan on cutting out the soda and I know he eats too much candy. I just love him so much, and don't want him to suffer with the agony of gaining too much weight. His dad has a real weight problem, about 75 pounds overweight and I just worry about my son.
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dustoffkid
12-12-2007, 02:17 AM
I think the best thing for you to do is take him to the pediatrician and work out a realistic nutrition and fitness plan for him. Eliminate the soda NOW.
wvpumpkin
12-12-2007, 07:13 AM
I think the best thing for you to do is take him to the pediatrician and work out a realistic nutrition and fitness plan for him. Eliminate the soda NOW.
thanks for the help. I hope I don't sound like one of those parents who are obsessed with appearance, it isn't that at all. I worry about his health and self esteem. I only want the best for him. I wish he liked more vegetables, because I am limited as to what he will eat. It is difficult. I will take your advice and check with pediatrician.
thanks for the help. I hope I don't sound like one of those parents who are obsessed with appearance, it isn't that at all. I worry about his health and self esteem. I only want the best for him. I wish he liked more vegetables, because I am limited as to what he will eat. It is difficult. I will take your advice and check with pediatrician.
dustoffkid
12-12-2007, 07:35 AM
You didn't come off that way at all. I interpreted your post as concern for his health. I hope that you have a good visit with the doctor.
rubato
12-12-2007, 10:12 AM
When I read your post it was almost as if I had written it!
I, too, have an 8 year old boy who is overweight. He's got a very soft midsection with rolls and I worry constantly. He genetically gets this from both sides of the family. Both my parents and all my sibs are overweight. I'm a very healthy person, but my hubby isn't. Every time I work on a healthy meal plan for my family, they gang up on me. Hubby is a firm believer in veggies, but thinks blue cheese dressing or cheese sauce must be involved. I just try to keep my son active. When the weather permits, we ride bikes together, go for walks around the neighborhood, play tennis, even go to the playground. He is in soccer in the spring and fall and in baseball in the summer. Over the winter, I struggle because I don't want to go outside!:)
Just try to be aware of what your son is eating. We have a rule about veggies. My son has to eat them first. That's all that goes on his plate. He can't stand it, but if he can't eat anything else, he'll eat them eventually. Then, when he's done with veggies, I give him the rest of his meal. It usually means that he's at the table much longer than we are, but I think it's important. I would definitely eliminate soda. It's about 140 calories a can. My son only needs about 1200-1400 per day. A couple of sodas can ruin that. You might check out a calorie needs calculator online. You can enter your sons age, weight and activity level and find out how many calories he should be eating.
I hope some of this rambling post helps. Good luck. I know how stubborn 8 year olds are. ;)
I, too, have an 8 year old boy who is overweight. He's got a very soft midsection with rolls and I worry constantly. He genetically gets this from both sides of the family. Both my parents and all my sibs are overweight. I'm a very healthy person, but my hubby isn't. Every time I work on a healthy meal plan for my family, they gang up on me. Hubby is a firm believer in veggies, but thinks blue cheese dressing or cheese sauce must be involved. I just try to keep my son active. When the weather permits, we ride bikes together, go for walks around the neighborhood, play tennis, even go to the playground. He is in soccer in the spring and fall and in baseball in the summer. Over the winter, I struggle because I don't want to go outside!:)
Just try to be aware of what your son is eating. We have a rule about veggies. My son has to eat them first. That's all that goes on his plate. He can't stand it, but if he can't eat anything else, he'll eat them eventually. Then, when he's done with veggies, I give him the rest of his meal. It usually means that he's at the table much longer than we are, but I think it's important. I would definitely eliminate soda. It's about 140 calories a can. My son only needs about 1200-1400 per day. A couple of sodas can ruin that. You might check out a calorie needs calculator online. You can enter your sons age, weight and activity level and find out how many calories he should be eating.
I hope some of this rambling post helps. Good luck. I know how stubborn 8 year olds are. ;)
wvpumpkin
12-12-2007, 11:38 AM
When I read your post it was almost as if I had written it!
I, too, have an 8 year old boy who is overweight. He's got a very soft midsection with rolls and I worry constantly. He genetically gets this from both sides of the family. Both my parents and all my sibs are overweight. I'm a very healthy person, but my hubby isn't. Every time I work on a healthy meal plan for my family, they gang up on me. Hubby is a firm believer in veggies, but thinks blue cheese dressing or cheese sauce must be involved. I just try to keep my son active. When the weather permits, we ride bikes together, go for walks around the neighborhood, play tennis, even go to the playground. He is in soccer in the spring and fall and in baseball in the summer. Over the winter, I struggle because I don't want to go outside!:)
Just try to be aware of what your son is eating. We have a rule about veggies. My son has to eat them first. That's all that goes on his plate. He can't stand it, but if he can't eat anything else, he'll eat them eventually. Then, when he's done with veggies, I give him the rest of his meal. It usually means that he's at the table much longer than we are, but I think it's important. I would definitely eliminate soda. It's about 140 calories a can. My son only needs about 1200-1400 per day. A couple of sodas can ruin that. You might check out a calorie needs calculator online. You can enter your sons age, weight and activity level and find out how many calories he should be eating.
I hope some of this rambling post helps. Good luck. I know how stubborn 8 year olds are. ;)
I am a very active person just like you. My husband isn't at all, other than work. I walk 6 miles per day and do strength training 5 times per week. My son does notice that I work out and sometimes he will join me. He just seems to gain weight very easily. My 15 year old son is very thin. He doesn't eat that much unless he is hungry. I wish I had his willpower, cause his is even better than mine. My younger son always compares himself to my oldest, like saying is my stomach small like my brothers yet. So I know it is starting to bother him. Thanks for you info. Good Luck to you too.
I, too, have an 8 year old boy who is overweight. He's got a very soft midsection with rolls and I worry constantly. He genetically gets this from both sides of the family. Both my parents and all my sibs are overweight. I'm a very healthy person, but my hubby isn't. Every time I work on a healthy meal plan for my family, they gang up on me. Hubby is a firm believer in veggies, but thinks blue cheese dressing or cheese sauce must be involved. I just try to keep my son active. When the weather permits, we ride bikes together, go for walks around the neighborhood, play tennis, even go to the playground. He is in soccer in the spring and fall and in baseball in the summer. Over the winter, I struggle because I don't want to go outside!:)
Just try to be aware of what your son is eating. We have a rule about veggies. My son has to eat them first. That's all that goes on his plate. He can't stand it, but if he can't eat anything else, he'll eat them eventually. Then, when he's done with veggies, I give him the rest of his meal. It usually means that he's at the table much longer than we are, but I think it's important. I would definitely eliminate soda. It's about 140 calories a can. My son only needs about 1200-1400 per day. A couple of sodas can ruin that. You might check out a calorie needs calculator online. You can enter your sons age, weight and activity level and find out how many calories he should be eating.
I hope some of this rambling post helps. Good luck. I know how stubborn 8 year olds are. ;)
I am a very active person just like you. My husband isn't at all, other than work. I walk 6 miles per day and do strength training 5 times per week. My son does notice that I work out and sometimes he will join me. He just seems to gain weight very easily. My 15 year old son is very thin. He doesn't eat that much unless he is hungry. I wish I had his willpower, cause his is even better than mine. My younger son always compares himself to my oldest, like saying is my stomach small like my brothers yet. So I know it is starting to bother him. Thanks for you info. Good Luck to you too.
BioAdoptMom3
12-13-2007, 12:37 AM
With a child this age I would really concentrate heavily on getting and keeping him active. Will he ride a bike? If so, go for bike rides together as much as you can. Get him involved in sports. There is usually something available for every season of the year and karate is great too. If there are firends in the neighborhood just running and playing with them is a great idea and will help to keep him fit. I am not sure where you live, but I am in FL and our state has a law where there has to be a certain amount of minutes of physical activity each week. Its a lot, like 150 minutes. Our particular school also has a club called mile club where the kids who join meet twice a week for a half hour after school and walk or run the school's nature trail. It is run by one of our coaches and two parents. Maybe you can start something like that at your son's school. It would not only benefit him, but the other kids as well. Our kids love it. As a matter of fact, its the most popular club in our elementary school and we have a lot of them to choose from. I am convinced that one of the biggest reasons for childhood obesity is the advent of video games, computers and 300 TV channels. Kids don't need to be active anymore to be entertained and they gain weight. And, as a testamony to exercise, while I am no child, I started working out in March and have lost 27 pounds since then, doing nothing but that five days a week. I never even changed my diet other than to try to eat less in general. Activity really does help a lot more than we realize.
Nancy
Nancy
ssjup81
12-13-2007, 03:24 AM
Has your son had any operations or anything? Could he have an allergic reaction to anything? If he's active and a picky eater, I don't see how he could end up with a weight problem or even a slight one, unless there's another factor involved. Even if he does drink soda, I couldn't see it being a major problem if he's active and such like an average eight-year-old child.
wvpumpkin
12-13-2007, 07:37 AM
Has your son had any operations or anything? Could he have an allergic reaction to anything? If he's active and a picky eater, I don't see how he could end up with a weight problem or even a slight one, unless there's another factor involved. Even if he does drink soda, I couldn't see it being a major problem if he's active and such like an average eight-year-old child.
He isn't overly active, he plays alot of video games. He does have some allergies, but not foodwise that I know of. I think it is just his diet mostly. When I say picky, I mean he doesn't like anything that is really healthy for him. He loves mashed potates, bread, mac and cheese, carb type stuff. Things he shouldn't like
He isn't overly active, he plays alot of video games. He does have some allergies, but not foodwise that I know of. I think it is just his diet mostly. When I say picky, I mean he doesn't like anything that is really healthy for him. He loves mashed potates, bread, mac and cheese, carb type stuff. Things he shouldn't like
dustoffkid
12-13-2007, 08:02 AM
LOL @ "shouldn't like..."
Everyone likes carbs. That doesn't mean they're best for us. I think that a nutrition consult might help.
Everyone likes carbs. That doesn't mean they're best for us. I think that a nutrition consult might help.
BioAdoptMom3
12-13-2007, 10:52 PM
Let him eat those things, but give him smaller servings and get him off the video games more often and out riding his bike, walking, on a baseball or soccer team, playing games outdoors, whatever you can get him to do. It really does make a difference.
Nancy
Nancy