Anyone else have kids that need to lose weight as well?

[Ohappydaye]

Hi niapage,
I've switched a lot of things in our diet and my daughter has yet to notice. I switched all pastas to whole wheat/grain, I now buy 2% milk (working my way to skim) and I never fry anything...well I never did that before. It wasn't for health reasons though, I HATED the way the oil always popped and burned me. ROTFL It's the truth, sad I know...but the truth nonetheless.

Also, I buy the Light Lays variety of snacks (chips, Doritos,etc) and put the serving size in ziplock bags, for both of our sakes because I will eat an entire bag of Lays in one sitting. That way whenever either one of us wants a salty snack we just take one baggie off the pantry shelf. And I keep LOADS of fruit in the house (peaches, grapes, apples, strawberries) and I've found that she tends to eat them more because they're more readily available.

As for the activity, luckily my daughter really loves cheerleading so she's excited about this new age bracket and the increase in the work. She has two bikes and won't ride either one of them...she's scared of falling, but she'll ride her scooter 'til the wheels roll off (lol), so I take what I can get. I tried pushing the bike, but I stopped. Like Manaloa said, I just try to get her involved with things that she likes whether its throwing the frisbee around, a foot race, or a little basketball...as long as she's moving.

Hope this helps some.

 

[Ohappydaye]

Fighting childhood obesity with Denise Austin

Got this in an newsletter from Denise Austin and thought I'd share.

Six Ways to Prevent Childhood Obesity!

Wish you could help your child — or a child you love — avoid a lifelong battle with the bulge? You can! Childhood obesity expert Sharron Dalton recommends that parents do the following:

1. Be the authority: In between letting kids eat whatever they want and monitoring every bite is the balanced approach to helping your child learn to eat right. Make eating a balanced, healthy diet with reasonable portions an everyday family goal!
2. Plan and eat meals together: Research shows that children with families who eat together have a lower risk of eating disorders.
3. Eat moderately: Serving children large portions teaches them to overeat! Learn what an appropriate serving size is (measure it out if you have to) for you and your child.
4. Engage in indoor and outdoor activities: Have a family plan to stay active year-round, regardless of the weather!
5. Promote healthy alternatives: Put away the video games and television, and opt for a walk, bike ride, trip to the park, or other active pastime instead.
6. Get enough sleep: Studies have shown a link between sleep deprivation and obesity. Make sure that children aged 7 to 18 get nine hours a night. Keep in mind that younger children need even more!

 

[Ohappydaye]

As you can tell, I'm reading through all of my old (and recent) Denise Austin newsletter's (lol) and before I delete anything I thought I'd share anything that seemed useful....so here we go.

Don't Pile Your Child's Plate!

When you serve meals to your children, are their plates piled sky high? If so, you may be teaching them to overeat without realizing it, say researchers from Cornell University. In their study, the experts found that serving sizes were the best predictor of how much a child would eat. This contradicts earlier studies that suggested children only eat when they are hungry or when they're having a growth spurt. In fact, such big portions may explain why weight problems run in certain families. Parents who were raised in homes where plates were loaded up at mealtimes may in turn pass the unhealthy tradition along to their own children.

So, do your kids a favor and help them learn what an "average" serving size looks like. If you aren't sure yourself, check out the nutrition label on the product package and use measuring cups until you can "eyeball" the correct amount. It's a healthy lesson that you — and your child — will benefit from for a lifetime!

This whole concept of portion size was stunning to me. When I first began my weight loss and looking at actual portion sizes it blew me away. I had grown up in one of those families that didn't have a true sense of what portion size was, my mom filled up our plates and we ate it. She just didn't know, and unfortunately she doesn't listen well when you try to talk to her about it which is why she's been battling weight loss off and on my entire life. But at any rate, I thought this would be helpful, hope it helps someone.

 

[Ohappydaye]

Here's some more from Denise lol

Positive Body Image From the Start!

Children should feel good about themselves no matter what their weight is! Help your child develop a positive body image with these simple tips from the child obesity experts at North Dakota State University:

* Never tease kids about their weight, even in a lighthearted way!
* Let kids choose clothing that fits their style and makes them feel good. Remember, you're not going to like everything they wear!
* Don't make comparisons! Every child's body and inherited shape is special and unique.
* Be sure to point out all the wonderful qualities your children possess — physically and otherwise — often. Resist the urge to focus on "drawbacks."
* Be sure to let your children know you love them unconditionally for who they are — not what they look like!
* Model a healthy body image yourself! If you don't have one now, try to make peace with your body — "flaws" and all! Your kids are watching!

 

[mentie]

Hi moms!
I just want to say that you guys are doing a terrific job. It's great to see parents actively involved with their children's diet and health! You guys are promoting a healthy diet and an active lifestyle, which is simply what health professionals recommend for children. During my rotations in pediatrics and family medicine, we would always advise parents with young children not to be concerned with weight loss and to especially not have the children concerned with weight loss. We track their growth on a height and weight chart and encourage them to be active and eat healthy and usually they will grow into their weight. Patience is key.
I'm not sure if anyone has already suggested this, but letting kids have a choice in what they want really helps and diversity in foods is a plus (ie. let them pick out which fruits and vegetables they'd like in the produce section).