Trouble Losing Weight... :(

A

Airkain

New member
I am 16, and I have parents that are both overweight. I've read places that parents do influence their children's eating habits, and such. I believe it's true because every time I try and lose weight, when I open up the cupboard theres always bad food there, sugar is almost like an addiction to me, it's hard to break it and when I start to get serious and go for daily runs for exercise, I turn around and my parents are buying terrible food. I try my best not to eat it but I give in a lot. I know I can't force my parents to buy healthy food, and I want to be able to kick the sugar addiction I have and stop eating just for the sake of eating. I've looked into some workout videos just today and I have found a good one, I have no problem with exercising, my main problem is with the resisting the urge to eat all those bad foods.

Does anyone have any advice or any of their past experiences that they've had and how did you maintain your weight and block out all the bad foods. I'm really desperate...
 
Airkain said:
I am 16, and I have parents that are both overweight. I've read places that parents do influence their children's eating habits, and such. I believe it's true because every time I try and lose weight, when I open up the cupboard theres always bad food there, sugar is almost like an addiction to me, it's hard to break it and when I start to get serious and go for daily runs for exercise, I turn around and my parents are buying terrible food. I try my best not to eat it but I give in a lot. I know I can't force my parents to buy healthy food, and I want to be able to kick the sugar addiction I have and stop eating just for the sake of eating. I've looked into some workout videos just today and I have found a good one, I have no problem with exercising, my main problem is with the resisting the urge to eat all those bad foods.

Does anyone have any advice or any of their past experiences that they've had and how did you maintain your weight and block out all the bad foods. I'm really desperate...
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Have you tried discussing this with your parents?

To be honest, I dont think you are going to change your parents eating habits. I think the best thing to do in this situation is to make an appointment with your family doctor and get your parents to come with you, then you could discuss this with your doctor present - who would be able to back you up.

I understand how hard this must be, you are only 16 and not able to buy your own food. I can not wait until I can move out of home so I will be in complete control and what food is bought!

Do you go shopping with your parents? You could always suggest fruits and vegetables when you go shopping, and maybe suggesting some healthier alternatives to what your parents would normally get.

Keep up with the exercise though, that is someone at least YOU can control.
 
you can eat junk food, just do so in smaller portions if you cant resist it. like if a bag a crispers says its 100 cals for 15 chips, have only 15 chips etc. or find healthy alternatives that you enjoy eating. some suggestions: yogurt cups, oatmeal - you can get them in many flavours, my fave is brown sugar, or even those campino candies (just have one at a time) and those should satisfy your sugar cravings. also there are a lot of yummy and healthy fruits that are sweet and have tons of nutrition and fiber. best of luck to you
 
Weight control is awfully difficult without parent support. Sadly, some parents don't want to change behaviors and can sabotage weight control efforts.

I’m a health psychologist who has worked with physicians in helping teens lose weight. Here’s what I suggest. (You can take it or leave it.) I agree with austin_88. Bring your parents with you to your family physician/pediatrician. Hopefully, the physician will discuss the importance of supporting your weight control efforts with your parents. Sounds like they could benefit from weight control efforts, too. It’s worth a shot. Your parents could at least buy healthier food options for you and place the junk food in only one section of the cupboard. Your healthier food could be placed in another cupboard section, so you're less likely to be tempted.
 
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Airkain said:
I am 16, and I have parents that are both overweight. I've read places that parents do influence their children's eating habits, and such. I believe it's true because every time I try and lose weight, when I open up the cupboard theres always bad food there, sugar is almost like an addiction to me, it's hard to break it and when I start to get serious and go for daily runs for exercise, I turn around and my parents are buying terrible food. I try my best not to eat it but I give in a lot. I know I can't force my parents to buy healthy food, and I want to be able to kick the sugar addiction I have and stop eating just for the sake of eating. I've looked into some workout videos just today and I have found a good one, I have no problem with exercising, my main problem is with the resisting the urge to eat all those bad foods.

Does anyone have any advice or any of their past experiences that they've had and how did you maintain your weight and block out all the bad foods. I'm really desperate...
Click to expand...


I know you are only 16,and cant buy your own food but you have to deal with your situation.It is still possible to lose weight and eat rubbish just make sure you are in a calorie deficit.Resist the urge to eat all those bad foods,and until your situation improves eat smaller amounts of those bad foods if there is no other alternative.

My wife and I have always been overweight and we use to fill the cupboards with absolute garbage but I have 2 sons and one is obsessed with his abs( he has a proper 6 pack) and loves being slim believe me he eats rubbish,he just eats less than his maintenance level.He was a fat kid a couple of years ago didnt like it and just ate less,I mean he still eats cakes biscuits pizza and whatever,but he has portion control.My other son who was 240lbs has just started going on a diet and has lost 28lbs in 2 months by cutting calories and nothing else,he doesn't eat better at all he just eats less.It will give you an idea when I tell you his favourite meal is spam fritters.

Healthy food options are important for your health(especially for me as I am 34),they are not the main key to losing weight.
 
Talk to your parents! You might be surprised that they will want to join in on your efforts to be healthier. If not, I doubt they would deny your request to have healthier options available. Fruits, vegetables, etc. Go grocery shopping with them to make sure you will have something healthy to eat. I know it's really hard to avoid bad foods when they are in the house, maybe try to keep a stash of healthy options away from the junk. Try to control the portions of junk that you do eat and most importantly...

be more active!

Keep up daily exercise regardless of what you ate that day. How much or how little exercise you get is completely up to you and will play a huge role in your weight loss.

Good luck!
 
I have talked to my parents before, infact, I just did today, and afterwards, my Dad totally agreed. I also think that price should not be a factor in being healthy. They say that "fruits are very expensive in the off season", meanwhile a bag of cookies or something is also expensive, probably is eaten within two days, and does not satisfy hunger. I've taken your advice and I had an idea of writing on a piece of paper "Do not eat bad food today" and posting it on my door, so when I wake up, I can read that and try extra hard not to.

I also have no problem in buying healthy foods myself, I have a job, and I don't mind myself going out and buying some fruits or something. I actually love fruit and quiet a few vegetables, like I said, my parents steer clear other than frozen peas for supper, and a bag of apples here and there.

Also, im doing a 15 minute workout twice a day, plus all the activity I have at school, with gym and other things. I also am going to start drinking a ton of water, cause I know that's a huge thing in maintaining weight.

Thanks for all your advice, and if I have any other questions or troubles this is where i'll come, you've all been great help and inspiration.
 
What I did is I started my own cupboard. I cleaned out a rarely used space in the kitchen and started to put my healthy stuff in it. Now I never need to look into the old "fatty" cupboard.
 
My parents are overweight/obese too so I can sympathise with your situation. I always used to resent what I got fed etc and didn't feel like I could ask for something different or smaller portions because I didn't want to upset them. I didn't want them to feel like I thought they were fat/eating badly. They know now that I like to be healthier though and I wish I had told them sooner! I don't think they can really object to me wanting to be healthy! And even if it does make them feel a bit bad, which I hope it doesn't, its probably actually good for them to question their eating habits a bit.

I'm sure your parents wouldn't object to you requesting they bought some healthier foods for you even if they continue to buy junk too. If e.g. there's lots of nice fruit/appetising healthy snacks around you're less likely to snack on the junk thats lying around. I used to find it hard to resist all that sugary food and I still do have a bit sometimes but once you get into the habit of having something else it does become alot easier after a while.

Getting my parents to change their eating habits wasn't going to happen... but now when we have meals they give me more vegetables and let me have less rice/pasta/potato than they do and if its something particularly unhealthy that they are having I cook for myself.
 
In high school, I had the same problem as you, basically. My parents were both almost 400 lbs- I've been overweight so much of my life, it's insane- and even though I am out of the home and married, those habits of using food as entertainment, comfort, as opposed to nourishment and fuel for my body. I don't know if that's your problem, but I know from experience if everyone is eating crap, it's hard not to join in because your surrounded by it. Just be strong, and try to control your portions as best you can. It's so good that you talked to your mom and dad, and it's good that they were understanding. Good luck to you, and keep on pushing.
 
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