Ds very overweight.. Fact! Kick up MY arse needed

[Feellikeashitmum]

Ok so Ds 11 has had his results from the weight programme at school. He's very overweight.. I know he is. He carries it round his middle mostly and it seems like it's piled on the last 6 months or more.
No need to flame me, I feel completely shit and have had a cry (useless I know)
I do have another Ds 6 who's a normal weight just for full disclosure.
I know what I need to do and I will do it but just need to tell someone how utterly shit I feel.. also I'm going to write what he eats and see if anyone has any ideas.
Breakfast 2 weetabix and milk to cover then 2 slices 50/50 toast and butter (toast not daily but around 4 days a week)

Lunch 2 slices 50/50 sandwich with homemade tuna mayo, cheese spread or corned beef. Pack crisps and yog tube plus a pot of apricots/satsuma/ blueberries

Snack Pack raisins/oaty biscuit or a bag of mini biscuits or half bag snack a jacks

Dinner Cottage pie, spag bol, fish nuggets (fresh ones but shop bought) all homemade with pasta mash pots and frozen begs or beans.

His portions are too big I'm sure and I can see what I can cut out etc but I don't want him to know exactly what's going on though I may say that his weight results came back and he's a little heavier than is healthy so we need to make some changes (is that a bad idea?)

Exercise wise he does 1 hour Monday after school.. 2 hours Fri after school plus weekends are busy and active being outside a lot also impromptu exercise after school like playing footie for an hours with friends or similar.
Thanks for reading my ramblings...
I know what I need to do but getting some support/ideas would be good too

Pleasantly surprised that Ds has wholeheartedly embraced the changes. Probably helps as we are all doing it and this afternoon ds and DH sat coming up with some good breakfasts that will fill them up and are healthy top.
Ds has been having eggs beans for breakfast and has not had anything processed or any cakes crisps etc at all. He's loving it actually and even made Sunday lunch with his dad and tried some new veg. We have decided that we're gonna not have treats for a month and then introduce a treat night now n again.. Ds happy with that
Feeling much better about the situation so thanks for all the advice much appreciated

That's brilliant!!

When we were cutting down we came up with a few nice cooked breakfasts.

Toasted english muffin with poached egg, bacon medallions, grilled tomato and mushrooms

One thick slice of wholemeal toast with a home made microwave omelette thing (little bit of butter melted in a cup, one egg with a little milk beaten in a cup and seasoned, add a tiny bit shaved or grated cheese and then microwave for a minute) maybe add some chicken sausages or dry fried ham.

Toast and beans

I do a sort of quesadilla thing (soften some peppers and onions with a little bit of chorizo in a fry pan. remove it and then pop a wrap in pan, top with the mix and a little grated cheese, top with another wrap and heat through, turn it over after a few minutes and when all nice and melty inside, take it out and cut it like pizza.

4 slices of bread / toads a day seems a lot especially if it's every or most days of the weeks try limit to 2 slices per day only thing that jumps out at me xx

Ah that sounds really positive OP

Re yoghurt - I buy the big pots of greek full fat yoghurt - all the supermarkets do their own brand versions. Make sure you get full fat though or it tastes grim. We have it with blueberries (big frozen packs so you just get out a cupful at a time) and some nuts on top. You can always add a bit of low cal sweetener if you want to (I know some people think it's the devil's dumplings but meh).

Is that why the Greek yog I've tasted is soury and awful!? I have bought the fat free version..
Shall get some full fat and try that. Ds is excited to try it with mango

First, you're not a shit mum! If you were, you wouldn't have had a cry about this, nor would you be posting here for advice.

Second, please don't buy low fat anything - children need the fat for their growth and development. In the case of the yoghurt, Sainsbury's make a really lovely Greek yoghurt, in their Taste the Difference range. It's thick and creamy and would, I think, be lovely with fresh mango stirred into it.

Third, as PP have observed, your DS is eating a lot of carbohydrate. And while children need carbs for energy, I suspect he's getting too much at the expense of enough protein. More protein, and full fat foods, will help to keep him fuller for longer.

Please avoid the dried fruit - it's horrifically sweet and carby! Could you give him cut up veg instead of fruit in his pot? Cucumber, celery, peppers, etc are all good choices. Vegetables in general, rather than fruit, are much better options.

If he likes plainer food, then that works in your favour! It makes it easier to swerve pasta and rice too often. Meat and two veg - or three or four! - are all perfect foods for him.

Good luck.

It sounds like you're off to a good start, especially is DS is enjoying it too.

YOur changes sound awesome, and actually your son is a good age to introduce a more adult diet, as he's old enough to help and engage properly.

I just wanted to reassure you that both my kids went through a 'chubby year 6 and 7' stage. It resolved as soon as they started their growth spurts. At one point, I was seriously worried about Ds2 as he doesn't seem to have any natural appetite control, but he's been much less greedy since turning 12.

Also, if your son will eat a hard boiled egg, these keep for about a week in the fridge and make a really good healthy after school snack.

FeelLikeSShitMum
What a great update. You definitely don't sound like a shit Mum now 😊
It's really positive that your son is happy to embrace a change of diet. It wonder if he might be that he is aware that he is a bit overweight and that he wants to lose some weight. He sounds like a sensible lad.

Brilliant news!

Your thread gave me a kick start to address similar problems that we have with our 11 yo DS. I’ve been meaning to for months but haven’t done it. And then there was Christmas when he must have gained a good few pounds. We are all eating loads healthier for the last few days. I’ve upped the protein. Lowered the carbs and upped the veg. Also embraced the full fat Greek yoghurt. He has always eaten loads of fruit so that helps.

Meals that we’ve had that DS has loved, in case they’re of any use to to you:

Salmon marinaded in soy, ginger and a bit of honey, potato wedges and sour cream dip, corn on the cob, green beans and a bit of beetroot
Lamb with a mint crust, baby new potatoes, baby carrots, runner beans and a small amount frosted cherry tomato
Chilli prawns with houmous and salad in pittas with olives on the side

Today’s breakfast was full fat Greek yoghurt, small amount of granola and cherries. He has also had smoked salmon, toast and fried egg.

I am so pleased that DS is enjoying the change. And it feels good to be eating healthier food ourselves too.

Too much bread is probably not good for him. It is starchy and if he is having 2 lots of well buttered toast plus 2 pieces for a sandwich I would say that is too much. Can you give him more protein to fill him up like hard boiled eggs and maybe move to natural yogurt with fresh fruit as low fat yogurts are very high in sugar. How about wraps or bagels instead of bread? The breakfast sounds pretty high in carbs anyway.

In rease his exercise. Is he sat playing Fortnite? If so get him out. A dog walk maybe?

BIWI.. excellent post thank you
Also thanks for the kind words to everyone else.
Looking forward to do the shop this week and planning some nice new meals
I'm not going to try and weigh Ds I think we'll just eat the way we've said and see what happens. Should be able to see a difference in a few weeks I imagine
Will keep updating

Should be able to see a difference in a few weeks I imagine

That would be great but don't worry if it takes longer. In fact I don't think It matters if it takes a good while.

I would also add he is probably aware of his size. They are by that age .

Sounds like you are making great steps .

One tip make sure you aren’t replacing full fat for sweetness . Lots of research saying they make them hungrier. Also I am not convinced they are healthy. ( I know sw love sweetness)

Increase the veg to cut down portion size .

UPDATE...

Ds is still happily following our new plan. We all are in fact.. Younger ds has stopped asking for the old yogurts and enjoys the new ones and we've made new routines so that's becoming easier.
We are just plodding on with it and hopefully we'll see a change in due course

Fabulous...., I have read the dieticians encourage the weight to remain the same so as they grow upwards they grow ineards

Delighted to see your update. As I said last Monday, your thread gave me a kickstart to do the same with my 11yo DS, and we have all eaten way better for about 10 day’s now. My DS too has embraced the changes and it is going well. We have increased the protein and veg and lowered the carbs. Also embraced the Greek yoghurt and fruit.

We are also walking more and using the car less.

We are having one proper treat a week at home, a bar of chocolate on a Saturday night. We also had a small cake each at the garden centre on Sunday. So DS feels he is not missing out.

WellTidy.. that's brilliant!

Update...
Ds has visibly lost weight. It's very obvious and we're pleased.. he's still eating well but last week we has a full on treat day which he said he loved because he doesn't do it often anymore so tasted nicer
All in all a good result and the start of our new family eating