To feel so bad about my kids weight gain

[Allthestarsarecloser]

Both my kids put on weight during lockdown but my 8 year old daughter put on quite a lot- I just measured her height & weight & she falls into the very overweight category. I think we ate comfort food a lot & have struggled to get it off - she’s pretty active normally and does lots of sport etc.

She’s now 134cms tall and 6 stone. I feel so bad. I have been cutting back on sugar but I think portion sizes are too big too.

Aibu to ask for your tips about how to get the weight off - my 12 year old DS has also put weight on & I need to address it - he walks 25kms a day back & for to school
& plays footy 3 times a week but also falls into the overweight category.

What should I do?

Ah, I see, so it's not 25km walking, plus football, it's 25km worth of steps total per day.

Nutritionally starved???
She's had plenty of nutrients. OK sausages are not as healthy as a chicken breast or whatever but come on.
OP I would just watch, most likely she will grow into her weight. Continue to offer 3 balanced meals a day with some treats and encourage exercise. Have you tried Just Dance on YouTube, it's a lot of fun and gets you moving!

Just stop buying shit op
More Veg than anything else on plates

And like pp are saying.... don’t make a fuss and be discreet

I had this battle too. My skinny ds was developing rolls. All gone now!

Oh actually, just to add to what a PP just said, everything played up for dinner, so no seconds and no deciding their own portion size at the table. If you take a look at what the portion sizes by weight should be online, you can manage their portions without them realising. Portion sizes are one of the main cause of weight gain.

Oh actually, just to add to what a PP just said, everything plated up for dinner, so no seconds and no deciding their own portion size at the table. If you take a look at what the portion sizes by weight should be online, you can manage their portions without them realising. Portion sizes are one of the main cause of weight gain.

Just to add, my son is 131 and just over 4 stone, so almost as tall as your daughter, but quite a bit lighter. He’s 50th percentile

I’ve just checked 128cm, 4st at 8 and that is 33rd percentile. You need to check the child BMI NHas calculator because your information is wrong.

Does she have sweets chocolate, biscuits, or crisps that you haven’t mentioned?

Carbs are not the enemy but refined carbs are not great. Choose wholemeal bread and whole grains which are more filling than white. Avoid fried things like chips and processed food. Increase the veg with meals. There is fruit in your example which is great but hardly any veg. Also think of how she can get some exercise.

Don’t beat yourself up. You have recognised what is happening and can make adjustments.

Cut portion sizes a bit, reign in the carbs but most importantly get them moving more.

Kicking a ball in the garden, flying a kite, out on their bikes or scooter, going for walks - geocaching gets them going further without realising it. Anything, but more movement is going to be key to shifting some weight.

We do get our every day but maybe not enough- we did an hour walk today & yesterday went to the park on bikes. I just feel like it’s not enough exercise & that’s an area we need to up

Less sugar (in all its refined/added forms, keeping the fruit and some vegetables like potatoes, peppers, sweet potatoes, corn, low sugar beans, etc) would be a plan.

Her breakfast was oats with added sugar, a high sugar fruit (don't cut those out) and then added pure sugar. Her lunch was sausages and three sources of sugar/carbs. The bagel is another carb, but a more satisfying one (could swap it out for a wholemeal one, if you like, as it won't make her feel as tired and wanting another massive sweet snack again once her body has dealt with that glucose surge). Then there's the teacake, which is pure sugar.

Other than that, as her activity level increases and she grows more, she'll likely lose it without really noticing.

Honestly- she’s really not nutritionally starved! She eats plenty of veg, houmous, avo, whole meal bread etc. But too much sugar too! I think my first step will be to kick out all sugar!

Losing weight is 80% diet and 20% activity. Doesn't matter how much exercise you're doing if you're eating too much. Take your focus off the exercise and concentrate on portion sizes.

Btw- ready brek doesn’t have added sugar! I just checked as we’ve always tried to be on it with cereals & sugar. Admittedly the honey isnt helping though!

@Teateaandmoretea he’s 7, and as stated just over 4st, not exactly 4st (4st 3lb to be exact- miles away from 6 st). according to the nhs bmi calcutor that is 48th percentile.

Exercise is good but it's not the way to stop putting on excess weight. That starts with the type of food you serve and in what quantities. Exercise will make her feel hungry so she needs to come home to good healthy stuff with the right number of calories.

Losing weight is 80% diet and 20% activity. Doesn't matter how much exercise you're doing if you're eating too much. Take your focus off the exercise and concentrate on portion sizes.

This is nonsense for children and adults also if they do enough exercise. Poncing around on a treadmill a couple of times a week has no effect but for children this is really dangerous advice. They need to eat plenty and be active.

I cycle 75-100 miles a week and it definitely affects my weight.

@TurkMama

Insulin spikes party. Give her organic eggs, chicken, potatoes instead of bagel abd yet more processed cheese, proper organic cheese instead or even peanut butter, hummus or avocado on wholemeal seeded bread instead of garbage bagel and cream cheese (tasty, but im sorry its garbage). No need for honey (how much?) AND banana. Poor thing sounds nutritionally starved. The good thing its obvious you care and want to help so hopefully some veggie knowledgeable posters will come along.

How sanctimonious. "Nutritionally starved". What difference does it make of the cheese is organic, the nutrients are the same.

OP you probably chose the wrong day to list as her food diary, as you went out for a pub lunch. To some MNers you might as well pump lard straight into her veins as feed her sausages 🙄

@ohnothisagain so he’s 4 1/4 stone and 7. Both make a difference.

How sanctimonious. "Nutritionally starved". What difference does it make of the cheese is organic, the nutrients are the same.
^^totally agree

Don't buy the food in the first place. Look up potion sizes and get the kids to weigh them out.

Look up potion sizes and get the kids to weigh them out.
Only on MN

Ditch most of the fruit if that is an average day. She's eating over half of her calorie needs in just fruit and it is still packed with sugar. Raw veggies are better, along with things like humous, or bits of unprocessed meat, a measured chunk of full fat cheese, a boiled egg. And even then, she shouldn't be needing much in the way of snacks on none active days if she is having substantial meals. Cut down on the rubbish white carbs and processed food, she's just spiking her sugars all day, dipping and feeling hungry, and then spiking again.

“OP you probably chose the wrong day to list as her food diary, as you went out for a pub lunch. To some MNers you might as well pump lard straight into her veins as feed her sausages 🙄”

😂 Yes, probably!! She actually normally has Linda McCartney veggie ones if we have them at home but takes her opportunity to have meat when we are out!! I don’t cook meat at home at all but I do give them tuna/salmon at home.

I think we need a diet overhaul to be honest! I feel like I have lost the plot with covid/work etc etc and need to refocus!

@BasinHaircut

The most important thing is to make sure that you don’t put your kids on a ‘diet’. You can slightly reduce portion sizes, encourage consumption of more fruit and veg, make some snack swaps (for example buy smaller bags of crisps or lower calorie alternatives) but do not start down a path that will affect their relationship with food.

Very good advice.