Overweight 10yo ds wants to do weight watchers

[Mummypig2020]

Ds weighed himself a few days ago. We are open about weight/healthy eating/unhealthy eating etc. We all could do with getting healthy and losing weight. Except my Dd who is naturally slim and can eat anything.

Ds is 4ft10 and weighs 7stone3. He carries a lot of weight on his belly. He walks around topless and you can really tell. I feel so sorry for him but it’s my doing.

I do ww. I had a delivery from their website today and he asked if he could do it. Iv currently lost 4 stone through it.

I don’t know what to do. He knows you get so many points a day etc but obviously he’s too young.

I don’t know what to do 😩 I started my first diet at his age and have constantly battled since. I don’t want him to have to deal with the same.

I was disgusting overweight as a child and I am now.

I picked up on this OP. Please don't talk about yourself in this way.

no snacks and up the exercise.

I an doing c25k together with my pre teens and we really enjoy it.
I love chatting with them during the run.

find something that he/you would enjoy.

I don't think using WW as a guide is harmful as it promotes healthy eating patterns eg high levels of protein, unlimited fruit and veg, carbs in moderation, and restricting stuff that's high in sugar/calories like junk food, chocolate etc, just maybe don't go counting points.

I wouldn't calorie count in general but would teach him to do so with junk food, if he knows a 100 cal pack of hula hoops is a certain chunk of what he needs in a day then he will be less likely to go and stuff himself with huge sharepacks of crisps for £1 when he is in high school and has some money of his own.

What calories does he have in drinks? Any fizzy drinks, squash, milkshakes or sugary tea you can cut out?

I agree it is so hard knowing how to navigate food with kids these days.

With the sauces and portion control - this is why my fitness pal would be good.

The focus is on healthy balanced diet and fitness!

Start weighing out food and track it, including sauces and cooking oil. Yes it shows the calories but also the fat v sugar v protein. You also need to review what you eat over a week. Have a high sugar day one day is irrelevant if the rest of the week is under the recommendation and it balances out.

My 11 year old DS is 5ft 5/6 and weighs about 9.5 stone. We've had a battle with his weight due to a combination of medical conditions and his diet. We're slowly making progress by mainly keeping an eye on his portion sizes and exercise. It is tough OP xx

Just ensure he is only drinking water or no added sugar squash in little amounts.

He shouldnt be having crisps or chocolate everyday, I would keep it to max 3 times a week.

Either put his food on a smaller plate or just gradually every 2 or 3 days take away 1 tablespoons worth until its a normal portion for his age.

Exercise everyday even if its just a walk for 30 minutes.

From what you said he eats thats actually quite a lot , He has 3 treats a day it seems along with sugary cereal and 2 other meals.

I would also swap out the sugary cereal for something like Granola or basic Corn Flakes.

Maybe swap out 1 of his treats with a piece of fruit

WW is not a sustainable way to lose weight for either of you.

At 10, a few small dietary and lifestyle changes would see him lose that in no time, also remember that at this age they do get a little more fat, but they often grow into it as puberty goes on.

Faddy diets are the worse for weight loss, and I say that as someone who lost 4 stone since Sept eating better (not following a ridiculous diet plan) and exercising. Not paying WW for an unrealistic eating regime that will likely see you put it all back on as soon as you stop it.

Portion control is key, his tummy is (usually) as big as his fist, so adult portions would have stretched that over time.

More calories out than in.

Thank you all!!

The eggs Benedict was mine 🙈 no wonder I’m fat 😂

Dd takes after her biological dad. He would eat and eat and still weighed 11 stone.

He’s so smart and beautiful, I obviously don’t want him to have any struggles in life.

My side of the family are big. My dad is 6ft6, I’m 5ft10. My sisters are the same. My dads hands are like shovels lol.

He’s quite a bit broader than his friends, not sure if its his build or bevause he’s abit bigger?

Dd is 5ft3 and 6st7. She does a lot of gymnastics but I wouldn’t say she was more active than ds.

Op, if you issue is IBS, the FODMAP way of eating will help.

I believe the description of the diet and that is way too much sugary stuff and junk. Sugary cereal and two penguins a day is too much. A chocolate biscuit should be a treat not every day. Crisps not ideal either, maybe sub out the crisps with a yoghurt (not sugary one) or piece of cheese for protein every other day and replace the biscuits with a piece of fruit except on a once a week treat day. Even if just a modest weight loss results his health will benefit. As he knows he needs to do something I don't think he will find it problematic but at his age he should be thinking about health and strength for the future, not so much the scales as he is still growing, so don't let him get obsessed!

Nothing wrong with cheese toasties. I love them! But I have 2 slices of wholegrain, fodmap friendly bread and a slice of cheese.

It's enough to keep me going from 1pm - 6pm with no need to snack.

Dd loves natural yogurt and fruit so I might see if he wants to take that to school instead?

It’s hard because Dd4 can’t have a lot of things like cheese which she used to love so we tend not to buy it anymore unless it’s vegan. I will buy some and hide it though!

I agree it’s a lot of sugar. Will swap the cereal.

My middle child is overweight. He has always been a bigger child, whereas his brothers take after his annoyingly lean father. But during the lockdown period he has been inactive, which is obviously a huge contributor, and has dealt with a lot of the misery, loneliness and stress he has experienced by comfort eating. He has gone from a kid who ate a fair bit but played football, rode his bike, played out, climbed trees, built dens etc every day to a kid who eats a lot, often of 'treat' foods and does nothing. It really shows.

Thankfully last week he went back to school and is riding his bike there and back most days, and spending most afternoons playing out with the friends in his 10 pupil school 'bubble', and his football club have started up some small group sessions, and as more and more opens up he will have more and more opportunity to be active again. The fact that he is less miserable and anxious already means he isn't filling an emotional hole with endless crappy snacks. We have talked a lot about food- I was very honest with him and said, you watched me lose all that weight last year (over 3 stone), you know I needed to do that and you know how I did that- by not eating all the time. Yes, your dad and your brothers eat a lot and don't seem to gain weight, that's them, that's not you and me, and anyway, people who eat shedloads and still look very slim are not likely to be particularly healthy on the inside.

I'm teaching him to cook, encouraging him to think of things like ice cream not as totally off limits or to be eaten constantly but as nice treats to be enjoyed from time to time, ensuring we have healthier options available all the time, praising him when he is active, reminding him that he is beautiful and lovely and that anyone who judges him solely on the basis of his size and shape is a shallow wanker to be pitied, asking him to join me whenever I go for a run, etc.

Eggs are not the problem there, OP - the two crumpets underneath are.

Vegan cheese is as carby as bread. Depends which one though - soft sheeses like, erm, Sheese or Tesco’s soft “cheese” with garlic and herbs are low carb.

Please don’t let him do weight watchers. I started with my mum at a similar age and I have yo-yod ever since. That’s what the diet industry does to us. Please don’t inflict that on your child.
If you want advice on how to do this in the best way, check out Rebelfit on social media. Good luck.

Hi,
I think his diet is pretty bad. There are a lot of empty calories there esp in the carbs and sugars. If you start WW with a 10 year old you are pushing responsibility to an outside agency. He needs to learn that health eating starts and ends with himself.... but he does not go to the shops, or buy the food. You need to step up and be a parent.

Lower his carbs, reduce the sugar to ONE treat a day after dinner and introduce exercise. If you start dinner with a salad and have lots of water the fullness will help with over eating. Reduce serving size and critically - as someone who lost weight when I never could - increase the protein - Tuna, Beef Strips, Low Fat Kebabs, Chicken breasts etc. If you have more protein he will feel less hungry. Yogurt and berries is a good dessert etc.

You and DH are obviously accomplished cooks - it seems so sad you eat weight watchers when you're meals look delicious!
Buy a homemade ice lolly kit and make lollies with added fruit to have for 'pudding'. Show him how to read labels and make choices - a penguin is 130calories - does he really want it? Would an apple at 55 calories and the fibre in the apple will make you feel fuller longer.

The eggs you made look amazing - just save the sauce for special occasions.

I'd take control of it yourself op, would not include him in calorie counting or weighing food etc. Just acknowledge that he feels bad and that you are going to help me, that you will sometimes have to say no to the sugary stuff but not ban completely. Perhaps don't keep it in house but do go for an ice cream etc. Talking about healthy v unhealthy is actually not recommended, all foods can be included in a healthy lifestyle, don't demonise certain foods and don't include food in any kind of reward. I do think lock down will have resulted in weight gain for many kids, I see a similar 10yo nearby and I really feel for him as it is very obvious.. Up the nutritional value and the activity and reassure him you'll get him on right track.

The meals we have cooked are ww meals 😂🙈

These are them.

Is that a bread roll in the lunch box under the 7 sausages?

Lockdown has been bad for weight gain and less than healthy eating in our household. Dds have always been very slender and still are but have put weight on their faces. Ds is still slender and eats loads. I do think build and genetics are influential.

Please don't make weight a thing. Gradually reduce portion sizes and fat content and up the protein and vegetables until meals are more balanced. I don't believe in bad foods and think it's unhealthy and sets us up for bad attitudes towards food and weight. Humans naturally want something more if they are told they can't have it. Much better to aim for a good balance and lots of physical activity. I have put weight on during lockdown and am now working hard to shift the extra. I am cursing myself and won't go back to bad eating habits again ie eating after dinner and eating a second breakfast I was very physically active and now can't do a quarter of what I was doing due to being shielded. It sucks.
You might find that your ds is due to have a growth spurt and might even out then.