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Children's health

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Original poster

An Unfit 11 year old

10 replies

Kerrylass · 10/10/2022 17:01

My DD is 11 and will be 12 at Christmas. She is very tall for her age and i would describe her as big built. Maybe overweight but thats not a huge concern for me. She was playing a basketball game with her team yesterday and it frightened me how unfit she is. She was struggling hugely. I want to help her.

She does 2 sports about 3 hours a week. She plays in goal for football so no major running there and basketball is after staring up for the winter.

Should i take her running, walking or do exercises at home. I have a reasonably good fitness level. I jog 5 km couple of times a week, go to the gym etc but would also struggle with being on the big side. I don't want to get her hung up on it.

She doesn't love activity but goes for the friends and social aspect of it. I want her to be healthy but honestly yesterday she looked like a 70 year old out there.

Anyone been through similar?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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gwenneh · 10/10/2022 17:04

If she does two sports three hours per week then she should not be unfit. That’s a perfectly reasonable amount of exercise, averaging more than 30 minutes of activity per day.

Since it’s not lack of activity causing the issue, adding more activity that she may or may not even want to do isn’t going to resolve it. You’re better off looking at her nutrition and figuring out why she’s not appropriately fueled for the activity she does do.

miffmufferedmoof · 10/10/2022 17:06

How does she get to school?
if she was really struggling for breath, could she have asthma?

hippoherostandinghere · 10/10/2022 17:11

Do you have a local junior park run? You could maybe start with that and run it with her. Just focus on finishing it first and then work on building up stamina.

I think it's great that you have picked up on this and want to help, your DD will thank you for it.

Hellocatshome · 10/10/2022 17:29

I would say that it is her weight that is the problem here. She is doing PE plus 3 hrs of sports and is 11. If weight wasn't a factor she wouldn't be struggling unless she has undiagnosed health issues. If you are describing her as big built it is likely that she is in fact overweight. I would look at nutrition and try to move more. Doesnt have to be organised sport it could be walking to school, walking to the shops, going on a bike ride at weekends etc.

Mariposista · 10/10/2022 17:36

If you are into running why not try doing couch to 5K together? You would obviously find it easy but she would get fit quickly. If she can bring a friend along, even better.

Mad1988 · 10/10/2022 23:41

How heavy is she? It is quite difficult to be fit if you are carrying extra kilos. Try running with a backpack full of stones. You would be out of breath in no time.
There is no such thing as "big built" as you phrase it

Original poster

Kerrylass · 11/10/2022 09:53

Thanks for all your replies. Shes is 5 foot 3 and Ive no idea what she weighs - i dont weigh her cause im really conscious of not body shaming her. She would wear adult size 10. She looks alot older than her class mates. She has breast and hibs but a slim waste. She developed young and has had her periods since Christmas. My DH took her for a 1 km jog yesterday, she struggled hugely. they walked and jogged. She described her own fitness as 2/10. My DH said that was accurate and wed help her. Ive promised her a girly day out a mid term if she sticks with it. I definitely need to watch her food. She is a picky eater and carb loads instead of eating the homemade dinner. Heading to the shops later and will stock up on healthy snacks. I showed her how to cook eggs last night instead of eating toast. While shes doing organised sports shes playing in goal so thats not really helping., Basketball has only started back and that will help.

OP posts:

akkakk · 11/10/2022 10:16

It is not fat shaming to be honest and realistic about someone's weight.
In fact you are stating that you are ashamed about how they look by wishing to bury the issue...

As a parent - your job to separate weight and who she is as a person - i.e. she is a fantastic person who is currently carrying too much weight for her to be healthy - still the same person, but let's deal with the weight... Teaching a child to be realistic - to not over worry about carrying a little bit; not to panic, but to do something if carrying too much - is all part of bringing them up to have a healthy relationship with their weight into the future

Mad1988 · 12/10/2022 06:42

There seems to be a tabu around talking about weight with girls.
She has noticed herself she is totally unfit. Build on that and make it come from her. To be fit, she needs to change the type of food she eats and increase fruits and vegetables. Make it a family makeover and decide with her the menus of the week.

StillNotWarm · 12/10/2022 08:12

Whilst it's not the ultimate excerise, I try and take time out to walk with each of my kids separately once a week (it's usually not quite that often tho). They initially pushed back, but now ask to go for a walk. It's less about the excerise, but more a chance to chat for us. Might be worth putting in something gentle that also helps with identifying issues, as well as the more physical stuff like running.

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