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Preteens

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puppy fat

5 replies

hen50 · 02/09/2011 15:50

my 12 year old carries quite a lot of fat around her middle at the moment. She is a vegetarian and does eat quite a lot of carbs over a day. Any suggestions for how to help her lose the tyre?

OP posts:
wordsmithsforever · 03/09/2011 20:33

I wouldn't think you need to do anything much - the next time she has a height growth spurt, the bits around the middle will go provided she's eating a normal healthy diet.

I hate the idea of any sort of a weight loss "diet" at all for children (don't think they are healthy, physically or psychologically) so maybe just try to build in an active family life with fun walks on commons, cycling, dog walking, playing sports together. My DC like walking, cycling and going to gym with my DH (though not me as I have a horror of gyms and prefer to be outdoors)!

DarlaDoll · 05/09/2011 21:00

This is when vegetarianism stops being healthy, as sadly a lot of swaps for meat are quite carby. I don't know if this is similar to your DD, but one of my DD's friends is veggie and seems to live off of cheese + tomato pasta and potato dishes which are atrocious for the waistline if you don't work them off.

I know you can't really control what she eats outside of the house- but encourage her to make healthy choices and make sure there is plenty of fruit to snack on. If you think she's buying chocolate from the school tuck shop, don't give her any money to take to school. My DD put on so much weight through school, because unknowing to me she was having a Mars bar both breaktimes -.-

Does she like quorn or Linda Mc Cartney veggie sausages? Is she a lenient veggie who eats fish? Make sure you have some protein in your evening meals and lots of veggies- but try and give smaller portions of chips/potatoes/rice.

Most importantly, don't call it a diet- just say it's getting healthy and do it together as a family :) you can go for walks together, cycling, swimming to get some exercise in.

Sorry if this is a little bit gung-ho, but my 18 year old DD is currently going to Weight Watchers as I didn't install the importance of healthy eating in her at a young age- and I wish I had :(

abcdangel · 07/09/2011 17:11

Don't put her on a diet. My mum put me on a diet when I was 11. It has completely screwed up my relationship with food which has led to yo-yo dieting and periods of self loathing. It is safe to say not a day goes past when I am not on a diet or planning to be on one.

I have a friend who's daughter is plump but not obese. She never says anything to her, but she really tries to make sure that the meals she serves up are health and low in fat. It's hard when they have their own money to buy sweets or may be making poor choices in the school canteen, but can you encourage her to get out on her bike or go swimming as a family.

BBC Good Food website has some amazing vegetarian recipes - and hardly a pasta twist or potato in sight!

daisysue2 · 06/11/2011 22:50

I would say you need to make sure that she is filling up on protein rather than carbs. Really hard to do for a vegie I was one for about 20 years and tended to eat pasta and cheese but I exercised everyday for at least an hour as I was mad on sport.

PippiLongBottom · 06/11/2011 22:58

One word: Quorn.

I have been a Weight Watchers leader for 10 years and veggie for 24. Quorn helps me maintain my weight.

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