S
sjexpress
Guest
difficult child is significantly overweight. He was always off the charts since an infant with weight and height for his age and all along the doctors kept saying just watch what he eats, he's big, he'll grow into his weight, etc... For a while, this seemed true but the past year of so, difficult child weight has gotten out of control. We had to switch pediatricians since our original retired and the new one ran some blood work and tests to see if any thing like thyroid was an issue but everything was normal.
Obesity runs in our family and although I know genes play a part in it, more of the problem lies in the fact that difficult child just loves to eat and is never full or satisfied. husband is slightly overweight and I used to be as a kid too but when I went to college ( over 20 yrs ago..yikes) I decided to make better food choices and have been at normal weight since. I cook healthy foods but difficult child eats well over his portion and snacks like crazy. If you limit his portion or food choices, he flips out and carries on that he is hungry. I have made many changes in the house with what we keep to eat but again, if difficult child won't eat a normal amount, it won't help. He is always hungry! And, he is plenty active outside of school playing on numerous sports teams... I could only imagine what he'd look like otherwise.
A few months ago he agreed he needed to lose weight and saw a commercial for weight watchers. We spoke to his pediatrician. who gave us a note that it is safe for difficult child to do the program. At first difficult child was excited and believe me, he is allowed alot of food because of his age. I promised to of course do all the food prep., portion measurements, point management, etc... The first week, difficult child lost 3 lbs. We made a big deal out of it with praise, etc... but after that, things went down hill. difficult child complained it was not enough food for him ( which I feel is no way true), he said he hated having to not eat anything he wanted and did not want to have on a certain portion! So after one week, even though he saw results, he basically wouldn't stay on the plan. He kept saying it was not fair!!! So difficult child like!
I swear, I think he is putting on more weight than ever and even faster! I almost hate looking at him I am sorry to say! He has zero discipline in his eating. If I make just the right amount of food for each of us, he flips out and tantrums that he is starving. Again, it comes down to difficult child wanting what he wants when he wants it.We have made all sorts of promises for great rewards of things he wants if he loses a set amount of weight and believe me, the pediatrician. only wants him to lose 20lbs which would still make him over weight but she feels because of his age and activity level this is achievable.
I really don't know what to do for him anymore! After most of his sports he complains of all these aches and pains and we explain if he were a bit lighter, this would all go away. He is sched. for a yearly physical this Fri. and he is saying he is not going to go because they will weigh him and he knows he gained more weight and he doesn't want to hear it! How can he not want to help himself?!! I feel awful too because we have so many battles that I honestly let this weight thing go on too far and too long because I couldn't take anymore fights and stress. Something has to be done though! Any suggestions or ideas? I am so fearing the summer because difficult child is refusing to go to camp which he has always done for the whole summer so this means like zero moving around!!
Jan
Obesity runs in our family and although I know genes play a part in it, more of the problem lies in the fact that difficult child just loves to eat and is never full or satisfied. husband is slightly overweight and I used to be as a kid too but when I went to college ( over 20 yrs ago..yikes) I decided to make better food choices and have been at normal weight since. I cook healthy foods but difficult child eats well over his portion and snacks like crazy. If you limit his portion or food choices, he flips out and carries on that he is hungry. I have made many changes in the house with what we keep to eat but again, if difficult child won't eat a normal amount, it won't help. He is always hungry! And, he is plenty active outside of school playing on numerous sports teams... I could only imagine what he'd look like otherwise.
A few months ago he agreed he needed to lose weight and saw a commercial for weight watchers. We spoke to his pediatrician. who gave us a note that it is safe for difficult child to do the program. At first difficult child was excited and believe me, he is allowed alot of food because of his age. I promised to of course do all the food prep., portion measurements, point management, etc... The first week, difficult child lost 3 lbs. We made a big deal out of it with praise, etc... but after that, things went down hill. difficult child complained it was not enough food for him ( which I feel is no way true), he said he hated having to not eat anything he wanted and did not want to have on a certain portion! So after one week, even though he saw results, he basically wouldn't stay on the plan. He kept saying it was not fair!!! So difficult child like!
I swear, I think he is putting on more weight than ever and even faster! I almost hate looking at him I am sorry to say! He has zero discipline in his eating. If I make just the right amount of food for each of us, he flips out and tantrums that he is starving. Again, it comes down to difficult child wanting what he wants when he wants it.We have made all sorts of promises for great rewards of things he wants if he loses a set amount of weight and believe me, the pediatrician. only wants him to lose 20lbs which would still make him over weight but she feels because of his age and activity level this is achievable.
I really don't know what to do for him anymore! After most of his sports he complains of all these aches and pains and we explain if he were a bit lighter, this would all go away. He is sched. for a yearly physical this Fri. and he is saying he is not going to go because they will weigh him and he knows he gained more weight and he doesn't want to hear it! How can he not want to help himself?!! I feel awful too because we have so many battles that I honestly let this weight thing go on too far and too long because I couldn't take anymore fights and stress. Something has to be done though! Any suggestions or ideas? I am so fearing the summer because difficult child is refusing to go to camp which he has always done for the whole summer so this means like zero moving around!!
Jan