Grrrrr my DS

Kay_Peel

Good for you for getting to grips with your son's weight.

I don't know if this will help but here's a few ideas

Make a batch of soup and give him a bowlful before his main meal. Encourage him to drink a glass of water after his meals.

My son used to be starving hungry when he got in from school and I used to give him a tasty sandwich - like cheese and tomato chutney.

Make exercise part of your family routine rather than something that requires special effort and expense.

By that I mean - go for a walk in the evening, if you or your OH can, and even if it's dark. It doesn't have to be a long walk - 20 minutes to start off with. The trick is to imagine that you are rushing to catch a bus. See how far you can get in 10 minutes and then turn around and walk home. Try to beat your record and get further on the following walk! Slowly extend the walk to half an hour.

As you're walking, challenge your son to run to the next lampost and time him. Walk to the next lampost. Ask him to run to the next lampost. And so on. This is a gentle introduction to 'interval training' - short bursts of high energy work followed by recovery. It boosts the metabolism, burns fat and it's what the superfit do. You can measure how well your son is doing when he gets faster between lamposts. Give him a prize!

If you can go on a longer walk at weekends or half-terms, so much the better. But make sure that it is challenging for him rather than a gentle stroll - get him to run up hills and then back down to meet you, for instance. Make him run for a frisbee or something.

Best of luck to you!

Nicki

Thanks everyone. An update. Over the last couple of weeks, he has lost a couple of pounds and also grown half an inch, so he is now only 6 pounds over his ideal weight. I have increased slightly the amount of carbs but still following the basic guidelines of the healthy eating plan. We went swimming at the weekend as a family, and he has voluntarily started riding his bike everyday. Karate started back yesterday, which is more of a workout than some posters think. All of the children come out afterwards red-faced and sweaty! I think the instructor is big on fitness so has them all doing push ups and running round the gym as well as their routines and sparring.

He already looks a lot better, and feels happier in himself. He doesn't complain about portion sizes any more and discusses with us what he should choose if we are eating out.

And we have ordered a new Oyster card and will skin him if he loses it again

kelpie35

Well done nikki for trying to be a responsible parent :j

Keep up the hard work as you and your son are seeing the results.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Nicki wrote: »

And we have ordered a new Oyster card and will skin him if he loses it again

Maybe a way to lose the other 6lb . . . .

liney

Our leisure centre does a gym based activity class for 11 to 15 year olds 3 times a week. Perhaps yours does something similar, and he could attend with a friend?