Grrrrr my DS

Ravenlady_2

I would increase his activity levels rather than trying to keep him to a strict healthy diet.

What activities does he do?

Also how overweight is he? Are we talking a bit podgy or the fattest kid in his class, I wouldn't get so hung up on his weight at the moment and certainly dont let these new NHS guidelines brainwash you in to thinking differently. He could be storing up puppy fat for his next growth spurt and trying to get him to diet before he has hit puberty isnt the best of idea's.

I would take him to holland and barratt and pick out some tasty snacks to replace the sweets, but I really wouldn't try and make him diet or limiting his food.

the_cat

Ahh yes, 'doctor' Gillian Mckeith springs to mind! So yes I would definately get the diet checked out by a medically trained professional ( your friend the nhs dietician would be good imo)
It may be the greatest diet plan ever but as with all of the diet industry, profit it the prime interest. It can't hurt to get an independant qualified opinion on it

Ravenlady_2

Nicki wrote: »

He would probably have had a large portion of rice or pasta with tea, and a couple of biscuits with his milk at bedtime. But breakfast would have been smaller, either cereal or toast.

We did buy a meal plan for overweight teens developed by a nutritionist, and this was one of the daily menus on it. I have also looked at other suggested options on the internet and its not out of kilter with what most suggested plans are. The trouble with letting him loose on carbs is that he has no portion control at the moment, and given free rein would easily eat a double portion of pasta or rice. That then triggers an insulin rush to process it, making him hungry again sooner than a protein and veg based meal would do. I suspect his overindulgence on carbs is what has led to him being overweight in the first place, as other than a couple of digestive biscuits for supper, he didn't eat a lot of sweets or treats beforehand.

Your son is not a teenager so why follow a plan devised for one?

borokat

I think some of the criticisms on here are overly harsh. The OP is trying to help her son. But at the same time OP you don't seem very open to suggestions.
My two penneth: The diet does seem low in calories. There are calculators you can use that take into account how active you are, current weight and height and work out from there how many calories you need just to maintain that. (1lb of body fat contains 3500 calories, so over a week this is what you need to cut to lose 1lb). http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/
Obviously this site is directed towards adults so I think your best bet would be to visit the GP. Maybe your son will tell the GP something he doesn't want to tell you, perhaps if he is sneaking extra food or drink.
I think the main thing people noticed from the menu sample was the lack of starch in the evening meal. Maybe this diet is just a bit too extreme for an 11 year old who has not learned much willpower yet to cope with. I think a sensible balanced diet with a few more treats thrown in would be ideal. Doesn't have to be a big bar of choc just something small like a Kit Kat. Good luck OP.

Nicki

Ravenlady wrote: »

Your son is not a teenager so why follow a plan devised for one?

Because is is designed for children aged 11 years and upwards.

I agree that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, but the fact that I looked at several plans, all giving similar advice, and all purporting to be written by people with UK or US medical qualifications gave credibility to the plan.

The basic structure from memory is is

4 portions of starchy carbs per day (bread, rice, pasta or potatoes)
2-3 portions of protein (meat, fish or cheese)
Unlimited veg
3 portions of milk (750mls)
2 portions of fat
2 portions of fruit

Plus a range of healthy treats per day, such as rice cakes, jelly, milkshakes, air popped popcorn. Ie things with not much nutritional value but which kids like to eat as treats. On the day I posted, DS chose not to have his second treat (the milkshake was his first) which kind of puts the lie to the idea I am starving him

I don't mean to sound unreceptive to ideas, but there have been some very dogmatic views expressed, putting forward an approach which I have already tried and therefore know does not work for my child. I would prefer him to grow into his weight, but over the last year as his height increased so did his weight. His BMI did not increase, but nor did it come down. Therefore the simple fact is he needs to eat less than he was, and increase his exercise. Sadly, all I can do is provide opportunities for him to exercise (which I do). I cannot make him exert himself, but I can control what I provide for him to put in his mouth.

I am monitoring his weight at the moment. I am happy if it stays the same, or if he loses a small amount (not more than a lb a week). If he seems to be losing more than that, I will readjust his quantities, as I also agree that a drastic weight reduction plan is not appropriate.

I am interested though as to why people are so concerned about starchy carbs being early in the day, and none at teatime. Its not a hard and fast rule that he won't have starch at tea, but why does he need it then if he has had it earlier in the day? He goes to bed only a few hours after dinner, so doesn't need masses of food to sustain him to the next mealtime, and in any case protein and veg take longer to digest than carbs so are surely a better choice for a longer fasting period than starch? I thought the traditional advice was to breakfast like a king and dine like a pauper, so it's not uncommon I don't think for people to have a lighter evening meal.

babymoo

My step brother put on a lot of weight between the ages of 12 and 15 and then he suddenly shot up and altho he is still the same weight his height more than makes up for it.

My stepmum was told by his GP that growth spurts will even him out and as long as he's not sitting about all day and just eating crap then not to worry about dieting. He wasnt obese or anywhere like that just a bit plump.

Give the lad a break and a lot more carbs and just make sure hes eating lots of the right stuff instead of a little of the wrong stuff and let nature take its course with his bodyshape.

shellsuit

My son was fine apart from between the ages of about 10-12, when he looked podgy and would get called fat in school.

He was excercising like mad (always has done and still does) but the weight kept piling on, till about the age of 13, when he shot up and looked skinny! A few of his mates were the same too. He's 15 now and very well built but there isn't an ounce of fat on him, it's all muscle from football and rugby.

It could well be puppy fat on your son too, so I'd just make sure he cuts all crap out apart from say once a week, (sweets, biscuits, chocolate, pop etc) and gets plenty of exercise.

Don't have a go at him over the Oyster card, he's still a kid and kids make silly mistakes without thinking of the consequences, little blighters they are lol

mildred1978

Nicki wrote: »

but think with respect I will continue to plan my meals based on QUALIFIED advice, rather than the view of random mums on the internet.

Not sure what you thought you were going to get tbh. Have you answered the numerous questions about exercise? If you did I must have missed it.

nzmegs

I know the argument against carbs is one which has been going on for some time - but the research has shown time and time again that not only does restricting carbs lead to weight loss, but it also leads to increases in energy and a lowering of appetite. In fact some research even suggests that more calories can be eaten on a low carb diet and weight can still be lost.

The general consenus has always been that lowering calories leads to weight loss - but lowering calories also leads to hunger and eventually overeating. if you can find a way to prevent that from happening you should look into it. Eating protein does prevent the hunger associated with dieting making it easier to stick to.

While you are investigating the options for your son and trying to find out about the best types of diet, you should read up on the amount of sugars added to diet foods and the effect they can have on our bodies. Insulin levels are what controls the amount of fat we store. regularly increasing the amount of insulin in our blood will increase weight and eventually our insulin receptors get "tired" and no longer regulate our blood sugars correctly. They release more and more insulin and we get fatter. After this you get diabetes.

So the aim is to keep blood sugar levels as low as possible without spikes.

I totally agree that your son may out grow his weight problem.But realisitically - without intervention - this happen rarely.Weight issues tend to get worse and worse as our bodies become more and more inept at processing sugars.

the amount of carbohydrate we get from non-starchy vegetables is more than enough for our energy levels and any further energy requirements can come from proteins or our body fat. Our body creates a substance called glucogen from our body fat which provides energy for our brain.

Good luck with your son. I know how hard it is to feel like you are doing the right or wrong thing. He is just fololwing what his body is telling him to do and in his case, it is leading to excess weight. you are not doing anything wrong - you are just following commonly held beliefs and they haven't worked for 99% of the population - so you are not the only one!

mumps

My son would have eaten that lot for breakfast when he was 11, at 6'4" when he hit 16 he was a thin as a rake and I don't know where the food goes. Has your son started to shoot up yet? Probably in a year or two he will take off and when you see his skinny ribs showing through his shirt you will worry that people think he is starving, I know I did. Nothing wrong with eating healthy food but growing kids do need fuel.