Keeping the faith with teens in the house

SESmama

Anyone have tips on how to keep up with your new goals while you have a teens in the house that don't need to watch their weight?

__TMac__

Are you struggling in any particular way? I have teenagers too, but don't find that it affects my weight loss. True, they whine about the lack of junk food in the house, but that's why I'm the mom. To say no a lot. And then laugh maniacally.

Hamsibian

Get them to cook meals with you, do activities together, any way you can get them involved. Also, I'm guessing you buy the groceries, and they can buy whatever treats they want with their allowance/wages.

ashliedelgado

I buy the groceries. Problem solved. If I buy snacks it's ones that I've either budgeted into my calories or don't like, so they won't be a problem for me. Those kids are garbage disposals. They'll eat anything. And I only ever get one serving any way. If they want something outside what I buy, they are free to request it, but they have an allowance for a reason.

savithny

Just because someone doesn't need to lose weight doesn't mean they don't need to eat balanced, nutritious meals.

When people say "but how can I diet when the kids won't eat diet food?" I always ask why they want to demonstrate to their kids that eating healthy is a punishment consisting of very different food than people usually eat.

My parenting motto is "begin as you mean to go on," and so I've tried to model ways of eating that will grow with them and be healthy as they get older.

SO; We all eat the same thing, but we eat portions suitable for our sizes, activity levels, and nutritional needs. I'm not a short order cook, and everyone has to join the family at the table for dinner. Every meal has at least something that will satisfy each person, and I plan for something inexpensive and filling to add bulk and calories for the teens who just need more (i.e., they don't get to fill up on a second steak, but I bake an extra potato).

Snacks like chips for packed lunches I buy in prepackaged servings, and the kids know I only buy a certain amount and when they're gone they're gone. I buy one box of Cheerios, for example, and it should be enough for each of them to have one measured serving (we keep the scoop in the box) per morning for the week. If we run out early, I'm not getting more. If one of them hogs it, they have to deal with the other one.

lorrpb

Think about what you said: Do you really only do the things your kids need to do?

Reaverie

Uhhhh... If I say jump, they ask if they should calculate distance and trajectory first cause it may be on the test. Im the mom. What I say goes. That and my daughter will take it away from me if its bad. And she makes me walk. And my son lectures. And schedules my life. I taught them well... the evil little dictators.

ccsernica

Oh, so you have folks in the house willing to eat all your leftovers, so you're not tempted to snack on them? Great!

Reaverie

Here is an idea. Only buy them the junk you detest but know they love. I hate icecream.. therefore icecream is allowable..(lactose free for my daughter of course). I hate most chocolate. I detest the texture of cake and the taste of icing. I allow these things but in moderation. I dont let my kids raid the pantry or fridge. They dont get to snack around.. they have three meals a day and if they dont like whats for dinner or show up late.. they go hungry. Tonight my daughter was told 3 times dinner was ready. Each time she said "OK! Ill eat later!" Later came and went and everything got put away. If she wants to eat she can reheat and clean up after. If she dont want to clean up, she can starve. Chances are she will choose starvation as her laziness seems to win out more often than not.

Lounmoun

Everyone has different calorie needs. Don't eat like you are a teenager who doesn't need to lose weight when you are an overweight adult.
You do you. Track your food. Weigh your food. Plan your eating. Buy food you like that fits your goals.
Don't eat your kid's food. Don't blame your teen if you go over your calorie goal. You put the food in your body not your teen.
Put food away out of sight. Divide treats/snacks into individual portions.
Buy more fruits and vegetables and less high calorie low nutrition snacks. Have things like hummus, popcorn, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese on hand for filling snacks.
Teach your kid to prepare their own food.
Exercise together.

__TMac__

There are a couple of things that I'd be ok with the kids eating but that I just can't moderate my intake of. Cheese crackers come to mind. It's become sort of an inside family joke. They willingly accommodate my need to keep it out of the house and I get them a single-size packs once in a while. It's a team effort sometimes.

brendak76

I just wanted to say I feel your pain. I have a husband and 2 teen boys at home. It's not necessarily a junk food issue, it's a quantity of food issue. My boys need massive massive quantities of food. So when I make chicken breasts, I cook 4-5 pounds minimum at a time. I make 6 cups of (dry) rice at a time. Salads are by the Costco bag full. My life currently revolves around trying to get enough calories into my boys (who are also athletes) which can desensitize me to my own much lessor caloric needs.