Mum of Teen seeks help motivating them

KANdoit50

Hi

I've been using MFP for a month now on my android phone mainly and finally I've found a tool that works for me...although I'm probably preaching to the converted now.

Finally, having just turned 50, I've got control of my weight and am within 15lbs of my final target.

I don't want my child to have to wait that long. Are there any teens or parents of teens out there who are on there way to cracking the weight control problem that are willing to share their story / hints / tips / approaches that would work with a 14 year old?

I still get the odd nightmare about fat callipers, being the fat kid in class and such.

I'm not wishing my angst on my child ... they are about 230lbs with a BMI of 37 .... they realy need to lose the weight

Thanks

Karen

beccarockslife

Teach them. Don't preach at them but get them involved in cooking dinner, explain nutrition, knowledge really is power. My 4 year old knows the importance of protein in a diet, of not snacking on unhealthy things etc. Basically I have taught him that healthy food in = healthy body. Teens will equate this to size but you need to push HEALTH.

I'm quite honest about the fact that I am trying to lose weight although I do this for HEALTH reasons.

I wish my parents had taught me this stuff. You still have some control over what they eat too, don't buy crap, don't have it in the house and they can't eat it or do like us and have things like Nak'd bars and healthy snacks about.

MrsGriffin67

I have similar issues with my 16 yr old son. He is overweight (pushing about 220+ lbs) and is often made fun of because of his weight. I've had to go to the extreme of locking up my food, he will LITERALLY eat me out of house and home. Trying to get him motivated is more than just a challenge its an outright battle. He suffers from ADHD and bi-polar, which only compounds the problem. I'm very interested in what others suggest. I want to help him now so he doesn't always struggle with his weight. I've tried to get him to walk/jog with me but he absolutely refuses.

leslturn8

I learnt the hard way, i was 14 when i put most of my weight on, I am 23 now and struggling to lose it all....
I use to think i look good until all i could fit in was a male selection of clothing. I brought a tight pair of pants and feeling very sexy and then u see the pictures and you go OMG! I got envy of a skinnier girl and befriended her, lost 17 kilos, slowly put 5 back on and decided no! im heading back to my 17! I got back on track and this is where im staying.
Noone can preach to the kids, they have to see what they are becoming and that if they have any pride for their appearance that the fat look is about as appealing as stepping in poop.
I do wish i had someone say to me Hey lesley....ur getting pretty fat now! Noone said anything and i didnt know until i seen pics

ravenclawseekergirl

I'm 18 and i've been fat most of my life. I put most of my weight on between 11 and 17 because i really struggled with school and college. I got bullied alot about my weight and my hair. The plastics (popular girls) at school used to call me Hagrid and to be honest thinking about it can still make me cry. I never told my parents what was going on and they think that my secondary school life was blissfully calm, when in fact i was socially isolated, self harming and contemplating suicide...

To be honest with you your kid needs to want to do it themselves. Try involving them in a sport or activity that they like. Slowly change foods like soda for reduced sugar or sugar free options. Have a night a week were you cook a meal together or that they can choose want you all have.
I'm glad that you want your child to be healthier and that your their to support them. This website might be of some help. Its run by the NHS and has lots of different advice and ideas.
http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/change-for-life.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/Pages/change-for-life-families.aspx