Little brother
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He does do football and Wrestling and doesn't care that he keeps on getting fatter and really doesn't even wanna play sports anymore, he thinks playing golf for 20 mins is enough workouts for a week. He loves to play video game and eat chips while doing so.
If he participates in sports (football and wrestling) he does work out, doesn't he? Or don't they work out for sports anymore? And how can one play golf for only 20 minutes? It takes me hours to play a round of golf. What is his body fat percent? Is he actually "fat?"
I think, since you're not his parent, all you can do is set a good example.0 -
Don't make it about a 'workout' - are there any sports he's interested in playing and/or local teams he could join? If he's only 13 and 5'2" he's probably about to shoot up in height in the next year or so, so if you're worried about his weight, I would try not to be - he'll probably be so skinny you'll need to feed him up in a few months' time. It's what happens to boys at puberty.
I agree with this but, if he is sitting around and eating chips and junk food, he may shoot up but he wont thin out. Same think happened with my younger brother.
GOOD LUCK!!! The only thing I will say is DONT call him names or give him a hard time. My mom used to do that with my younger brother and now, he is 31, 6'1" (or so) and over 300lbs, NOT muscle!!
I understand your concern but, just keep trying to encourage him and maybe just get him out doing fun things here and there. Maybe if he finds he cant do certain things because of his weight, maybe he will come around.
I also agree that it may be an "Olderr Sister" thing so, if you know someone else, a guy maybe, that could get him moving, try that.0 -
Do you both live with your parents? Have you gotten them involved? Who is buying the junk food and who is allowing him to spend as much time as he wants on the video games?
Maybe you could try to get their support - ask them to set some rules. 60 minutes of video games in exchange for 30 mintues of active play (I wouldn't call it "exercise" or that will make it feel even more like a punishment). And, if he is snacking while playing video games - get the junk out of the house and offer to make him some snacks instead (healthy ones).
He's definitely old enough to start learning how to make smart, healthy decisions - and as long as you approach it the right way (don't be condescending, overbearing, mean, etc) he'll probably, eventually, be receptive to it. But he's only about 20 pounds overweight, so I just hope things are kept in perspective.0 -
I think the worry here isnt necessarily getting him out moving as much as it is what he is eating, maybe?0
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my teens are much more likely to go outside and run around, play ball, etc then they are to actually "workout," but it's still good exercise for them.0
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My son's even bigger, I try and lead by example, and have 'made' him start football in HS.0
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I think the worry here isnt necessarily getting him out moving as much as it is what he is eating, maybe?
I think that's what should be the concern, but the question was about how to get him to work out...0 -
just make it fun. Playing catch in the backyard or hoops in the driveway. Something like that so he does not feel like it's a workout, but quality time spent with his big sister.0
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I have a little brother too. When he was that age the easiest way to get him to do anything was to make it a contest. Little brothers LOVE to win! lol0
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When my daughter was about 12 I got worried about her because she was very sedentary and weighed a bit more than seemed healthy. I put her in taekwondo and now she's 18 and doing P90X with me and very conscious of exercising and learning more about eating well.
Me being mom I had the ability to not really give her a choice in the matter. I didn't force TKD on her but I did tell her she needed to pick an activity to try. Since her dad used to do TKD I encouraged him to take it with her so that helped. She wasn't going to start something new all alone (she's an introvert). They did it for two months and then the rest of the family joined and we've had a wonderful time as a family doing it together.
We take lots of bike rides, go on hikes and spend a lot of time out doors. I don't make it optional, it's presented as "tomorrow we're going to do ..." Why yes I am bossy.
But they have grown to enjoy the activities we do and we spend lots of time together as a family living an active lifestyle. If I want them to be set up for this as a way of life I need to make it a way of life now.
We recently got my 12 yo son in Boy Scouts and in just the couple of months he's been in he's done a lot of active things. His troop is big into hiking, camping and other outdoor activities. Plus it's filled with a bunch of rowdy boys who are always on the move. My son is in no danger of being overweight (lower end of the height/weight healthy range) but as we all know it can catch up with you later. So I'm glad to see him setting himself up for a very active lifestyle.
All that to say, keep encouraging them to find activities they will like to do. Do them with them if you can. It doesn't have to be a regimented workout program (that can suck the fun right out of it!) Drag him on hikes with you. Take him to a rock climbing place and climb the walls with him. Bounce houses with trampoline's are a great workout! Roller blading/skating, sign up for a walk/run, go swimming, plan bike rides, take up tennis or racket ball! There are a ton of things you can do with your brother/son that are fun and he'll enjoy. You might help him find a new passion and when you do you won't have to push him to move.0 -
When I was young I got my exercise by picking on my sister. I would trhow something at her, she would get mad, chase me for awhile, and then get tired.0
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I was really hoping this thread was about the music group :ohwell:0
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I know it's gonna suck, but he needs to get rid of those snacks he's eating. If he's eating out a family size bag of chips he could easily be consuming 600+ calories in one sitting.
If that's the case, maybe you could try buying individually portioned chips for him instead. That way he still gets a bag but it's a smaller portion.
I think eventually, if he doesn't gain much more weight, he'll "even out". He's bound to grow at least a couple inches, and 5'5 and 130 pounds isn't bad at all!0 -
He does do football and Wrestling and doesn't care that he keeps on getting fatter and really doesn't even wanna play sports anymore, he thinks playing golf for 20 mins is enough workouts for a week. He loves to play video game and eat chips while doing so.
Wii sports??0 -
my little nephew is 11 and stands about 5"8...his weight is about 168 but he has lost about 8 pounds....I get him to walk with me a few days a week by rewarding him
not with junk food etc...HE NEEDS shoes for football in a few months...everyday he walks with me about 25(mins) he receives a dollar
I just don't want him to be overweight...it runs in the family and I was like that at his age...gotta look out for him:)0 -
I didn't read through everything- but where is your mother in all of this? How about not buy chips and junk food? If he is homeschooled have a nutrtion class. Not sure where you live- have him help plant a garden so he "can eat off the land". Also he is at the age where if you tell him he needs to lose weight he could take it the other way- and just gain more. When kids are told they are fat it doesn't make them feel better they feel worse and eat more.0
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Unfortunately, he isn't gong to work out until he sees his weight as being a problem. I have been heavy my whole life and people were always trying to get me to lose weight and it made me "rebel" even more into it. He needs to do it when he wants it. I wish I would have listened to people in the past...the weight I was then would have been easier to get off, than the weight I am at now. But especially as kids, you can't tell them anything Good luck though! I hope he can see it sooner rather than later. 0
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I was just thinking this exact same question about my son. He's 13, 5'4 and 140lbs. He's on the heavier side of things. He doesn't do sports at all. Which is fine except I think he is really missing out by not being part of a scheduled activity. He does ride his bike and walk but I was thinking about having him work out with me 30 minutes a day.
I want him to know that exercise is a part of a happy, healthy life, just because he has chosen not to play sports doesn't mean he can get away with not doing something in it's place. I'm still struggling with the right way to approach it.
As a deeply anti-sports personality, a word of caution...If he rides his bike and walks on a regular basis, he's being fairly active anyway - I wouldn't fret too much about 'scheduled' exercise - both of those things count towards his activity-levels. Exercise doesn't have to mean getting changed into special clothes and going to the gym/joining a team etc, which just is anathema to some people, myself included.
I don't like structured exercise either, but after a certain degree of overweight, it's probably necessary. This is not to say that it isn't great to take every opportunity to walk, climb the stairs, etc.0 -
Hello, so I have a little brother who is 13 he is 5"2 and weighs 155lbs, I try to get him to work out with me but he always makes up excuses not to workout... Do any of you guys know what I can do to convince him to workout or make things more fun for him?
If he plays football and wrestling i would think eventually he will have someone get him into shape depending on position. If he's an Offensive or Defensive lineman then he's not going to want to lose weight. if anything to play football he is going to have to gain weight. At 13 I wouldn't put to much into it. Sounds like the typical brother/sister disagreement. Not to be confused with the brother/brother and the sister/sister disagreements..lol0 -
Would it help to have the family doctor speak to him?
In America, something like 1/3 of children are overweight, and this is the first generation of kids that may not live as long as their parents. It's good that you're trying to do something.0 -
Oh and I forgot to say he is also homeschooled which means he eats all the time...
Your parents need to take charge of that.0 -
I'm just going to bring it up, but you said he is homeschooled, does he have a social life? Most kids meet their friends through school so maybe he sits and eats because he's bored or lonely.0
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Mine are all homeschooled too so I make nutrition/healthy diet a part of the curriculum. I don't present it as "you're fat/going to get fat". It's presented as "Health & Fitness" in general for them to make healthy choices. They will eat all day if I let them and most people (young or old) have no idea the amount of food they're eating. How many of us signed on to this site and realized we were eating several servings of something before we started tracking. I have a kitchen scale and require my kids to measure out their servings. I do this so 1) they know how much a serving is and get used to the idea while young and 2) it stretches the food because they'd consume it all like a swarm of locusts if I don't! They have to think about how much protein, carbs and fats they're eating each day because I ask them. It's helped them to be aware of what they're eating and they will read labels. They check for fiber content and try to choose things lower in carbs. They're still kids and eat junk now and then but overall they eat pretty healthy and prefer a big salad over a bowl of cheetos.
Try to convince your family to either make it part of the homeschool curriculum or ask if you can do that part. If he's already active doing sports more exercise obviously isn't the thing that will help. He needs to know how to make healthy choices in the kitchen.0 -
IMO there is nothing you can or should do. It is appropriate for you to be concerned about his health, but the motivational change has to come from him.
I have found that people always say they need people to help motivate them. Granted, a couple kind comments on progress is much appreciated by anyone, but that should not be what's fueling the fire. People who continue in this manner, waiting for praise, tend to give up on whatever their goals are in a couple months.
This relates to your brother. If you force him to exercise, or even just slightly encourage him, he may follow what you are trying to get him to do for a while. But eventually, he will stop. The real change has to come from him. He has to want it.0 -
When parents/siblings force kids/teens to workout or ridicule them about weight, it can often create lifelong issues about food or exercise. That pain causes more harm than good. Playing together can be great, but they have to want to if the improvement is going to be real.0
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Mine are all homeschooled too so I make nutrition/healthy diet a part of the curriculum. I don't present it as "you're fat/going to get fat". It's presented as "Health & Fitness" in general for them to make healthy choices. They will eat all day if I let them and most people (young or old) have no idea the amount of food they're eating. How many of us signed on to this site and realized we were eating several servings of something before we started tracking. I have a kitchen scale and require my kids to measure out their servings. I do this so 1) they know how much a serving is and get used to the idea while young and 2) it stretches the food because they'd consume it all like a swarm of locusts if I don't! They have to think about how much protein, carbs and fats they're eating each day because I ask them. It's helped them to be aware of what they're eating and they will read labels. They check for fiber content and try to choose things lower in carbs. They're still kids and eat junk now and then but overall they eat pretty healthy and prefer a big salad over a bowl of cheetos.
Try to convince your family to either make it part of the homeschool curriculum or ask if you can do that part. If he's already active doing sports more exercise obviously isn't the thing that will help. He needs to know how to make healthy choices in the kitchen.
I love this!!! It does sound to me like little bro needs some education around healthy eating (especially as an answer to his own concerns about his weight) and the OP should get her folks involved with this too. It's such a huge misconception that exercise is the solution but if you can be the most active person ever and still be overweight if you're overeating. One should eat correctly to lose weight and be healthy and exercise to be even more healthy and fit.0 -
Offer to play games with him that require getting up and moving around. Like someone said, Wii, Kinect, etc. Other than that...leave him alone. Hassling him about his weight at that age is going to do more harm than good, IMO.
Try getting him to spend time with you in setting that have nothing to do with weight loss, nutrition, fitness, etc. If you just cultivate a closer relationship with him, he may eventually want to be more like you.
Oh, and my brother was the same way at 13 and is now a proud member of the United States Navy
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He ... doesn't care that he keeps on getting fatter and really doesn't even wanna play sports anymore, he thinks playing golf for 20 mins is enough workouts for a week. He loves to play video game and eat chips while doing so.
You cannot make somebody want something they don't. Just be a good example and be careful - the more you push him toward a healthy liftestyle, the more he may go the opposite way.0 -
I was just thinking this exact same question about my son. He's 13, 5'4 and 140lbs. He's on the heavier side of things. He doesn't do sports at all. Which is fine except I think he is really missing out by not being part of a scheduled activity. He does ride his bike and walk but I was thinking about having him work out with me 30 minutes a day.
I want him to know that exercise is a part of a happy, healthy life, just because he has chosen not to play sports doesn't mean he can get away with not doing something in it's place. I'm still struggling with the right way to approach it.
As a deeply anti-sports personality, a word of caution...If he rides his bike and walks on a regular basis, he's being fairly active anyway - I wouldn't fret too much about 'scheduled' exercise - both of those things count towards his activity-levels. Exercise doesn't have to mean getting changed into special clothes and going to the gym/joining a team etc, which just is anathema to some people, myself included. I really resented the pressure I got from some adults in that regard, and it made me much more resistant to other forms of activity than I would otherwise have been, for a long time.
Now, if you said you were worried about his socialisation, rather than just exercise and sports, I'd ask if he was involved in any non-sports groups. As for his weight, as I said above, if he's 13 and 5'4", he's going to be a lot taller, and probably a similar weight in a year's time. Many kids gain weight in the run-up to pubertal changes - it's the body's way of preparing itself.
If you do get him to work out with you, don't forget that an adolescent or child's skeleton and muscular structure is not as developed or strong as an adults - cartilege has not yet hardened, for example. It would be wise to carefully consider what you are getting him to do, if weights etc are a big part of your workout.
I was very anti sports and anti exercise at his age myself and I can honestly say I regret that very much now because I had to spend a lot of time playing catch up in the health department during my 20's. I don't want to see him make the same mistakes I did (I know, what parent hasn't said this) I won't force him because I don't want him to see exercise as punishment and I know weight training isn't the best type of exercise for an adolescent his age. I was thinking more of jogging with him. I am not a very good runner myself, was thinking of trying the couch to 5k with the goal of completing a 5k together this summer. Something more along those lines. It's summer now so we'll do bike rides together also.0 -
Maybe you can convince him and his friends to do P90X or something.
Or sign him up for a weight lifting class at the community center.
If you want your brother to do something, manipulate his friends. More or less, it always worked on me. One of my best buds had a crush on my sister. If we were hanging out playing video games and she wanted to get us off the TV to watch her shows, all she had to do was ask him to get her something at 7-11 or something and throw in a couple extra bucks for us to play Mortal Kombat.
If you can convince that one friend to do P90x, you'll have him and all his dumb friends convinced. Awkward 13 year olds are like that.0
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