Bad advice to son?

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Replies

  • alexis831
    alexis831 Posts: 469 Member
    Bad idea... and he is not a car. Reminds me of this post I just commented on....

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/706835-really
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    Just because he isn't eating simple carbs like bread and pasta doesn't mean he wo'nt get any carbs at all. They are plenty of complex carbs in a TON of vegetables. So I don't see anything wrong with him not eating those things (as well as sugar) because people do tend to over-eat them. I, myself try to keep the simple carbs to a minimum just because I know I could easily eat too much.

    I wouldn't take away a kid's fruit. If a kid is going to eat fruit, let them eat it. It's hard enough to get them to anyway haha.

    the point to me is not that he won't get his carbs it's the message being transmitted by telling him not to eat sugar, pasta, fruit, etc. It's not conducive to a healthy body image and a healthy lifestyle long term. Just my opinion.

    I also think him knowing what foods are better than others is important. In other words, fruit is better because the sugar in it is natural and unprocessed. White bread and pasta are simple carbs that spike your blood sugar and make you crash later. Teaching him these things will teach him how to eat a more balanced diet.
  • gibsy
    gibsy Posts: 112
    On our vacation, he ate a lot of junk food, and gained some weight back, probably salt-based.
    *Sigh* Why don't people ever specify how much weight is gained? 1, 2, 5, 10 pounds?

    My apologies. He said that it was 10 pounds in the 7 days, though I do know that he weighed himself the second time with heavier clothes, in the afternoon versus the morning, after eating, etc. so there would definitely be a difference there.

    This is my ex, so I don't really have a lot to say about what he does at his house. I was of the opinion that it was mostly salt-based and that if he made some healthier choices this week and drank extra water, that things would even out and be fine. On our end, we try to focus on talking about healthy habits and getting fit instead of the scale number, and I do worry that this is starting an unhealthy relationship with food. Hence: overprotective tigress mother time!

    You sound like you are coming at this from the right place, and that his father and the trainer are setting him up for a very unhealthy and potentially disordered relationship with food if that's the kind of advice they give a KID. You're right to reassure him that he couldn't have gained 10 pounds in 7 days, that water retention, heavier clothes, the meal he ate, etc. account for probably most if not all of the difference. It would take an EXTREME binge for someone to gain 10 pounds of fat in 7 days.

    This diet plan just seems unecessarily punitive, like he's supposed to be ashamed of cutting loose for a few days and now he has to sacrafice to made up for his indiscretion. Ridiculous. I hope he hears your sound advice as loud and clear as he hears what his father and trainer are telling him. You have a good head on your shoulders and seem like you're guiding him well.
  • missprincessgina
    missprincessgina Posts: 446 Member
    Good choice or Crap? My teenage son (16), who is a bit too heavy, has been trying to make healthier choices, and has been doing Extreme Workouts, kettlebells, ropes, etc. with his dad and a Personal Trainer. On our vacation, he ate a lot of junk food, and gained some weight back, probably salt-based. His dad and PT have told him that he can't have any sugar, fruit, bread, or pasta for 7 days "to jumpstart his metabolism" and get him back to where he was before the trip. This seems like it could be Not A Good Thing. Thoughts? Thank you!!!

    I'm an adult, first off ... but my personal trainer has this "smack down" diet that he recommends when I get back from vacation or when I've gained a few pounds. All it is is eggs, protein, and veggies ... no sugar, carbs, and junk food. Its not a bad idea for me. I do it for 5 days before and/or after vacation or similar situations. My personal trainer is trained in physical fitness and nutrition and 5 days of really clean eating never harmed me. I'm not sure if it would be ok for a child though. I'm not a doctor or a parent. Just my thoughts!
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Just because he isn't eating simple carbs like bread and pasta doesn't mean he wo'nt get any carbs at all. They are plenty of complex carbs in a TON of vegetables. So I don't see anything wrong with him not eating those things (as well as sugar) because people do tend to over-eat them. I, myself try to keep the simple carbs to a minimum just because I know I could easily eat too much.

    I wouldn't take away a kid's fruit. If a kid is going to eat fruit, let them eat it. It's hard enough to get them to anyway haha.

    the point to me is not that he won't get his carbs it's the message being transmitted by telling him not to eat sugar, pasta, fruit, etc. It's not conducive to a healthy body image and a healthy lifestyle long term. Just my opinion.

    I also think him knowing what foods are better than others is important. In other words, fruit is better because the sugar in it is natural and unprocessed. White bread and pasta are simple carbs that spike your blood sugar and make you crash later. Teaching him these things will teach him how to eat a more balanced diet.

    not true. all sugar will cause an INSULIN spike, especially if eaten alone. she didn't say WHITE bread, she said "bread"...and not all pasta is made of simple carbs either. Cutting out fruit, bread, and pasta is NOT balanced. period.
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    Just because he isn't eating simple carbs like bread and pasta doesn't mean he wo'nt get any carbs at all. They are plenty of complex carbs in a TON of vegetables. So I don't see anything wrong with him not eating those things (as well as sugar) because people do tend to over-eat them. I, myself try to keep the simple carbs to a minimum just because I know I could easily eat too much.

    I wouldn't take away a kid's fruit. If a kid is going to eat fruit, let them eat it. It's hard enough to get them to anyway haha.

    the point to me is not that he won't get his carbs it's the message being transmitted by telling him not to eat sugar, pasta, fruit, etc. It's not conducive to a healthy body image and a healthy lifestyle long term. Just my opinion.

    I also think him knowing what foods are better than others is important. In other words, fruit is better because the sugar in it is natural and unprocessed. White bread and pasta are simple carbs that spike your blood sugar and make you crash later. Teaching him these things will teach him how to eat a more balanced diet.

    not true. all sugar will cause an INSULIN spike, especially if eaten alone. she didn't say WHITE bread, she said "bread"...and not all pasta is made of simple carbs either. Cutting out fruit, bread, and pasta is NOT balanced. period.

    If you go back and read what I said I never said to cut out fruit. I actually said if a teenager will eat fruit, by all means!

    And pardon me for saying blood sugar instead of insulin, I didn't know I had to be so technical- I think you get what I'm saying so there is no point in breaking down which one is the cause and which one is the reaction. I know that all sugar will cause spikes in blood sugar, that's why I stated simple carbs (sugar is a simple carb, whether from fruit or from bread or from candy or soda). I also didn't say that SHE SAID white bread, you need to stop breaking apart my sentences in comparison to hers and actually have a debate based on the concepts not the "he said she said." We could break it down to words all day long and just waste even more time.

    And actually, you could easily have a balanced diet without bread or pasta because if you take a look at the food pyramid it says "grains" or "whole grains" are part of a balanced diet. You can easily get grains without bread and pasta. If you need some examples let me know.

    Edit: By the way, sugar in fruit doesn't cause as bad of a spike and crash because it is coupled with complex carbs (fiber in the skin of a lot of fruits) therefore isn't near as bad when it comes to spikes as PROCESSED SIMPLE carbs.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Just because he isn't eating simple carbs like bread and pasta doesn't mean he wo'nt get any carbs at all. They are plenty of complex carbs in a TON of vegetables. So I don't see anything wrong with him not eating those things (as well as sugar) because people do tend to over-eat them. I, myself try to keep the simple carbs to a minimum just because I know I could easily eat too much.

    I wouldn't take away a kid's fruit. If a kid is going to eat fruit, let them eat it. It's hard enough to get them to anyway haha.

    the point to me is not that he won't get his carbs it's the message being transmitted by telling him not to eat sugar, pasta, fruit, etc. It's not conducive to a healthy body image and a healthy lifestyle long term. Just my opinion.

    I also think him knowing what foods are better than others is important. In other words, fruit is better because the sugar in it is natural and unprocessed. White bread and pasta are simple carbs that spike your blood sugar and make you crash later. Teaching him these things will teach him how to eat a more balanced diet.

    not true. all sugar will cause an INSULIN spike, especially if eaten alone. she didn't say WHITE bread, she said "bread"...and not all pasta is made of simple carbs either. Cutting out fruit, bread, and pasta is NOT balanced. period.

    If you go back and read what I said I never said to cut out fruit. I actually said if a teenager will eat fruit, by all means!

    And pardon me for saying blood sugar instead of insulin, I didn't know I had to be so technical- I think you get what I'm saying so there is no point in breaking down which one is the cause and which one is the reaction. I know that all sugar will cause spikes in blood sugar, that's why I stated simple carbs (sugar is a simple carb, whether from fruit or from bread or from candy or soda). I also didn't say that SHE SAID white bread, you need to stop breaking apart my sentences in comparison to hers and actually have a debate based on the concepts not the "he said she said." We could break it down to words all day long and just waste even more time.

    And actually, you could easily have a balanced diet without bread or pasta because if you take a look at the food pyramid it says "grains" or "whole grains" are part of a balanced diet. You can easily get grains without bread and pasta. If you need some examples let me know.

    why deviate from the OPs question? She is talking about HER SON not what's advisable for the general population.
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    why deviate from the OPs question? She is talking about HER SON not what's advisable for the general population.

    I'm positive I did not deviate from the OP's original post anymore than you did. I'm saying if a 16 year cut out bread and pasta and still ate whole grains he would be eating a balanced diet, which is what you and I were discussing because I stated in my initial response that it wouldn't be a big deal for him to not eat bread or pasta.

    I also can't tell anyone what's advisable to them and I didn't state that anywhere in any of my posts. You can't tell people what's advisable to them, either. I mean, we physically CAN but we are not authorized or accredited to do so. I am simply stating it's possible to eat a balanced diet without bread and pasta, which you said was impossible. It's absolutely possible.

    I think it's pretty interesting how SPECIFIC someone has to be with you. I should've said insulin instead of blood sugar, I should state that I am specifically speaking about the child EVERYTIME even though that's what we were originally discussing so I thought it should be implied. The specificity you require makes me feel sorry for other people you discuss things with. I am done with this conversation now as it is futile and you are just arguing with me just to argue about something....
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Seems a tad extreme and the whole "jump start metabolism" isn't my thing but whatever, it's only a week. It won't kill him. Plus it sounds like he needs to learn some food discipline and this is as good a place to start as any. Let him do it, and let him start making some of his own decisions.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    Went to the OBX back in May and took the week off (other than some killer beach walks) but it's vacation and I was dang sure going to enjoy it food and all... If you truly have made this your lifestyle than there should really be no chance of falling off the wagon... I indulged my cravings and we had the best vacation we have had in 20 years... I came back stepped on the scale to see where I was (I wasn't logging my weight until I had been home for a full week) and I was up 8 lbs. I didn't freak out, I knew to expect a pretty good gain but I also knew it was alot of sodium intake that week and it would take my body alittle bit to adjust back. I did not deprive myself of anything just got back to drinking lots of water, getting my workouts in, and eating on plan... by the time I weighed in the following week I was back at the weight I was when I left... I think it is a bad idea to isolate him from certain foods, this journey is about building a relationship with our food that is sustainable long term, establishing portion control and discipline in regard to his eating habits... I don't know the experience of your personal trainer but the whole jump starting your metabolism is a crock... It is all about eating to your set caloric intake and hitting your macro's.... I have lost 311 lbs. eating this way, going to bed with a 600 calorie snack, there is no set time for food intake..... Best of Luck...
  • stepgingerly
    stepgingerly Posts: 15
    I'd stick to the love and logic approach. When your son is spending time with you, encourage a healthy relationship with food and a dedication to having a healthy strong body. He's old enough that he'll start making his own comparison's with what dad's doing. My brother did lots of football stuff in HS, trying to lose weight and build muscle. It all worked of course, and he was a ripped kid, but his day-to-day food and exercise choices were never a part of the equation. Now that he's grown up with no daily sports and stuff, he doesn't have the tool-box for dealing in moderation with food or exercise. It's all or nothing. Just make sure your son has that tool-box for making good choices when dad and the personal trainer are long gone from his daily decisions...
  • rowdylibrarian
    rowdylibrarian Posts: 251 Member
    Thank you all so much for your advice and input! I really do appreciate it! You've given me a lot to think about. His dad and I are going to talk privately about this tomorrow, so I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks again!

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