Parent Tips for being Supportive....

As a parent, you know that it is important for your overweight child to reach a healthier weight. But you might also be the last person your child wants to talk to about their weight.

One of your roles is to help keep your child motivated and you can do this by getting actively involved in their weight loss efforts. However, it is important to be supportive without putting your child down or nagging.

Chances are you have found yourself nagging your child at one point or another about their weight. You may have nagged, bribed, or cajoled your child into trying to lose weight.

For Example :
"I was overweight when I was a child and I remember my parents nagging me. They offered me a dollar for every pound I lost, and I would get a ten dollar bonus every time I lost 10 pounds. It didnt work for me, but now I find myself bribing my overweight son the same way."

Stories like this are common. Nagging a c hild is like playing a slot machine...every so often you get what you want. Its those occasional "successes" that make the nagging habit so hard to break.

How do I stop nagging?

Nagging is usually the result of some type of power struggle between you and your child. Have you turned into the food police? The exercise bully? When you set up a lot of restrictive rules, your child will respond negatively. For example, if theyre feeling angry at you and your rules, they will eat the foods you said not to.

Parents nag their children because they care and only want the best for them. But nagging doesnt work. A better way is to let making the right decision be your childs responsibility. Remember, your child needs to take responsibility for their own weight and their own actions in their weight loss goals.

SUPPORT and SUCCESS

Over weight teens are most likely to succeed with their weightloss goals when they make the decision to lose weight on their own. Your help is important! Dont Nag.

Support your child by:

1.) Offering Encouragement

2.) Providing healthy food options

3.) Serving healthy meals

4.) Supporting exercise efforts by paying for classes, providing transportation,etc.

5.) Join your child and lose weight together!

Expressing yoru care and concern without nagging is one of the hardest challenges you face as a parent. Talk to your child about ways you can help. Ask about specific things you can do to help them reach their goals.

For Example:
"I was nervous about talking to robert about his weight. He has always been heavy and I know he is self-conscious about it. Ive never really said anything to him about it before, I want him to know that I love him no matter what he weighs. But when I asked him if there was something I could do to help him reach his goals, he asked me to stop buying soda. He Said it was too tempting when there was soda in the house. I dont know why I was nervous at first, now we talk all the time about what we can do to keep him on the right track. Im proud of him and Im happy to help."