My son is overweight, are there any sites like this for kids

MarybethAltizer
MarybethAltizer Posts: 226 Member
edited September 24 in Health and Weight Loss
My little boy is 10 years old, and has taken after his biological father's side of the family. He now weighs 112 pounds. I'm just wondering if there are any sites that encourage more of a "healthy" goal, rather than weight for his age....I think that would make it fun for him with it being something he can incorporate online...Anybody know?

Replies

  • ChefJenn
    ChefJenn Posts: 350 Member
    idk how much it will help but I know on the disney channel they show how to help kids make better food choices and exercise and how to learn what food portions they need.

    you could check out the website
  • ashlee2407
    ashlee2407 Posts: 65 Member
    This isn't a website suggestion, but I know beachbody has videos designed for kids. There is one by Tony Horton from p90x and one by Shaun T from Insanity. My kids think its cool because they see us doing the workouts by those two, so they are excited to do it.
  • fitzie63
    fitzie63 Posts: 508 Member
    You can try the Livestrong site (Lance Armstrong, the professional bicyclist...Tour de France)

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/360752-a-free-food-exercise-diary/
  • sarahbarah25
    sarahbarah25 Posts: 26
    I'm also curious for myself...same boat. I have an 11 y/o son that is over weight AND a picky eater...go figure. Curious to come back and see the responses =0)
  • prila13
    prila13 Posts: 222 Member
    my lil sis is almost 5 ft tall, weighs somewhere between 160-180 so i understand where youre coming from... if you can get him into the wii or kinect, that is fun for them.. she loves hers... also get him to eat more whole grain things when you can incorporate it in where he wont know.. my lil sis loves whole grain so there's no problem there.. she's dropped 15 lbs just by cutting out soda as well. of course this 15 lbs was over a course of 3 months but hey, if it works, its all good.
  • fitzie63
    fitzie63 Posts: 508 Member
    Here's another site with free interactive food and exercise charts you can print off.

    http://www.nourishinteractive.com/blog/2008/12/10/kids-nutrition-food-dairy-kids-food-daily-tracking-sheet-balanced-meals-calorie-tracking-for-kids/
  • Franticantics
    Franticantics Posts: 117
    Sparkteens.com is quite good I think :)
    x
  • prila13
    prila13 Posts: 222 Member
    I'm also curious for myself...same boat. I have an 11 y/o son that is over weight AND a picky eater...go figure. Curious to come back and see the responses =0)

    I understand youre pain. I'm a picky eater myself but... I assume your lil boy likes pizza? try making him a peperoni pizza using these ingredients

    Flat Out Whole Wheat with Flax
    Turkey Pepperoni by Hormel
    plus pizza sauce and the recommended amount of any kind of cheese

    I make these for myself.. I love them... Most picky kids do too... and they are only about 200 calories
  • ms_erica
    ms_erica Posts: 173 Member
    mypyramid.org has somewhat of a similar thing going on for children. it has tons of valuable information in regards to nutrition and how many calories they are needing for their day.

    i have 3 kids (two are overweight) since i started doing this site i been more on top of how they eat as well. and we been going for 20 min daily walks around our neighborhood...
  • fitzie63
    fitzie63 Posts: 508 Member
    Here's the details on the "Let's Move" program supported by the Disney Channel:

    http://corporate.disney.go.com/citizenship/20100921-mohl.html

    Disney's "Healthy Fun" site: http://disney.go.com/magic-of-healthy-living/ncds/

    This is the other Disney Channel site for families: http://family.go.com/food/pkg-healthy-living-magic/

    Best of luck in helping your son change his lifestyle.

    Claire :)
  • MarybethAltizer
    MarybethAltizer Posts: 226 Member
    Thank you for all this! Matthew is a picky eater, too. He loves the wii, but it just isn't cutting it...
  • ashlee2407
    ashlee2407 Posts: 65 Member
    The idea for the kinect is awesome too!! We have dance central and I break a sweat with that one!! It has a lot of popular music in it so it doesnt seem too girly or anything.
  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    Are there any outside activities that he'd be interested in doing? Our 11 year old is not overweight at all but he's been in Taekwondo for the last two years and is very active. There are also lots of sports that kids their age can participate in. We try to teach our kids to eat for fuel and nutrition and to help them make better choices overall. Since we homeschool we call nutrition tracking "health class" and I can give them a little education hopefully without stigmatizing them. ;)
  • downtome
    downtome Posts: 529 Member
    I'm 41 now, but when I was 10, i was overweight as a child and I joined a gym called :"Elaine Powers" with my mother. I wanted to lose weight so bad that I was willing to do whatever I had to do to be thinner. I did lose the weight over the summer, it was only 17 pounds but it was alot to me back then. If there would have been a site like this, I would have probaly joined it even at 10 years old! I'm thinking that will all the people on this site being young adults and adults, parents of children ages 10 and up like myself, maybe if your son started coming here, if you think he is mature enough, then other children of parents on this site would maybe check it out as well. It sure couldn't hurt. They could have like their own post to support each other. I would have loved this when I was 10 but I was quite mature for my age, maybe your son is as well. I know this site has helped me so much that I have already lost 44 pounds in 13 weeks with all the support and motivation. It doesn't hurt for the children to get involved in their health and nutrition at an early age. Maybe one day if it seems like it is working, the makers of MFP will make a site dedicated to children just like this one, but for now, if you feel he is ready, have him check it out if he is willing! This is just a thought. God luck!
  • saeverman
    saeverman Posts: 88
    bump for later
  • sarahbarah25
    sarahbarah25 Posts: 26
    What a great idea and he LOVES pizza!!! Thanks =0)
  • charlene77
    charlene77 Posts: 250 Member
    Thanks for posting this. I've got response, but out of time tonight!
  • MarybethAltizer
    MarybethAltizer Posts: 226 Member
    Are there any outside activities that he'd be interested in doing? Our 11 year old is not overweight at all but he's been in Taekwondo for the last two years and is very active. There are also lots of sports that kids their age can participate in. We try to teach our kids to eat for fuel and nutrition and to help them make better choices overall. Since we homeschool we call nutrition tracking "health class" and I can give them a little education hopefully without stigmatizing them. ;)

    That is so great that you homeschool! I did for a year with mine...And I would love to put him in something, but there is just nothing around here, we live in a very small town and anything you want to get to is 45 minutes away. Soccer starts in the fall, and he really loves that, so hopefully that will help. He tried to run with me today, and it wore him out so much he was asleep by 7:45!!!! :) Thank you so much for your help!
  • MarybethAltizer
    MarybethAltizer Posts: 226 Member
    I'm 41 now, but when I was 10, i was overweight as a child and I joined a gym called :"Elaine Powers" with my mother. I wanted to lose weight so bad that I was willing to do whatever I had to do to be thinner. I did lose the weight over the summer, it was only 17 pounds but it was alot to me back then. If there would have been a site like this, I would have probaly joined it even at 10 years old! I'm thinking that will all the people on this site being young adults and adults, parents of children ages 10 and up like myself, maybe if your son started coming here, if you think he is mature enough, then other children of parents on this site would maybe check it out as well. It sure couldn't hurt. They could have like their own post to support each other. I would have loved this when I was 10 but I was quite mature for my age, maybe your son is as well. I know this site has helped me so much that I have already lost 44 pounds in 13 weeks with all the support and motivation. It doesn't hurt for the children to get involved in their health and nutrition at an early age. Maybe one day if it seems like it is working, the makers of MFP will make a site dedicated to children just like this one, but for now, if you feel he is ready, have him check it out if he is willing! This is just a thought. God luck!

    That's a good idea with supervision, I may consider it. We could make it something we log together or something... :) Thanks!
  • kelhun1
    kelhun1 Posts: 183 Member
    I actually went gym to gym looking for one that would allow my son to work out with me (he's 11). Urban Active made an exception for him because he's "calm and well-behaved" (their words, not mine!). I don't want him to focus on losing weight because I know they tend to put a little on before they shoot up. I just want him to be active and make good food choices. Has the Dr. actually said he's overweight? Mine has been about 110 pounds since he was 9, but he's continued to grow in height and has stayed the same weight. It may be he's just "beefing" up before the growth spurt.
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