Worried About My Daughter

[Amanda 3.0 140]

Perhaps she is due for a growth spurt?

I would certainly not emphasize an actual "diet" with her. You don't want to make her obsess about her weight. Perhaps load her up with unlimited vegetables with a little olive oil and salt/pepper (without butter or cheese sauces) and limit the entree sizes? I have been making unlimited vegetables at dinner, but no seconds on the Entrees, and Portion Control is enforced on that.

I think portion control is what is out of control in many cases. Kids sometimes think they need to be stuffed before they quit eating.

Can you involve her in making her school lunch? That way she will feel she has a choice in what she eats, and will probably be more likely to eat it. Also, if you send lunch, how is it that she is eating 800 calorie school lunches instead? She is only ten and you should be able to tell her she is not allowed to have school lunch at will (let her eat school lunch perhaps once a week or every other week).

I do think you really have to keep an eye on them. My stepdaughter was making lunches and I heard her talking to my husband about being "OCD" about slicing cheese, and the cheese slices had to be perfect before she put them on sandwiches. Well, I watched her once, and she was slicing off and eating several ounces of cheese - as in hundreds of calories(!) - just while making lunch. I told her that she was officially "cured" of her "OCD" or she would not be allowed in the kitchen anymore! But, my husband never noticed this!

I would definitely watch the portions of all foods, and especially unhealthy foods (salad dressings, cheeses, etc.) and emphasize the lean Proteins, vegetables and fruits.

I hope you can help her out. It is a fine line with the kids, especially the girls. They can easily develop problems if they feel criticized about their bodies.

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

I really like that your concerned for your daughter's weight. I believe in teaching our children about healthy portion sizes and eating more healthy meals with more veggies. I also know that it's really hard for our children considering all the fast food places out there that are calling our names. It is really hard to control what goes in our children's mouth when we are not there, especially at school. So the best place for her to learn is at home. She will learn from watching your new eating habits, and if you don't have any carbs or junk food, then she will adapt to eating more healthy. You little girl is watching everything you and her daddy do and will encorporate a healthier eating habit if she's watching you eat healthy. I love the ideal of doing physical activities together. Are you using my fitness pal? I would also teach her how to use this program so that she can learn about eating healthier. Have everyone in your house learn this because it's important. My husband is starting to eat more like me. He doesn't eat breads, pastas, potatos, or rice now. He does struggle with eating smaller portions though, but he's trying. I have adult children living here and my son is fluctuating in weght also. So he needs to work on this also.

Remember to keep it simple and not about her, she's a member of a team and in our houses, we need team work! Yep, this is our new healthy living stuff. LOL

[SouthernSleever 228]

Cut all sweet drinks out of her diet. ALL, including milk, juice, Gatorade! If she spends 2 hours watching tv/computer she must spend 2 hours outside to earn that time. Cut everything out of your house with high fructose corn Syrup. I've done these things with my kids after watching a very informative lecture by a mayo clinic's Dr on childhood obesity. Try not to eat out much either, you can only control what you bring into the house and NEVER reward with food.< /p>

[LouiseC 1,031]

I agree with the previous poster who suggested a visit to the doctor. If you are watching her food intake and it is healthy, and she is swimming so many hours a day, and there are no sugary drinks in her life then I would be concerned something was wrong.

I also don't understand the school lunch situation Is it free at school? Surely at 10 you can control this?

She will likely have more esteem issues from being overweight than from having a mother who sets firm boundaries.

[AKSleever 57]

The school lunch is a free program for us! And usually she will have it only once a week!

But I got some great ideas, and before surgery I got rid of all junk food in the house! Thank you for the great ideAs! I would never let her know this is a concern that's why I used the forum! I remember being told how fat I was by my grAndparents! I always tell her how beautiful she is! Now I just need ways to motivate her to exercise, cuz she's not really into it!

[EmyWemy 32]

Make exercise a fun thing for her. Is there a YMCA club where you live? There might be a dance class she might be interested in, or perhaps enroll her in a roller skating club or take up ice skating lessons? Maybe do a Zumba class together? Perhaps there might be a sports league she would be interested in joining? As for TV time I limit it to only Friday nights for my little one and in the kitchen she helps me get some things ready like take out the veggies from the fridge and washes them. Also helps peel oranges, puts salads together. I find that when she helps in the kitchen she gets excited to eat the food too. We also dance together doing the Wii 'Just Dance' series (Just Dance 1, 2, 3). The ABBA one is kind of fun too =)