Posted on 03/04/2005 6:52:18 AM PST by grellis
Let me preface by saying that this thread is aimed at discussing kids who are dealing with socially driven syndromes or disorders. In a thread in the very near future, we will discuss family members with special physical needs: Down's syndrome, autism, Alzheimer's, et al.
There is a lot of ground to cover on this subject and it is difficult to know where to begin. All of us have heard, I am sure, that Americans (particularly children) are more obese today than we have been in the past. Are our children becoming food addicts or couch addicts? How do we stop this problem before it starts? What help is available to parents who have an obese child? Are we dong the best that we can, as parents, to set a good example: Do we exercise on a regular basis or come up with excuses not to do so? Are we eating healthy most of the time? Then there is the opposite end of the spectrum: anorexia and bulimia. Are we as conscious as we can possibly be of our childrens' self images? How do we encourage our children, especially our young girls, to embrace their frames rather than strive to look like one of the Olsen skeletons? Am I wrong in thinking that steroid use in adolescent boys is, in a way, related to anorexia in girls?
How many parents are aware of cutting? I'll be honest--I do not know that much about it, just that it is on the rise. Cutting entails the intentional, physical harm of one's self, ie slicing open the skin with a razor blade. What drives a child to do this?
Addiction to drugs and alcohol might best be left to a thread on its own. What say all of you?
It sounds perfect. Do you know what brand it is?
Excellent idea, for a couple of reasons, at least. First, it will establish a habit of exercising outdoors--making a transition to other outdoor activities (hiking, biking, etc) more natural. Second, and again, this is specific--someone who is overweight should be discouraged, whenever possible, of "hiding away." You'll have mail in a minute.
Like the toddlers on Maury Povich! There was once a 9 month old on Maury who weighed 100 pounds, his mom put soda in his bottle and fed him steak and potatos, bbq ribs and mac and cheese! Who gives a 9 month old soda and red meat! How do these stupid people keep breeding!!!
She hides away unlike anyone I've ever known. Always has.
Doesn't say. We got it at "Dick's Sporting Goods," which has the same stock as every other big athletic store chain.
If your daughter likes pasta, then serve 100% whole wheat pasta with plenty of a veggie-packed marinara sauce and a sprinkling of a good fresh parmesan. The fresh cheese has a much more robust flavor than
Get rid of anything "starchy" that isn't 100% whole wheat - read labels! No potatoes, no white bread, no white flour. Triscuits are a nice snack and relatively low in fat and calories with a lot of fiber. Fiber is filling! Have her try taking a fiber supplement about 20 minutes before eating a meal, and she may find she gets fuller on less food.
Instead of red meat serve plenty of fish and chicken. Beans and eggs are a good (cheap!) source of lower fat protein. Also low fat dairy usually tastes better than fat free and generally has similar calorie counts and less fillers.
I have a mini trampoline that I bought about a year ago. I actually have some trampoline workout DVDs that are gathering dust on the shelf (the Urban Rebounding series). It can be a good cardio workout and helps build leg muscles too. Just have your daughter start SLOW - maybe 10-15 minutes of vigorous bouncing will be enough to work up a sweat and raise the heart rate without cauing too much muscle soreness.
My apologies, sarasota. The brain is not quite in gear, and I just couldn't imagine a child at 22 MONTHS helping herself to everything.
I really must learn to read more closely.
I agree with whomever said to eliminate sugar and white flour, and will add that we should all avoid processed food. Too much high fructose corn syrup.
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas. I'm going to get to work on a meal plan this weekend and try to set out menus for the coming week. I'm also taking her roller skating (her favorite aside from swimming) and she's experessed an interest in learning to ski, so I think she's on her way to better health--and a better body.
I was thinking of turning it into a book, but I would need to use a really big font to get it to more than one page!
The most powerful messages are often delivered in few words!
I was anorexic from my teens into my 30's. I blame it on my naturally very slim mother who constantly harped at me to watch my weight so I wouldn't have to watch it later. And glared at me when I took seconds of anything.
I was never heavy, but more curvy than she due to my German father's genes. For instance, I was a 34-C bra when I was 14.
I was keeping a diary about what I ate when I was 13 and weighing myself ten times a day. I would fast for three days every week. I knew that I wasn't fat, but I had an overdeveloped need to please my mom.
I agree about most children not getting outdoors and getting exercise. My boys have a number of outdoor chores as well as housework that they must do and are quite slim and healthy.
I don't get after them about how much they eat other than when they get picky. The issues that I developed about food
don't need to get passed on to another generation.
Your daughter will likely have a growth spurt when she gets her period. I have no girls. What is the usual age that a girl gets her period today? I was about 12 and a half, but had a girlfriend who got her first at 9.
My daughter was slender until she got her period. She was very stressed out about it and ate for comfort. Maybe it will have the reverse effect on your daughter. You never know with hormones.
Sadly, so true. I was playing with the neighborhood kids, unsupervised, from first grade on. There's no way I can let my kids do that--we don't live in a ghetto but we have a few prostitues (which means johns, which means drugs...). Once the weather hits the 50s, I take the kids out for a walk every single day, at least a half-mile, usually more. Josh, at seven, would rather be staying at home learning computer programming but I'm going gestapo on that this year. His weight is okay but he's leaning toward heavy and he is NOT physically fit. No muscle tone whatever, gets winded very easily, etc. He threw a fit nearly every time I took him for a walk last summer but he always ended up enjoying himself. He is learning how to identify all kinds of things: Trees, birds, architecture...once I get him out, moving around, and looking at things he doesn't even realize he's getting some much needed exercise. The older he gets the more challenging it will become. A lot of my neighbors don't have a problem letting their kids run loose and I know Josh won't want Mom tagging along. All I can do is tell myself "Do you want a slightly resentful child or an Amber Alert?" Easy choice.
Reg, consider yourself duly challenged!!!
For any of you who like rice but hate preparing it, I can't stress strongly enough how excellent the Zojiruchi cooker is. Easily the best appliance we've ever had.
On the basis of my family, rice either helps digestion or rice constipates! White or brown or wild rice.
Why would you need another appliance for an item you can cook in a saucepan? I'm not being a smart-aleck, but you can make a pot of rice in 20 minutes on the stove-top.
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