Childhood obesity

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Recently I saw a news blip about childhood obesity. Basically it was talking about the self esteem issues that it caused and the corrolation between that and school drop outs/lack of attendance.I get it. I was a chunk kid, and still fight with my own weight issues. I am taking on a little boy, who has been spoiled to the extent that he is 20lbs over the 95th percentile. In other words he is pretty chunky.It sounds really mean, but when he falls down he rolls. It IS comical, but yeah. What I want to know, is I am going to have him all the time, except maybe every other weekend. How can I help him out? We ARE moving to BFE, great roads for bike riding (after this kid learns to ride), hills to explore, a pond (I doubt for swimming but it will get him out looking for frogs and such).There are two problems, a) he only likes food that is smothered in gravy, and/or comes out of a can or box. b) Has had a sedentary life in an appartment.In MY house, food is eaten at the table without a TV going, PERIOD. I don't do "quick" meals aside from cereal in the morning, (though, I think that is going to change to at least HOT cereals). He is 8yrs old, so, I am wondering, if at that age, he will eat when he is hungry, no matter what gets served up. And, how do I approach telling him that the crap he eats/likes is bad for him, and has contributed?

True, they DO learn. I'm somewhat concerned with him just starving the weight off though. He DOES have that temperament.Hiking boots TOTALLY. My girls and I have ours already. Bikes, and roller blades too. Though where we did live we couldn't use the blades much. I also wish I had a treadmill I could so use that while watching GMA in the morning, and the kids could take turns..lol, one while king of the hill was on, the other while simpsons is on, and well, the other one is already putting in a 12 hr day which consists of Volleyball(after school), and weight training in PE.

I think you don't have to worry about him starving. If he gets hungry enough, he'll eat.

May I ask why you will have this kid?

i think she said hes her boyfriend or fiancee's son and theyre moving in together but theres a good chance im wrong

Yep that is the deal.

The kiddo's mom has pretty well abandoned him. Looking at his room, as were packing, and at his weight, teeth and all that, she didn't do a good job of caring for him when she was there. So, he isn't missing much even though he is sad that she isn't around.

I find it odd, because his dad (my boyfriend) has SUCH a varied diet, and actually LIKES the healthier stuff better. It was my boyfriends choice to eat it, but his ex must have ONLY made box food for them, because he is 50lbs or so less now that I do the cooking for him.

He is being a good example for his son. His level of fitness, diet, all that is pretty good. But the boy has had alot of time with the gramma this summer so.

We will get there I suppose.

About the food:You'll find that if you completely change his diet, and don't really give him a choice in the matter, his taste buds will change. In my house, we're all on a completely vegan diet, and mearly smelling meat makes my fella sick now-a-days. Where as about a year ago, If I would have told Ari he'd hate the smell of meat, he'd have thought I have had flower pot dropped on my head. You just need to change his diet, the rest will follow. Also, about the weight thing, as a fat kid, (I can say it, I was fat) don't make it seem like you're picking on him to exercise because he is overweight. Odds are he knows it, and is sensitive about it. so Make it fun, and get the whole family involved. Have fun

eh well, it's all out the f****** window now.

sort of, it was supposed to be every other weekend with the mom...dad gave her 3 out of four today...thurs through sun. Almost half time.

HE LOVES the crap! I am gonna be the bitch from here on out. My family doesn't eat crap!!! We all do the bus stop walk...bla bla bla...he is gonna have to adjust to part time healthy...better than nothin I guess.

Grr...tomorrow I will explain if anyone cares. I am too mad right now.

hugs

If he has a sweet tooth, like me, then keep introducing different kind of fruits to him. It serves as a much better snack than a candy bar or other simple sugar candies. That's my tip.

Fruit is fine. He just doesn't like anything that DOESN'T come out of a box....

Sorry for being so short with everyone. I just hit another wall, so I had some climbing over to do..lolSo, the kid IS adjusting, he is about ten pounds down in the last month, nice. He is not snoring as bad, though he still does. He still whines that he wants Salisbury Steak and gooey mashed potatoes, but he is digging the beans and rice, he also LOVED the tofu marinade I did for burritos....I haven't cooked a meal yet that I haven't had to start at LEAST 2 hrs before eating time..lol.He is learning to get the "green food" out of the way first so the taste of the other stuff is the dinner memory...I do the shopping so, its great, there isn't a lick of junk in the house (well except for the 20 lb cheese cake that the neighbor dropped off to welcome us to the neighborhood...lol)Thanks though guys, the extra support of knowing he would learn to deal DID help keep me keep to it, arguments and all. It's good already. Now, if I could roll out of bed early enough to cook the oatmeal..lol

Its a good fucking thing you and I were nto tossed together, I eat mostly meat, meat 3 or 4 times a day and steak ohh good god drools and deer and elk, ohhh fuck I think I jsut came a little !there is always cookies in this house, and always soda and meat, the only veggies I relaly like are potatos tomatos and onions, ohhhh fuck baby potatos boild then sliced and cooked in some bacon grease with diced onions... Now iM sure I came a little bit. Julie eats alot of veggies, they are in the house, but she knows not to ever attempt to take away my meat! or cheese cake, or cookies. None of us are overweight, but we also are all extremely active. As to the first one thats going to read this and tell me about how meat stays in yuor system for x number of years... GOOD I want it there, I fucking paid for it and its nto cheap! when I die and they open me up I want a meat sweater from my throat hole to my asshole!I follow the dr dennis leary diet fuck yuo very much ! (not you Java, just people in general :D)

ROTF! You KNOW I like my wild game meat! Just haven't had any around for a while. I think it is healthier than the crap you buy at the store. Every morning I get up and think about how one of those gobblers would be...or the little black tail who ate my tomato plant last night! I am mixing up the diet alot more than I ever really did for my crew, gotta find something the little bugger likes that is good for him too... he weighs like 90lbs, and has lil piggy jowls...I don't call Salisbury steak out of a box meat! Sorry, I can make it better myself if it is a requirement. (Especially off a grazed steer!) That will come next year...I think we can grain one out here, no grazing room.My man needs to get his happy little ass down and get some tags...

You know the meat literally has to rot to get our of your body? snickers