How can I help my overweight daughter? - Page 2

[honey]

132 is a fine weight. Her body is probably gearing up for puberty, when she'll need the reserves for the amount of growing she'll be going through. She also may just be a more voluptous gal-

HeatherE- Thanks for sharing your story. I think you are right, she is just a bigger person....and she is going through puberty.

I've been wondering if my (near) panic is related to the fact that she is only 10, and in my mind still a little girl- but starting to look too big to be my little girl...and I'm just having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that they are all getting older. It's happening too fast. She is the middle child and I have a little bit of guilt that I didn't spend enough time with her.

daylily- It is amazing how many people have food issues due to
their parents!

I'm off to look at Land's End---thanks for the tip!

[mama_kass]

I am 5"1" and 130 pounds. I actually wear a little girls plus size. This is the only way that I can find pants at the right length. The funny thing is that I wear the same size I wore in the 4th grade! I like to shop at JC Penny. They have a good selection of plus size for little girl's.

[spero]

I've had a lot of trouble finding jeans/pants for my dd lately - and she doesn't want elastic-waist stuff.

Please don't flame me - but Hell-Mart (I LOVE that term!) has Mary-Kate and Ashley stuff that comes in "X" sizes (10X, 12X, 14X) and fits curvier girls really well. DD loves the jeans, b/c she can comfortably wear the 12X size (in "regular" pants, most 14s are tight on her, and too long as well).

[bikruca]

Honestly when I was around that age I put on a lot of weight, and I just kinda.. grew into it..

soon it will migrate to other areas of the body and you will need to go bra shopping, and she will grow about 5 inches overnight and you will be fighting off boys with a broom. :LOL

It's an awkward stage, all girls do it a bit differently. Honestly, looking back even though at the time I thought that I wasn't popular because I was overweight, half the popular girls were overweight, it was because I was a nerd that I was unpopular!!! lol

It's all about additude.. not about weight honestly..

My mom pushed me into weight watchers.. dieting.. all sorts of stuff and I think it just made me depressed...

*sigh*

Good luck!

[CincoDeMama]

just wanted to let you all know that i finally got around to measuring dd's height & she's grown 4 inches (is now 5'4!) to go along with that weight she put on

so, it's good to know that she's growing up & out, rather than just out. she's wearing a 13juniors now, and is in need of a bra that isn't considered a trainer-omgomgomgomg she's getting her boobies! awaiting her period is like waiting for santa man, i swear, lol

she's a womyn & it just blows my mind. she's just a baby! it's so unfair when they grow as fast as she has. she's nowhere near ready for everything that's coming her way-she's just not. at least i've prepared her for it, right?

[SabrinaJL]

I have a 10 year old who is 4'6" tall and weighs 80 lbs. She wears a size 10 in girls jeans and started wearing a bra at about 8 1/2. She's not fat, but she has the potential to be and it worries me. I was a chubby kid and am overweight now. It's very hard. I know that if I don't do something about my habits now hers will only get worse. But it's hard because I don't want to make her feel self-conscious or less than in any way. I did explain to her that exercise and eating right was necessary for good health. I bought this book- http://www.harpercollins.com/catalog...sbn=0060956674 hopefully it will help.

[honey]

Thanks for the book link! It looks good.

[Mizelenius]

As someone who suffered with an eating disorder for years, I can tell you that you standing with your daughter at a very POWERFUL crossroad . . .your impact will be tremendous. You can help her on her path to one of the greatest gifts a person has, which is complete appreciation for her body. How many women and girls can claim to have this gift?

If I were you, I would never, ever mention weight-- yours, hers. or the lady next door's. Show her that weight is irrelevant. Emphasize what her body can do-- that she's strong, she's coordinated, she's graceful-- whatever her gifts may be. I think Marg's idea is great, to be a role model and a partner in exercise. Not exercise for weight control, but rather for empowement.

She's lucky to have you. How you react at this time will stay with her-- it will "shape" her far more than any food or exercise!

[honey]

Originally Posted by Mizelenius

She's lucky to have you. How you react at this time will stay with her-- it will "shape" her far more than any food or exercise!

I can't tell you all what a huge paradigm shift has occured in my mind. She is healthy, eats right, and exercises. If it ain't broke, why should I try to fix it!?

You all have given me such awesome advice. I've thought almost every day about how grateful I am to you all. Makes me all teary eyed. Thanks.

[crazy_clover_fan]

Originally Posted by honey

Help- I'm fresh out of ideas. My daughter is getting seriously overweight.

She was almost 10 pounds at birth (my smallest incidentally) and was breastfed for two years. From birth she was voracious, a baracuda nurser. She has always had a very strong appetite, and as a toddler occasionally ate so much she made herself sick. She has always been chubby, but is now more than chubby. She is 4 foot 11 and 132 pounds.

hey!!!!!!!!!!! im 5'1 and weigh 180 pounds
you need to stop thinking that these "regular" kids weight a lot

[julie128]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books

this is THE BEST nutrition book i have ever read. i'm recommending it to everyone i know. i'm not sure a 10 y.o. could or would read it, but you can and help her to change her (and likely your family's) eating and exercise lifestyle to shed her excess weight.

[honey]

Originally Posted by crazy_clover_fan

hey!!!!!!!!!!! im 5'1 and weigh 180 pounds
you need to stop thinking that these "regular" kids weight a lot

I apologize if I offended anyone.

julie128-your link doesn't work.

[sleeping queen]

You've got some great advice. My very best friend in the world was chubby when she was young and hated it. I don't remember her as being chubby because she was such a beautiful person from the inside. She grew tall in high school and slimmed down. I would always praise her for the great things she does that doesn't have anything to do with her appearance.

My same dear sweet friend's second dd is leaning towards being bigger and df provide healthy food, limits junk and helps keep her active.

[julie128]

Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating
by Walter C. Willett, P. J. Skerrett (Contributor)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...979434-8316939

Okay, try this.
I just bought 6 copies of this book to give as gifts.

[ChasingPeace]

Honey, you've gotten some great advice here! I just wanted to add my support of helping your daughter love herself and her body as it is, and encouraging fun exercise. If she likes dance, she might enjoy Pilates. I love it and it really makes you look toned, no matter what your weight. Here's a link to a tape I like: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=video (It's called "The Method Precision Toning")

Also, I think there's a lot of evidence that dieting (including food tracking) causes obesity. You might be interested in this book:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books

Good luck, Honey! Your daughter is lucky to have such a caring mommy!