How to get 9 year old fit?

george

Quick update.  Got and read books, but wasn't really impressed. I found better info online.  Increasing the activity level did not, by itself, do anything.  Even two sports at once.  So I counted his calories and make a spreadsheet of his diet and found his sugar intake was sky high, while protein was low.  Basically he didn't eat meat and snacked on high sugar stuff from boxes and in wrappers.  Even when we prepared good food.  I don't think he eats that differently than his fitness but for him it doesn't work.  So we talked and I explained. And we went to the store together so he could pick out foods to try.   And now he gets meat at every meal - that he picked out and is learning to cook himself (with us around).  He learned that he likes turkey bacon (duh!) and turkey burgers.  And he has cut his sugar intake to 1/4th what it was, to the recommended level.  Just the right amount of "caring", without developing some type of eating issue.  If he's under the sugar limit he gets to eat whatever he wants as a snack.  But he's learning what serving sizes are....."half a cup of ice cream? WTF dad?"  He says he's already feeling better and slimmer....though it hasn't really been that long. So, so far so good.  

Templar

Well done, Dad!

MrsB

That's awesome! Have you ever read or listened to Dr Robert Lustig? He's a pediatric endocrinologist who specializes in childhood obesity. Look him up. You'll like what he has to say about sugar. You're doing the right thing dad!

george

I'll check that out @MrsB. Thanks. 

george

It's working . He's got a healthy attitude about it, loves cooking, and has dropped some pounds already.  A ways to go....but good to see it's possible. I figure he could be back in the "normal" range in the charts by September.