Overweight 12 year old

[Rivlas]

Do you have a Wii? If you do get the sports cd and start playing yourself so she sees how much fun it is playing tennis, bowls etc. Then one day when she is watching either ask if she wants a go or challenge her to play against you.

It is a hard age when the body starts changing and the mood swings start.

[Pandora]

Or the dancing ones for wii.
I didn't believe it until I wore my heart rate monitor while playing at my cousins place. Last night I burned 625 calories playing wii just dance!

[helle]

Or the dancing ones for wii.
I didn't believe it until I wore my heart rate monitor while playing at my cousins place. Last night I burned 625 calories playing wii just dance!

That sounds pretty awesome. Infact I wanna get a Wii just for that now ><;; Exercise at the age needs to be fun, i think. And attention needs to be drawn to the "funness" of it and not the weightloss side of things. If my mum said to me at 12 to go for a jog around the block I woulda told her to jam it. How long does she stay with her dad for? If it's a weekend I doubt that a couple of days of bludging a week is going to undo the healthy side of things.

I was around the same weight range as your DD at that age as well... and when I started highschool my weight stayed the same as I grew taller. At my year 11 ball I was 165cm tall and weighed 58kgs which isn't overweight at all (mind you I still thought I was fat, i kick myself now.) alot has to be said for growth spurts. My brother is also the same... while he was growing he'd pack on the kg's and then grow tall and it would all grow up with him.
Do you think your DD has the same trend?

[joey123]

Honestly, I really wouldn't push her to do anything. I don't consider 58kgs to be grossly overweight by any means. I know that that's what doctors and their silly little books say, but please don't go by that.
Honestly, if she's happy and eats well most of the time, has no issues herself and hasn't asked for help then I'd personally just let her go. At her age she is unlikely to put on a heap of weight she's more likely to gain height which will balance out her weight nicely. I bet by the age of 15 it's no longer a problem.

You sound like a wonderful caring Mum who only wants the best for her daughter. Good on you! I just have a bit of experience and people telling me I was overweight and telling me that I needed to lose weight has not done me any good at all and probably had the opposite affect (as well as totally beaten down my self confidence ensuring that I rarely ask for anyone's help).

BUT you know your daughter. I think if you think it needs to be taken more seriously, maybe you could talk to a doctor about your concerns.

Best of luck for you and your daughter. xx

Thank you so much for your reply.

[joey123]

Just wanted to say Joey good on you for doing something though and being concerned. I think my parents pushed the "we love you no matter what shape you are" a bit too much and not enough of the "we love you so we want you to be healthy". So it's great to be doing something and I think about making it about a healthy lifestyle (and not neccessarily results) is a great approach. But you do need to talk to her Dad. You can make a healthy environment at your place, but that needs to be mirrored at her Dad's too.

Thank you also very much for your reply. I think that she doesn't really get noticed too much as over weight or teased (thank goodness) because there are so many children that are overweight, she kind of just fits in. Which is good for her socially. I just really struggle because I am and have always been very sporty and also very conscious of my weight.

[Catastrophic]

definilty agree with getting a Wii (if you dont have one)
She would be able to practice in the privacy of her own home. and you both can join in. It's all very good in telling her that she needs to excersie and eat right - but the best way to prove that is by doing it yourself

[black_rose]

If she wants to get into chearleading next year encourage her to get fit so she has the energy for those routines. The wii could be great to get her moving she will hopefully have fun at the same time. Focus on that rather than her weight, hopefully you can get her dad on board too.

[joey123]

Do you have a Wii? If you do get the sports cd and start playing yourself so she sees how much fun it is playing tennis, bowls etc. Then one day when she is watching either ask if she wants a go or challenge her to play against you.

It is a hard age when the body starts changing and the mood swings start.

We don't, but it's her birthday next month. I have already bought her present, but perhaps all the relatives can chip in and we can buy her one. What a great idea. Thanks!

[joey123]

I was around the same weight range as your DD at that age as well... and when I started highschool my weight stayed the same as I grew taller. At my year 11 ball I was 165cm tall and weighed 58kgs which isn't overweight at all (mind you I still thought I was fat, i kick myself now.) alot has to be said for growth spurts. My brother is also the same... while he was growing he'd pack on the kg's and then grow tall and it would all grow up with him.
Do you think your DD has the same trend?

Let's hope so, but due to the weight issues on her Dad's side - I don't think so

[joey123]

definilty agree with getting a Wii (if you dont have one)
She would be able to practice in the privacy of her own home. and you both can join in. It's all very good in telling her that she needs to excersie and eat right - but the best way to prove that is by doing it yourself

That's the problem - I do do it myself, that's why it's so frustrating! I have always looked after myself. Currently training to do a 10km fun run in July, so that's why we're running together. She told my mum that she wishes she had the will power that I did - so I think it is frustrating for her

[joey123]

If she wants to get into chearleading next year encourage her to get fit so she has the energy for those routines.

That's a good idea!

[Catastrophic]

and to help with answering multiple quotes - see next to the 'reply with quote' there is a quote picture and a + sign. click on that for every post you want to reply to and on the last one press "reply with quote" then you will be able to reply to them all in one message instead of multiple If you like!

[joey123]

YAY!! Thanks so much!

[MissM]

Just wanted to wish you good luck

I hope you and your daughter and your DD's father can work together for your DD's sake!

[joey123]

Just wanted to wish you good luck

I hope you and your daughter and your DD's father can work together for your DD's sake!

Thanks so much. Will let you know how we go

[westy]

Just wanted to say your DD is so lucky to have a Mum who is so caring and is actually trying to help without making a huge deal out of it....exercising with her is a fantastic idea and i'm sure she like to do it with you.

I have teamed up with a friend and we are doing workouts on the Wii and i can't believe just how much fun it is, you dont even feel like your exercising because your having so much fun - i love it. I think if you did get her a Wii you'd find you would both really enjoy it and it would get used heaps - so worth the $200 that they are at the moment.

Goodluck with it and also your fun run - that's a mighty fine effort with having just had another lil bubba xx

[joey123]

Oh thanks Westy. Yeah I think we'll get one for her birthday .... don't know about the fun run now. Have had to stop training due to too much pain (tore inside and out) and even though Dr says it's all healed, I think there's something not quite right. Waiting to hear back from a swab he took last week.

[westy]

Oh no...i just read your post in regards to that issue - wish i have some words of advice to offer you but i dont i'm sorry.

I hope everything is ok and once the results come back i hope you can get it sorted and start feeling more normal down there again. Take care