Helping an Overweight Child

As adults we often tend to focus on ourselves or other adults when it comes to dieting and maintaining a healthy weight. But, what about overweight children?

Here below are great suggestions from Dr. Ludwig with WebMD

1. How do I know if my child's weight is unhealthy?

Well, you can look for signs of being overweight. Is your kid having trouble keeping up with other kids in sports? Is he outgrowing standard clothing sizes? But the best way is to look at the growth charts, which your pediatrician should be doing regularly. You can find out how your child's BMI (body mass index) compares with those of other kids. If your child is overweight or obese, you need to take action. Some parents of obese kids want to write off the issue. They say, "Oh, he'll grow out of it." But all we have to do is look around us. It's very obvious that many, many children are not growing out of it.

2. What are the potential health effects of being overweight or obese as a child?


We know that obesity in childhood increases the risk of becoming an obese adult and developing all the complications that can go with adult obesity -- diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic conditions.
But the risks of childhood obesity aren't all in the future. It causes immediate problems, too. Excessive weight affects virtually all of the organ systems in a child's body. It can exacerbate asthma and trigger sleep apnea. It causes a range of heart disease risk factors and problems with the GI tract, liver, bones, muscles, and joints. We've seen high blood pressure in kids as young as 5 years old.
Having excess weight in childhood is serious, because it's a pivotal moment in development. The organs are still forming. Excess weight can affect how a child grows and develops, and that can have long-term repercussions. Unless you do something now, these changes will be very hard to deal with later.

What are some things I can do to help my kid lose weight?


At our clinic, we try to address this on multiple levels. It's important to realize that obesity isn't caused by one thing. It's the result of a combination of factors: the foods we eat, our physical activity level, emotional issues, stress levels, family dynamics, finances, and societal influences.
Of course, physical activity and diet are crucial. Contrary to what a lot of popular diets suggest, we don't recommend cutting out specific macronutrients -- like fat or carbs. Those approaches are counterproductive, because they're too hard to follow in the long term. Instead, we concentrate on the quality of the foods. We also use what's called the low-glycemic eating plan, which helps stabilize the surge in blood sugar that occurs after a meal. It helps people feel fuller and makes them less likely to overeat.


You may need to change some of your own behaviors. You need to model healthy eating and physical activity. You may also have to adjust how you deal with your kids. Nagging, criticism, and excessive restrictions on food don't work. We see many families that put so much energy into fighting over body weight and nutrition that there's actually very little energy left over to make any healthy changes.



To continue reading please click on the following link: http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/expert-q-and-a-helping-your-child-with-weight-loss

Holiday Parties

Holiday Parties are happening and it's a lot of fun! It's also tough to turn down the unhealthy foods without ThinStick though. It's the perfect time of the year for ThinStick! Add a couple packets to your water and you'll be in control all night long!

Tips from JJ Virgin's LeanZine:

Don't Be a Dip About Dip. If it is a choice between hummus and spinach-artichoke dip, choose heart-healthy, high-fiber hummus rather than the latter which is loaded down with cheese and mayo. Dipping with crudites rather than crackers is a nice way to up your veggie quotient as well, and it will also help fill you up.


Yes, I'm Calling You Shrimp. The shrimp cocktail gets high marks, as does the smoked salmon. Instead of the high sugar cocktail sauce try dipping into some spicy salsa or even going without the dip. If there is some guacamole on hand, try a bit as a nice dip or even mix it with a tiny bit of salsa for some zip.

No Piggy. Another no-no is your standard party fare of pigs-in-a-blanket. I don't know about you, but I don't like to eat anything that has the word pigs in it. You can try a bacon wrapped scallop because of the relatively small amount of bacon provides loads of flavor, while the scallop is a high quality protein source that also contains omega three fats.

Aunt Jenny’s Famous Meatballs. No offense to your relatives, but those meatballs are probably loaded with bread and eggs. Eat them in small doses. Tell Aunt Jenny they're delicious and you've had five of them already. It's a small white lie that won't get you in trouble unless she's keeping count.

Mini Quiche. There is nothing really mini about this food and I'd say to skip it. Plus, who even knows what the heck is in these tiny pies? My rule is if I can't figure out what's in it then I'm not eating it.

Not So Nuts. Go nuts for a quick grab food because nuts have protein, fiber and good fats. However, you can't graze on nuts all night long because too much of a good thing is...too much. Try just eating 10 nuts and don't lose count by standing by the nuts and turbo loading them into your mouth as you talk. Those 10 nuts will fill you up and are a nice tasty treat.

Step Away. It's always helpful to step away from the buffet table. Is there a nice patio area where you can go outside and talk? Can you go into the den and find some old friends? Consciously make a decision that you've eaten enough and amuse yourself by talking, dancing, catching up or even playing DJ. You're not there to just eat, but to greet old chums.
 
Picture found @ http://www.lingeyhouseprimary.org/Christmas%20Party.jpg

Today's ThinStick Testimonial

"I received my ThinSticks and immediately started using them. I am only using 1 per day and I am extremely happy with what I have experienced so far. My problem time is mid-afternoon at work. The first day I took one between 2:30 and 3:00 and had no desire to nibble. Then I left work and went to exercise class and still did not feel any hunger. Only after 1 hour of exercise did I feel any hunger and it was only minimal. At this point I am very impressed!"


- Cherry Newby

Why Marina Loves ThinStick

"I am so grateful that you introduced me to ThinSticks. I noticed a HUGE difference as soon as I starting using them. I noticed from the very first one that my evening cravings were GONE. I often feel like I want something sweet after dinner and that night I didn’t! I noticed over the next few days that my appetite was reduced for several hours and I was able to go 3-4 hours without snacking. I am hooked and am excited to receive my next shipment."

- Marina James-Galvin, Nutrition Consultant & Personal Trainer