Help!!

[not2late]

Re: Help!!

Yes, low carbing can be done with children as Brook and 2Big said. But it MUST be done under the supervision of a physician---and this supervision isn't just "my doctor said to lose weight" type of supervision. This child should be seen by the physician at least monthly so that the physician can monitor the rate of weight loss and analyse that in regards to the child's height, age and sex. Alot of things happen in late childhood and adolescence in addition to growing taller. For boys and girls all the calcium their bones will get are deposited during these years. And also, they need extra caloriesand nutrients to supply energy and building material for all the manufacturing of various hormones and other things needed for proper growth and development. So it's very important that any child on any weight loss regimen must be monitored closely by a physician.

This is what Dr. Atkins wrote in the foreword to Feed Your Kids Well by Dr. Fred Pescatore:

Feed Your Kids Well provides that solution. It is based not only on an understanding of what children must learn to eat and to avoid in order to maintain ideal health, but also on targeting of vitanutrient intake to correct the medical crises our children face.

The information in Feed Your Kids Well is accessible and has been time-tested by the Atkins Center medical staff.

It's a slightly different diet than Atkins because it starts the child off in the OWL Rungs 1-3, which makes sense because in that part of OWL, you'll get more calcium, fiber, minerals/vitamins from the veggies and nuts than Induction gives you. So it's more nutritionally balanced for a growing child/teen.

[EgYpTiAnMaTT91]

Re: Help!!

I'm not sure where you're pulling muscle cramps from - it's not an issue during Induction - not unless you've increased your water intake dramatically and aren't taking your supplements like you're supposed to be doing. As for nausea and headaches? LOL For most kids I know, being in class can cause those symptoms, not to mention the other kids breathing on them (germs! eww! lol), and those take longer for them to recover from than Induction Flu.

I don't know why, but all this stuff was never a problem for me. The only muscle cramps I've had were in my calves and that was only because of sports, not Atkins. As for headaches and nausea, I haven't really had a serious headache since I started. Also, the only time I've had nausea was when I forgot to eat before taking my multi-vitamin (veeeery bad idea people). I'm not complaining, but I'm really confused as to why I didn't have Induction Flu. I may not have been as addicted to carbs as I thought, but from what I remember I ate a looooot of carbs. I would eat a whole can of pringles in one sitting, 2 or 3 servings of rice/pasta at dinner, and candy bars like no other. Who knows, maybe Induction Flu doesn't affect kids my age?

[lbrowne]

Re: Help!!

I don't get the induction flu either (lucky us! ) but I am definitely addicted to carbs. Interesting question. I'll see if there a poll for it around here.

Note, started a poll here:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17865

~ Linda

[fawn]

Re: Help!!

My 17yo has been eating a low carb lifestyle for 3 years now. Sugar is poison plain and simple. Anything white should not be in anyones diet. Since low carbing, and since she jumped on with me 3 years ago, this kid knows how to make good choices. While others grab a soda and chips mine is grabbing a bag of peanuts a string cheese and a water. She feels and looks better than ever.

I chose to encourage this lifestyle of low carb without the advice of a physician. As a parent I know that I am instilling good eating habits for life. And we make NO BONES about it in our home. SUGAR IS POISON. WHITE FOOD WILL KILL YOU.

Matt make sure you are eating nutrient dense foods and definitely if you do not feel right check with your physician and always be honest about what you are eating.

Saher: Unfortunately, there are not enough children eating whole foods. We are poisoning and killing our children. As statistics have said, our poor children are doomed to have a shorter life span than we are. Not my child. I will not let my child get lost in the drug of sugar.

[nobodyknowsme]

Re: Help!!

This phenomenon actually happened to me frequently years ago when I was on a "regular" (aka severe calorie restricted) diet. It always happened right after lying down. I would get dizzy and actually go blind for a few seconds, would have to hold on to something until my vision and balance returned.

It is most likely a case of low blood pressure brought on by not eating enough. Make sure you're not limiting your calories too much (god knows i was at the time)

[Squeaker]

Re: Help!!

I'm really confused now.
My son is also 13 and returning from holiday he wanted to go on Atkins. I initially said "no" then he looked at it and didn't think that with school etc - he could fit in all the water.
He still wants to lose a bit of weight, but he has a tall growing spurt on at the moment. it's not like he needs to lose tons, probably around 7-8 pounds.
I've told him to cut out sugar, white bread cake etc which he doesn't eat a fair bit of anyway. He's a faddy eater; will eat salad but hardly any cooked veg, won't touch red meat etc.
There is no way that I can get him to see a doctor once a month let alone once a week, our appointment system is frankly, crap. Anyone got any suggestions or weblinks I can try?

[Brook]

Re: Help!!

Squeaker, our doctor didn't have us go in monthly, or even bi-monthly. He wanted to see Aaron after 3 months and then again in 6 months. My son also started out with over 40lbs to lose.

It doesn't sound like your son has much of a weight problem at all to begin with, and cutting the whites and sugar out of his diet is probably going to more than do the trick. You certainly don't need a doctor's supervision to do that!!

~Brook

[not2late]

Re: Help!!

How often a physician sees a child on follow ups really depends on that child's circumstances. Also they are coming out with very specific guidelines about the rate of the weight loss---again, it depends on the individual child. The very overweight (I'm talking 100 pounds or more) are usually monitored more closely because they try to get off a large amount of weight in a short period of time, before slowing the rate of loss so its appropriate with their height growth. Some of them are hospitalized for the initial few weeks to monitor them closely.

But this all depends on the child's sex, weight, and age. In fact, depending on the child's age and current weight, there might not be any weight loss diet recommended even if the child is overweight. Rather a weight maintenance diet is recommended for the child to "grow into" their weight because for children, the BMI is the current standard for determining "normal" weight. So if you're a 13 year old boy who is 5'4" tall and weighs 150 pounds, your doctor might tell give the advice to maintain the weight during the growth spurt, rather than lose the weight. See, if you lose 30 pounds over summer vacation, you would be within the normal BMI for your 5'4" height. BUT if you grow 4 inches during that same summer vacation while losing those 30 pounds, your BMI will be under the normal weight range. That's why weight loss is tricky with growing children, unlike with adults (because we aren't growing and developing anymore).

The other thing to consider about having a physician follow up during weight loss in a child is to make sure that the weight problem isn't due to lifestyle habits, like a thyroid problem. Granted these causes aren't common, but they should be ruled out and treated appropriately.

I have a few links to various pediatric articles in the Children's Forum if you want to read more about it.

[Elizellen]

Re: Help!!

What an interesting and useful thread this has turned into.
Thank you Matt for being the 'trigger' for it.

I am sure many of our members with young teens will find it worth reading and making a note of the suggestions here.

[EgYpTiAnMaTT91]

Re: Help!!

So if you're a 13 year old boy who is 5'4" tall and weighs 150 pounds, your doctor might tell give the advice to maintain the weight during the growth spurt, rather than lose the weight. See, if you lose 30 pounds over summer vacation, you would be within the normal BMI for your 5'4" height. BUT if you grow 4 inches during that same summer vacation while losing those 30 pounds, your BMI will be under the normal weight range. That's why weight loss is tricky with growing children, unlike with adults (because we aren't growing and developing anymore).

Hmm..that is tricky. Do you think I would have to stop losing because of my growth? I don't think I'm going to have a problem though. I'm already 5' 7"- 8" and I don't think I'm going to grow that much more.

What an interesting and useful thread this has turned into.
Thank you Matt for being the 'trigger' for it. [img]images/smilies/icon_hug.gif[/img]

Haha...no problem at all. I love being the guinea pig, gives me much more interesting things to do. It's practically my job at 13.

Matt

[not2late]

Re: Help!!

That's up to your doctor Matt and what your doctor thinks, since he's been monitoring your progress.

Boys and girls stop growing by the time they enter their late teens. Girls, however, grow at a slower rate than boys do.

Again, it's up to your doctor. So you might want to address this with him the next time you see him.

[EgYpTiAnMaTT91]

Re: Help!!

I'll be sure to bring that up!

..........................................

Matt