My two older children do so much exercise it’s ridiculous. Especially my teenage son. He’s in the first team for rugby and football and cricket at school and plays football for his local team as well. I can’t remember the last time he didn’t have a game of something or other on both Saturday and Sunday. He is so fit it’s ridiculous. It’s been a great self discipline. I never have to tell him not to drink too much on a Saturday night. If he knows he’s got to be up by 9am on a Sunday he gets himself home in a decent state at a reasonable hour. Speaking as someone who never had the motivation of sport whilst growing up, I am amazed at how beneficial it’s been for him and he’s got SO many friends – he’s played football with the same group of boys since they were 5. It’s just lovely.
Daughter is a little more tricky. She hasn’t found a team sport she loves and gave up the rowing at the first sign of parental pressure and cold dark early starts. She’s started doing karate which she loves but is already thinking of dropping it simply because the instructor has told them they are going to do a demonstration to the whole school during assembly – “mum, there’s no way I’m doing that, it would be SOCIAL SUICIDE”.
My youngest child is the challenging one for me. He loves sports and is very tall and strong. He got chosen for the Borough sports swimming gala and did really well last week, so whilst I am not too worried about him, he would feel so much better if he lost some weight. We have made the joint decision to try and do something about it. He now weighs more than me. It’s a very tricky thing to deal with. I don’t want him to get a complex and I need to work out the best approach. I don’t want him to feel bad about his weight but equally it’s affecting his ability to play a whole game of football, which he’s actually very good at.
It is entirely possible that his obsession with food has something to do with the circumstances of his family life. However, he was born large and was like that when we were all together and his interest in food goes way beyond it just being a comfort issue. He has a huge interest in food and loves cooking. Even his teacher has recognised how to motivate him and every morning now as we wander up to school with his new extra piece of work he discusses which smelly sticker he’s going to choose and whether he should go for ice cream flavour, or blueberry, or orange or, or, or. He’s been really keen to start doing some running so we made a plan to try and do a bit of running before school a couple of mornings a week to see how it goes. His father did the same thing a few months ago, but it was too early. This is half an hour before he goes to school and it might work. I even bought him some new Nike trainers which he is very pleased with, much to my daughter’s disgust (“how come HE gets to have new ones when I only get your old ones?”).
You wouldn’t think he was enjoying it given his constant stream of abuse whilst actually on the run. It is an absolute nightmare. I have never heard more complaints in such a short space of time. Literally, after five paces, the onslaught started:-
“I CAN’T RUN ANOTHER STEP. I’M EXHAUSTED AND I’VE GOT STITCH. I’M TOO FULL FROM BREAKFAST AND BTW YOU HAVE COMPLETELY INJURED MY KNEE. Stop trying to tell me how to run it’s not helping and STOP suggesting that I think about keeping going, I DON’T WANT TO KEEP GOING, I’m stopping now because I need to stretch, WHAT DO YOU MEAN DON’T STRETCH, WHO CARES THAT YOU’RE A STRETCHING INSTRUCTOR, YOU STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO (stops to do weird completely wrong stretch for no apparent reason) and anyway, I’m need to walk now because my muscles hurt and you’ve injured me, STOP TELLING ME HOW TO BREATHE I KNOW HOW TO BREATHE. OMG!! MUM!! What’s the point? When can we turn round, I’m really worried I’m going to be late for school and I SO don’t want to be late for school…and so on and so on.
So we’ll see. Not sure I’ll be the right personal trainer for him. Very tempting to shout ‘SHUT THE F*CK UP” which would be wrong on so many different levels.
We’ll just keep on going and see what happens. At least it’s a start.
March 11th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Both my boys are small yest, but Maxi does football and swimming and mini too. I am hoping that they will both be sporty like Maddad was, he placed football, cricket and ran cross country for the county. I will be watching though as I need to lose some weight
March 11th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Thanks for your comment from the Madhouse – popped over but can’t find a place to leave a comment?? Lx
March 11th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
It’s a tricky one. My ten year old eats like a horse and enjoys the whole ‘food’ thing. He enjoys helping us cook, and he’ll try anything.He swims, plays rugby, and is starting on racquetball.
He just eats too much, and is constantly sneaking into the kitchen to thieve whatever he can lay his mitts on. He’s a pretty solid build (plays hooker, much to his mother’s disgust, thinks his ears will get mashed) and we are always aware of trying to keep an eye on his weight.
I think we’re finally getting through to him, and are finding less badly hidden food wrappers in his room.
I can only imagine the reaction if my wife tried to drag him out running with her, so well done for simply getting the chap out of the door.
March 11th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Thanks. That’s what I thought too. A result just getting him out of the door! Lx
March 11th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
What a fantastic mum you are. I hope he manages to get on top of it all. x
March 11th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
May I suggest that you have breakfast after the run; much easier that way. When it comes to a stitch, slow down but don’t stop. He must run through it. Once he has, future stiches will be easier to cope with. Deep breaths will help too. Longer term, running gets boring so mix in cycling, swimming, etc…best of luck. I took a stone off a large chap… Simple stuff just keep at it.
March 11th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Thanks LD. I did think about that – eating afterwards thing. Good idea. Lx
March 11th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
babe try the WALK RUN thingy…start walking (fast walk) for 5 mins and running for 1 or two minutes… then build up the running time after a week and so on and so on…maybe get him to keep a chart or a timer…so he can do the timing too…there is a whole programme….don;t have it but it WORKS..its hard going straight into pure running when you aren;t used to it…and also music plugged in ears…teaching your own kids is a NIGHTMARE..i decided to teach mine riding….just ends up in shouting match with me saying ” I AM NOT YOUR MOTHER I AM YOUR RIDING TEACHER!” to which last born princess wails back from her HUGE mount, ” you ARE MY MOTHER!!! you ARE MY MOTHER!!!” hoo boy….must try harder….GOOD LUCK. think its fab. don;t give up…try the run walk thing…XXX j
March 11th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Very good idea. Will try that. Less stress AND must do a chart too. Brilliant Lx
March 11th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
It’s really hard for them and I found that it wasn’t until my son was motivated that he really started to do something about it (like not eating all the time, and really making an effort to stay fit). Unfortunately, with this broken wrist, all activity has stopped and I can see him falling into a slump. I have tried to tell him it’s temporary but in the meantime, perhaps fewer bagels and more fruit?
March 11th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
So difficult isn’t it. Lx
March 14th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
I used to be a runner… still am at heart and during the summer but the cold and snow makes it difficult at this time of year. My main motivation for training was sheer competitiveness at that age and used to compete in x-country for my school, later in my early-mid teens I ran with a local club and that was good, really motivating and good to meet new people who were always encouraging you. I also used running as a way of spending time with my dad on my own. Sometimes I would join him on a run or he would help me do fartlek training. It wasn’t always rosy though, if he pushed me harder than I wanted, we’d end up fighting and I’d run home and he would continue!
I agree completely with dumdad and janelle. Building it up is possibly better than going straight in and having goals will probably help the motivation. The brekkie after a run is much better or if you have to just a slice of toast beforehand should be enough. I always run on an empty stomach if I run in the morning and it seems to help (plus there is the motivation of getting brekkie after the run!). Its great that he wants to get out, I guess its just keeping him motivated that’s the hard bit x