Oh my! It's that time of year, when the baked goods are flowing, the leftovers, teaming with creamy buttery goodness are calling and the chocolate......oh my! I forgot how challenging it is to maintain your weight during the holidays. But of course, I'm not working at maintaining. Ellie needs to continue to lose. Good grief Charlie Brown.
I should have written down the great two days we had last week when she dangled her toes so close to the waters of the 'overweight' category. She came within a 1/4 lb of leaving the 'obese' category behind. But then Thanksgiving and family visiting, and mom baking cookies. We took a step back from the 'overweight' waters. Today I measured her height and weight again and the good news is she grew a fraction of an inch. But the bad news is she gained 3/4's of a pound. Bad mommy! So we are back on the healthy food program. We did have lots of healthy activities over the holiday weekend: playing soccer and jumping in leaf piles outside and playing hide and seek inside. But now that we are on a break before the next holiday I must return us to our numbers game. We have found so many good foods that help keep the weight off, and it's time to make sure that they are the staples of Ellie's diet again. So no more hide and seek games with the chocolate chip cookies. Maybe instead we can celebrate Christmas with a gift of better healthier weight for Ellie.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Time to bring in an expert
Standing at the wall, measuring height this morning I was pleased to see that Ellie has grown into the height she was pretending to achieve on her tippy toes last month! She is now truly 3 ft 7 1/2 inches tall, but unfortunately her weight has gained by a pound and a half. Rats!!! I had been celebrating all those new vegetables that she had tried, and her reduction in carbohydrates. Apparently it's just not enough.
As a result, today we are taking a long car ride. We are braving Northern Virginia traffic to meet with a dietitian who has worked with children struggling with obesity, celiac, other food allergies and cholesterol issues. She has also worked with children who have Down Syndrome, and some of these issues. She seemed very nice and approachable on the phone. I'm hoping this goes well, and that I get some really positive feedback and ideas. I desperately want Ellie to develop a healthy weight and lifestyle.
As a result, today we are taking a long car ride. We are braving Northern Virginia traffic to meet with a dietitian who has worked with children struggling with obesity, celiac, other food allergies and cholesterol issues. She has also worked with children who have Down Syndrome, and some of these issues. She seemed very nice and approachable on the phone. I'm hoping this goes well, and that I get some really positive feedback and ideas. I desperately want Ellie to develop a healthy weight and lifestyle.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
21 Again
No, not me!! I don't feel like I'm 21 again - all those aches and pains after a weekend of gardening....where's my motrin?
21 is the magic number I got my princess back to on the BMI scale. She grew a little more and dropped a pound which means the BMI is slowly going down. Yay! Her diet has been healthier with veggies, fish, yogurt, skim milk, veggies, chicken, some salsa and gluten-free chips, and a little air-popped popcorn. We did splurge a little over the holiday weekend with some TnT's pork barbeque and hotdogs, and ice cream and brownies a couple of nights. In the middle of last week her weight was a little lower than it is right now. But we'll get back on the wagon today since the holiday is over and our company is back to their own homes.
She has been so much more active this spring than at any other time in her life. Every morning before school she is playing soccer with me. Used to be "soccer" would last about a minute. She'd kick the ball to me, and I'd kick it back and we were done. Now, she is kicking and following the ball - dribbling across the yard and giggling the whole way. Of course, because I only get my turn when the ball gets stuck in a garden or under a car! It's the best though - I love to see her having fun, running around and not afraid to navigate the environment. Knowing that she is getting healthier and developing those great life long habits makes my day!
21 is the magic number I got my princess back to on the BMI scale. She grew a little more and dropped a pound which means the BMI is slowly going down. Yay! Her diet has been healthier with veggies, fish, yogurt, skim milk, veggies, chicken, some salsa and gluten-free chips, and a little air-popped popcorn. We did splurge a little over the holiday weekend with some TnT's pork barbeque and hotdogs, and ice cream and brownies a couple of nights. In the middle of last week her weight was a little lower than it is right now. But we'll get back on the wagon today since the holiday is over and our company is back to their own homes.
She has been so much more active this spring than at any other time in her life. Every morning before school she is playing soccer with me. Used to be "soccer" would last about a minute. She'd kick the ball to me, and I'd kick it back and we were done. Now, she is kicking and following the ball - dribbling across the yard and giggling the whole way. Of course, because I only get my turn when the ball gets stuck in a garden or under a car! It's the best though - I love to see her having fun, running around and not afraid to navigate the environment. Knowing that she is getting healthier and developing those great life long habits makes my day!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Well, I have been negligent in tracking everything it seems. Today I jumped back on the band wagon. I checked Ellie's height and weight. Lo and behold, she grew a bunch: 3' 7 1/8", wow!! However, so did her weight! Now she tops the scale at 57lbs. Geesh!! Her BMI is 21.5 at those numbers. At least she stayed in the 98th percentile and didn't creep back into the 99th percentile.
I've started a food journal for her, and think I'll get the app my sister uses so I don't have to remember to carry various notebooks with me. I've also been treating Ellie to a little ice cream some evenings - guess that's off the list. She's been on antibiotics this week for an ear infection and those mess with her gut. I'm hopeful that this was a little bit of a fluke and next week her weight will have gone down a bit. It's shocking to see she gained 4 lbs in 2 months. Good grief!!! I have to do better for her.
I've started a food journal for her, and think I'll get the app my sister uses so I don't have to remember to carry various notebooks with me. I've also been treating Ellie to a little ice cream some evenings - guess that's off the list. She's been on antibiotics this week for an ear infection and those mess with her gut. I'm hopeful that this was a little bit of a fluke and next week her weight will have gone down a bit. It's shocking to see she gained 4 lbs in 2 months. Good grief!!! I have to do better for her.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Slowly dropping BMI
Well, I thought she had grown and I was right. A quarter inch makes a little bit of positive difference. Today she weight 53.2 lbs and stands 3' 6.25" tall and that takes her BMI to a solid 21.0. Yea!!!
It is slow going, but I do see a slight improvement in the conditioning of her legs and the shrinking of her belly. Most importantly I see better choices and more endurance for physical activity.
Wonderful! Keep up the good work my little one :)
It is slow going, but I do see a slight improvement in the conditioning of her legs and the shrinking of her belly. Most importantly I see better choices and more endurance for physical activity.
Wonderful! Keep up the good work my little one :)
Friday, February 25, 2011
"Roots and Wings"
There's a saying that I have on a cross-stitch: "Give your children two things: One is roots...the other wings." Today my (not so little) son is spreading his wings in his first solo flight from the nest. As a proud mama bird, I am sitting back and letting him go. It's not easy, and it is, oh so, bitter-sweet. He is my first-born, my first baby. He has made a few smaller solo flights before, and each one of them has been such a success. Now he is grown into quite the young man, at such a young age too. He is ready for this big solo flight. I trust his roots, I know they run deep. They will keep that internal compass heading him in the right direction. I trust those fine, feathery wings to carry him aloft and far on his journeys, and always to have the strength to make it home.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Advocacy on both ends of the spectrum
Well, today I put my "advocating for the highly gifted" hat on, and took off, momentarily, the "advocating for the special needs" hat. We'll see where I get with it. My 6th grader just started science (they teach 1 semester history, 1 semester science in middle school). He could pass the 8th grade Science SOL before 6th grade science began. His science teacher is very excited, but also limited in what she can do. The range of knowledge in the students in her classes is rather w - - i - - d - - - e. So we brought in the guidance counselor who is very supportive of differentiating somehow (we all haven't quite figured out how yet), and now we are on to setting up a meeting with the principal who is very open to discussing this. I'm not sure what that means yet, but it does sound promising.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Get out and get moving - enjoy this spring like weather!
Today is a swim team day, but unlike other days this year, Ellie will not be hanging out at the nursery in the YMCA. I cancelled the family membership, well, changed it to a student only membership for her big brother, the swimmer. Ellie and I will be outside today. It's gorgeous outside and since she feels better I am putting my new plan into action.
I am packing some bubbles, a soccer ball and a change of clothes! We are going to have our usual picnic dinner in the car, but then we are going to the playground with our balls and our bubbles so that Ellie can work on some oral motor and gross motor skills. In addition, she can just get moving and work on losing some weight :) Next month she starts soccer, and I want her to be ready!
I am packing some bubbles, a soccer ball and a change of clothes! We are going to have our usual picnic dinner in the car, but then we are going to the playground with our balls and our bubbles so that Ellie can work on some oral motor and gross motor skills. In addition, she can just get moving and work on losing some weight :) Next month she starts soccer, and I want her to be ready!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Stomach Flu or Food Poisoning - either way, you lose weight
Well, a line from a favorite movie of mine "The Devil Wears Prada" is "I'm only one stomach flu away from my goal weight." Or something close to that.
Friday night after Kids Zumba and chick-fil-a, Ellie fell asleep in the car on the way home. She woke around 11pm with some running stools. Ok. I should have warned you that this was going to be gross. Sorry. You're forewarned now.
About 30 minutes later she woke up, and started the vomit-o-rama. For the next 8 hours the poor thing couldn't keep anything. anything. anything. down. Not even the tiniest sips of water. Bless her heart, she was able to indicate to me when we had to race to the bathroom or grab the trashcan. She didn't miss once. I did. I fell asleep somewhere between 3:38's retching and the next call to the can. I tried to pick her up but couldn't make my body move. We'd already been to the bathroom about a dozen times, and at 54 lbs, low tone, and extreme fatigue. Well, my body had stopped being able to lift her easily. My dear, sweet husband got all the laundry started and helped lift Ellie on one side while I supported her on the other for the next few hours till her tummy finally stopped revolting.
The next few days were quiet and she didn't eat too much. The net loss has been over a pound. This is not the way to lose weight, but I guess every small step counts.
I calculated her BMI today:
Friday night after Kids Zumba and chick-fil-a, Ellie fell asleep in the car on the way home. She woke around 11pm with some running stools. Ok. I should have warned you that this was going to be gross. Sorry. You're forewarned now.
About 30 minutes later she woke up, and started the vomit-o-rama. For the next 8 hours the poor thing couldn't keep anything. anything. anything. down. Not even the tiniest sips of water. Bless her heart, she was able to indicate to me when we had to race to the bathroom or grab the trashcan. She didn't miss once. I did. I fell asleep somewhere between 3:38's retching and the next call to the can. I tried to pick her up but couldn't make my body move. We'd already been to the bathroom about a dozen times, and at 54 lbs, low tone, and extreme fatigue. Well, my body had stopped being able to lift her easily. My dear, sweet husband got all the laundry started and helped lift Ellie on one side while I supported her on the other for the next few hours till her tummy finally stopped revolting.
The next few days were quiet and she didn't eat too much. The net loss has been over a pound. This is not the way to lose weight, but I guess every small step counts.
I calculated her BMI today:
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Monday, February 7, 2011
How far do we have to go?
Well, I just finished calculating her BMI using my handy-dandy children's BMI calculator (from CDC, thank you!). Turns out we have a LOT of small steps to take in order to get Ellie out of the "may be obese" category, and into the "may be overweight" category. At this age and height Ellie needs to weight 47 lbs 0 oz. in order to get to a "may be overweight" BMI category. That's a net loss of 7.2 lbs. Okey-dokey, let's get to work mom!!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Back after a long break
It was a busy fall school season, and I did keep track of Ellie's weight. It went up and down a little bit, but by the end of the holiday season she was about 56 lbs again. As I started a new year, I had to start a new plan.
Last fall I didn't add many veggies. I meant to. I had good intentions. Something was lost in the process of making menus and getting to school and swim team. I ended up making the same thing most days. Since Elllie doesn't eat salads, there weren't many vegetable choices for Ellie.
2011 brings a total change for her, and for all of us. As of this morning she is back down to 54.2 lbs. She has also grown a little bit more topping the chart at 3 foot 6 inches. The combination has moved her BMI a little bit to 21.6. This is down from September's low of 22.6. Yes!!
This is why the blog is called Small Steps. Slowly. Ever so slowly, we are making progress. It's taken us 5 months, but that BMI is starting to budge. I have a lot of faith in our ability to make it budge a whole lot more this year.
How are we doing it? It's really simple, common sense. Less in (and better choices of food), and more activity. We have cut all school lunches. The sodium, calories and fat content were just unacceptable. Ellie drinks milk 3 times a day: with her cereal at breakfast, at school for lunch, and with me every night at dinner. She never drank sodas, but really loved her orange juice. Even with the calcium added, it's not as healthy as a glass of skim milk.
What else? I measure foods, especially carbohydrates. Ellie loves her carbs, so until I get that BMI to a healthy number, she is going to have limited carbs - 4 servings a day. Since I can't eat lunch with her at school, I send a healthy lunch I know she will eat. While I include a fruit or vegetable, they usually come home uneaten. At dinner it's a different story. I insist on veggies at every dinner. She has to eat them before she eats the stuff she likes. After a month of disagreements, it turns out she actually likes some of the veggies!
I have been trying all sorts of new foods, and not just for Ellie. The whole family has taken a trip on the vegetarian train. We still eat fish and poultry, with the occasional serving of pork (once a month). The red meat is out the door, as Rajiv on Outsourced says, "Please don't touch the cow." We purchased a pressure-cooker after the holidays and with the help and encouragement of some Indian friends we have learned how to make several dals (lentil dishes) and a great marinade for chicken. This week I will try some chole or chana (chick pea) dishes and a few other new recipes. I made a slow-cooker Indian Chicken and vegetable stew that both kids loved!
The last part of our plan of small steps to a healthier weight is more activity. Ellie is moving and grooving more at home through games with her brother, dancing with mom and just generally being encouraged to get up off the chair :) It's slowly working, and I'll keep you posted.
Last fall I didn't add many veggies. I meant to. I had good intentions. Something was lost in the process of making menus and getting to school and swim team. I ended up making the same thing most days. Since Elllie doesn't eat salads, there weren't many vegetable choices for Ellie.
2011 brings a total change for her, and for all of us. As of this morning she is back down to 54.2 lbs. She has also grown a little bit more topping the chart at 3 foot 6 inches. The combination has moved her BMI a little bit to 21.6. This is down from September's low of 22.6. Yes!!
This is why the blog is called Small Steps. Slowly. Ever so slowly, we are making progress. It's taken us 5 months, but that BMI is starting to budge. I have a lot of faith in our ability to make it budge a whole lot more this year.
How are we doing it? It's really simple, common sense. Less in (and better choices of food), and more activity. We have cut all school lunches. The sodium, calories and fat content were just unacceptable. Ellie drinks milk 3 times a day: with her cereal at breakfast, at school for lunch, and with me every night at dinner. She never drank sodas, but really loved her orange juice. Even with the calcium added, it's not as healthy as a glass of skim milk.
What else? I measure foods, especially carbohydrates. Ellie loves her carbs, so until I get that BMI to a healthy number, she is going to have limited carbs - 4 servings a day. Since I can't eat lunch with her at school, I send a healthy lunch I know she will eat. While I include a fruit or vegetable, they usually come home uneaten. At dinner it's a different story. I insist on veggies at every dinner. She has to eat them before she eats the stuff she likes. After a month of disagreements, it turns out she actually likes some of the veggies!
I have been trying all sorts of new foods, and not just for Ellie. The whole family has taken a trip on the vegetarian train. We still eat fish and poultry, with the occasional serving of pork (once a month). The red meat is out the door, as Rajiv on Outsourced says, "Please don't touch the cow." We purchased a pressure-cooker after the holidays and with the help and encouragement of some Indian friends we have learned how to make several dals (lentil dishes) and a great marinade for chicken. This week I will try some chole or chana (chick pea) dishes and a few other new recipes. I made a slow-cooker Indian Chicken and vegetable stew that both kids loved!
The last part of our plan of small steps to a healthier weight is more activity. Ellie is moving and grooving more at home through games with her brother, dancing with mom and just generally being encouraged to get up off the chair :) It's slowly working, and I'll keep you posted.
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