Weight and size, etc

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I was thinking alot about the gaining weight thingie and as I was thinking

about it, I Remember when amanda was very little she was like a peanut- there

were times I didnt even have to buy her clothes cause she never grew out of

them. When she was around 8 or 9 I was getting very concerned about some weight

gain and all she could wear was girls plus size.

I was already thinking about bringing her to a nutritionist at that time-

cause 'kids with DS have a disposition to gain weight' and I didnt want her to

be

in that disposition.

As it turned out, amanda got diabetes in 1999- and has seen a nutritionist

since then. She's pretty good about maintaining her current weight, although

with the pump, there have been an increase in a few pounds. She is as active as

she can be- and i am constantly encouraging her to walk which is easy in the

city to do.

Now- as a kid I always had a weight problem and i was as active as they come-

bike riding, swimming, outside playing morning till night. Even now as an

adult, I would say I am more active than most adults my age - i walk, take dance

class, swim when I can, etc....

And in august, i will be taking amanda's brother to an obesity specialist- he

too has gained some weight and is extremely active- he rolls everywhere-

skateboarding, biking, roller bladering, scootering.

My point here, is to accept our kids for who they are, make them feel good

about themselves in the body they have and do our best as parents to help them

lead a healty life style- not in one extreme or another. Our kids have so

much to deal with as it is-why not make this a little easier for them?

Oh- about shoe size- is still a size 3 and she is dying to wear heels

(which she really cant anyway) but they dont even come in that size!

~ Mom to 13 DS and Diabetes Type 1 and 10 NY

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/19/2004 4:01:06 PM Central Daylight Time,

linman42@... writes:

> My point here, is to accept our kids for who they are, make them feel good

>

> about themselves in the body they have and do our best as parents to help

> them

> lead a healty life style- not in one extreme or another.

You are exactly right ,

What I think alot of us forget also is genetics DO play a part. Also

there are many atheletes who are EXTREMELY fit but not skinny in societies eyes.

We equate thin with health and it ain't necessarily so. A friend of mine is

gorgeous, model figure, proportionate, with a 405 cholesterol, you read that

right! Her daughter IS skinny as a rail and at 9 years old has high

cholesterol, and is as active as they come. On the other hand there are

atheletes that

are on the heavier side who are fit as a fiddle. We are looking at the

exterior and not the whole picture.

Loree

[Guest guest]

Weight is a three part balance. There is intake (food), there is

exercise (burning food), and there is metabolism (efficiency). If your

body is efficient, you need a different set-point than someone whose

body is inefficient.

I was a skinny kid. My Mom was worried that I'd get TB (yes I'd been

exposed), so I got big doses of xrays to show that I didn't have TB.

Yes, I was active and skinny.

When I was in my early 20's and doing serious mountain climbing, my

metabolism got in my way. I could get up early (3 or 4 am) for a climb,

but before long I had to get the whole team to pause while I got some

more calories (chocolate is great at that point). I simply needed more

than the others.

Well by 30, things had changed and I gained a pound a year. Not a big

deal at first, but it was relentless and I had to learn to balance the

whole system. I have the same response that I expect from Jan. If the

scale (which seldom lies) gives me bad news in the morning, I have to

pay immediate attention. The response has to be measured in both intake

and exercise since I don't control my metabolism.

With a few with real medical issues, the same principles hold. That

doesn't make the hunger or urge go away. It isn't just those with down

syndrome. If we as parents don't provide examples, then how can we

expect our kids to follow? Even if we do, it is just as hard for them

as it is for us, and when they are adults, we aren't in control.

Rick