Keto for my 11 year old son - day one

#1

Hi all,

I wanted to introduce myself and my son, JJ, and share our story. Today is the first day of keto eating for us. This is really I guess the start of sharing JJ’s story. He is 11 years old and is is home schooled this year due to school refusal early 2016. JJ has been clinically diagnosed with childhood social phobia. He is also obese and at 11 years old weights 77 kilos.

My husband and I work as professionals. I left my job a month ago so that I can stay at home full-time to support and help JJ. Prior to that he was cared for by his aunties that followed the same regime we did. It seemed that nothing we have done over the past year has worked in reducing JJ’s weight or encouraging him to become more active. The truth is, JJ’s weight prevents him from full cardio in a 15 minute session or for walking for long periods.

For the past year we have been strict with high fat, processed foods and forcing him to move and get active, and eat salads. Since I have been home from work, I have broken up 1 hour of exercising each day to low-moderate exercise sessions, depending on his ability. He is slowly gaining stamina.

We have taken JJ to the doctor many times over the past two years and had blood tests that resulted in a healthy thyroid, but he was/is high in insulin. Once, the doctor said to him, ‘let’s get you on the scales big boy’. I was mortified for him - yeah that really helped his self-esteem!

I’ve had enough as we have worked hard for a year with JJ and whilst we have made great improvements in the social phobia area, the weight has remained or even gotten worse.

We are travelling on a family holiday in two weeks to Thailand. When we return, I will be asking his doctor to do a gene test for prader-willis syndrome, as my son does seem to have quite a few characteristics throughout his life - ie he hoarded food for a while and always seems hungry. This syndrome we have only started to explore.

But, not making any excuses, we have now started on a keto lifestyle for him. I am fully embracing the diet with him as he needs a buddy. I could probably stand to lose 5 to 10 kilos myself, but this isn’t my reason and I am very comfortable with my own weight (I’m 43), but more so for the health benefits that I have researched.

I have read both advocates for and against placing a pre-teen on keto. I don’t know what else to do, and as nothing else worked, doctors were unhelpful, I guess we are switching from what was not working.

I would like to also add that it’s weird, because JJ does not eat bread, cheese, rice, eggs or potato. Not from a diet, but from taste! He has always hated these foods.

We also have a trim, tall and healthy 15 year old on a high carb diet. My older son and hubby aren’t interested in going keto, so it’s up to mum (me) to be his buddy. :slight_smile:

Any advice is welcome!

(Doug) #2

Welcome, Regina. :slightly_smiling_face: It’s good that JJ is gaining stamina. High insulin levels and hunger certainly go together, often. Given JJ’s preference in food, it sounds like he’s going to be eating meat a fair bit of the time. I hope it works out that he doesn’t feel deprived - that’s a big thing that it’s nice to not have to deal with.

Good luck!

#3

Hope all goes well for you both.

Some great recipes out there for hiding eggs in them, and lucky him for not liking the white starches!

(Jason Fletcher) #4

A well formulated keto diet will work well for your son. In his case because of the high insulin this would be the best way to lower it and prevent diabetes.

I don’t blame your older son for not wanting to go keto but for him if the only food in house to eat is keto he will have to eat it.
I think your husband really needs to get on board. Your right your son does need to feel like he fits in. When the whole family is involved it will be a much easier transition. Plus there will not be carb foods around for him to get into and if they are in the house he will.
Right now i would read up as much as you can on the ketogenic diet. Plus you may try to reach out to the https://www.charliefoundation.org/contact they may be able to point you in the right direction.

(Jeremy Storie) #5

I wish I would have known about this way of eating at 11 years old.

(Lauren) #6

While I guess you can’t force your husband and older son to also be keto, you also don’t need to be a short-order cook. Only cook and shop for foods you and JJ can eat. The carb-eaters are on their own if they don’t like it. I thinks it’s really important that JJ not have to sit there at dinner and watch half his family eat foods he desperately wants, but can’t have.

My older 3 kids (14, 13, 8) were less than thrilled when we switched to low carb eating. I told them “tough shit.” Now they gladly eat low-carb in my home. Make home a safe eating place, w/o the temptations that can drive a person crazy.

#7

Thanks all. We are on day two and this morning I had a VERY grouchy child that wanted his cornflakes for breakfast (with added sugar no doubt).

We made bacon and eggs for breakfast and JJ didn’t want any. I compromised and cooked a hamburger patty for him sided with lettuce, cucumber and celery.

The morning was tough as he kept looking in the pantry (but bless him, he did not cheat) and I feel that he was having sugar cravings.

This afternoon he is happier after sausages and again salad for lunch, and a smart mum (me!) heading to the store again this morning - for low carb tomato sauce and coconut flour. I scored some cocoa powder and 70% dark chocolate, and promised to make cookies tomorrow (moderation, of course). With the tomato sauce with lunch, he could not tell any different. I only put a small dollop on his plate.

JJ did report earlier that he had a headache, so I gave him a glass of ice water. Trying to keep him hydrated is tough!

However, he hasn’t been hungry all day - and I sensed that he was looking in the cupboard only due to the sugar craving.

I will admit, I cheated with breakfast. I had french toast with my bacon. Don’t tell JJ, he will kill me! :smiley:

All in all, so far so good. We are still under 20 grams of carbs for the day, and dinner will be chicken tenderloins with salad. JJ has complained a bit, but I know that he is serious about getting healthy. He could have cheated, yet didn’t.

With the dark chocolate, I am unsure how much to use in cooking? Chocolate period feels very carby to me…

(Khara) #8

If he’s headachey try a bit of salt. I like to drink beef broth. It goes fine as a drink with lunch or even as a snack. Some others on here use supplements. And the being grouchy will/should greatly subside if he’s satiated. Make sure he’s never hungry. Just choose low carb foods when he is. Have lots of options on hand for when he’s panicking… deviled/hard boiled eggs, cheese, meat, small amounts of nuts. Make sure he understands that his discomfort right now is due to carb withdrawal and that he won’t need to live with this discomfort forever. It will pass and once it does he will start to feel great. If together you can get him on the healthy track now, his life will be so much less difficult as he becomes an adult. It’s probably hard for him to look so far ahead but life is tough right now because of his health and it will only get harder to correct as he gets older. He should know this. Additionally, is there a way you can help him to take ownership of this way of eating? It might really empower him if he is self-teaching, problem solving, recognizing how his body feels and learning what to do, reading nutrition labels, choosing meal plans, and trying a new recipe once a week? Best wishes and KCKO both of you.

#9

Thanks Khara, I’m encouraging lite salt as it has potassium as well. Early days.

Hubby and I have noticed that JJ’s breath is bad, so I’m hoping it is the start to ketosis. I refuse to make him pee on a stick to check.

I know that water weight is the first to go, but I swear that after one day his face is looking thinner! Maybe wishful thinking.

He’s still hating me right now for the diet.

(Carpe salata!) #10

You have lots of love and stamina. You are the one who is really helping.

One day he will be so grateful…

(Sjur Gjøstein Karevoll) #11

My own face got considerably thinner pretty fast too even before I lost mentionable weight. I chalk it up to reduced inflammation, since inflammation can cause you to puff up.

Also, don’t go too hard on the potassium. Your body won’t flush out excess potassium to the same degree it does most other minerals so you have to be concerned with over consuming it over long periods. I prefer to get my potassium from potassium rich foods.

(Linda Culbreth) #12

I agree with Lauren Don’t become a short order cook. Cook healthy for you and J.J. and enough for the hubby and big brother. If they don’t want to eat it, then you have another meal for the two of you. They can chose to eat what is fixed, cook what they want, or smear peanut butter and jelly on their white bread.

Up the healthy fat intake. And up the salt and water intake - that will probably take away the headaches. Also, no diet sodas or other diet with artificial sweeteners drinks, or snacking between meals. Really limit the use of these artificial sweeteners -they have a history of really spiking up insulin (and so do snacks, a lot of cheese, and nuts & seeds - that cheese and nuts & seeds I only use at meals).

As far as the chocolate goes, in a few days or week or two, when all the sugar is out and his cravings go away, he might even enjoy just eating the tiny square of chocolate by itself -

Here’s a link to an awesome, and I do mean awesome keto waffle - slather a lot, and I do mean a lot of butter on it. This recipe makes 3 waffles in my waffle iron. So at least double or triple the recipe and serve everyone with them.Everyone in the family should enjoy them. J.J. is sooooo fortunate to have you as mom!

#13

Day three, and this will be my last for a while, as the first three days are the hardest.

JJ is up and down at the moment. We bought him clothes yesterday and today they are too big. I know it’s water weight, but it was enough for his to want to keep going - yay!!! Tomorrow I will take him shopping for a dress size or two-smaller shirts.

Tonight our 15 year old said he wanted to go Keto, this may have been after watching the Mayweather/McGregor fight. Anyway, the keto way is rubbing off on him.

Hubby has still yet to succumb, but he’s eating healthy anyway. :slight_smile:

(Linda Culbreth) #14

Sounds like huge wins all the way around to me!

#15

I know I said that the last post would be the last for a while but today was TOUGH!

I took JJ for a haircut and the hairdresser offered him a small lollipop afterwards. Arrrghhh!!! Remember, that he is 11 years old, new to keto and only a few days in.

I couldn’t say no as it would have only embarrassed him. That would have been a big no no considering his social phobia.

Two hours later he had a massive sugar crash and after a meltdown I succumbed to one chocolate chip cookie - remnants from the pantry stash (these are now packed away out of the pantry, to be given away). I estimate that the lollipop and cookie took him over 20g carbs.

What a fail! Soldier on…does anyone know the extent of damage one lollipop and one choc chip cookie has done? Do we have to start over?

(Doug) #16

No, you don’t have to start over. :slightly_smiling_face: Yes, probably over 20g carbs (the lollipop is right about 13 by itself), but really - no biggie in the grand scheme of things.

I remember being 11 years old. You’re getting some “adult” awareness, but still definitely a kid. It’s a tough time, no matter what, the struggle against parental authority is underway. There’s probably a pretty good tangle of cravings, habits, wanting to be thinner, more healthy, etc. You’re in for the long haul, though, Jools, stay strong.

#17

Thanks Doug.Today was a nightmare!

On the positive side, JJ is 1kg less on the scales. This however, did not help him with the cravings for carbage.

His older brother today told him that he could see a change (in terms of defined cheekbones), and I think that helped. JJ may not believe me, but he idolises his brother.

Tomorrow is another day. :slight_smile:

#18

Kids love progress diaries and journals to spur them on. Why not take a pic in the same spot everyday and make a flick book for him? Kids need to see that what they are doing matters, and makes a difference. A weekly treat that is special just to him. A walk around the local zoo for 2 to 3 hours, or any kind of thing he enjoys where cunning exercise can be deployed!

(Doug) #19

Good for JJ’s older brother! No small thing to have him on JJ’s side here.

#20

I agree Wishbone, and JJ refuses to have his photo taken. He looks so handsome with his new cut and I’m going to play it for all it’s worth. Just need to get him back on the wagon.

Funny story, this morning JJ was craving cereal and I said I will compromise. You can have half a weetbix with milk, no sugar. He just sighed and said, ‘I’ll just have sausages’. Hahaha.

So, I cooked his sausages in olive oil sided with lettuce, cucumber and celery. As I handed it to him he said, ‘this doesn’t mean I"m still on Keto mum’. I almost lost it laughing. :smiley: Small wins, he’s adapting slowly. Just need to get rid of the damn sugar cravings!