Mom of skinny teen worried on keto

#1

Hi all.

I’m brand new here. I found this forum searching the web for info on keto for the thin teen. My family has switched to keto willingly, but I worry about my youngest (15 yo, 5’11, 107 lbs, high metabolism). He follows it well when at home, and we’ve started packing school lunches. However, when at his girlfriend’s house, I know he consumes carbs, but I just don’t know how much. I know her parents are worried he’s on keto; thus I think they may try to carb him up while there. I know this is a hard temptation, as he lives pizza (who doesn’t!)

So that is the first of my concerns (consuming too many carbs yet eating all the fat).

Second concern is that we really want to help him bulk up and gain muscle (he’s very thin), but he’s lost weight! We cut carbs at home to about 20g per day, put him on BPC, and he eats a good 3 meals per day with some fat bombs and keto snacks here and there (no IF). Now that summer’s here, we’ll really hone in on macros for mass gain. He does not work out, but he wants to begin. He’s in the marching band and will need good energy for that come August.

Any help and guidance would be appreciated!
Thanks!

(Lazy, Dirty Keto 😝) #2

What specifically are your concerns? Keto is much more than a weight loss diet; it’s a WOE that promotes metabolic health and restoration.

Edit - I see you added more info to the post after I commented.

To keep him from losing weight, quite simply he needs to eat more protein and fat. If he wants to build more muscle, he should up his protein and do strength training. Regarding the carbs that he eats when you’re not around - you can’t really control that but I doubt it will be detrimental to his health given the info you’ve provided here.

#3

Sorry, I walked away from my phone and accidentally when I picked my phone back up. I have edited the post to explain. My teen is very thin already but wants a healthy keto lifestyle along with our family, but he’s losing weight, even after upping his fat intake. Additionally, he does succumb to carbs at his girlfriend’s house, as they are worried and might be encouraging it too much for him.

(Lazy, Dirty Keto 😝) #4

Paging @Rgbigun - he is all muscle and can probably help :joy:

(Carl Keller) #5

Teens and young people have thrived on low carb for eons. A high carb way of eating is a fairly new concept in the homo sapien timeline and I think his GF’s family is simply over-reacting to the current abnormal norm.

I would make sure this 15 year old is getting plenty of protein since it’s vital for growth and development. He sounds a lot like myself when I was his age. My high degree of insulin sensitivity meant that I could eat 3000 calories a day of junk and not gain an ounce. I wish I could go back and trade the junk for real, whole foods. I’m sure I would have remained thin, but I would have felt a whole lot better.

As long as he isn’t starving himself and keeps making the appropriate response to hunger, his hormones will determine if he needs to gain more weight by encouraging him to eat more. In the meanwhile, overeating and eating the wrong things is like trying to fight his DNA which seems to prefer him on the thin side.

If this kid were my kid, I would tell his GF’s family to stop feeding him crap if he says he doesn’t want it. I could put him on a high fructose corn syrup diet if I really wanted to fatten him up, but junk is junk and quality is quality.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #6

Maybe he needs more healthy carbs in his life than the adults. He’s growing rapidly and active.

(hottie turned hag) #7

These stats make me think a pediatrician visit and some labs are a good idea; no harm done thereby. Ruling out any underlying cause for him being that underweight (and you state he is losing more) makes sound medical sense.

(Troy) #8

Agree w the possible medical eval

In addition…To the Bat Phone!
Paging @KidKeto
:slightly_smiling_face:

(Cristian Lopez) #9

Heyo!!
Im Cristian, I started keto willingly myself too build muscle and improve health and longevity, when I was 14 (now 17).

So let’s touch the topic of fat + carbs. I hate the idea of combining the two considering I study the metabolic pathways these two macro nutrients lead to fat storage, though I don’t believe the
“at your age” argument unless your comparing a 60 year old too a child as anyone can have a slow or fast metabolism depending on life style factors.

He doesn’t seem on board if he’s accepting carbs from his gf’s house, In my case I don’t feel like “pizza” is food anymore, I don’t crave it, it contains dairy (which I avoid), and it’s not the fuel nor building blocks I want in my body.
If your enforcing keto and he’s not on board, you might as well let him eat whatever he wants because it seems like your appealing this as a diet rather than lifestyle.

Regardless of fat+ carbs it’s scientifically and thermodynamically proven that it’s cal in cal out, So I would begin too track his Cals if he continues to be on keto but personally I can’t give advice for mental barriers especially that of a normie (typical American kid).

PM me for private questions?

(Cristian Lopez) #10

I swear I check these forums every other day and the days I do, I always ironically run into a call of duty!! XD

(Alec) #11

This. Most important thing is to not restrict calories or try to lose weight in any way.

I have a very similar 15 year old son. He isn’t keto and eats SAD. 6’ tall, thin as a rake and eats us out of house and home. I try to educate him on the effect of carbs and sugar when I can. Not sure he’s listening. :confounded:

(hottie turned hag) #12

Wow you are awesome, young man and your writing makes you seem far older.
As a mother of four (all grown) have a * hug * and an adorable :koala: from me!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #13

At age 15, your son needs plenty of protein to fuel his growth. Forget the guidelines about protein—they are intended for adults who have finished growing. He should be eating you out of house and home, if he is eating to satiety. Fat will give him energy, but growing muscles and bones need plenty of protein, and especially branched-chain amino acids, of which leucine, iso-leucine, and valine are the essential ones that his body cannot make from other amino acids.