Putting my son with autism on ATKINS

[Lia]

hi.. all. I have not posted in a while... I am doing fine.. I am at about 121 lbs... a loss since January 1 of 14 lbs... I have been at 121 for about 2 weeks. I am running about 14 miles a week on the treadmill... NOW... I had said months ago.. when school was out.. my son will be starting. Well.... that time is now.. On Friday at lunch.. he officially started... He is also on geodon and lexapro... small doses and I HOPE this will not stall him. He is 5'6 and 242 lbs. VERY.. VERY heavy... but I am optimitic.. he did get away from his dad after church for the coffee hour.. those coffee fellowships are loaded with poisons... anyway.. he ate half a danish before his dad caught him. We try to explain to him why we are doing this. I will not freak out if he cheated... it is due to it is hard to explain to him why he cannot. So.. I will imagine induction will take longer than 2 weeks.. which we are fully prepared for some accidental cheats. WE will do our very best.. I will post here.. I got him a digital scale and a calendar.. he loves to record.. he can weigh every am after the bathroom and before breakfast... we walk 4 nights a week.. an hour a walking... swimming 2 times a week. THANK god.. he loves bacon and eggs.. all meats and cheese and loves salads.. the only thing he won't eat are tomatoes and onions. WISH US LUCK and any suggestions welcomed... Lia

[sham]

I praise you for wanting to do this for him some parents as their kids put on weight out of love still let them eat what they want but you know if he keeps eating his carbs and not changing his lifestyle he will keep putting weight on just get him excited wuth the diet as he might not know much about it let him read the book and mainly let him help you with the cooking get him involved at that moment explain what foods are allowed and what foods are forbidden.Why dont you do a reward system with him for every 10lb he lose which is a dress size give him a simple reward like new t-shirt or jeans he will enjoy it and everytime he weighs himself be there for him and on any loss praise him tell him his looking better all these simple things will keep him going and encorouge him.I dont know if this advice has helped you anyway all the best to you and your son keep losing.

[JulieB]

Wow - good luck with that! It will be difficult if he doesn't understand why treats aren't allowed anymore. I think your idea of the scale & calendar are great - the more he is involved in this & doing things he likes, the better - IMO. Are there other things he can measure/record? His daily cups of veggies? Rewards (non food!) for losing weight or for going to church tea & skipping the danish?

I sincerely hope this works for him - he'll be healthier & and happier.

[Lia]

hi... he has a snack.. issue.. but.. he can eat a hard boiled egg or celery and he is happy with it.. I just gave him 4 pieces of pork rinds.. he loves them... like I said.. he got away.. real fast ... and had that danish.. next week.. his dad will be faster than him... My son is very compliant with food... the reward system is good... I also told him we can go to mcdonalds for the mcdouble without the bun .. onions and pickles.. ketchup... this way.. he still feels he can have the fast food... thanks.. all.. Lia

[Hillary]

Lia - what you are doing is great and I applaud you for that!

[Lia]

By the way.. his summer camp is for kids on the spectrum and most of the kids are gluten and caSein free.. so they will know... not to allow him things.. they are offering more veggies this year as snacks... Lia

[sham]

why dont you ready his meals and give him earlier a bit so he knows what his meal is before he gets hungary to stop him going for the carbs because when he gets hungary he will look for foods and go for the wrong ones.leave atkins friendly snacks with him as his watching tv or when you know he might want a snack so you can try and control what he eats this way you can count his daily carb intake too as you will know what you fed him and hopefully he wont cheat fingers crossed!

[chinadoll]

And start exercising with him in fun ways so he also develops the habit to be active.

[Slapshot]

Wishing you and your son the best, Lia. He's a lucky lad to have a Mom like you.

[wackielady]

my niece is here for another week. I am trying her on Atkins for the last week. I forgot to weigh her this morning, but will tomorrow. It is not going to be an easy go for her since she loves snack cakes and chips, but she is willing to try it. Maybe in a week she can have a little weight loss and try to keep it up once she goes home.