Just wondering if anyone can offer helpful suggestions for helping a 14 year old get in better shape. My husband does this sort of "big brother" volunteering and he has been assigned a boy of 14 years old who is 5'9" and 230lbs. He told my DH that he wants to loose 30 lbs before school starts. He likes sports (baseball I think is one of them) and wants to start eating better and working out.

MY DH has his ideas but I was wondering if anyone else may have some suggestions they could offer to help us, help him achieve his goal?

He's very sheltered, and a bit naive. Doesn't have a lot of self esteem either.....

Any general ideas?

Thanks! Diane

Well i am around the same as that guy. I'm 5ft 10 and 204lbs. I would say firstly get him to do cardio...a lot f it, as I'm guessing he is very inactive like i was. Get him to start running, and if he is embarrassed by this remind him if he does it at least he is trying. My brother made fun of me when i started jogging but i used that as encouragement, to actually get results and prove him wrong.

If he doesn't like that, tell him to skip, he can do that in the back garden and it should help. Going out for a bike ride is also quite good. Now granted i haven't made that big of a jump but considering i only started my "new life" 2 weeks ago i feel better.

Also find out his diet and cut out the fat foods. I used to eat a lot of take away and general junk like coke, Fanta, burgers etc... Replace soda's and such with water or juice... Replace the junk with healthy food... That part is hard seeing as it confused me for a while...

But if he is just looking to lose weight, then i just doing Cardio 4-6 times a week... Anything like sprinting distances, jogging, bike riding ( ? ), skipping etc... The main thing for him though is confidence, as was for me... Just keep reminding him if he wants to lose weight he has to be more confident

Good Luck to him... and you ( in helping him )

Get the kid outside playing and doing various activities. Your husband can take him to the courts and shoot a basketball, throw a football around, or bike ride with him. His confidence will grow as weight is lost and as he receives encouragement from someone.

I dont know what access your husband has into what he eats, but if he can avoid junk food and sugar laden treats, thats a good start. Encouragement of vegetables and fruits is always good.

Thanks! I think he would be open to running and changing his diet. He has 3 sisters so he doesn't have much in the way of a "male role model" and I think this is something that will help his esteem.

My husband is a runner, so is planning to take him out. There is also a community baseball league he can join so that will also be helpful (we hope). He is a bit shy, so we are hoping to break him out of his shell a little by helping him with this goal.

thanks for the response!
Diane

Thanks That is what he is looking to do for now. The boys mother is always in contact with us and is a part of what the goals are even though they are his goals. So, she supports his desire to loose weight and is ready to help him succeed at it. I think the adjustment to the food will also be something that we can help with.

We want him to feel more confident, and successful at what he attempts to do. Hopefully it will encourage him to strive to do better....

Thanks!
Diane

I agree. More activity and cutting crap from his diet. He needs to know the nutritional value of food and the importance of fruit/veg to the diet.